Greece Tours
19 days
per person
The route starts in Istanbul and runs through Pamukkale, Ephesus and Cappadocia, then Athens, Paros, Naxos, Ios and Santorini. It ends in Athens.
The journey begins in Istanbul, where the architecture still shows the meeting of East and West. In Pamukkale you see the white travertine terraces left by mineral-rich water, and Hierapolis above them. In Ephesus the marble streets belong to one of the great cities of the ancient world. In Cappadocia you see fairy chimneys, valleys, rock-carved churches and underground cities. The route then flies to Athens. Ferries continue to Paros, Naxos, Ios and Santorini. The return is to Athens. There is no guided city tour in Athens.
1
After you land at Istanbul Airport, a Solandra representative meets you at the first exit door and takes you to your hotel. The night is in Istanbul.
2
Visited sights: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome, the Obelisk of Theodosius, and the Grand Bazaar. After breakfast the guide picks you up from the hotel for a full day in the Old City on foot. You see the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, once home to the Ottoman sultans, the Hippodrome, and the Obelisk of Theodosius. The Hippodrome is where the crowds of old Constantinople gathered; the obelisks are still standing. The last stop is the Grand Bazaar, the large covered market at the heart of the old city. There is time to walk it. At the end of the tour you are taken back to your hotel. The night is in Istanbul.
3
Visited sights: the calcium terraces, the Hierapolis museum, the Hierapolis theatre, the Roman bath, the Temple of Apollo, and the Cleopatra thermal pool. Swimming in the pool is optional. Breakfast on this day is not in the package. You are picked up from the hotel and taken to the airport for the flight to Denizli. The flight lasts about an hour. On arrival a Solandra representative meets you at the first exit door, holding a sign with your name. At Pamukkale you see the white travertine terraces left by the hot springs, the “cotton castle” the town is named for. After lunch you visit Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site: the museum, the theatre, the Roman bath, and the Temple of Apollo. In antiquity people came here to be healed. Walking the terraces is part of the tour. Swimming in the Cleopatra pool is optional. At the end of the day you drive to your hotel in Kusadasi. The night is in Kusadasi.
4
Package departing from Istanbul.
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Meeting point
Istanbul Airport, the first exit door
1–16 people
Included
Breakfast at the hotels
Visited sights: Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, and the House of the Virgin Mary. After breakfast you drive to Ephesus. In the ancient city you see the Temple of Hadrian, the Library of Celsus, the theatre, the baths, and the old harbour. After lunch you visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she is believed to have spent her last days, and the site of the Temple of Artemis, counted among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. What remains is the foundation of the Hellenistic marble temple. At the end of the day you fly from Izmir Airport to Cappadocia. You are met at the first exit door and taken to your hotel. The night is in Cappadocia.
5
Visited sights: Devrent Valley, Pasabag (Monk’s Valley), Avanos, Goreme, and the Open Air Museum. After breakfast the guide picks you up from the hotel. The day covers Devrent Valley and its chimneys, Pasabag, Avanos, the Goreme valley, and the Open Air Museum, where churches and early Christian dwellings cut from the soft rock are still standing. After the tour you return to your hotel. The night is again in Cappadocia.
6
Visited sights: Red and Rose Valley, Gulludere Valley, Cavusin Village, Kaymakli or Ozkonak Underground City, Ortahisar, Uchisar Castle, Pigeon Valley, and Three Beauties Valley. After breakfast the guide picks you up and the southern tour begins. In Red and Rose Valley the rock colour changes through the day, and there is a short walk in Gulludere Valley. In old Greek Cavusin you visit the houses and churches linked with Saint John the Baptist and Nikephoros Phokas. After lunch you see Kaymakli or Ozkonak, one of the widest underground cities in Cappadocia, used by people sheltering from raids and disaster. Uchisar Castle is the highest point of the region and the place for a panorama of Cappadocia. Pigeon Valley looks back at the castle, and pigeons still live in the dovecotes. The last stop is Three Beauties Valley, known for its vineyards and the view. At the end of the tour you are taken back to your hotel in Cappadocia. The night is again in Cappadocia.
7
After breakfast you are free until pickup, then taken to the airport for the flight to Istanbul. On arrival a Solandra representative meets you at the first exit door and takes you to your hotel. The night is in Istanbul.
8
After breakfast there is no schedule. The day is free to see the city on your own. The night is in Istanbul.
9
After breakfast you are free until pickup. You are then taken to the airport for the flight to Athens. On arrival a Solandra representative meets you at the first exit door and takes you to your hotel. The night is in Athens.
10
After breakfast you are taken to Piraeus. You board the ferry for Paros and, on arrival, transfer to your hotel. The night is in Paros.
11
After breakfast there is no schedule. The night is in Paros.
12
After breakfast you are taken to Paros port. The ferry sails to Naxos and, on arrival, you are taken to your hotel. The night is in Naxos.
13
After breakfast the day is free. The night is in Naxos.
14
After breakfast you check out and transfer to Naxos port. The ferry sails to Ios and, on arrival, you are taken to your hotel. The night is in Ios.
15
After breakfast the day is free. The night is in Ios.
16
After breakfast you check out and transfer to Ios port. The ferry sails to Santorini and, on arrival, you are taken to your hotel. The night is in Santorini.
17
After breakfast the day is free. You can walk in Fira and Oia, see the volcano and the Akrotiri excavations, or swim at a volcanic beach. Those are choices for the free day. The entries are not in the package. The night is in Santorini.
18
After breakfast you check out and transfer to Santorini port. The ferry sails to Piraeus, and from there you are taken to your hotel in Athens. The night is in Athens.
19
You are taken to Athens airport four hours before your international flight. Check-in is self-service. That is the end of the service.
100% ticket guarantee
The tickets you need for the experience are delivered to you on time.
100% satisfaction guarantee
If the experience does not happen as promised, you receive a refund.
100% support guarantee
Before, during, and after the trip, support is available in Turkish and English.
