Best of Greece & Turkey

FROM THE USA TO TURKEY

• Our tour starts today as we depart on our way to Turkey. Sit back, relax and enjoy your flight.

WELCOME TO TURKEY

• Today you will arrive in Istanbul, the only city in the world built on two continents.
• Upon arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your Istanbul hotel.
• The afternoon will be free to spend at your leisure.

Meals: On Board flight

ST. SOPHIA MUSEUM / TOPKAPI PALACE / BLUE MOSQUE / HIPPODROME SQUARE / GRAND COVERED BAZAAR

• Today we will enjoy a full day historical Istanbul tour.
• We will visit the St. Sophia Museum, built in the 6th century and once the largest Christian Church in the world.
• Next we will go to Topkapi Palace. This was once the Imperial Residence of the Ottoman Sultans and displays a priceless world-class collection of artifacts, jewelry, and rare porcelain.
• We will then see the Blue Mosque, a unique structure famous for its 6 minarets and blue Iznik tiles.
• Next we will see the Hippodrome Square, where ancient chariot races were held.
• Then we will finish our tour by shopping at the world famous Grand Covered Bazaar.

• Meals:  Full Buffet Breakfast and Lunch

• After breakfast we will begin our touring with a visit to the Egyptian Spice Market.
• We will then embark on a Bosphorus Boat Tour, allowing us to see the beauty of the European and Asian shorelines on either side.
• After lunch we will visit the Palace of Beylerbeyi, which is considered to be the most elegant of the late Ottoman palaces.
• After our tour we will proceed to Istanbul Airport four your flight to Izmir.
• Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

• Meals:  Full Buffet Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Izmir, Kordon Cankaya Hotel

• Today we will enjoy a Pergamon day tour.
• We will visit the Acropolis, the Temple of Athena, the famous Library, the Royal Palaces, the Temple of Trajan, the steepest Theater in the world, the Temple of Dionysos, the Altar of Zeus, and the Red Basilica (St. John’s Church).
• After lunch, we will visit the ruins of Asclepion, the Medical Center of the ancient world.

• Meals: Full Buffet Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Izmir, Kordon Cankaya Hotel

• Today we will explore Ephesus, the veritable cradle of early Christianity. Here you will visit the Shrine of the Virgin Mary, where she was believed to have spent her later days.
• Next we will proceed to the spectacular ruins from the time of St. Paul, some of which have only recently been excavated. We will see the Odeon, the Bouleterion, the Fountains, the Temples, the Brothel, the Library, the Agoras, the Great Theater and more.
• After lunch we will visit the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and enjoy a display on Turkish handicrafts.

• Meals: Full Buffet Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Kusadasi, Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel

ISLAND OF PATMOS: MONASTERY OF ST JOHN / GROTTO OF THE REVELATION / SHORE EXCURSION INCLUDED

• Today we will embark on our 3 Night Cruise to the Greek Islands Board the Ship by 10:00 –  to Patmos, Greece at 1:00pm.
• We will arrive at the island of Patmos, Greece at 4:00pm. The enchanting island of Patmos hasn’t changed much since 2,000 year ago when the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1:12-21). The cave believed to be the place where John received his visions of Christ is where the Monastery of St. John the Evangelist is located. Enjoy the beautiful views from the monastery and visit the Grotto of the Revelation – this is a guided tour offered by Celestyal Cruises – not an AIT private tour. After some free time to discover the sites in the area, we will return to the ship and sail to Rhodes, Greece at 9:30pm.

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Accommodation:  On Board – Celestyal Cruises

• We will enjoy a delightful breakfast on board the cruise and get ready to arrive at the island of Rhodes at 7:00am. This stronghold was built by a Crusading Order, which originated from Palestine, and in older days, it boasted of another achievements of the then known world – The Colossus of Rhodes!
• Enjoy a half-day excursion to the Temple of Athena on the majestic rocky Acropolis of Lindos, with the blue Aegean Sea beneath it and the sophisticated, whitewashed artists’ colony at its foot. Local tradition has it that on his way to Rome; Paul’s vessels spent some time here in the small harbor (Acts 21:1). Continue to the old town of Rhodes and go through D’Amboise Gate to walk on the Street of the Knights! Lunch on board.
•  We will head to the cruise for a delightful lunch on board and then spend the afternoon strolling through the walled city during our free time. Interact with locals, enjoy the diverse atmosphere, and relish on the astonishing views Rhodes has to offer.
• We will sail to Heraklion, Crete at 6:00pm and enjoy a dinner on board.

• • Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 
  • Accommodation:  On Board – Celestyal Cruises

• We will arrive at Heraklion, Crete. (Acts 27:7-13).
• Enjoy your free time in the largest Greek island or join an optional tour of the Minoan Palace of Knossos, known for the Greek mythological creature with the head of a bull and the body of man, the Minotaur. Optional shore excursion is offered by Celestyal Cruises,
• We will sail to the Island of Santorini at 11:00am, where will arrive at 4:30pm.
•  Take a cable car (recommended) – cost of cable car is 8 Euro per person, per way – to the town of Thera, a city built over the rim of a volcano and where an eruption in 1,600 BC of the volcano is believed to have originated the Atlantis myth.
• Take your own taxi to the beautiful village of Oia, famous for its whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches and unforgettable breathtaking sunsets.
• Return to the cruise and sail to Piraeus at 9:30pm.

• • Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 
  • Accommodation:  On Board – Celestyal Cruises

• Optional Shore excursions:

• Optional tour of the Minoan Palace of Knossos ($80)
  Optional tour of the Village of Oia ($87)

• Disembarkations will be at the port of Lavrion-60KM from Terminal in Athens. Ship should arrive between 6:00-7:00 AM
• After a delicious breakfast onboard, we will disembark the cruise and drive to Ancient Corinth (Acts 18:1-18) for a half-day tour. It is here where the Apostle Paul visited at least three times, he founded Christian assemblies, and also wrote at least four letters to Christians in Corinth.
• Visit the ruins of the 5th century basilica at the ancient port Cenchrea (viewed from the bus) before we head to Athens and arrive at the hotel for an overnight stay.
• Enjoy a free evening around the area, maybe visit a popular restaurant and interact with the locals.

• Meals:  Breakfast
• Accommodation:  Athens, Royal Olympic Hotel *
• ***Celestyal Cruises reserves the right to make any changes to included optional shore excursions.

• After we enjoy our breakfast, we will tour the city of Athens, learning more about the local culture and the ancient architecture as well as it’s modern sites.
• Visit one of the most famous sites in Athens, the magnificent temple of the Acropolis of Athens, known as the Parthenon. Built between 447 and 432BCE, this is the picture-perfect spot in Athens.
• Visit the Erechtheion on the north side of the Acropolis, dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon.
• In modern Athens we will visit the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Parliament House, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium, Presidential Palace, the Academy, the University and the National Library.
• We will head to the Acropolis Museum before returning to the hotel and enjoying some free time in the afternoon.
• Enjoy a free evening around the area, maybe visit a popular restaurant and interact with the locals.

• Meals:  Buffet Breakfast
• Accommodation:  Athens, Royal Olympic Hotel *

• After breakfast and check out you will be transferred to Athens International Airport for your return flight home.

• Meals:  Buffet Breakfast
•   Departure Transfer:  Complimentary
• Accommodation:  On Board flight

• *If weather conditions do not permit disembarkation in time to meet for scheduled half day tour- passengers will be able to visit Corinth on their own.

• * In the rare event that a hotel is overbooked, the group will be provided with an equivalent level hotel or higher,