SUNDAY: ISTANBUL – ANKARA – CAPPADOCIA

Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Ankara, arrival and transfer to the city to visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk. Lunch at noon. Continue to Cappadocia, dinner and overnight.

MONDAY: CAPPADOCIA

Departure for a full-day tour of the extraordinary and fascinating Cappadocia starting with a visit to the underground city Kaymakli or Ozkonak, originally excavated by Christian communities, with a depth of 7 to 12 stories underground. Then we will go to Valley Güvercinlik (Pigeon Valley) and admire a panoramic view of the castle of Uchisar on top of a mound of volcanic rock crossed by tunnels and windows. In the afternoon, visit the open-air museum of Göreme, a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Continued, visiting the vineyard where Pasabag is so-called “fairy chimneys”. Dinner and accommodation.

TUESDAY: CAPPADOCIA – KAYSERI – ISTANBUL

Departure from the hotel and drive on to Kayseri airport, for the flight back to Istanbul. Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your selected hotel.

WEDNESDAY: ISTANBUL – FULL DAY CITY TOUR

After breakfast full-day visit to Istanbul. We begin our tour from the Sultanahmet district, the heart of old Istanbul at Agia Sophia. Built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD this church is one of the marvels of world architecture. Its massive dome dominates the skyline of old Istanbul. It is famed for its mosaics, including glittering portraits of emperors and empresses.

Next, we visit the Blue Mosque, which owes its name to the exquisite tiles adorning its interior. Dating from the 17th century, it is the only imperial Mosque with six minarets. The Hippodrome, the stadium of ancient Byzantium, held 100.000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire.

The Grand Bazaar was the commercial heart of the old city and its 4.000 shops are full of treasures – including carpets and kilims, silks, jewellery, ceramics, icons and leather goods.

Lunch in a local restaurant and continuation of our tour. Our afternoon will begin at Topkapi Palace which, from the 15th to 19th century, was the principal residence of the Ottoman Sultans.

Little Agia Sophia Mosque is known as one of the oldest standing churches in Istanbul dating back to the 6th century. It is an early domed-basilica architectural plan of the famous Agia Sophia which was applied here for the first time in history.

THURSDAY: ISTANBUL – ATHENS

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Athens. Upon your arrival, you will be met and transferred to your selected hotel in Athens. Balance of the day at leisure.

FRIDAY: ATHENS – HALF DAY CITY TOUR

This tour is an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896 (shortstop).

Continue and pass by the Prime Minister’s residence (ex-Royal Palace) guarded by the Euzones in their colourful uniform, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, theNational Library, the Constitution Square (Syntagma). On the Acropolis visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the monument that “puts an order in the mind”, the Parthenon.

Tour will end with visiting the Acropolis and the new Acropolis Museum, “State of the art” in museum construction and very rich in content.

Afternoon free to visit Plaka (The old Athens city) with lots of souvenir shops, restaurants and taverns.

SATURDAY: ATHENS

Free day in Athens to stroll around the city and know better the sites and the people. Good opportunity to visit one of the famous museums like the National Archaeological Museum or the Benaki Museum.

Use the metro not only for your transportation but also to visit the different stations to admire pieces of ancient and modern art. Not to miss the visit to Plaka (The old Athens city) with lots of souvenir shops, restaurants and taverns.

SUNDAY: ATHENS – DELPHI

Excursion to the Archaeological site of Delphi, once known as the centre of Earth. This tour will show you the ruins of ancient Delphi and also a big part of mainland Greece full of green places and beautiful villages. Ancient Greece was full of religious places like Delphi, which also connected with athletics and medical services.

Delphi was the centre of the Ancient World – the “Omphalos” (Navel of Earth) – whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic World.

On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios.

Visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the Museum containing such masterpieces of Ancient Greek sculpture as the bronze Charioteer and the famous athlete Aghias.

Lunch in a local restaurant and a free afternoon to enjoy the very nice views of the gorge all the way to Itea.

MONDAY: DELPHI – METEORA

Relaxed breakfast in your hotel and a free morning in Delphi.

Depart for Kalambaka, a small Town situated at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, gigantic rocks. Dinner and overnight.

TUESDAY: METEORA – ATHENS

Meteora is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. Among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and the Pindus Mountains, in central Greece. The Meteora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, and Thermopylae (visit Leonida’s monument). Arrive in Athens early in the evening.