12 Day Greece Bulgaria Turkey Combined Tour

Arrive at Athens International Airport and meet our professional driver who will transfer you to your hotel. It is your free day to explore and enjoy Athens on your own. Overnight at the hotel in Athens. Athens

(Breakfast included) After breakfast, we will start the tour of the city of Athens, visiting Syntagma Square - the center of modern Athens and view the changing of the guard in front of the Parliament building. On the way to Acropolis, we will have a stop to the Panathenaic Stadium-made of white marble- where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. The impressive, work of Art, Stadium was the finish line of the Marathon Race of Athens 2004 Olympics. We will also see the Temple of Olympian Zeus - the largest Temple ever built in Greece. We will view the National Gardens, the Academy, the National Library, the University, and finally we will visit the most magnificent monument in the world - the Parthenon on the Acropolis. Then drive to Piraeus, Greece's main port and continue by the costal road to Kastella, a picturesque hill area overlooking the Mikrolimano yacht harbour, having the opportunity to see numerous restaurants and cafes by the sea. On the way to Mesoghia and the Winery, enjoy the journey through the southern suburbs of the city, along the coastal avenue of Athens Riviera with its magnificent view to the sea. Arrive at the Winery* and enjoy the visit. Drive to Porto Rafti Area by the sea to enjoy some free time. Right after, drive to McArthur Designer Outlet shopping village. In continue, we drive at a Pottery workshop to see the craft of making vases and the exhibition of different products. Afterwards, drive back to hotel, passing by the facilities of the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens where the majority of the athletic events were held during the 2004 Olympic Games. Overnight at the hotel. Athens

(Breakfast included) Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, drive to Vergina, a small town in northern Greece near Veria, principal of the prefecture of Imathia. Visit the museum which was built to protect the tombs, and was inaugurated in 1993, to exhibit the artefacts and show the tumulus as it was before the excavations. Departure for Thessaloniki and overnight at the hotel. Thessaloniki Vergina Athens

(Breakfast included) Breakfast at the hotel. Thessaloniki panoramic tour, the city of great historic importance and a crossed of so many civilizations and cultures. Begin the tour with a panoramic drive around the White Tower, the main landmarks of the city, the Galerius Arch, the Rotunda monument, the Old Town (Ano Poli) and the City Walls, from where you will have a marvellous view of Thessaloniki. Your escort will provide you with all the information about Thessaloniki’s history old and new as you look at these stately buildings. During the tour: There will be a short stop at Agios Demetrius Byzantine church which is the most important church of Thessaloniki for religious, historical and artistic reasons. The most famous and interesting part of the church, is underground ancient “Crypt”. After the tour, boarding on coach in Thessaloniki around noon. Departure for Bulgaria. Visit of Melnik – the smallest town in Bulgaria famous for its excellent wines and sandstone rocky pyramids. Overnight in Sofia. Sofia Thessaloniki

(Breakfast included) Departure for Rila Monastery - the most exquisite example of the monastery art and architecture in Bulgaria. Guided tour of the monastery complex. Visit to Nativity of the Virgin Church with its miracle icon of the Virgin and splendid gilded iconostasis. The old kitchen and the monastery museum where you can learn about the long and heroic history of the monastery, the woodcarved cross made for a period of twelve years by a monk called Rafael, Hrelyo’s Tower and many spectacular views from the mountain and the surrounding nature. Drive to Sofia in the afternoon. Upon request – dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances. Overnight in Sandalski. Sofia Rila Monastery Sandanski

(Breakfast included) Guided sightseeing tour of the city center including visit to Alexander Nevski Cathedral - one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in Europe, as well as one of Sofia’s symbols and a primary tourist attraction. St. George Rotunda and St. Sophia Church, built by the Roman Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, National Theatre, former Royal Palace, today housing the National Revival Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museum, Presidency, etc. Around noon departure for Plovdiv. In the afternoon sightseeing tour in the Old Town, including a visit to the Roman Ancient Theatre, which was build in the 2nd century AD under the rule of the Roman Emperor Trajan and is nowadays considered to be the largest surviving Roman construction in Bulgaria, visit to the Ethnographic Museum, Roman Stadium, St. Constantine and Helena Church, etc. Overnight in Plovdiv. Plovdiv Sofia

(Breakfast included) Morning transfer for the Bulgarian-Turkish border. Upon arrival to border, we will head to Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel in Istanbul and overnight in Istanbul. Istanbul Plovdiv

(Breakfast included) Our journey begins in Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents. Today we discover the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of Istanbul. We visit Hippodrome and the Obelisk brought from Egypt. Then our next visit is the Blue Mosque with its six minarets. Visit St. Sophia. This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time. Afternoon we will visit the Topkapi Palace, which was the residence of the Ottoman sultans, with its fabulous treasure chambers. Lunch break at 13:00 pm. After the lunch, Murtis Tour will take you to the Grand Spice Bazaar, which is a unique atmosphere with reasonable prices for your shopping. Here you will find; Exotic Spices and Herbs, Turkish Baklava, Turkish Delights, Turkish Coffee, nuts and fruits, small souvenirs such as Ceramic Handicrafts, Evil Eyes totems, all naturel olive oil, soaps and many other goods in Souvenir Shops and stores. After the tour, depart for Istanbul Airport for domestic flight to Izmir. Transfer from airport and check in to your hotel in Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi. Istanbul Izmir Kusadasi

(Breakfast and Dinner included) After breakfast at 08.30, we depart from hotel for fully guided tour of Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient sites in the world en-route, visiting the Temple of Artemis, Curetes street, famous Roman baths, Celsus Library, Grand theatre and House of the Virgin Mary. Lunch break around 13.00. After the lunch, we will visit a place, which continues to perform one of the oldest arts of Turkey; a carpet-weaving center. After that, we will have a Turkish Village Tour. Sirince's construction style today belongs to Anatolian Greeks. The houses on the slope are all original with their white paints. Sirince Village also has a fantastic reputation for making some of the best wines in Turkey - especially fruit wines. We will see the vineyards and it is time to learn how to make fruit wine with Turkish wine makers. In the evening, you will be tested about your knowledge of making fruit wine. On the way, we will visit one of the famous leather production centers of the region, where you will have the opportunity to get a good factory rate. On this guided tour, you will avoid the constant nagging and sometimes bullying that is well known in the markets of Turkey. Enabling you to enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. Kusadasi Ephesus Selcuk

(Breakfast and Dinner included) After breakfast, we depart for Izmir airport for our domestic flight to Cappadocia. Transfer from Kayseri airport to your Cave hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore Cappadocia. Overnight in Cave Hotel in Cappadocia. Cappadocia Izmir Kusadasi

(Breakfast and Dinner included) After breakfast between 08:00 am and 09:30 am pickups from hotel. Your tour consultant will give you final timing one day before. We will drive you to Ozkonak Underground City, one of the best-preserved Underground cities in Cappadocia. Than visit to Uchisar Castle, the highest point of Cappadocia. After Uchisar, you visit Goreme Open Air Museum, the Heart of Cappadocia. Goreme Open Air Museum is famous for frescoes dating to 10th century describing the life of Jesus Christ and monks. Next stop is Cavusin, which is an abandoned village with old cave Greek houses. After Cavusin you go to the restaurant in Avanos to have lunch. After lunch, you visit a pottery workshop, to see how to make potteries. Then you go to Love Valley. Love Valley Cappadocia is a hidden valley with scenic formations to say the least. Despite the resemblance to man hood, these amazing rock formations are far from man-made. After Love Valley you visit another workshop to see Cappadocian handwoven carpets and kilims. Next stop is Devrent Valley, which is also called Imagination Valley, where you can see natural rock formations looking like animals. Last stop is Three Beauties, three beautiful fairy chimneys with their hats, which is the symbol of Cappadocia. This tour will end approximately at 18.00 and you will be returned back to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia. Cappadocia

(Breakfast included) Today, we depart for Kayseri airport for our domestic flight to Istanbul and then back to home. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the future in one of our tours again. Have a nice trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Booking. Istanbul Cappadocia