ESSENTIAL TURKEY & GREECE
A cultural tour of Turkey & Greece

The history of Turkey and Greece have crossed several times in history. No study in the history and culture of these two civilizations can be done without visiting both the countries – as the current borders stand. Our 16 days Essentials of Turkey & Greece Tour takes you across the most important historical sites in these two rich historical countries by going from Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Antalya, Pammukale, Ephesus and Kussadasi before entering Greec at the island of Patmos friom where we go to Rhodes, Santorini, Piraeus and Athens. This is really the Essentials of Turkey and Greece.

Day 1: Arrive Istanbul (TURKEY)
This afternoon you are scheduled to arrive Istanbul International Airport.  Once clearing through Customs & Immigration, you will be met & transfer to the hotel.  This evening an orientation meeting has been scheduled at around 1900 hrs.
Overnight: Grand Yavuz or Aziyade Hotel (2 nights)

Day 2: Istanbul
After breakfast, visit the Suleymaniye Mosque (the culmination of Ottoman architecture), as well as the Rustem Pasa Mosque with its beautiful Iznik (Nicea) tiles and the Spice Market with its exotic aromas. After lunch, visit treasure-filled Topkapi Palace (residence of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th century) with its terraces overlooking the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus, and the Golden Horn. End the day at the historic Grand Bazaar. Dinner is on your own.  (B, L)

Day 3: Istanbul / Bolu (162 miles)
In the morning, visit the Blue Mosque, recognizable by its six minarets. Built between 1609 and 1616 for Sultan Ahmet I, the interior is decorated with some 21,000 blue Iznik tiles. Visit the Hippodrome, where political, cultural, and athletic activities took place during Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman times. Visit the imposing Hagia Sophia, which marked the apogee of Byzantine Emperor Justinian's reign. Thereafter there is the possibility of an optional Cruise on the Bosporus, separating Asia from Europe and connecting the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea. Relish the best views of the city and its historic monuments. Discover beautiful marble palaces (Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi), wooden Ottoman villas (yalis), and medieval fortresses. Lunch at a seafood restaurant along the Bosphorus. In the afternoon, drive to Bolu.
Overnight: Koru Hotel (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 4: Bolu / Ankara / Cappadocia (293 miles)
In the early morning, drive to Ankara, the nation’s capital since 1923. Explore The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with its rich collection from the Hittite, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. After lunch, continue to Cappadocia.
Overnight: Mustafa Hotel (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 5: Cappadocia 
Take a full day to discover Cappadocia. Visit the Goreme Valley, an open-air museum with rockhewn churches (7th-13th centuries) adorned with biblical frescoes. At a handicraft center, learn about the arts of rural Turkey and watch a demonstration on hand-made rugs. Tour an Underground City. Marvel at the cavedwellings and fairy chimneys of the Avcilar Valley and the Kiliclar Valley. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Cappadocia / Konya / Antalya (330 miles)
After breakfast, drive to Konya. En route, stop at the Sultanhani Caravanserai, Anatolia’s largest staging post for merchants during the Seljuk period in the 13th century. In Konya, visit the Museum of Mevlana honoring the famous mystic poet and founder of the Sufi Order of the Whirling Dervishes. After lunch, continue to Antalya.
Overnight: Khan Hotel (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 7: Antalya / Aspendos / Perge / Antalya
Visit two magnificent sites: Aspendos, a treasure with the world’s best-preserved Roman Theater, and Perge, a spectacular Greco-Roman city. On the return to Antalya, discover the tradition of jewelry-making by visiting one of the largest jewelers of Turkey. Later in the afternoon, visit Old Antalya - Kaleici and stroll through the picturesque streets of the old port.  (B, L, D)

Day 8: Antalya / Sagalassos / Pamukkale (209 miles)
Leaving Antalya, travel over the Taurus Mountains to the Greco-Roman city of Sagalassos, a recently excavated archeological gem. After lunch, drive to Pamukkale.
Overnight: Pam Hotel (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 9: Pamukkale / Selcuk (143 miles)
In the morning, admire the unreal landscape at the "Cotton Castle" of Pamukkale with its white terraces of limestone deposited by thermal waters through the ages. See the ancient spa, Hierapolis, still used today. Discover the necropolis, one of the largest cemeteries from antiquity to the present. After lunch, drive to Aphrodisias, the ancient site dedicated to the goddess of beauty, love, and fertility. Appreciate Anatolia’s best-preserved stadium. At this site, which drew artisans to its school of sculpture, enjoy the Temple of Aphrodite, the Tetrapylon, and the Theater. Continue to Selcuk.
Overnight: Kalehan Hotel (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 10: Selcuk / Ephesus (30 miles) / Patmos (Cruise) (GREECE)
After breakfast, discover one of the world’s best places to visualize an ancient Roman city, Ephesus.  Transfer to Kusadasi to board your cruise ship.  Visit Patmos (4pm-9pm) with its landmark Monastery of St. John
Overnight: Louise Cruise – inside cabin IB or IC or ID (3 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 11: Rhodes  
Explore celebrated Rhodes for a full day (7am-6pm). (B, L, D)

Day 12: Heraklion / Santorini
In the morning (7am-11:30am) discover fascinating Heraklion.  Relax during the afternoon sail to Santorini (Thira) before investigating the village perched on the rim of an ancient volcano (4:30pm-9pm). (B, L, D)
Day 13: Santorini / Piraeus / Athens (5 miles)
Morning arrival to Piraeus at 700am.   Early check in depends on hotel’s availability.  Transfer to the hotel in Athens.   The rest of the day is free at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Amalia (2 nights) (B)

Day 14: Athens
In the morning join in an extensive visit to the Acropolis.   The rest of the day is free at leisure. (B)

Day 15: Depart Athens
Check out by 1100 hrs.  Transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)

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Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures Every Sunday starting from Apr 01 until Oct 14
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Hotels & cruise line as mentioned (or similar). Upgrade to outside cabin is possible, please contact for prices. Any airfares Hotel & port taxes Airport/departure taxes Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Any optional shore excursions Sightseeing and transportation Insurance & Visas Services in Turkey are escorted Tips/Gratuities to Drivers & Guides Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departures Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2012 US $ 2860 US $ 1085
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast US $ 1300 USA - West Coast US $ 1100 Canada - East Coast US $ 1100 USA - East Coast US $ 900
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 participants.
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.