Diamonds of mediterranean tour
Day 1 Wednesday
Athens
Welcome to Greece! You will be transferred to your hotel and the rest of the day is yours, free to explore this ancient city. Tonight you meet your tour leader and fellow travelling companions.
Overnight Athens 4 star Titania Hotel
Day 2 Thursday
Athens, Acropolis
This morning you will have half day tour and visit Acropolis, stop at the stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held. Admire the Olympian Zeus and Hadrians Arch. At the Acropolis visit the museum, the towering entrance of Propylaia, the Temple of Nike and the most famous of Greek relics, the Parthenon.
Overnight Athens 4 star Titania Hotel (B)
Day 3 Friday
Athens to Santorini
Early morning departure today for the breathtaking Island of Santorini, where you can soak up the sun and relax on the beach or perhaps explore the picturesque capital, Fira.
Overnight Santorini 4 star Rose Bay Hotel (B)
Day 4 Saturday
Santorini
Take an optional boat trip in the world's biggest volcanic crater above sea level. Visit the active volcano, swim in the warm thermal waters and take a therapeutic mud bath.
Overnight Santorini 4 star Rose Bay Hotel (B)
Day 5 Sunday
Santorini to Mykonos
Arrive in Mykonos and explore the white-washed town or head for the beach before experiencing the completely outrageous Mykonian nightlife.
Overnight Mykonos 4 star Rhenia Hotel (B)
Day 6 Monday
Mykonos
Free day today. Spend the day on the beach, stroll around the town or take a trip to one of the small villages. This Mecca of Ancient Greece is today an island wide, open-air museum.
Overnight Mykonos 4 star Rhenia Hotel (B)
Day 7 Tuesday
Mykonos, Samos
You will catch next mid-night ferry heading towards the island of Samos and make our way to Turkey with free time to explore Samos town or Kusadasi (depending on ferry schedules).
Overnight Ku�adas� 5 star Suhan 360 (D)
Day 8
Wednesday
Ephesus, Kusadasi
Absorb yourself in history today with a guided tour of Ephesus and a visit to the site of the Temple of Artemis. Feel the mystical atmosphere of the ancient city and theatre before continuing to the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for its fruit wines. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and at the carpet village we learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value.
Overnight Ku�adas�5 star Suhan 360 (B, D)
Day 9 Thursday
Pamukkale, Hierapolis
This morning we will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods before heading to the magnificent white calcium terraces, known as Travertines, in Pamukkale where we also tour the ancient city of Hierapolis. Take a dip, amongst ancient columns, in the hot springs that were used in Roman times for their therapeutic powers.
Overnight Pamukkale 5 star Colossae Thermal Hotel (B, D)
Day 10 Friday
Aphrodisias, Fethiye
Today we drive south towards the Mediterranean coast, visiting the ancient site of Aphrodisias along the way.
Overnight Fethiye Boutique Marina Vista - Fethiye (B)
Day 11 Saturday
Fethiye
Today you have the option to relax on a day cruise around the 12 Islands of Fethiye or experience one of Turkey's highlights on an optional day tour to Saklikent Gorge, Turkey's longest and deepest canyon.
Overnight Fethiye Boutique Marina Vista - Fethiye (B)
Day 12 Sunday
Kayakoy, Antalya
Relaxing morning, before a late afternoon drive to the resort town of Antalya visiting the deserted Greek village of Kayakoy on the way.
Overnight Antalya 4 star Best Western Khan Hotel (B, D)
Day 13 Monday
Aspendos, Manavgat Waterfalls
Today, we will visit famous theatre at Aspendos which is known for one of the best preserved theatres of Asia Minor, still used today. Then we will visit Manavgat Waterfalls for a pleasant resting spot.
Overnight Antalya 4 star Best Western Khan Hotel (B, D)
Day 14 Tuesday
Konya, Cappadocia
Early departure for Cappadocia, stopping en-route to visit Konya and the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi with its accompanying museum. This afternoon we also stop to visit Sultanhani Caravansary, the largest in Anatolia.
Overnight Cappadocia Boutique Cave Blue Valley Hotel (B, D)
Day 15 Wednesday
Goreme, Uchisar Castle
Marvel at the lunar landscape with a fully guided tour of Goreme Valley, the fairy chimneys, Uchisar castle and more. Tonight, don't miss the optional traditional Turkish folklore evening!
Overnight Cappadocia Boutique Cave Blue Valley Hotel (B, D)
Day 16 Thursday
Ihlara Valley, Underground City
Today we trek through the wildly beautiful Ihlara Valley and explore the many levels of an underground city.
Overnight Cappadocia Boutique Cave Blue Valley Hotel (B, D)
Day 17 Friday
Ankara
Early morning departure to the nation's capital, Ankara, where we visit Anitkabir, mausoleum of the famed Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, before returning to Istanbul.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Mercure Istanbul Taksim Hotel (B)
Day 18 Saturday
Istanbul Old City
Tour the exotic city that spans both Europe and Asia visiting the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome.
Cruise between two continents on the stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia in the afternoon with an optional 'Half day Bosphorous cruise'.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Mercure Istanbul Taksim Hotel (B)
Day 19 Sunday
Istanbul
After breakfast our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends and are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (B)
(B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner)
Day 1 Wednesday
Athens
Welcome to Greece! You will be transferred to your hotel and the rest of the day is yours, free to explore this ancient city. Tonight you meet your tour leader and fellow travelling companions.
Overnight Athens 4 star Titania Hotel
Day 2 Thursday
Athens, Acropolis
This morning you will have half day tour and visit Acropolis, stop at the stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held. Admire the Olympian Zeus and Hadrians Arch. At the Acropolis visit the museum, the towering entrance of Propylaia, the Temple of Nike and the most famous of Greek relics, the Parthenon.
Overnight Athens 4 star Titania Hotel (B)
Day 3 Friday
Athens to Santorini
Early morning departure today for the breathtaking Island of Santorini, where you can soak up the sun and relax on the beach or perhaps explore the picturesque capital, Fira.
Overnight Santorini 4 star Rose Bay Hotel (B)
Day 4 Saturday
Santorini
Take an optional boat trip in the world's biggest volcanic crater above sea level. Visit the active volcano, swim in the warm thermal waters and take a therapeutic mud bath.
Overnight Santorini 4 star Rose Bay Hotel (B)
Day 5 Sunday
Santorini to Mykonos
Arrive in Mykonos and explore the white-washed town or head for the beach before experiencing the completely outrageous Mykonian nightlife.
Overnight Mykonos 4 star Rhenia Hotel (B)
Day 6 Monday
Mykonos
Free day today. Spend the day on the beach, stroll around the town or take a trip to one of the small villages. This Mecca of Ancient Greece is today an island wide, open-air museum.
Overnight Mykonos 4 star Rhenia Hotel (B)
Day 7 Tuesday
Mykonos, Samos
You will catch next mid-night ferry heading towards the island of Samos and make our way to Turkey with free time to explore Samos town or Kusadasi (depending on ferry schedules).
Overnight Ku�adas� 5 star Suhan 360 (D)
Day 8
Wednesday
Ephesus, Kusadasi
Absorb yourself in history today with a guided tour of Ephesus and a visit to the site of the Temple of Artemis. Feel the mystical atmosphere of the ancient city and theatre before continuing to the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for its fruit wines. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and at the carpet village we learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value.
Overnight Ku�adas�5 star Suhan 360 (B, D)
Day 9 Thursday
Pamukkale, Hierapolis
This morning we will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods before heading to the magnificent white calcium terraces, known as Travertines, in Pamukkale where we also tour the ancient city of Hierapolis. Take a dip, amongst ancient columns, in the hot springs that were used in Roman times for their therapeutic powers.
Overnight Pamukkale 5 star Colossae Thermal Hotel (B, D)
Day 10 Friday
Aphrodisias, Fethiye
Today we drive south towards the Mediterranean coast, visiting the ancient site of Aphrodisias along the way.
Overnight Fethiye Boutique Marina Vista - Fethiye (B)
Day 11 Saturday
Fethiye
Today you have the option to relax on a day cruise around the 12 Islands of Fethiye or experience one of Turkey's highlights on an optional day tour to Saklikent Gorge, Turkey's longest and deepest canyon.
Overnight Fethiye Boutique Marina Vista - Fethiye (B)
Day 12 Sunday
Kayakoy, Antalya
Relaxing morning, before a late afternoon drive to the resort town of Antalya visiting the deserted Greek village of Kayakoy on the way.
Overnight Antalya 4 star Best Western Khan Hotel (B, D)
Day 13 Monday
Aspendos, Manavgat Waterfalls
Today, we will visit famous theatre at Aspendos which is known for one of the best preserved theatres of Asia Minor, still used today. Then we will visit Manavgat Waterfalls for a pleasant resting spot.
Overnight Antalya 4 star Best Western Khan Hotel (B, D)
Day 14 Tuesday
Konya, Cappadocia
Early departure for Cappadocia, stopping en-route to visit Konya and the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi with its accompanying museum. This afternoon we also stop to visit Sultanhani Caravansary, the largest in Anatolia.
Overnight Cappadocia Boutique Cave Blue Valley Hotel (B, D)
Day 15 Wednesday
Goreme, Uchisar Castle
Marvel at the lunar landscape with a fully guided tour of Goreme Valley, the fairy chimneys, Uchisar castle and more. Tonight, don't miss the optional traditional Turkish folklore evening!
Overnight Cappadocia Boutique Cave Blue Valley Hotel (B, D)
Day 16 Thursday
Ihlara Valley, Underground City
Today we trek through the wildly beautiful Ihlara Valley and explore the many levels of an underground city.
Overnight Cappadocia Boutique Cave Blue Valley Hotel (B, D)
Day 17 Friday
Ankara
Early morning departure to the nation's capital, Ankara, where we visit Anitkabir, mausoleum of the famed Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, before returning to Istanbul.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Mercure Istanbul Taksim Hotel (B)
Day 18 Saturday
Istanbul Old City
Tour the exotic city that spans both Europe and Asia visiting the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome.
Cruise between two continents on the stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia in the afternoon with an optional 'Half day Bosphorous cruise'.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Mercure Istanbul Taksim Hotel (B)
Day 19 Sunday
Istanbul
After breakfast our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends and are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (B)
(B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner)