Treasures of Greece and Anatolia

Come see the wonders of Athens ,Istanbul and Central Turkey in only 12 day
Ankara, Cappadocia , Ephesus, Konya, Pamukkale, and Ephesus

Tour operates: Apr - Oct : Weekly arrival in Athens
(for other days of the week, please add $100 to the rate).

Compare with a Gulet Cruise : Start in Dalaman and on to Antalya . Add Cappadocia

DAY 1 - Athens, Tuesday
Arrival in Athens, we will meet you at the airport , assist you through customs and immigration, and escort you to your hotel in the bustling city center. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish.

DAY 2 - Athens, Wednesday (B)
This morning you'll tour the high points of Athens, most notably the towering Acropolis and the adjacent museum. You'll visit Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city, and see the Parliament, and guards in colorful traditional outfits. Your afternoon is free for further exploring or shopping.

DAY 3 - Athens, Thursday (B)
Full day at leisure l in Athens.

DAY 4 - Istanbul (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, we fly to Istanbul .Our local rep meets your plane and escorts you to your hotel. Aygun Plaza , Senator or similar.

DAY 5 - Istanbul & Izmir Saturday (BLD)
Tour the great Ottoman capital, visiting the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi, the palace of the sultans, with its fabulous Treasury and collections of priceless Chinese porcelains. Late afternoon flight to Izmir .

DAY 6 - PRINE,MILETUS & DIDYMA. Sunday (BLD)
A short drive brings us to the well-preserved ruins of Priene, a very ancient city perched above the aptly-named Meander River. We next tour Miletus, where the philosopher Thales was born. Finally, we tour the gigantic oracular temple at Didyma, which challenged the primacy of Delphi,lunch at a local restaurant . Dinner at the hotel .

DAY 7 - The Greek Island of Samos. Monday (BLD)
During summer month, we'll provide you with ferry ticket , round trip between Kusadasi & the lush Greek Island of Samos , a superlative destination to decompress after an intensive traveling program , if you prefer to extend your stay in Samos, please do let's know in advance. The port is suitably picturesque and lined with cafes and clusters of tourist shops that offer the ubiquitous worry beads and Greek key design jewelry.

Included in our rate is the full day excursion in Samos : The ISLAND TOUR :
We start with the wild and rugged North Coast, as we make our way along this beautiful coastline we make a short stop in the lush and tranquil VALLEY OF THE NIGHTINGALES.

Our next port of call is the town of KARLOVASSI, the second largest town on Samos, where we have the chance to visit the home of the famous Samos wine. At the "Union of the Wine Producing cooperatives of Samos" we can take a look at the viticulture industry which has so much influenced the history and economy of Samos ? in addition there is also the chance to sample the delights of the finished product! We end our visit to Samos second city with a stop at a small original ceramics workshop.
Our tour continues as we make our way over to the south side of the island and make our way down through the village of MARATHOKAMBOS until we reach the coast and VOTSALAKIA. Here there is time for lunch and a refreshing swim on one of the lovely beaches in this area.
Our next destination is the mountains - with a short stop in PIRGOS there is time to explore the village. As we pass through the village of KOUMARADEI we can admire some of Samos most beautiful scenery before we end our tour with a visit to one of Samos oldest monasteries MEGALI PANAGIA, built in 1586, the monastery is of Byzantine architectural order and is one of the most beautiful of the old monasteries with exquisite wood carvings and frescos.

Famous son of Samos : Pythagoras of Samos , the famous mathematician born: about 569 BC in Samos.
We'll meet back at the Pier in Kusdasi upon your return and escort you back to hotel .
Except for the summer month , the ferry doesn't operate between Samos & Turkey , instead we'll take you on a half day tour of the to the hill village of Sirince (pronounced "Shee-Reen-Jeh" about half an hour drive to the east of Kusadasi, in which case lunch will be included an provided at a local restaurant . dinner at the hotel .

DAY 8 - PAMUKKALE Tuesday (BLD)
The miraculously revealed House of the Virgin Mary is our first stop, after which we tour Ephesus, the capital of Roman Asia Minor, and the Basilica of St. John, said to mark his tomb. Lunch at the small town of Selcuk, attend a local fashion show, before we head for Pamukkale to tour the extensive ruins of Roman Hierapolis. (BLD)

DAY 9 - KONYA & CAPPADOCIA Wednesday (BLD)
An early morning drive to the mystical city of Konya, birthplace of the Whirling Dervishes, for a visit to the Mevlana Museum. We continue to Sultanhani the Seljuk Turkish caravanserai before making the drive to biblical Cappadocia and our hotel. Hotel: Mustafa or similar.

DAY 10 -CAPPADOCIA Thursday (BLD)
We explore the "moonscape" of Cappadocia, visiting the painted churches in the Göreme and Zelve Valleys, the rockhewn dwellings in Ortahisar, the pottery-making center of Avanos, and the incredible underground city of Kaymakl (or Derinkuyu). Afternoon at leisure to allow for shopping.

DAY 11- KING MIDAS Friday (BL)
Drive to Gordion the capital of Phrigian Empire, the famous Gordion knot, King Midas and and his golden touch are all related with the history of this city. The visit covers the ruins of the ancient city and the Tumulus of King Midas, Lunch is served en route at a local restaurant before we head back to Ankara. Late afternoon arrival in Ankara, in time to visit the Museum of Ancient Anatolian Civilization & Ataturk mausoleum.

DAY 12 - DEPARTURE Saturday (B)
We escort you to the airport for your flight home. Most probably you 'll be connecting as well thru Istanbul for the flight back to the USA. Air fare Ankara Istanbul is included in our rate.

RATES per person in US $ - Private Touring

Rates include :

• One way International air fare from Athens to Istanbul in economy class, tax included
• All transfers in Turkey.
• Preset menu meals as indicated (BLD : Breakfast ,lunch, dinner (Preset menu).
• Guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees.
• 4 stars first class or 3 star tourist hotel accommodation with tax.
• Lonely Planet Travel Guidebook.
• Domestic air fare within Turkey .
• Ferry tickets between Kusadasi & Samos (only during summer month.

Rate doesn't include :

• International air fare from / to your home country .
• Visa Fee : in cash upon arrival, for US citizens, or $45 for Canadians, or from any of the Turkish Consulates
• Tips
• Trip/travel insurance

Sample hotels (or similar 4 star - first class hotels)
Istanbul : Senator , Aygun Plaza .
Ankara : Ickale.
Cappadocia : Perissia.
Izmir : Kaya Prestige

En Espanol - Back to Turkey Tour List

Click here for info on sailing the Mediterranean ( Blue Cruise)

Private Cruise ship Shore excursions in Greece & Turkey

The cruise regular shore excursion are generally a good introduction to the city, most of the seasoned cruise travelers prefer to go sightseeing with a private guide.

The difference between ship organized and private tours is best described as "package versus tailor-made." Some people may feel all right joining a large tour group whereas sometimes it is difficult to hear the guide and the group moves only as fast as its slowest participant.

Others may not get their questions answered at all as there may be twenty other people in the group trying to do the same.

In contrast, a small tour group with tailor-made program is way more enjoyable and ensures personal attention for everyone. You will spend as much time as you want.

Therefore, if you want to maximize your limited time, the private escorted tour tailored to your unique wishes and interests is an ideal solution.

All our private shore excursions tours are carefully designed to give you the best possible experience. Our knowledgeable, friendly and qualified tour guide and driver will ensure that your visit ashore is truly memorable. When you tour with us in Turkey as part of a private shore excursion , your tour guide will get you into sites without waiting in lines that is especially valuable given the limited time you have to spend in Turkey.