12 Day Greece & Turkey Grand Heritage Tour: Athens, Meteora, Istanbul & Cappadocia

(Dinner included)
Arrive at Athens Airport, transfer to the hotel, and accommodation at your reserved hotel. You can explore Athens in your free time; may shop in the famous Plaka area and have a drink at the cafes nearby. Dinner and overnight in Athens. 

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Today, we’ll start our local Athens tour after breakfast. If we are lucky, we can see the uniformed soldiers during the changing of the guard. We will proceed with a visit to the Church of Panagia Kapnikarea, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Old Royal Palace, and Hadrian's Arch in Adrianou Street and have lunch in an authentic Greek restaurant. Later, we will visit the Acropolis of Athens located on a hill, overlooking the whole city of Athens with the first known defense walls built in the 13th century BC by the Ancient Mycenaeans.

End of the tour accommodation and dinner in Athens. 

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

After breakfast, we will drive to Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 185 km from Athens. Located in a magnificent area with beautiful topography, Delphi has been the sacred place and religious worship center of the Hellenic World dedicated to Apollo for centuries. In the ancient city of Delphi, we’ll see the Temple of Apollo, known as the God of the sun, music, poetry, and healing, the Athenian Treasury, the Siphnian Treasury, the Kings of Argos, Omphalos (the stone placed in the center of the earth), the Altar of the Chiots, Delphi Ancient Theater, Delphi Stadium and thousands of years old masterpieces in the Delphi Museum.

Dinner and overnight in Delphi. 

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Discover the wonderful Monastic Heritage of Meteora in Greece and the fascinating fairy chimneys of Cappadocia in Turkey.

We’ll depart for Kalambaka right after breakfast, and drive for about four hours. After a lunch break in a local restaurant, we’ll continue with today’s excursion in Meteora which is known as one of the sacred sites of Christianity. Meteora is made up of several monasteries built on the top of a hill around the 11th century. The reason why they picked such an isolated location, as you might have guessed, was safety concerns. They didn’t have stairway access, but a lift system made of wood and thick tethers to carry people and goods up and down. We will finish this wonderful excursion with a visit to Holy Telis (Agia Triada) and Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas monasteries. We’ll also see any other available monasteries at the time of our visit in this breathtaking atmosphere. After our visits, we’ll head for our hotel in Kalambaka.

Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

After breakfast, we’ll travel to Thessaloniki which is 250 km from Kalambaka. On the way, the first site we will visit is Vergina; the legendary and holy graveyard of the Macedonian Kings. The tomb of King Philip II, and the father of Alexander the Great, who had a great contribution to the development of Hellenism on the Greek lands, is located here. From here, we’ll continue on our way to Thessaloniki and have a lunch break at a Greek restaurant. After lunch, we will begin our exploration of Thessaloniki with its beautiful monuments and remains as the White Tower of Thessaloniki, Aristotelous Square, St. Sophia Church, Galerius Triumphal Arch, and Byzantium Castle. During St. Paul's second and third missionary journey, he did missionary work in Thessaloniki and wrote letters to the Thessalonians.

End of the tour, dinner, and overnight in Thessaloniki.

(Breakfast, and Dinner included)

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

After breakfast enjoy BOSPORUS BY BOAT; a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion, you will see the magnificent sights of the following attractions from your boat. See Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of its marble facade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists, gather every sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries. RUMELI FORTRESS (view from boat), Built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul was completed in only four months to control and protect the infamous Bosporus passage. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world. BEYLERBEYI PALACE (view from boat), is the summer residence of Ottoman sultans exists in its original renovated glory featuring original antique furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian side of Istanbul. Lunch break at the Turkish restaurant. After the lunch we will then 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 transfer to Istanbul Airport for domestic flight to Cappadocia. Transfer from airport and check in to your hotel in Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

Please Note: If you wish to join our optional activity of Cappadocia Hor Air Ballooning for tomorrow, please contact with your guide and register because it will take place early the next morning.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

After breakfast, visit the Uçhisar Castle, situated at the highest hill of Cappadocia, shaped by flowing volcanic lavas. Uchisar castle history, you learn from your guide how this fantastic landscape came into existence. Next visit the Göreme Open air museum The UNESCO World Heritage site contains rock-cut churches and monastic complexes. Göreme Open Air Museum, which is home to dozens of monasteries carved into the rocks, such as the Dark Church, Apple Church, Serpentine Church, and Saint Barbara Church. Paşabağı Valley. Some of the mushroom-shaped rock formations here are several meters high. Fairy chimneys shaped by erosion for many years were used as houses by various religious groups, therefore it is also known as the Monks Valley. Next, and a short trip to Devrent Valley of beautiful rock formations that resemble various animals. 

We’ll have a lunch break at a local restaurant in Avanos. And visit the Pottery atelier, In the Avanos region, B.C. The raw material for pottery making, which dates back to 2000 BC, that is, to the Hittite period, is the mud of the Kızılırmak River. Handcrafted ceramics made with special techniques are world-famous.

Visit Pigeon Valley is named after the wild pigeons living in the region from their nests in the volcanic rocks. In fact, the farmers in the region carve these rocks and make unique nests for the pigeons, then collect the pigeon manure and use it in agriculture. We’ll finish our tour with a scenic trip to our hotel.

For those interested in traditional Turkish arts and the influence of Silk Road commerce, we can visit the Carpet Center to see hand-knotted rugs.

Dinner and accommodation at our hotel in Cappadocia.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Start your day with a hot-air balloon ride at sunrise, which will give you a breathtaking view of the fairy chimneys and unique rock formations.

We will meet at 09:30 with the group returning from the balloon tour and start our panoramic tour in Goreme Village, an authentic town with houses built in fairy chimneys.

Visit the Mazi Underground City or Kaymaklı Underground City UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cappadocia., built and carved by Christians the underground for protection from Muslim Arab raids, where they could continue their daily lives underground. Afterwards, we will visit the Mustafa Pasha Village, formerly known as Sinasos, where Orthodox Greeks and Turks lived together until 1924. Here, we will observe the local life and the authentic stone houses built by Sinasos architects. The Agios Konstantinos Eleni Church, Mehmet Şakir Pasha Madrasah, old Greek houses, Maraşoğlu Bridge, and historical stone mansions are among the other structures we will see here.

We’ll have a lunch break in a local restaurant.

Finally, we will visit the Pigeon Valley and end our tour with free shopping time at the Cappadocian onyx souvenir workshop.  For those interested in traditional Turkish arts and the influences of the Silk Road commerce, there will be an opportunity to visit the Carpet Center to see hand-knotted rugs.

Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

(Breakfast and Bosphorus Dinner included)

This morning, we’ll have the last chance to enjoy the views of beautiful Cappadocia from our hotel since we must leave for the Istanbul flight after breakfast. We’ll transfer to Kayseri or Nevşehir airport for our flight, and upon arrival, we’ll have our transfer to our hotel in Istanbul.

Discover Istanbul yourselves. Transfer from the hotel to the boat at 19:30 and meet in the lobby.

Bosphorus Dinner Cruise (19:30 – 24:00) 

Menu: Grill fish or meatballs or chicken, cold and hot appetisers, 

Beverages.; Unlimited soft and alcoholic ( Raki, Beer, Wine, vodka)

Program: Music, Folklore performance, Whirling Dervishes show, Traditional wedding ceremony, Oriental belly dancer Show, and more.

Transfer: Return transfer from the hotel.

Accommodation in Istanbul

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
Pick up at 09:00am from your hotel for the full day tour of old Istanbul city. Our first visit will be to Hippodrome. Ancient Hippodrome was the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. Then we will visit Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque. Across from Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, it was built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.Our next visit will be to Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, previously known as the Church of Divine Wisdom, is simply the best of its kind! Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is the greatest surviving example of Byzantine Architecture. For 1000 years, it was once the largest church in the world, decorated with stunning 6th century golden mosaics. Today it is a mosque. Lunch break at 1:00 pm. After lunch, you will be taken  to Exotic Spices and Herbs, Turkish Baklava, delicious fresh Turkish Delights, Turkish Coffee, nuts and fruits, 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, transfer back to your hotel. Evening we have Indian Dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.

If you would like to visit with entrance below sites;
Topkapi Palace Museum Entrance Fee. You pay the door price.
The Basilica Cistern Museum Entrance You pay the door price.
Hagia Sophia Museum Entrance Fee. You pay the door price.

Please Note: Please do not forget to carry Scarf with you because of visiting to Blue Mosque & Haghia Sophia Mosque.

(Breakfast included)
Enjoy some free time at leisure before your transfer to Istanbul Airport for your departure flight. We hope you had a memorable journey with us and look forward to welcoming you on another TravelShopBooking adventure.