13 Day Greece & Turkey Odyssey: Ancient Wonders & Timeless Beauty

(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)

After your breakfast, check out from the hotel and we will arrange your transfer to Thessaloniki Airport for flight to Turkey. 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 and Lunch included)

After breakfast, we have Istanbul City Tour. Our first visit will be 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. Than 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 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 13:00 pm. After the lunch, TravelShop Group will take you to the ASIL EFENDI 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.

Please Note: Please do not forget to carry headscarf with you for the visit of religious places as Blue Mosque & Haghia Sophia Mosque.

(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 Izmir. Transfer from airport and check in to your hotel in Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
After breakfast between 08:30 am, departure from hotel 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 and Grand theatre. Lunch break around 13:00 pm. After the lunch, we will visit a place, which continues to perform one of the oldest arts of Turkey; a carpet-weaving centre. After lunch, we will do a Turkish Village Tour. Sirince’s construction style today belongs to Anatolian Greeks. The houses on the slope are all Orginal 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. 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.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

We depart for Pamukkale at 08:00 am. Upon arrival to Pamukkale we have a lunch break until 13:30 pm. Afterwards we shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, then walk around this natural phenomenon and have the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs. Denizli/Pamukkale means seaside in Turkish and is located on the Buyuk Menderes River.  It is a growing industrial town, known for its textile industry and outlet shopping. You will visit one of the famous textile factories of Pamukkale. This tour will end approximately 18.30 and you will be back to your hotel. Dinner and Overnight in Kusadasi.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

After breakfast, we depart for İzmir Airport for our domestic flight to Cappadocia. Transfer from Kayseri airport to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore 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 at 09:30 depart for Cappadocia Tour. We will drive you to Ozkonak Underground City, one of the best preserved Underground cities in Cappadocia. After Underground City tour, 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 work shop, 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. 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. Dinner and Overnight in Cappadocia.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast you will have free time in Cappadocia. Today we depart to 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.Turkey.