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12 Days Turkey – Bulgaria – Greece Combination Tour
|12 Days, 12 Destinations |Starts from Istanbul
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Earn €20 in travel credits

Duration
12 days

Max Group Size
40

Tour Code

Tour Type
Request as private tour

Departure Type
Scheduled

Age Requirement
0 - 99 Ages

Guiding Method
Fully guided

Operated In
English

Physical level
relax

Tour route map

Istanbul

Pickup Time:

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Athens

Dropoff Time:

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Activities

AdventureCombined CountryDiscoveryExplorerFamilyHistoricalIn-depth CulturalSightseeingSolo TravelWalking TourSee Itinerary

Tour Overview

One of the best combined tour programs in the world. In 12 days, you will visit the cultural Capital of Europe; Istanbul, one of the most beautiful cities of Europe; Sofia, one of the best places to feel the cultural heritages of Europe; Athens.

Itinerary

Upon our arrival at Istanbul International Airport, your guide will meet, assist and transfer you to the hotel. Istanbul’s original name is Byzantium then Constantinople. It is a most fascinating city, which actually crosses two continents Europe and Asia. It is a city of amalgamation of bazaars, minarets, mosques, churches, palaces, and restaurants catering to every one’s taste, museums, customs and twelve million people. Overnight in Istanbul.
(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, transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
(Breakfast included) After breakfast between 08:00 am and 09:30 am pick ups from hotel. Your tour consultant will give you final timing one day before. BOSPHORUS 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 COVERED BAZAAR In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more than 4,000 shops with each trade having its own area: the goldsmiths' street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as hand painted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes. After the tour transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
(Breakfast included) After breakfast, check out from the hotel and Depart for Bulgaria. Arrival in Plovdiv around noon, in Bulgaria. Check in to hotel and rest of day is yours. Explore Plovdiv city, shop in the local markets, or enjoy many big party or games in Casinos. Overnight in Plovdiv.
(Breakfast included) After breakfast, departure for Sofia. Guided sightseeing tour of the city center including visit to the National History Museum and the mediaeval Boyana Church included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 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, the Presidency, etc. Free time in the city center and main shopping area around Vitosha Boulevard. Optional evening panoramic tour “Sofia by night” and dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances. Overnight in Sofia.
(Breakfast included) After the breakfast, we depart 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, the monastery museum where you can learn about the long and heroic history of the monastery, the wood carved 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 Sandanski in the afternoon. Overnight in Sandanski.
(Breakfast included) After breakfast, drive to Melnik – the smallest town in Bulgaria famous for its excellent wines and sandstone rocky pyramids. Visit to Kordopulova museum-house. Around noon departure for Greece. Arrive Thessaloniki early afternoon. The rest of the day will be free to explore and enjoy Thessaloniki on your own, walking around, doing the shopping or relaxing in one of many cafeterias or Taverns in Thessaloniki down town. Overnight in Thessaloniki.
(Breakfast included) Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, drive to Vergina, the most important remains of the monumental palace of the Kingdom of Macedonia, lavishly decorated with mosaics and painted stuccoes, and the burial ground with more than 300 tumuli, some of which date from the 11th century B.C. One of the royal tombs is identified as that of Philip II, who conquered all the Greek cities, paving the way for his son Alexander and the expansion of the Hellenistic world. After the visit drive to Athens. On the way, make a short stop at Thermopylae where a fierce battle took place between the Persians and Greeks during the Persian invasion of 480-479 BC. The Greek force (300 strong) was very small but was determined to make a stand against the huge Persian army. Overnight in Athens.
(Breakfast included) In the morning, after breakfast, we will pick you up from the hotel and shall start our sightseeing tour of the center of Athens including The Constitution of Greece (Sintagma). It was created by the Fifth Revisional Parliament of the Hellenes and entered into force in 1975. It has been revised three times since, in 1986, in 2001 and in 2008. The Constitutional history of Greece goes back to the Greek War of Independence, during which the first three revolutionary Greek constitutions were adopted. Afterwards we will visit Old Parliament House. The Old Parliament building, which is located at Stadiou Street in Athens, housed the Greek Parliament between 1875 and 1932. It now houses the country's National Historical Museum. In front of the building stands a large equestrian statue of General Theodoros Kolokotronis, cast in bronze. It was sculpted by Lazaros Sochos in Paris in 1900, and erected in its current place in 1904. Continue our tour, we will go to The National Library of Greece which is situated near the center of city of Athens. It holds 4,500 Greek manuscripts, which is one of the greatest collection of Greek scripts. There are also many chrysobulls and archives of the Greek Revolution Then we will continue driving down Herod Atticus Street, you will see the Evzones in their picturesque uniform and the PRESIDENTIAL PALACE which is the official residence of the President of the Hellenic Republic. It previously served as the Royal Palace, until the abolition of the monarchy by referendum in 1974. On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Hadrian's Arch, visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus. and you will make a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium which was refurbished a second time in 1895 for the 1896 Olympics, with completion funding provided by the Greek benefactor George Averoff whose marble statue now stands at the entrance, based on designs by architects Anastasios Metaxas and Ernst Ziller. Upon arrive Acropolis, we will visit Acropolis Museum which is focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on its feet, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. It also lies on the archaeological site of Makrygianni and the ruins of a part of Roman and early Byzantine Athens. Also, we will visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the PROPYLAEA, the TEMPLE of ATHENA NIKE, the ERECHTHEION. The last stop before we back to hotel is The Parthenon. The Parthenon is a temple in Acropolis, the harmony between material and spirit, the monument that puts order in the mind. Early evening, we will back to hotel, you can relax in the rest of the day. Overnight in Athens.
(Breakfast included) Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast transfer to Piraeus Port (or Rafina) for a boat to Mykonos. Arrival in Mykonos Port and transfer to the hotel. Then spend the rest of the day at leisure. Enjoy your day on this Cycladic Island known for its great night life and the town’s Cycladic architecture. Mykonos beaches a must to experience, such as Platy Gialos, Psarou, Ornos, Paranga “Paradise”, “Super Paradise”, Elia, Kalafati, Kalo Livadi. On Mykonos western shore are Agios Stefanos, Houlakia, Tourlos, Megali-Ammos. Walk through the narrow alleyways in Mykonos town and visit beautiful churches and the famous windmills. Overnight in Mykonons.
(Breakfast included) Breakfast at the hotel. Free day to explore the island on your own. Mykonos Island is the most famous and cosmopolitan tourist island in the Eastern Mediterranean amongst the Cyclades, something which is not just by chance. Expect to experience the exquisite visuals of white-washed houses, proud windmills, a multitude of chapels, busy back streets with balconies full of flowers and a multicolour fleet of fishing boats at the port. If you’re after a bit of history and culture, the island has five museums you can visit as well as a beautiful church. The church of Panagia Paraportiani is located beyond the Delos Ferry Quay on the way to Little Venice. Overnight in Mykonos.
(Breakfast included) Early breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Mykonos port for a boat to Piraeus (or Rafina). When you arrive at Piraeus port you will be transferred to Athens International airport for an evening flight back home.

Trip includes

Included

• 3 nights’ hotel accommodation in Istanbul - Pullman Hotel or Ramada Golden Horn Hotel • 1 night hotel accommodation in Plovdiv - Imperial Hotel • 1 night hotel accommodation in Sofia - Ramada Sofia Hotel • 1 night hotel accommodation in Sandanski - Inter Hotel Sandalski • 1 night hotel accommodation in Thessaloniki - Holiday Inn Hotel • 2 nights’ hotel accommodation in Athens - Titania Hotel • 2 night hotel accommodation in Mykonos - Alkyon Hotel PS: If This hotel list not available at the time of your booking then we will arrange similar other hotel for your group. If you prefer a Different category hotel, there might be an additional cost.
Professional English-speaking tour guides

Guiding Method
Fully guided

English
11 open buffet breakfasts
Arrival airport transfer from Istanbul Airport • Transfer for hotel to Piraeus port (or Rafina) • Ferry tickets to Mykonos • Arrival transfer from Mykonos port to hotel • Transfer from hotel to Mykonos Port • Ferry tickets to Piraeus (or Rafina) • Departure transfer from Piraeus port (or Rafina) to Athens International airport • Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach • Departure transfer to Athens International Airport
• Guided Istanbul City Tour • Guided Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour • Guided Melnik Tour • Guided Sofia Tour • Guided Vergina tour • Guided Athens Sightseeing Tour • Escorted Half All in One Panoramic Tour of Attica • All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary

Excluded

International flights
Insurance: All types
• City Tax • Turkey entry visa • Bulgaria entry visa • Greece entry visa • Evening panoramic tour “Sofia by night” and dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances • Optinal land excursion • Items of a personal nature such as alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, laundry • Any others expenses which are not mentioned at the included section. • Hotel room taxes • Tipping

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