Athens to Istanbul - 13 Days

Welcome to Athens. We arrange your transfer to the hotel and you’ll have free time to settle in. Information about the programme will be provided in the afternoon, either in person or via the notice board at hotel reception.

We include a panoramic tour of Athens, taking in the Presidential Mansion, the Panathenaic Stadium – site of the first modern Olympic Games – the National Library, lively city centre squares and the new infrastructure created for the 2004 Olympics. The tour ends near the Acropolis – entry not included. In the afternoon we transfer to the Port of Piraeus to board an overnight ferry with amenities similar to those on a cruise ship. Accommodation is in a double cabin and we spend the night on board.

Arriving in Rhodes early, we begin with a city tour featuring the impressive walled citadel and Old Town, where Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Knights of St John, Ottoman and Italian legacies meet. In the afternoon, around 16:00, we take the express ferry to Turkey – about one hour. On arrival in Marmaris, a beautiful coastal resort known for its castle, marina and fountains, we settle into our accommodation in the area. Dinner is included. Important: the Rhodes–Marmaris ferry timetable is frequently subject to change and may not operate daily outside summer, so this section may need to be adjusted.

We set off for Dalyan, a picturesque stop on a tranquil navigable river. A one hour boat ride is included, during which we visit the Lycian rock tombs, and there is time to enjoy a meal at one of the riverside restaurants. We then continue to Antalya to discover this vibrant coastal city of over one million residents – highlights include Hadrian’s Gate, the Ottoman quarter and a dramatic waterfall that plunges into the sea. Dinner is included.

We leave Antalya for Aspendos to visit its Roman theatre, widely regarded as one of the best preserved anywhere. We continue to Side to admire the seaside Temple of Apollo and there is time to wander the harbour and lively streets. Crossing the Taurus Mountains amid striking scenery, we pass peaks over 3,500 metres, often capped with snow. We pause in Karaman to view its fortress from the outside before continuing to the Cappadocia region. Dinner is included in Nigde.

We devote the day to the extraordinary landscapes of Cappadocia, with its otherworldly forms, ancient churches and troglodyte villages. We begin at Gumusler, a seventh century underground monastery noted for superb Byzantine frescoes. In Kaymacli we explore the underground city that once sheltered up to 30,000 people, then visit Uchisar, a natural fortress with sweeping views. After lunch we discover the Göreme Valley and its open air museum with remarkable rock cut churches – tickets included. We stay in Avanos and dinner is included.

At the far edge of Cappadocia we visit the Ihlara Valley, famed for its cool waters and rock cut churches and villages. We then call at a 13th century caravanserai and the Mevlana Mausoleum in Konya to learn about the Dervish order. Dinner is included. In the evening, you may wish to attend a dervish dance performance at the cultural centre.

We travel a scenic route through the lakes region to Egridir, a charming town on a large lake known for its old walls and mosques – you will have time for lunch. We then continue to Hierapolis–Pamukkale, where mineral rich waters have created the dazzling Cotton Palace – tickets included. Dinner is included.

We make our way to Ephesus, the best preserved ancient city in Asia Minor, once home to a quarter of a million people. We visit the House of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St John and the impressive archaeological area of Ephesus – entry included. We then continue to Kusadasi, a lively coastal town with thriving shops and a small castle. Dinner is included. Note: during the high season from May–October accommodation may be in Aydin instead of Kusadasi; in this case, after exploring Ephesus we stop in Kusadasi from 16:30 to 19:00 for a panoramic tour before continuing to Aydin.

We set off for Izmir, Turkey’s third most populous city, where our guide leads a brief tour of this vibrant, westernised metropolis. We then head inland, pausing for lunch, before arriving in Bursa, the country’s fourth largest city with a UNESCO World Heritage site at its centre. Highlights include traditional commercial quarters, mosques, religious schools, public baths and the celebrated Green Mosque. We reach Istanbul by day’s end.

A sightseeing tour awaits us. We enter the Süleymaniye Mosque, the largest in Istanbul, explore the ancient walls and the Golden Horn, and take in the lively fishing district before admiring the exterior of Hagia Sophia. Our tour includes tickets for the Topkapi Palace, former administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire. In the afternoon, you have free time to explore this city spanning two continents. As evening approaches, we provide a transfer to Taksim, the city’s most vibrant commercial district, where you will have time for dinner and to see the charming old tram – or you can visit the nearby Galata Tower.

Today we take a boat trip on the Bosphorus – tickets included – lasting about two hours on a private boat for our group. The cruise follows the strait linking the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and dividing Istanbul between its European and Asian shores. We watch the busy traffic on the water, pass beneath the two bridges that connect Europe and Asia, and admire sultans’ palaces, traditional wooden houses and fine Ottoman architecture. Afterwards we return to central Istanbul and you have free time.

After breakfast, our journey comes to an end – we hope you leave with wonderful memories.