Greece

Vacation Packages

Day 1 Arrival in Athens

Today we arrive in Athens, off-and-on the capital of Greece in its many incarnations over several thousand years. The city received a major facelift for the 2004 Olympics and is looking better than ever, with buildings and monuments cleaned and renovated, and newly created pedestrian areas near the Ancient Agora and Acropolis. Overnight in Athens. Dinner if required.

Day 2 Athens: City Tour

Today we enjoy a guided tour of Athens, the very heart and soul of Greece. Our first visit takes us to the National Archaeological Museum, an unrivalled treasure house of Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean and classical Greek art. One of the most interesting sections is the Mycenaen hall with all of Schliemann's gold finds from Mycenae. The museum contains the world's finest collection of antiquities and treasures from all over the ancient Greek world, spanning some 7,000 years. We then proceed to the Acropolis, adorned with magnificent buildings dating from the 5th century BC, the Golden Age of Athens. It was during this time, under the leadership of the great statesman, Pericles, that Athens was the most glorious intellectual and artistic centre of the ancient world. The prosperity of Athens and new wealth enabled Pericles to initiate the magnificent building programme on the Athenian Acropolis. On the highest point on the Acropolis is the Parthenon, called the "finest monument of Greek civilization." The temple was dedicated to Athena "Parthenos," the virgin and patron goddess of the city. The temple had a dual purpose: to serve as a treasury for Athenians, and to house the magnificent ivory and gold cult statue of the goddess made by Pheidias, the same sculptor who was commissioned for the enormous cult statue of Zeus at Olympia. Overnight in Athens. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 3 Athens - Santorini

Today we travel by ship from Athen's port, Pireaus to the island of Santorini. The island is considered by many to be the fairest of the Cyclades islands. Santorini, also referred to as Thira, is truly special--a true paradise within the Aegean Sea. Vast geological upheavals in prehistoric times have given this island its unique form resulting in the nickname "Prehistoric Pompeii". The effect of natural terracing makes this unlike any other island. On arrival we transfer to our hotel located near the beach. * Greek ferry schedules tend to change without notice; some itinerary adjustments may be necessary at the discretion of your Tour Leader. Uncontrollable factors such as weather may result in delays; a flexible attitude will enhance the enjoyment of your adventure. PORTERS ARE GENERALLY NOT AVAILABLE ON THE GREEK ISLES, OR ON FERRIES BETWEEN THEM. You MUST be able to carry / wheel your baggage on and off ferries. Overnight on Santorini. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 4 Santorini: Archaeological Museum

This morning we take the local bus up to Fira town to visit the impressive Archaeological Museum in Fira. This museum features many pieces and exhibits specific to the Santorini site of Akrotiri (presently closed for refurbishment), as well as artifacts dating back to the time of the Cycladic Civilization, which can be divided into three periods: Early (3000-2000 BC), Middle (2000-1500 BC), and Late (1500-1100 BC). The most impressive legacies of this civilization are the statuettes carved from Parian marble--the famous Cycladic figurines. Like statuettes of Neolithic times they depicted images of the Great Mother. Other remains include bronze and obsidian tools and weapons, gold jewellery, and stone and clay vases and pots. After our visit your Tour Leader will take you on an informal orientation walking tour of Fira. A popular thing to do after the tour is to walk down to the old port and then return to the rim via donkey or cable car (optional expense). Your Tour Leader will help you plan your day. Overnight on Santorini. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 5 Santorini - Crete

This morning you can enjoy wandering and exploring the stone whitewashed streets of village clinging to the cliffsides. Later we take the ferry from Santorini to Crete, the largest and southernmost of the Greek islands blessed with a magnificent setting and rugged coastal scenery. Crete has been inhabited since Neolithic times, yet the most famous civilization associated with the island is the Minoan. Minoan culture left a rich history of art, particularly frescoes, which indicate a powerful, wealthy and optimistic culture. We arrive in Iraklion and transfer to our hotel. Overnight in Iraklion. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 6 Iraklion: Walking Tour / Free Time

This morning we will have an easy walking tour of central Iraklion, including the impressive St Titus Church, Morosini Fountain and other Venetian legacies. The massive walls that surround the town of Iraklion were built by the Venetians in the mid-15th century. The balance of the day is at leisure. Crete offers fantastic views of varied, rich, pastoral scenery. A central mountain chain runs east/west across the island, dotted with plains and plateaux, sliced by deep gorges. You may join an optional excursion to visit the Lasithi Plateau. The spectacular high plain of Lasithi is a unique attraction, with its famous sea of white cloth-sailed windmills amongst a patchwork of tiny fields. Or you could rent your own vehicle and explore the island on your own. Your Tour Leader can help you plan your day. Overnight in Iraklion. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 7 Crete: Knossos - Rhodes

After breakfast we travel to Knossos where our local guide will show us the ancient palace of King Minos, first built around 1900 BC. In 1700 BC it was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in a grander and more sophisticated design. The city of Knossos consisted of an immense palace, residences of officials and priests, the homes of ordinary people, and burial grounds. The Palace, which covered an area of 22 000 sq m (8456 sq miles), consisted of royal domestic quarters, public reception rooms, shrines, workshops, treasures and storerooms around a central court. Here we see the remnants of this golden Minoan period with its wonderful theatrical staircase, the throne room, many impressive frescoes (including the famous "Lily Prince"), as well as the first flush toilets in Europe, dating back to the 14th century BC. Knossos was excavated by Arthur Evans between 1900 and 1930. We also visit the Archaeological Museum in Iraklion, one of the best museums in Greece.* The exhibits, collected from excavations carried out in all parts of Crete, come mainly from the prehistoric era and form a valuable record of the artistic, social and economic life of the island during the ancient period. This evening we fly from Crete to the island of Rhodes. * NOTE: 2007 / 2008 - The museum is currently closed for renovations. For tours that occur during this closure, we will substitute an excursion to Archanes Village which has been inhabited for over 5,000 years. It is a very significant archaeological site since, according to historical findings, King Minos had a summer palace in the area. The natural environment of the village includes mountains, gorges and many cultivated plains. The neoclassical buildings in the area are also very impressive. Overnight on Rhodes. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 8 Rhodes: Walking Tour

The old town of Rhodes is the oldest inhabited medieval city in Europe. Today we have a walking tour of the town including a visit to the castle of the Knights of St John, a religious order of the church of Rome founded in Amalfi in the 11th century. They went to Jerusalem initially to minister to the needs of the pilgrims who arrived there and soon extended their duties to tending the poor and sick of the Holy Land. Over the years they became increasingly militant, joining forces with the Knights Templars and the Teutonic Knights of St Mary in battles against infidels. The Knights of St John were expelled from the Holy Land with the fall of Jerusalem. They went first to Cyprus, and then to Rhodes where they arrived in 1309. Through some medieval wheeler-dealing with the island's ruling Genoese admiral, Viguolo de Viguoli, they became the possessors of Rhodes. After seeing the Castle (or Palace of Grand Masters), we see Avenue of the Knights. The street flanked by two archways consists of inns where the Knights lived. The Knights were divided into seven ?tongues' or languages, according to their place of origin: England, France, Germany, Italy, Aragon, Auvergne and Provence and each one was responsible for protecting a section of the bastion. The Grand Master, in overall charge, lived in the palace, and each tongue was under the auspices of a bailiff. The Knights were divided into soldiers, chaplains and ministers to the sick. The Palace of the Grand Masters has turreted towers as perfect as they were back in the 14th century. Destroyed when an arms store in the nearby Church of St. John exploded in 1856, it was rebuilt by the Italians and was the summer retreat of King Victor Emmanuel and Mussolini. Overnight on Rhodes. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 9 Rhodes, Greece - Marmaris, Turkey - Bodrum

Today we ferry from Rhodes to Marmaris, Turkey. Marmaris's situation, with pine forests reaching right down to the sea, has been described as fjord-like for the huge bay in which it sits is almost landlocked. Nelson's entire fleet sheltered in this anchorage in 1798 prior to sailing for Egypt where it destroyed the French fleet in the Battle of the Nile. In the old quarter on a hillock jutting out into the bay stand the remains of an Ottoman castle built in 1522 by Suleyman the Magnificent, with a cluster of crumbling houses roofed in red tiles huddled within its walls. After clearing Turkish customs, we will be met by our coach driver and escorted to our air-conditioned motor coach. We then proceed via the Gulf of Gokova to Bodrum, a beautiful seaside town where there once stood one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World--the Mausoleum. In around 1000 BC, Dorians from Troezene in the Peloponnese set foot in south-west Asia Minor in the area around present-day Bodrum peninsula. A few centuries later, Halicarnassus (now Bodrum) became a member of the Dorian league of cities that included places on today's Turkish mainland, on Creek islands and on the island of Rhodes, such as Cnidos, Cos, Kamiros, Lindos and lalyssos. However, because of its alliance with the lonians of Caria, the town was later expelled from the league. The city was conquered by Alexander the Great in 334 BC and was ruled respectively by Philip V of Macedonia, the Seljuks and the Byzantines, before being annexed in AD 1300 by the Emirate of Menteshe. At the beginning of the 15th century, Halicarnassus was occupied by the Knights Hospitaller of St. John who were crusaders from Rhodes. They built a fortress on the end of the peninsula. However, when Sueyman the Magnificent took control of Rhodes in 1522, he confiscated all the Knights' possessions and Bodrum became part of the Ottoman Empire. Today the Castle of St Peter rises impressively above twin bays dotted with small white houses, forming what is known as Turkey's Saint-Tropez. Overnight in Bodrum. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 10 Bodrum: Castle of St Peter

Bodrum is the most "Aegean" town in Turkey, with whitewashed houses scattered on the hillside overlooking the perfect natural harbour. It is delightful to wander along the palm-lined marina in the evening and marvel at the anchored yachts. Today we will visit the Crusader Castle of St Peter which dominates Bodrum Bay. The castle was built by the Knights Hospitaller in the early 15th century. Today the castle houses an excellent museum, mainly dedicated to the artifacts retrieved from the many ancient shipwrecks discovered off the Turkish coast. Many of the pieces have been excavated from below the seabed by teams of archaeologists. Overnight in Bodrum. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 11 Bodrum - Kusadasi

Today we travel northward along the Aegean coast on winding roads through fields and olive groves to Kusadasi, a beautiful port city with a small island fortress. The island, attached to the mainland, gives the city its name: Kusadasi, "The Island of Birds." It has rapidly developed into one of the most popular seaside resorts of the coast. Kusadasi was most probably founded on the ancient site of Neopolis. Because of its beautiful location and its excellent hotels, it is an ideal base for Ephesus. Overnight in Kusadasi. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 12 Kusadasi: Ephesus

Today we visit Ephesus, one of the highlights of any visit to Turkey. During its Golden Age, the city was adorned with splendid monuments, theatres, agoras and libraries. The protectress of the city was the goddess Artemis whose temple, dating back to 1300 BC, was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. As a prosperous trade and banking centre, Ephesus had a cosmopolitan population. It has been recorded that St John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus where she spent her last days after the death of Christ. On our tour of Ephesus we see a 24,000 seat amphitheatre, the Library of Celsus, and the marble-paved Arcadian Way. In addition to the main site of Ephesus we will visit the superb Ephesus Museum. We also visit the traditional town of Selcuk with its many beautiful buildings, including the Isa Bey Mosque (built in 1307), remains of old Turkish Baths, and a hill crowned by the Ayasoluk Fortress. Overnight in Kusadasi. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 13 Kusadasi - Aphrodisias - Pamukkale

After breakfast we leave the Aegean coast and drive along the winding Menderes River Valley which gives its name to the geographical term referring to a winding, or meandering river. We visit the impressive Roman site of Aphrodisias, named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Much of the site's excavation has been funded by the National Geographic Society. Aphrodisias is the location of one of the greatest schools of sculpture in antiquity; the museum here contains some magnificent pieces. We continue to Pamukkale where mineral-rich water breaks through the earth's surface and cascades down the hillsides creating terraces of white chalk-like stone. We visit the ruins of Hierapolis before checking in to our hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 14 Pamukkale - Konya

We have a morning departure for the mystical city of Konya, birthplace of the Whirling Dervishes and capital of the Seljuk Empire. En route we pass by Lake Egirdir. Two islands, connected by a causeway to the mainland, extend the town of Egirdir far out into the lake's fish-filled waters. During the sightseeing tour of Konya we will visit the Mausoleum and Museum of Mevlana, home of the famous Whirling Dervishes; as well as the ceramics museum of Karatay, once an Islamic school, built in 1251. Overnight in Konya. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 15 Konya - Cappadocia

Today we drive across the flat Anatolian Plateau to Cappadocia. Along the way we visit the caravanserai of Sultanhani. Caravanserai were fortified, medieval inns located one day's journey apart, for the protection of travelling merchants. This encouraged merchants and their caravans of silks and spices travelling the "Silk Route" to trade in Turkish lands, thus promoting commerce. Overnight near Cappadocia. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 16 Cappadocia Area

Today we will spend a full day exploring this unique and fascinating lunar landscape with its fairy chimneys and conical towers topped with huge, delicately balanced rocks. Here the elements have weathered layers of volcanic dust into giant cones and mushrooms 9m (30 feet) high! Most of the chapels date from the Byzantine period of the 10th and 11th centuries. In the Goreme Valley we will see the many churches carved into this landscape with their wonderful paintings and frescoes. This monastic complex of rock chapels covered with frescoes is one of the best known sites in Central Anatolia. We will visit the underground city of Kaymakli one of the many cities dug into the soft rock of Cappadocia. At Kaymakli there are at least eight levels in the underground city, four of which are currently open to the public. The city is an elaborate network of tunnels, stairways and chambers hollowed out of the rock. It served as a safe haven during times of unrest and protected its citizens from marauding armies. This evening, those who wish may attend a performance of Turkish traditional dances from Turkey's many regions (optional). Overnight near Cappadocia. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 17 Cappadocia - Tuz Golu - Ankara - Overnight train

Our drive today takes us to a salt lake called Tuz Golu. We travel through the village of Uchisar, clustered around the Uchisar Fortress, and the village of Urgup which was, according to documents found in the Middle Ages, a bishop's residence. We continue to Ankara, Turkey's modern capital. Ankara was an ancient trading town before the Romans arrived; its name is derived from the angora wool of the goats sold here. Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic, made Ankara the capital rather than Istanbul to break with the discredited Ottoman Empire after World War I. We visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk before our visit to one of the best museums in the world--the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.* The museum contains a superb collection dating back to the settlement at Catal Huyuk in 7500 BC and includes pieces from the Phrygian, Urartian, Assyrian and mighty Hittite Empires. Later this evening we transfer to the train station for our comfortable overnight sleeper train to Istanbul (private cabin for 2 people; SINGLE COMPARTMENTS ARE GENERALLY AVAILABLE, the cost of which we will cover. Be forewarned, however, that omnipotent Turkish train officials sometimes overbook and insist that same-gender singles double up). Istanbul straddles the confluence of two waterways, the Golden Horn and the Bosphorous. The city is divided by these waterways into three parts. Two parts are in Europe and one part is in Asia, making Istanbul the only city in the world spread over two continents! Early tomorrow morning we cross the Bosphorous suspension bridge, leaving Asia and entering European Istanbul. * NOTE: For fall 2008, it is possible, due to curtailed hours of operation during the Holy Month of Ramadan (02 Sep - 02 Oct), that the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations will be closed during our visit to Ankara. Your Tour Leader may alter our programme, ie depart Cappadocia earlier with the home of making it to Ankara on time to visit the museum beforer it closes, though we must forewarn that closing times tend to be rather unpredictable. Overnight train. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 18 Istanbul: Topkapi Palace

This morning we will visit the Topkapi Palace, the great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the mid-fifteenth to the early nineteenth century. It was from this vast complex of buildings that the mighty Ottoman empire was organised. Today it is a huge museum containing ceremonial robes in silk and gold thread, Japanese and Chinese porcelain, European clocks, miniature paintings depicting Ottoman courtly life and one of the largest jewellery collections in the world. You may choose to end your visit with a look at the Topkapi Harem, where the sultans' many "wives" were kept in isolated splendour, before leaving the palace (optional approx +/-9 USD entrance fee). The afternoon is free to explore on your own. Overnight in Istanbul. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 19 Istanbul: Hippodrome & Agia Sophia

Istanbul has been the capital of two of the world's greatest empires, the Byzantine and the Ottoman. We start today's walking tour at the legendary Blue Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616 by Mehmet Aga. The inside is covered by more than 20,000 Iznik tiles. At the Hippodrome you will see the remains of the great sports stadium where chariot races were held in Roman and Byzantine times. We will also see an Egyptian obelisk, a giant needle of stone carved for the Pharaoh Tutmoses III around 1500 BC and brought to Constantinople by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius in AD 390. We continue to the church of St Sophia (Agia Sophia), built by the Emperor Justinian in 548 BC. It was the largest church in the Christian world for nearly 1,000 years. When the Ottoman Turks conquered the city in 1435 one of the first things they did was to convert St Sophia into a mosque. Today it is a museum featuring many beautiful Christian mosaics. Outside St Sophia we descend underground to the gigantic cisterns that contained the vast water supply that allowed Constantinople to withstand so many long sieges. Here the many columns are reflected in the water while classical music plays quietly. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 20 Departure

Departure from Istanbul. Breakfast. BON VOYAGE!

9/09 

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