Premium Turkey & The Cyclades Islands





Experience the best of Turkey and Greece
Dive into the magic of the Mediterranean on a 17-day Premium exploration of Turkey and Greece. Discover stunning islands and a sunken city, explore ancient cities, cruise the Bosphorus in a private boat, and marvel at diverse landscapes, from the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia to the glittering Mediterranean Coast. Hop across to the storied city of Athens, explore the charming villages of Paros, uncover ancient riches in Naxos and soak up million-dollar views in Santorini. With knowledgeable local leaders and a group of keen travellers by your side, you’re never far away from an unforgettable moment.
Start: Istanbul, Turkey
End: Santorini, Greece
- Duration
- 17 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Premium
- Theme
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- Explorer
- Physical rating
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Our best hand-picked accommodation and the highest level of service
The must-see highlights, plus authentic experiences only available on Premium trips
Trips led by our most experienced and top-rated local leaders
Why you'll love this trip
- Feast your eyes on the best of Turkey and Greece's otherworldly sights, from the marble streets of ancient Ephesus to the psychedelic rockscapes of Cappadocia and the legendary caldera of Santorini.
- Get to know the real Turkey during Exclusive Experiences, including a cooking class with a local chef, visit to an empowering carpet weaving cooperative, and traditional dinner at a locals home in Cappadocia.
- Understand the dazzling variety of Greek produce during Exclusive Experiences, including a kitron tasting, an afternoon of wine tasting in Santorini and a hands-on cooking class with a local in Naxos.
- Join experienced local leaders as you stroll the ancient streets of Ephesus, explore the legendary ruins of Pergamon and discover the history and charming villages of Paros.
Itinerary
Hos geldin! Welcome to Turkey. Your adventure begins in Istanbul – the largest city in all of Europe. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your boutique hotel in the heart of the Old City. From the magnificent mosques to the bustling bazaars, there’s plenty to see and do here if you arrive early. You might like to stretch your legs and visit the 1500-year-old UNESCO World Heritage monument, Hagia Sophia. With incredible architectural beauty and varied history, it was originally built as an Orthodox Christian cathedral, then converted into a mosque, then a museum and has now been turned back into a mosque again. Tonight, join your local leader and small group for a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Then, take a short stroll to a local restaurant for a group dinner of Ottoman and Turkish cuisine.
- DeCamondo Galata Hotel or similar (1 night)
- Dinner
- Istanbul - Welcome Dinner
- Istanbul - Welcome Meeting
It’s very important that you attend the 6pm welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
After breakfast, join your leader to explore Sultan Ahmet I’s Blue Mosque. With six minarets, 260 windows and it’s iconic, blue-tiled walls (made up of more than 20,000 Iznik ceramic tiles), the Blue Mosque is known as one of the most magnificent in all of Istanbul. Then, you'll head out to explore the rest of the city on an orientation walk. Make your way to Sultanahmet (the Old City, formerly Constantinople) and explore the hippodrome and the decorative statues and obelisks. Then, get into some good-natured haggling with local artisans in the Grand Bazaar, packed with over 3000 stalls of handcrafted jewellery, textiles and books. After exploring, it’s time to hop aboard a private yacht and marvel at the Istanbul skyline from sea. This fairy-tale experience across the Bosphorus Strait, which separates Europe and Asia, features panoramic views from the waterway dotted with artisan palaces, mansions and historic monuments. Sit back and soak up the vistas after a jam-packed day of exploration.
- DeCamondo Galata Hotel or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Istanbul - Blue Mosque Visit
- Istanbul - Orientation Walk
- Istanbul - Private Bosphorus Cruise
- Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) - TRY2000
After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to Istanbul and journey to Kusadasi, with a stop in Pergamon along the way. The ancient city of Pergamon, sitting high above the Bakircay Plain in Turkey’s Aegean region, is easily accessible by cable car. At the top of the hill, you’ll discover crumbling ruins, large and small. Some of the most fascinating spots to explore include the well-known library that helped put Pergamon on the map, the colossal Temple of Trajan, 10,000-seat Hellenistic theatre and the Altar of Zeus. After some time walking in the footsteps of ancient emperors, you’ll continue to Kusadasi. Tonight, get comfortable at your boutique hotel on the edge of the Aegean Sea – this will be your home away from home for the next three nights.
- La Vista Boutique Hotel or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Pergamon - Ancient City Visit & Cable Car
Your travel time today will be approximately 8.5 hours.
After breakfast today, you’ll explore the ancient city ruins of Ephesus. This is one of the best-preserved cities in the Eastern Mediterranean and arguably the greatest Greco-Roman site in the world. As you walk in the footsteps of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, you’ll get a glimpse into how the ancient Romans lived. Stroll the marble streets surrounding the ancient theatre and explore the gymnasium, baths and beautifully restored Library of Celsus. From ancient ruins to ancient traditions, you’ll be treated to a carpet weaving demonstration and learn about the art of traditional carpet weaving from local social enterprise, Sultankoy. This organisation provides local women with employment while protecting and developing the ancient tradition. After a picnic lunch here, you’ll learn all about Turkish recipes and flavours with a hands-on cooking class. Get to know the local chef as you prepare a traditional meal and feast on your creations together.
- La Vista Boutique Hotel or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
- Selcuk - Sultanköy Carpet Demonstration & Picnic Lunch
- Sirince - Cooking Class
Wake up without an alarm today and enjoy this coastal paradise with a free morning. Kusadasi is the perfect springboard to see some Turkey’s most incredible ruins and natural wonders, so why not take advantage and book an optional tour to explore Pamukkale and the Hierapolis Ancient City. Pamukkale’s mineral springs have become well-known for their turquoise waters framed by a snow-white mineral build-up cascading over the cliffs. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the hot springs were believed to hold therapeutic healing properties by ancients Greeks and Romans. If you’d rather skip the optional tour and stay closer to town, why not stroll the seafront promenade and grab a bite to eat by the harbour or banter with the locals at the main bazaar. However you choose to spend your day, you can swap stories with your fellow travellers over your group dinner this evening.
- La Vista Boutique Hotel or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Pamukkale - Hierapolis and Travertines National Park - EUR30
Pamukkale - Hierapolis and Travertines National Park - EUR30 (entrance only, additional cost for transport which will vary depending on the number of passengers).
The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced that the Cleopatra Pool is now closed for renovations. There is no confirmed reopening date yet.
Today, catch a flight to Kayseri and be swept away by the mystery of Cappadocia, where you’ll stay in specially restored cave suites in the Old City centre. After checking in, you’ll be welcomed into a local home for home-cooked Turkish lunch. Next, it's time to explore Goreme Open Air Museum. Another UNESCO World Heritage site to check off the list, you’ll find richly decorated rock-carved churches, monasteries and chapels here. After getting to know Goreme, it’s time to get to know Cappadocia on a panoramic sights tour. Discover the region’s highlights like Imagination Valley where rock formations, known as fairy chimneys, stand amid the orange-coloured landscape. With your local leader by your side, you’ll learn how these unusual formations came to be.
- Aya Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Izmir - Flight to Kayseri
- Cappadocia - Home-cooked lunch
- Cappadocia - Goreme Open Air Museum
- Cappadocia - Panoramic Sights Tour
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
On occasion, it may be necessary to take a connecting flight to Kayseri when direct flights are not available which will increase the total travel time.
After breakfast, we make our way to yet another out-of-this-world location to explore the underground cities beneath Cappadocia. It’s believed that these intricate subterranean homes were created in the 8th and 7th centuries BCE. Amazingly, there are roughly 200 them – more incredibly, they were abandoned in 1923 and not rediscovered until some 40 years later. You might spot remnants of subterranean wine cellars, stables and chapels, although it’s believed they were below ground for safety reasons, these city folk seem to have lived their lives to the fullest. Next, visit the studio of a local ceramic master whose family have been in the pottery business for six generations. You’ll learn the history and techniques of traditional Turkish ceramics and discover how the rich clay from the red river is moulded into exquisite pieces. Finally, in the afternoon, you’ll enjoy an easy hike through Red Valley – named for the incredible red hues the rock formations throw at sunset. Watch in awe as the sun sets over the landscape before heading back to town to enjoy our final dinner together with a delicately prepared traditional central Anatolian dish.
There’ll also be time today to take to the skies with an optional hot air balloon ride (at your own expense) if you wish.
- Aya Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Cappadocia - Kaymakli Underground City
- Cappadocia - Pottery demonstration
- Cappadocia - Red Valley Hike
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR200
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR230
- Cappadocia - Turkish Night with Dinner - EUR50
- Cappadocia - Whirling Dervish Performance with transport - EUR40
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Sightseeing from the Valley - EUR20
You can only book the optional hot air balloon activity with your trip leader. Your leader will discuss this with the group early in the trip.
The price of the hot air balloon activity is indicative only as the prices may fluctuate between different seasons. Your leader will advise you of the correct rate at the time of booking.
Due to local regulations, hot air balloon flight times vary. This means that your flight may be before or just after sunrise. This is subject to the activity provider’s discretion and is not within our control.
This morning, say goodbye to Cappadocia and return to where it all began – Istanbul. When you arrive, you may wish to explore the European side of the city or perhaps take trip across the Bosphorus to the Asian side of the city. Either way, you’ll find lively, close-knit communities and jumbles of cute cafes, markets and restaurants. Your Leader will be able to provide advice on things to see and do. This evening, consider rounding off your adventure by joining your group for an optional farewell dinner at one of Istanbul’s excellent restaurants.
- DeCamondo Galata Hotel or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Istanbul - Farewell Dinner
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
Wave goodbye to Turkey today and catch an unescorted flight to Greece to begin the second half of your adventure in the capital Athens. On arrival you will be met at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel, where you will meet your new local leader and fellow travellers for a 6pm meeting. After your meeting, get a taste of Greece’s celebrated cuisine during dinner with the group at a local restaurant.
- Athenaeum Luxury Hotel or similar (1 night)
- Dinner
- Athens - Welcome Dinner at Local Restaurant
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
- Athens - Acropolis Museum - EUR20
- Athens - National Gallery of Athens - EUR10
- Athens - Half day trip to Cape Sounio - EUR55
- Athens - Numismatic Museum - EUR15
- Athens - National Archaeological Museum - EUR15
- Athens - Acropolis Archeological site (tickets must be booked online) - EUR30
As this trip is a combination of shorter itineraries, the travellers in your group and your group leader are likely to change today.
Your transfer and flight will be unaccompanied. Your tour leader will provide you with more details on your flight information and your transfer to the airport.
This morning, you’ll be transported to Athens' port at Piraeus, where you’ll board a ferry to Paros – a beautiful and relaxed island with a layered history. Ferries are a great way to travel between the islands and are essential to many remote islands in Greece's archipelagos. In the afternoon, get to know Paros during an island tour with a local guide. Start off in Parikia, the island’s main town, where you’ll visit the Ekatontapiliani church, also known as the Church of a Hundred Doors. Drive across the island, passing by ancient marble quarries and verdant hills, to Marpissa for a visit to a cultural centre to learn about island life from a group of local women. Carry on to Naoussa – a village known for its whitewashed alleys, Venetian castle and scenic port.
- Hill Mill Paros Hotel or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Paros - Highlights of Paros Half Day Island Tour with Local Guide
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
Due to the early morning ferry from Piraeus to Paros, breakfast will be provided in the form of a takeaway box as the hotel may not be able to offer a full breakfast service. Please speak to your leader if you have any concerns.
The day is yours to uncover more of Paros’ charms. There’s certainly no shortage of things to see and do on the island. You might like to take a guided morning hike along the coast – starting off at a fishing village and weaving through some of the island’s best beaches. In the afternoon, you’ll have the option to visit the nearby island of Antiparos – a favourite secret holiday spot for royals and celebrities. Or maybe you’d like to spend the day relaxing on one of Paros’ many beaches, cooling off with dips in Aegean Sea. Speak to your leader for more information about the activities on offer today and for tips on how to make the most of this island.
- Hill Mill Paros Hotel or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Paros - Catamaran Day Trip to Antiparos and Despotiko with Lunch - EUR95
- Paros - Farm Visit Tour and Tastings - EUR75
- Paros - Public Ferry from Paros to Antiparos ( Summer months RTN ticket) - EUR8
Say goodbye to Paros this morning and catch a short ferry to Naxos. The largest of the Cyclades islands, Naxos has something for everyone – from beaches to an Old Town and hundreds of years of Venetian history. Take some time to settle in, then regroup in the late afternoon to learn about the town. Visit the Portara with a local guide – the giant marble doorway is the only remaining part of an unfinished temple of Apollo from 530 BC. Naxos is unique in the fact that it is the Cyclades’ only self-sufficient island, meaning all produce is grown and available on the island without imports. Because of this, the cuisine is hyperlocal and differs to the rest of the country. Try it for yourself this evening during a group dinner, where you will learn all about the regional specialties.
- Naxos Princess or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Naxos - Old Town Walk & Portara Guided Tour
Drive to Kaloxylos in the heart of the island’s biggest olive grove and one of the oldest in the world. Here, tour an olive oil press museum to learn about the importance of olive oil to Greek culture and traditional extraction methods. After your visit, you’ll put your new knowledge to good use as you travel to the nearby village of Galini for a hands-on cooking class. Meet with a local who will share her culinary knowledge with the group, leaving you with recipes you can cook up at home. First, collect fresh ingredients from your host’s organic garden and learn about cultivation and farming on Naxos. Then put the ingredients together to create a Naxian dish from scratch, enjoying the fruits of your labour for lunch. Pair your lunch with a tasting of local kitron. This citron liqueur, with a history stretching back to the 19th century and produced exclusively on Naxos, offers a taste of the island’s culture.
- Naxos Princess or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Naxos - Cooking Class at a Local Farm
- Naxos - Kaloxylos Olive Oil Press
Today is free to explore more of Naxos as you wish. You may like to head to one of the island’s beaches or discover more of its history at a local museum. The Archaeological Museum of Naxos in Chora Naxos dates back to the 17th century and houses artefacts from the Neolithic to the early Christian periods, and the Geological Museum of Apeiranthos digs up the natural history of the island. If you’re after a sweet treat, walnut cake flavoured with local kitron is an excellent regional specialty. Your leader will be on hand to help tailor a day that suits your interests.
- Naxos Princess or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Naxos - Koufonissia & Rina Cave Cruise - EUR90
- Naxos - Mykonos and Delos One Day Cruise from Naxos - from - EUR75
- Naxos - Highlights Bus Tour with Free Time for Lunch at Apeiranthos - EUR35
Depart Naxos in the morning and catch a ferry to Santorini. When you arrive in Santorini's capital, Fira, you’ll be met and transferred to your Feature Stay hotel – a whitewashed building in traditional Cycladic style, El Greco Resort wraps around the year-round swimming pool. Featuring modern, spacious rooms, this hotel also sits in a prime location for exploring Santorini. It’s only a short walk from the Archaeological Museum of Thera, so perhaps head there to learn about how previous civilisations lived on the island. Tonight, make sure you catch Santorini's world-famous sunset.
- El Greco Resort Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Santorini - Akrotiri Archaeological site - EUR20
- Santorini - Thira Prehistoric Museum - EUR10
Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.
In the morning, embark on a hike along Santorini’s legendary caldera. The island you see today is what remains from a huge volcanic explosion that destroyed the early settlements and created a geographical caldera. The natural beauty of this caldera is what makes Santorini such a special place. Your walk will take you along the north-western rim of the caldera, passing steep cliff faces and amazing views along the way. The walk ends in the town of Oia, built on a steep slope inside Santorini’s volcanic caldera. Famous not only for its scenery, Santorini’s microclimate and volcanic soil make it a top spot for wine production. Sip your way around the island with two special stops – the Symposium Cultural Centre, where you’ll learn about Greek wine and try it in traditional cups, and a family-run winery, where you’ll discover more about the history of wine production and taste the different varieties yourself alongside a food pairing.
- El Greco Resort Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Santorini - Caldera Hike
- Santorini - Winery visit with tasting and food pairing
- Santorini - Mythology and Wine experience
Your walking time today will be approximately 3 to 5 hours or 12 km. The surface varies between gravel and loose volcanic scree. There are several uphill and downhill sections, and there are no shade or toilet facilities along the route.
In summer the leader may decide to start the hike as the sun rises to avoid the day's heat. Therefore, you may need to organise a takeaway breakfast, as the hotel will not serve breakfast this early. Please speak to your leader for more details if you have any concerns. As an alternative to the hike, you can take a taxi to Oia and meet up with the rest of the group there or enjoy a beach day.
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you want to spend some more time in Santorini, just speak to your booking agent to organise additional accommodation.
- Breakfast
Inclusions and activities
15 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners
Private vehicle, Boat, Plane, Ferry, Taxi
Comfortable hotel (10 nights), Feature Stay (5 nights)
- Arrival airport transfer
- Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
- Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
- 24/7 on-ground support
- Istanbul - Welcome Dinner
- Istanbul - Welcome Meeting
- Istanbul - Blue Mosque Visit
- Istanbul - Orientation Walk
- Istanbul - Private Bosphorus Cruise
- Pergamon - Ancient City Visit & Cable Car
- Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
- Selcuk - Sultanköy Carpet Demonstration & Picnic Lunch
- Sirince - Cooking Class
- Izmir - Flight to Kayseri
- Cappadocia - Home-cooked lunch
- Cappadocia - Goreme Open Air Museum
- Cappadocia - Panoramic Sights Tour
- Cappadocia - Kaymakli Underground City
- Cappadocia - Pottery demonstration
- Cappadocia - Red Valley Hike
- Istanbul - Farewell Dinner
- Athens - Welcome Dinner at Local Restaurant
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
- Paros - Highlights of Paros Half Day Island Tour with Local Guide
- Naxos - Old Town Walk & Portara Guided Tour
- Naxos - Cooking Class at a Local Farm
- Naxos - Kaloxylos Olive Oil Press
- Santorini - Caldera Hike
- Santorini - Winery visit with tasting and food pairing
- Santorini - Mythology and Wine experience
- Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) - TRY2000
- Pamukkale - Hierapolis and Travertines National Park - EUR30
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR200
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR230
- Cappadocia - Turkish Night with Dinner - EUR50
- Cappadocia - Whirling Dervish Performance with transport - EUR40
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Sightseeing from the Valley - EUR20
- Athens - Acropolis Museum - EUR20
- Athens - National Gallery of Athens - EUR10
- Athens - Half day trip to Cape Sounio - EUR55
- Athens - Numismatic Museum - EUR15
- Athens - National Archaeological Museum - EUR15
- Athens - Acropolis Archeological site (tickets must be booked online) - EUR30
- Paros - Catamaran Day Trip to Antiparos and Despotiko with Lunch - EUR95
- Paros - Farm Visit Tour and Tastings - EUR75
- Paros - Public Ferry from Paros to Antiparos ( Summer months RTN ticket) - EUR8
- Naxos - Koufonissia & Rina Cave Cruise - EUR90
- Naxos - Mykonos and Delos One Day Cruise from Naxos - from - EUR75
- Naxos - Highlights Bus Tour with Free Time for Lunch at Apeiranthos - EUR35
- Santorini - Akrotiri Archaeological site - EUR20
- Santorini - Thira Prehistoric Museum - EUR10
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.
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Is this trip right for you?
- Pickpocketing can be an issue in Athens, especially on public transport. But if you keep your valuables concealed and secure while travelling on the metro or bus, you should have no problems.
- Summer temperatures in Greece can reach up to 40°C, so you will need to be able to cope with the heat if you're visiting at this time. Please consider the time of year and your suitability to visiting during that season.
- Pickpocketing can be an issue in Athens, especially on public transport. But if you keep your valuables concealed and secure while travelling on the metro or bus, you should have no problems.
- Summer temperatures in Greece can reach up to 40°C, so you will need to be able to cope with the heat if you're visiting at this time. Please consider the time of year and your suitability to visiting during that season.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. This trip includes domestic flights. The luggage allowance is 15kg for check in luggage and 8kg for carry on. You can store excess luggage at the start point hotel.
4. This trip is a combination of two trips. Please review the Itinerary for details of when your fellow travellers and leader will change.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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