Turkey & Greece Tour Package: 20 Days, Flights & Greek Islands

Your 20-day trip through Turkey and Greece starts when you land in Istanbul, the city where East and West meet and centuries of culture and history overlap. You check in at your hotel and get ready for the journey across some of the finest places in the Mediterranean.

The first full day introduces you to Istanbul at its grandest. Inside the Blue Mosque, fine tile work and six minarets set the tone, while the Grand Bazaar draws you into a maze of busy corridors full of colour and scent.

Today's highlights:

• Topkapi Palace (Optional): tour the home of the Ottoman sultans, with its detailed architecture, precious artefacts and fine views over the Istanbul skyline.
• Blue Mosque: step into the calm interior of this architectural masterpiece, famous for its blue tiles.
• Hippodrome: this was the centre of Byzantine entertainment and chariot racing. Its ancient obelisks and monuments still tell the story of the city's great past.
• Hagia Sophia (Optional): a UNESCO World Heritage Site where huge domes and rich mosaics show how Byzantine and Islamic influences came together.
• Grand Bazaar: one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. Its maze of lanes is packed with colourful stalls selling all kinds of Turkish goods.

After breakfast at the hotel, the day begins at the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. Wander this busy market among exotic spices, Turkish delight and other local products, and enjoy the mix of scents.

Next comes a relaxing Bosphorus Cruise. As the boat sails between Europe and Asia, you see the city's varied architecture and pass grand Ottoman palaces, including Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi.

05:00 – Our driver picks you up at your hotel and takes you to the airport. This time may change to suit the departure time of available flights.

07:05 – Flight from Istanbul to Konya. Please note that the flight time can change depending on availability.

08:15 – Arrival at Konya Airport, where our staff wait for you with a name sign and drive you into Konya.

Today's highlights:

• Mevlana Museum: the tour starts at the mausoleum of Rumi, the famous Sufi mystic. You walk through several parts of the museum, including the kitchen, the tombs, the Quran reading chamber and the ritual hall.
• Selimiye Mosque: an Ottoman-style mosque commissioned by Sultan Selim II.
• Meram and Tavusbaba Tomb: after lunch at a traditional local restaurant, a panoramic drive through Meram leads to the Tavusbaba Tomb, built for a holy man of the Seljuk period.
• Karatay Madrasah: a historic school that served as a centre of learning under the Ottoman Caliphate.
• Ince Minaret Medrasah: this 13th-century Islamic school is now a museum, known for its fine wood and stone carvings.
• Alaaddin Mosque: the last stop is the oldest and largest mosque in Konya, built in the Anatolian Seljuk period.

When the tour ends, you are transferred to Cappadocia for the night.

If you would like to, you can start the day early with a hot air balloon flight over the unusual landscapes of Cappadocia (the balloon flight costs extra).

The guided tour normally gets going at about 09:00 and wraps up by 16:00 at the latest.

Today's highlights:

• Goreme Esentepe – Panoramic View: the first stop is this lookout between Uçhisar and Göreme. From the top you look out over the Cappadocian valleys, the fairy chimneys and the small town of Esentepe.
• Zelve Open-Air Museum: Zelve was once a centre of monastic life and Christian learning. Its monasteries, churches and chapels still hold well-preserved frescoes that show how people lived and worshipped here.
• Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, sometimes called "Pasha's Vineyard", is known for its three-headed fairy chimneys. The rock shapes here rank among the most striking in the region and give the valley an otherworldly look.
• Devrent Valley: a short drive brings you to a valley that looks like the surface of the moon. Its small, pointed chimneys invite you to spot shapes, and some rocks resemble animals and mythical creatures.
• Avanos Pottery Workshop: Avanos has been a pottery town since 3000 BC, and its craftsmen still shape clay taken from the Red River. In a traditional workshop you see how the ceramics are made, up close.
• Love Valley: the final stop. Millions of years of erosion have carved this valley into cone-shaped pillars, pinnacles and fairy chimneys, some of them up to 40 meters high. Few places in Cappadocia look stranger or make better photos.

Afterwards you return to your Cave Hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

The guided tour normally gets going at about 09:00 and wraps up by 16:00 at the latest.

Today's highlights:

• Meskendir Valley (4.4 km Trek): the day starts on foot with a 4.4 km walk through this valley near Ortahisar. On the way you reach Meskendir Church, decorated with bold red geometric patterns and a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling. You can step inside the church and enjoy the scenery around it.
• Rose Valley: tucked away behind Ürgüp, this quiet valley is famous for its rock formations and for churches cut into the rock, out of sight. Footpaths run through vineyards and gardens between small villages and towns, and local people along the way sometimes offer fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
• Red Valley: like its neighbour Rose Valley, it has striking rock formations and old cave churches. Its winding paths link remote villages and fields like the threads of a spider's web, a good place to see both the nature and the history of Cappadocia.
• Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin Village ranks among the oldest settlements of Cappadocia. Its houses are carved straight into the rock, forming a maze of ancient dwellings, and the village is home to the Church of John the Baptist. Dating from the 5th century, it is the biggest cave church in the region.
• Underground City: early Christians dug 36 underground cities in Cappadocia to hide from persecution. You visit the largest and best known of them. It goes down eight levels, and you walk through parts of it, including old wineries, kitchens and living quarters.
• Pigeon Valley: on the edge of Göreme, this valley takes its name from the pigeon houses cut into its cliffs over the centuries. Farmers once collected the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today the valley is known for its wide views and is a favourite spot for photos.
• Uchisar Castle Panorama: the day ends in Uçhisar, which sits on the highest ground in Cappadocia. Its landmark is Uçhisar Castle, a tall rock that once served as a fortress. From the top the whole region opens up, with Erciyes Mountain on the horizon.

After a day of walking and sightseeing, you head back to your hotel at around 16:00 for the night.

Today you check out of your hotel and fly to Izmir.

Please note: on some days there is no direct flight between Cappadocia and Izmir, so the flight may connect with one stopover.

The day starts early with a pick-up from your hotel in the morning. The flight to Izmir takes about an hour, and on arrival you are transferred to your hotel for the night.

Today you are driven directly to Ephesus, where the visit begins at the Magnesia Gate of the Ephesus Ancient City. The site is full of remarkable monuments.

Highlights of the tour:

• Library of Celsus: admire the scale of this ancient library, famous for its striking front and fine architectural detail.
• Temple of Hadrian: the remains of this well-preserved temple honour the Roman emperor Hadrian.
• Hercules Gate: pass under this monumental entrance, decorated with carved reliefs and statues.
• Grand Theatre: its sheer size is striking: thousands of spectators once filled these seats.
• The Snake Cult of Asklepios: learn about the ancient snake cult linked to healing and visit the ruins of the Asklepion, a medical centre of the ancient world.
• Herm (Marker) of Hermes: see the stone marker dedicated to Hermes, the Greek god of travellers and boundaries.
• Stone-carving of the goddess Nike: a detailed relief of Nike, the symbol of victory and triumph.
• Fountain of Trajan: this ancient fountain, dedicated to the Roman emperor Trajan, is decorated with ornate sculptures.
• Ruins of Artemis Temple: walk among the remains of the legendary Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of antiquity.
• St. Mary's House (optional): if you wish, you can also visit the holy site where, according to tradition, the Virgin Mary spent her last years.

After the tour you are taken to your hotel in Kusadasi for the night.

You are collected from your hotel early in the morning for a day in Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis, famous for its well-preserved ruins and its place in history.

The visit covers the Necropolis, the Theatre and the Cleopatra Pool. If you want to swim in the Cleopatra Pool, there is an admission charge.

Today's highlights:

• Hierapolis Ruins: the first stop is this ancient city with a long history. Across the archaeological site you find the remains of large buildings, old streets and artefacts that show how its people lived.
• Temple of Apollo: a classical masterpiece among the ruins, the temple stands for the city's importance in history, and its architecture shows its cultural value in ancient times.
• Calcium Terraces: walk gently across the white calcium terraces that make Pamukkale a natural treasure. Hot springs rich in minerals formed this cascading scene.

After the tour you return to Kusadasi for the night.

A morning flight takes you to Athens, the city of philosophers, playwrights and democracy. After checking in at your hotel, you set out to see its historic sights.

Today's highlights:

• Acropolis: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you see the Parthenon and other ancient buildings.
• Plaka: stroll through the old streets of Athens' historic neighbourhood, known for its pretty lanes, traditional architecture and lively atmosphere.

Today you see more of Athens. Lunch in a local taverna gives you a taste of authentic Greek cooking and the chance to try local specialties.

Today's highlights:

• The Athenian Neoclassical Center: the route passes the Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the University, the Library and the National Academy, the Ilion Palace, the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Gate, the Panathenaic Stadium and many other monuments and places of interest.

Today is set aside for a day trip to Delphi. In ancient times it was a sanctuary sacred to the god Apollo and the home of the Pythian Games.

You explore the archaeological remains and the artefacts that tell the story of this holy place, and you take in wide views of the surrounding landscape.

Delphi has a deep, layered history, and walking where the ancient Greeks once walked brings you close to the spirit of their world.

Today you travel on to the island of Santorini.

Once you reach your hotel, you will see the famous white-washed towns, loved for their simple charm and wide views over the Aegean Sea.

Here the focus of the day is rest and getting to know island life.

Spend an easy day enjoying Santorini. The volcanic beaches of Perissa and Kamari are ideal for relaxing, and the island's unusual landscapes are all around you.

Santorini also has major archaeological sites, including the ancient city of Akrotiri. This Minoan Bronze Age settlement was buried under volcanic ash, which preserved it for thousands of years.

In the evening, a sunset cruise around the caldera rounds off the day.

Next, the trip takes you to the lively island of Mykonos.

After you check in at your hotel, you explore Mykonos Town, with its well-known windmills and narrow alleys.

The mood here is lively and pretty at once, with plenty of chances to shop, eat out or simply enjoy this much-loved island.

Today is about the famous beaches of Mykonos. You can head to Paradise Beach and Super Paradise Beach, known for white sand and busy beach parties.

After sunset the island wakes up again, with a buzzing nightlife built around beachfront clubs and live entertainment.

Today you move on to Heraklion, on the island of Crete.

Today's highlights:

• Palace of Knossos: you arrive in the morning and visit this key archaeological site of the Minoan civilization. Its complex architecture and historical weight give you a real sense of the distant past.
• Heraklion Archaeological Museum: the museum holds an impressive collection of finds from the long history of Crete. After these visits you check in at your hotel in Heraklion.

Your time on Crete continues with a trip to Chania, a charming town known for its Venetian harbour and narrow streets.

A visit to the Archaeological Museum of Chania adds to your understanding of the island's history.

At the end of the tour you return to Heraklion for the night.

Today you say goodbye to the Greek islands and travel back to Athens in the afternoon.

From Athens you take your flight back to Istanbul.

On arrival you check in at your hotel in Istanbul and rest before your departure the next day.

Today your 20-day Turkey and Greece journey comes to an end. You leave with a rich mix of history, culture, natural beauty and varied experiences, and plenty of memories to take home.

Optional extras

• Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (GOREME): $310
• One extra hotel night in Istanbul, before or after the tour: $65
• Two extra hotel nights in Istanbul, before or after the tour: $125