Athens to Turkey Highlights - 11 Days

Welcome to Athens. We transfer you to the hotel, then you have free time. You will receive information in the afternoon, either directly or via the information board at hotel reception.

We take a panoramic tour of Athens, seeing the Presidential Mansion, the Panathenaic Stadium – site of the first modern Olympic Games – the National Library, lively central squares and the infrastructure introduced for the 2004 Olympics. The tour ends near the Acropolis – admission not included. In the afternoon, we transfer to the Port of Piraeus to board an overnight ferry with cruise ship style amenities. Accommodation is in a double cabin. Night on board.

We arrive in Rhodes early and begin a city tour that takes in the impressive walled citadel and Old Town, shaped by Greek, Roman, Byzantine, the Knights of St John, Ottoman and Italian influences. In the afternoon, around 16:00, we take the express ferry to Turkey – a journey of about an hour. On arrival in Marmaris, a beautiful coastal resort noted for its castle, marina and fountains, we settle into our accommodation in the region. Dinner is included. Important: the ferry timetable between Rhodes and Marmaris often changes and may not run daily outside the summer months, so this section of the itinerary may need to be adjusted.

We set off for Dalyan, a picturesque spot on a beautiful navigable river. A one hour boat ride is included to view the Lycian Rock Tombs. There is also time to enjoy a meal at one of the riverside restaurants. We then continue to Antalya to discover this vibrant coastal city of over a million residents, including Hadrian’s Gate, the Ottoman district and the dramatic waterfall that plunges directly into the sea. Dinner is included.

We leave Antalya for Aspendos to visit its Roman theatre – often considered the best preserved in the world. We continue to Side to admire the Temple of Apollo by the sea, with time to stroll its port and lively streets. Crossing stunning landscapes, we traverse the Taurus Mountains, whose peaks rise over 3,500 metres and remain snow covered for much of the year. We stop 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 Cappadocia’s extraordinary scenery, ancient churches and troglodyte villages. We begin at Gumusler, a seventh century underground monastery with some of Turkey’s finest 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, admiring rock cut churches – tickets included. We stay in Avanos and dinner is included.

We travel through the heart of Anatolia northwards as the landscapes turn lush and green. We arrive in Safranbolu by early afternoon – a delightful small city and UNESCO World Heritage Site that once thrived on the old caravan routes. In the courtyard of a beautifully preserved caravanserai, we enjoy traditional Turkish tea. Dinner is included.

We follow the Black Sea coast today, admiring the region’s rich greenery. Our first stop is Gökgöl Magrasi, where admission is included to explore this magnificent cave with an underground river and vivid colours. In Eregli, you have time for lunch, and later we visit the striking Cehennemagzi caves and tombs, steeped in mythology. We reach Istanbul by day’s end.

A city sightseeing tour awaits. We enter the Süleymaniye Mosque – the largest in Istanbul – explore the ancient walls, the Golden Horn and the bustling fishing district, and admire the exterior of Hagia Sophia. Tickets are included for the Topkapi Palace, former administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire with its splendid courtyards and pavilions. In the afternoon you have free time to explore this city that spans two continents. As the afternoon ends, we arrange a transfer to Taksim, the city’s most vibrant commercial district, where you have time to dine at one of its many restaurants and see the charming old tram or visit the nearby Galata Tower.

Today we embark on a Bosphorus boat trip – tickets included – lasting about two hours on a private boat reserved for our group. We sail the strait that links the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and divides Istanbul between its European and Asian sides, enjoying the lively bustle of passing vessels. We glide beneath the two bridges that connect Europe and Asia and admire sultans’ palaces, traditional wooden houses and graceful Ottoman architecture. Afterwards we return to central Istanbul and you have some free time.

After breakfast, our journey comes to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.