Greco - Turkish Contrasts (2024)

Dia 1

Welcome to Europamundo! Upon arriving at the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Check the information boards in the hotel reception area for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travelers.

Dia 2

A sightseeing tour of the city. We find ourselves in a city built in two continents. On our tour, we will enter the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent (the largest in Istanbul). We will see the walls, the Golden Horn, the fishing district, and we will admire the exterior of Hagia Sofia. After the visit, we will offer tickets and a visit to the Top Kapi Palace, which was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire, with its magnificent courtyards and its pavilions. At the end of the afternoon we will provide a transfer to the Taksim neighborhood, the most commercialized and lively area of the city. There will be time to dine in one of its many restaurants, and you can also take the old tram that crosses the area or go to see the nearby Galata Tower.

Dia 3

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Boat trip on the Bosphorus.Today we include a boat trip on the Bosphorus that will last about two hours. We will undertake the trip on a boat exclusively for Europamundo travellers. The Bosphorus is a strait that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, which separates Istanbul into two parts: the European part and the Asian one. We will enjoy seeing the liveliness of the strait with its multitude of boats. We will pass under the two bridges that unite Europe and Asia and we will admire the palaces of the sultans, the typical wooden houses and the Ottoman villas. Return to the center of Istanbul. Free time .

Dia 4

We leave early from Istanbul. We continue the route through Turkey. Around lunch time, we arrive at EPHESUS, the best preserved ancient city of Asia Minor; 2000 years ago it had a quarter of a million inhabitants. We will visit Saint John´s Basilica, and afterwards, the house of the Virgin Mary and the archaeological site (tickets included). We then continue to KUSADASI, a popular coastal town with a lot of atmosphere, commercial life and a small castle. Dinner and accommodation.

Dia 5

We leave for one of the natural wonders of Turkey, Lake BAFA. We continue to BODRUM, a very beautiful fortified city of Greek origin. You can visit its castle, stroll through its streets full of life and tourism or go around its sports marina. After lunch, we go on our way to MARMARIS, another very beautiful coastal tourist enclave with its castle, its marina and its fountains. Dinner and accommodation.

Dia 6

We will embark towards Greece in the early morning. Express ferry, the journey will last about an hour. Immigration checks. Arrival in Rhodes. City tour of this incredible walled city and the old quarter, which bears the imprints of the different cultures that shaped it (Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Knights of Saint John, Ottoman, Italian). Free time during the afternoon.- IMPORTANT NOTICE: The timetable for the ferry between Rhodes and Marmaris is frequently modified and doesn’t operate every day (except in the Summer months), this part of the trip’s itinerary may have to be modified accordingly.

Dia 7

We include an excursion to explore the island of Rhodes, we travel to FILERIMOS, at the top of the hill, among magnificent landscapes you can visit its small monastery. After that we travel to LINDOS, its medieval fortress and Greek Acropolis dominate the sea, you can walk through the white streets of the center, rest on its beaches or climb (on a donkey, if you wish) to the Acropolis. After lunch time we return to Rhodes. Free time in the afternoon. In the evening we will have a transfer to the airport. We take a flight to the island of CRETE, arrival on the island and transfer to the hotel in HERAKLION.Note: Direct flight schedules between Rhodes and Crete are limited and a matter of change; Sometimes the flight may be carried out on Friday morning or with a stopover in Athens.

Dia 8

In the morning we travel along the coast towards the west of the island. RETHYMNO, beautiful coastal city of Venetian origin, dominated by its medieval castle. CHANIA, captivating city with impressive fortress and stately mansions; contested among Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Genoese, Turks, Egyptians and Greeks throughout its history. Return to HERAKLION at the end of the day.

Dia 9

Today we include an excursion (admission and guided tour included) to the PALACE OF KNOSSOS, which will allow us to learn about the Minoan culture that gave rise to the Greek culture four thousand years ago. After the visit we cross the high mountains in the center of the island, we travel to the southern area, next to the Libyan Sea we visit AGIA GALINI, a picturesque town with labyrinthine streets, a fishing port and popular taverns. Time to have lunch and, if you’d like to, swim in the sea. Return to the capital of Crete.Note: From November to April we will make a stop in the picturesque town of Matala instead of Agia Galini due to the end of the summer season and the general closure of businesses in this town.

Dia 10

We will leave along the coast towards the east of the island. We visit the small town of Kritsa, PANAGIA KERA, a 13th century church with some of the best frescoes in Crete, admission included. After that AGIOS NIKOLAOS, arrival at this picturesque town with its natural port. Time for a walk and lunch. The next stop we will make is ELOUNDA, a place that was a city-state and today a beautiful tourist enclave. From here we include a boat ride and admission to the island-citadel of SPINALONGA, an ancient Venetian fortress that was later a leprosarium for a long time. Return by boat and continuation to HERAKLION, accommodation.

Dia 11

Early morning we have a transfer to the port. We take a fast ferry to the island of SANTORINI, arriving between 09:00 and 10:00 hrs. - by bus, among beautiful landscapes we go to OIA, without a doubt the most spectacular town on the island: white streets full of life, immense views over cliffs, castle remains and windmills. Time to walk and have lunch. After that we will visit FIRA, the capital of the island. We recommend sailing to the hot springs and contemplating the sunset from an old and classic Mediterranean boat.

Dia 12

After breakfast we take a ferry to MYKONOS. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. According to mythology, the battle between Zeus and the Giants occurred on this island. Free time afterwards to wander through its small streets, visit little Venice and the classic windmills.

Dia 13

Breakfast. Free day to enjoy the island. We recommend visiting the island of Delos, birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, one of the most sacred places in Ancient Greece, or simply visiting the famous Paradise and Super Paradise beaches.

Dia 14

Breakfast. At the indicated time, transfer to the port to embark on the ferry boat to Athens. Arrival to the port of Piraeus at night (around 23.00).

Dia 15

We travel to the Peloponnese region. We make a brief stop next to the Corinth Channel, an impressive work of art from the end of the nineteenth century. We continue through the mountains towards Tripoli, capital of the Arcadia region. Stop in this active city and time for a stroll around the area of the Plaza Areos with its cafes and restaurants. We continue our route to Olympia where we will visit the archaeological site (entrance and visit with a local guide included). The first Olympic Games were held here in 776 B.C., where athletes from all over Greece and its colonies participated. Highlights include the Temple of Zeus, the stadium, the gymnasium, and the arena. We continue to PATRAS, the third most populous city in Greece, a lively port city with a remarkable medieval fortress. Its cathedral is the largest church in Greece and next to it, the small church of St. Andrew is a place of pilgrimage. Dinner included.

Dia 16

After breakfast, we will cross over the Rio-Antirrio bridge, a spectacular cable-stayed bridge which connects the Peloponnese with the Greek continent. NAFPAKTOS, in the Gulf of Corinth. Its Venetian fortress dominates the city and reminds us that we are in Lepanto, the city which saw the fight between the Christian and Turkish fleets, the battle in which Cervantes lost his arm. Free time for a walk around its picturesque harbor and its beautiful old town. We then continue our way along the Gulf of Corinth to MYCENAE, a colossal citadel from the 18th century BC, cradle of the European civilization (admission included). Free time for lunch and walking around the place. Afterwards, free time in the huge fortress of ACROCORINTH, entrance ticket included. The foundations of an old temple of Aphrodite rest on the highest part of the settlement. We then resume our way and make a short stop in the Corinth Canal. After that, we arrive at ATHENS. Arrival expected in the evening.

Dia 17

Free day. You can enjoy the charm of this city. Free time to explore and discover memorable places.

Dia 18

After breakfast, end of our services.