Turkey & Greece Tour 14 Days: Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Cappadocia

Welcome to Greece. After landing you are transferred to the hotel, and for the rest of the day you are free to explore the ancient city as you like.

A welcome meeting in the evening lets you meet the other members of your group. You stay the night in Athens.

This half-day tour of Athens begins on the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You walk among the Parthenon, the Temple of Nike and other ancient remains, then visit the Acropolis museum to understand why the hill mattered so much.

Next comes the stadium that hosted the first Olympic Games of modern times, followed by the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch.

You also stroll through Plaka, the old quarter of Athens, with its pretty lanes, traditional buildings and lively mood. Night in Athens.

An early start takes you from Athens to the island of Santorini.

Once you arrive, the time is yours: lie on the beach or wander around Fira, the island's attractive capital. Night in Santorini.

Today you can join an optional boat trip to the largest volcanic crater above sea level anywhere in the world.

The trip stops at the active volcano, where you can swim in warm thermal water and try a healing mud bath, with wide views of the island's scenery along the way. Night in Santorini.

You leave Santorini for Mykonos. Spend the day exploring the white-washed town or relaxing on its clean beaches.

After sunset, the island's famous nightlife comes alive. Night in Mykonos.

A full free day on Mykonos. Stay on the beach, walk the narrow lanes of the town, or go out to the small villages that give this historic island its rich culture. Night in Mykonos.

Around midday you board a ferry to the island of Samos, then change to a second ferry that crosses to Kusadasi in Turkey. Night in Kusadasi.

A guide leads you through Ephesus, an ancient city full of remarkable buildings. Along the way you see:

• Library of Celsus: famous for its striking front and fine architectural detail.
• Temple of Hadrian: the well-kept remains of a temple built for the Roman emperor Hadrian.
• Hercules Gate: a monumental entrance decorated with reliefs and sculptures.
• Grand Theatre: a huge theatre that once held thousands of spectators.
• The Snake Cult of Asklepios: learn about the old snake cult linked to healing and see the ruins of the Asklepion, an ancient medical centre.
• Herm (Marker) of Hermes: a stone marker for the Greek god Hermes, who stood for travellers and boundaries.
• Stone carving of the goddess Nike: a detailed relief of Nike, the symbol of victory and triumph.
• Fountain of Trajan: an old fountain built for the Roman emperor Trajan and decorated with ornate figures.
• Ruins of the Artemis Temple: what is left of the legendary temple counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

After Ephesus you visit Sirince, a former Greek village famous for its fruit wines, and stop at a carpet village to see how traditional carpets are woven. Night in Kusadasi.

Today brings you to Pamukkale and its white calcium terraces, known as the Travertines.

• Hierapolis ruins: the first stop is this ancient city with a long history. Around the site you find the remains of large buildings, streets and objects that show how its people lived.
• Temple of Apollo: a classical masterpiece among the ruins that reflects the city's importance and its ancient culture.
• Calcium terraces: walk gently across the white terraces, a cascade created by mineral-rich hot springs and the natural treasure that made Pamukkale famous.

You can also take a dip in the hot springs, which the Romans valued for their healing powers. Night in Pamukkale.

Today follows the ancient Silk Road, with stops at the Sultanhani Caravansary and in Konya.

• Mevlana Museum: the mausoleum of the famous Sufi mystic Rumi. You see several parts of it, including the kitchen, the tombs, the Quran reading room and the ritual hall.
• Selimiye Mosque: an Ottoman-style mosque ordered by Sultan Selim II.
• Meram and Tavusbaba Tomb: a panoramic drive around Meram, then the tomb of a holy man from the Seljuk period.
• Karatay Madrasah: a historic school that was once a centre of learning under the Ottoman Caliphate.
• Ince Minaret Medrasah: a 13th-century Islamic school, now a museum, with fine wood and stone carving.

In the evening you can join an optional traditional Turkish folklore night. Night in Cappadocia.

At about 09:00 your first Cappadocia tour begins, focused on the fairy chimneys and rock churches that give the region its unusual beauty.

• Esentepe viewpoint, Goreme: the day opens at this panoramic spot between Uchisar and Goreme, looking out over fairy chimneys and the small town of Esentepe.
• Zelve Open-Air Museum: a former monastic settlement and centre of Christian learning, with old monasteries, churches and chapels whose frescoes are still in good condition.
• Pasabag (Monks Valley): also called Pasha's Vineyard, this valley is known for its three-headed fairy chimneys, some of the most striking rock shapes in the region.
• Devrent Valley: a short drive away, small pointed fairy chimneys form a moon-like scene, and many rocks look like animals or mythical creatures.
• Avanos pottery workshop: potters in Avanos have worked with clay from the Red River since 3000 BC. In a traditional workshop you watch their skill up close.
• Love Valley: the last stop. Millions of years of erosion have left cone-shaped pillars, pinnacles and fairy chimneys up to 40 metres tall, one of the strangest and most photogenic corners of Cappadocia.

The tour finishes around 16:00 and you are dropped at your hotel in Cappadocia.

If you choose the optional hot air balloon flight, you rise at sunrise and float over the rock formations and fairy chimneys as the sky changes colour. After landing there is a champagne toast, then a transfer back to your hotel.

The day tour usually runs from around 09:00 until 16:00 at the latest.

• Meskendir Valley (4.4 km trek): the day starts with a 4.4 km walk through this valley near Ortahisar. Inside Meskendir Church you see geometric red decoration and a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling, and you can look around the interior before taking in the scenery.
• Rose Valley: behind Urgup, this quiet valley hides churches cut into the rock among unusual formations. Its trails link small villages through vineyards and gardens, and local people sometimes offer fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
• Red Valley: much like its neighbour, it has striking rock shapes and old cave churches. Its winding paths connect remote villages and fields like the threads of a spider's web, a good place to see Cappadocia's nature and history side by side.
• Cavusin: among the oldest settlements in the region, this village is a maze of houses carved into the rock. It is also home to the Church of John the Baptist, the biggest cave church in Cappadocia, built in the 5th century.
• Underground city: early Christians built 36 underground cities here to escape persecution. You visit the largest and best known, which has eight levels, and walk through parts of it including old wineries, kitchens and living quarters.
• Pigeon Valley: on the edge of Goreme, the valley takes its name from the pigeon houses cut into its cliffs over the centuries. Farmers once used the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today it is a fine spot for panoramic photos.
• Uchisar Castle viewpoint: the final stop is Uchisar, the highest point in Cappadocia. Its tall rock castle once served as a fortress, and the view from the top takes in the whole region, with Erciyes Mountain far in the distance.

In the evening you return to Istanbul. Night in Istanbul.

Today you explore the old city of Istanbul, a place that spans both Europe and Asia. Key stops include the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and the Hippodrome.

• Topkapi Palace (optional): the home of the Ottoman sultans, full of fine architecture and precious objects, with wide views over the Istanbul skyline.
• Blue Mosque: step inside to see the famous blue tiles and feel the calm of this architectural masterpiece.
• Hippodrome: once the scene of Byzantine chariot races and public entertainment, it still holds ancient obelisks and monuments that tell the city's story.
• Hagia Sophia (optional): a UNESCO World Heritage Site where huge domes and fine mosaics show the blend of Byzantine and Islamic influences.
• Grand Bazaar: one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, a maze of lanes lined with colourful stalls selling Turkish goods.

In the afternoon you can add an optional half-day Bosphorus cruise, sailing between two continents. Night in Istanbul.

After breakfast the tour comes to an end. Time to say goodbye to the friends you have made and to Istanbul. Safe travels.

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