Reception Transfer to hotel and free time. You will receive information about the start of the circuit during the afternoon, or you can consult the informative panels in the hotel reception area.
Comprehensive tour of the city lasting approximately two hours, including the city walls, the Golden Horn, the fishing quarter, Taksim Square, Topkapi Palace and the exterior of the Church of St. Sophia, in this city which was built between two continents. Free time (we recommend an additional visit, including tickets and lunch at Topkapi Palace).
Free day. Visitor can enjoy the charm of this city, with free time to wander about and discover memorable places.
Bosphorus Ankara, visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk. Departure from Istanbul in the morning. After crossing the suspension bridge over the Bosphorus we make the ascent to the peninsula of Anatolia. ANKARA. Arrival at lunchtime, followed by a coach tour of the Turkish capital in the afternoon, visiting the Mausoleum of Ataturk. We strongly recommend a visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations.
Departure to the fantastic region of CAPPADOCIA, with its moon-like landscapes, churches and troglodyte villages, via the SALT LAKE. Visit to the underground city of KAYMACLI, which once had some 30,000 inhabitants. After passing through a spectacular landscape, we come to UCHISAR, where visitors can take a stroll and enter the natural rock citadel, followed by a tour of GÖREME Valley with its open-air museum and churches carved into the rock (price of ticket included). Then supper at NEVSEHIR (included).
Visit to this incredible region and IHLARA Valley, with its cool waters, churches and villages carved into the rock. Then we continue along our route, stopping at the ancient CARAVANSERAI dating from the 13th century, before coming to KONYA, where we visit the Mevlana Mausoleum, and learn about the Whirling Dervishes sect (price of ticket included). Supper included.
After travelling along a road surrounded by lakes, we come to EGRIDIR, a pretty town with walls and mosques, where we have lunch. Then we continue to PAMUKKALE-Hierapolis, where the hard waters have carved out the “cotton castle” (price of ticket included). Supper included.
We leave for EPHESUS, the best-conserved ancient city in Asia Minor; 2000 years ago, it had a population of one million. Visit to the Virgin Mary’s house, the Basilica of St. John and the impressive ruins of Ephesus (price of ticket included). Our visit then continues to the pleasant coastal city of KUSADASI, where visitors have time to enjoy lunch and free time in the afternoon to wander about and see its many streets filled with stores, castle and beaches. Supper included.
Departure for IZMIR, the third most important city in Turkey, where we visit the jetty. Then we continue to CESME, an attractive city near the sea, with its ancient walls, commercial district and castle. In the afternoon, we take a small boat (variable timetable) to CHIOS, a Greek island near the Turkish coast. Free time in CHIOS to visit its busy centre. In the evening, we embark on a modern ferry to cross the Aegean Sea, with accommodation in double cabins with shower compartments.
Note: The ferry lines from Cesme and Chios to Athens are often affected by weather conditions, ferry maintenance, industrial action and other events. In such cases, the programme will be adapted (last minute), and take a fight to Athens.
Arrival early in the morning. Comprehensive tour of ATHENS, including the modern city, Panathinaikos Stadium and the Royal Palace. At night, shuttle to the PLAKA neighbourhood, a place filled with small Greek taverns in which visitors can get a taste of the rick folklore of the country.
Free day. Visitor can enjoy the charm of this city, with free time to wander about and discover memorable places.
Departure for the north, stopping at KAMENA VOURLA, a pretty tourist town set amidst magnificent coastal landscapes. We continue our journey to the Thermopiles Pass where the Greeks fought the Persians 2500 years ago. Then we pay a visit to Tempi Valley, a narrow gorge at the foot of Mount Olympus, home to the Greek Gods. Arrival at THESSALONIKI in the afternoon, and free time in the second most important city in Greece. Supper included.
Free time in the centre of THESSALONIKI before continuing our journey to Bulgaria. In the Bulgarian area of Macedonia we stop at MELNIK, a picturesque village-museum surrounded by attractive scenery. Then we visit the beautiful World Heritage Site of Rila Monastery, an impressive structure surrounding by forests. Arrival at SOFÍA in the late afternoon.
Comprehensive tour of SOFÍA, the capital of Bulgaria, with a visit to the Alexander Nevski Cathedral (Russian Orthodox Church) and the city’s Stalinist style squares and avenues. Free afternoon.
PLOVDIV- Visit accompanied by local guide included n this Greek city of origin, with its attractive historic centre and wooden mansions. After lunch, departure for Turkey. After crossing the border, arrival at Istanbul in the late afternoon, where our journey and services end. End of our services.
