10 nights. Turcaí, Cyprus, Greece

Day 1

istanbul, turkey

Departure: 00:00

Istanbul owes its historical significance and its incredible cultural and architectural heritage to its perfect strategic location, straddling the Bosphorus straits which separate Europe and Asia Minor. Throughout most of its 2,500-year-long history, the city (first known as Byzantium, then as Constantinople and since 1930 as Istanbul) was a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of over 13 million is almost exclusively Turkish, and many of its people are recent migrants from provincial Turkey, drawn by the promise of jobs and careers in this vibrant, rapidly growing city. Istanbul is no longer the nation's capital, but is Turkey's economic and cultural powerhouse - a status emphasised by its role as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the award of UNESCO World Heritage listing to many of its most important landmarks, which range from stunning Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs to the columns of Hellenistic temples and the remains of massive medieval city walls. But there's more to Istanbul than Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A rapidly growing economy has contributed to a thriving arts and music scene, with a wealth of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants and designer fashion outlets.

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Day 2

istanbul, turkey

Arrival: 00:00 - Departure: 11:00

Istanbul owes its historical significance and its incredible cultural and architectural heritage to its perfect strategic location, straddling the Bosphorus straits which separate Europe and Asia Minor. Throughout most of its 2,500-year-long history, the city (first known as Byzantium, then as Constantinople and since 1930 as Istanbul) was a cultural melting pot. Today, its population of over 13 million is almost exclusively Turkish, and many of its people are recent migrants from provincial Turkey, drawn by the promise of jobs and careers in this vibrant, rapidly growing city. Istanbul is no longer the nation's capital, but is Turkey's economic and cultural powerhouse - a status emphasised by its role as a European City of Culture in 2010 and the award of UNESCO World Heritage listing to many of its most important landmarks, which range from stunning Ottoman mosques and Byzantine churches and catacombs to the columns of Hellenistic temples and the remains of massive medieval city walls. But there's more to Istanbul than Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. A rapidly growing economy has contributed to a thriving arts and music scene, with a wealth of new bars, clubs, private art galleries, restaurants and designer fashion outlets.

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Day 4

izmir - turkey

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 18:00

İzmir is a city in the western extremity of Anatolia and the third most populous city in Turkey, after Istanbul and Ankara. The metropolitan area of İzmir extends along the outlying waters of the Gulf of İzmir and inland to the north across the delta of the Gediz River, to the east along an alluvial plain created by several small streams and to a slightly more rugged terrain in the south. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Beaches. Izmir has many beaches which are not too far from the city centre. • Konak Square • Asansör • Beaches. • Alsancak. • Karsiyaka • Kadifekale • Teleferik

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Day 6

marmaris - turkey

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 18:00

Marmaris is a town in Turkey, along the Mediterranean coast in the province of Muğla. Marmaris is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, ancient old town, magnificent natural surroundings, several modern marinas, many coves along its coast and a natural harbour surrounded by pine-clad hills. The old town is a labyrinth of winding little streets and lanes with whitewashed houses amid a top-notch shopping bazaar. The Castle boasts lovely views from its ramparts and is well worth a visit. The coastline is perfect for water sports, sailing, sunbathing, or strolling along the palm lined promenade. Marmaris is a stylish and cosmopolitan resort with numerous nightspots or restaurants. It's one of Turkey's largest tourist resorts but it has managed to maintain much of its charm. The hills running into the sea and the beautiful bays make Marmaris very special.

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Day 7

limassol, cyprus

Arrival: 11:00 - Departure: 18:00

Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus. After the Turkish invasion in 1974, it became the main sea port and has also developed into a significant tourist destination. Limassol Castle holds a dominant position among the landmarks and tourist attractions in the city. In Limassol, shore excursions offer a unique experience of exploring the city's various monuments and landmarks amidst the elaborate luxury of a cruise. Shore excursions bring tourists to places and attractions in and around Limassol, including Kolossi Castle, the Troodos Mountains, Omodos Village, Larnaka and Lefkara, Paphos and Nicosia.

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Day 8

rhodes, greece

Arrival: 11:30 - Departure: 18:00

Rhodes is the main city and a former municipality on the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese, Greece. Since the local government reform in 2011, it is part of the municipality Rhodes, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It has a population of approximately 50,000 inhabitants (nearly 90,000 in its metropolitan area). Rhodes has been famous since ancient times as the location of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The citadel of Rhodes, built by the Hospitalliers, is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe, which in 1988 was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the city of Rhodes is a significant Greek urban centre and a popular international tourist destination.

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Day 9

heraklion (iraklion), crete

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 17:00

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Day 10

mykonos, greece

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 18:00

Mykonos is a popular tourist destination in the Greek islands of the Cyclades group, situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea. In the 1960s, Mykonos became a bohemian mecca and is now one of the glitziest holiday resorts in the country that happily flaunts its sizzling style and reputation. This central Cyclade was for years the premier Mediterranean resort for gay travellers, though recently Mykonos has tried to reinvent itself for a more varied clientele, though nightlife is still very gay-friendly, it is a paradise for any reveller with loud and long nights. Chora or Mykonos town is the main town on the island. It is filled with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed buildings with blue trim, nice restaurants, clothing and jewellery shops, a fish market and a vegetable market. It is one of the most cosmopolitan and crowded towns of the Aegean. Besides Chora, there is only one other town on the island, Ano Mera. Ano Mera is quieter and less touristy. While you are here, visit the Monastery of Panagia Tourliani, a traditional Greek Orthodox Church which has a beautiful iconostas. The island is dry and barren, but there are some fine, sandy beaches, the two most well-known being Paradise and Super Paradise, but there are many other beaches you can seek out around the island. From the charming port, catch a boat out to the beaches or out to Delos, and you will be travelling from the present into the ancient past, from one set of myths to another.

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