Highlights of Turkey & the Greek Islands

15 Days | Experience the history, traditions, flavours and beaches of Turkey and Greece on this well-balance tour

5 out of 5 based on 4 reviews submitted.
Explorer
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EUR €4,470

If you’re looking for world-famous ruins, postcard-perfect beaches, epic history and a healthy dose of mouth-watering cuisine, a Greek holiday is probably high on your list, but did you know all of these treasures can be found in Turkey too? You’d be missing out if you visited one and not the other, so we created the perfect two-week adventure for you. Glimpse Turkey and Greece’s glorious past on visits to Ephesus and the island of Delos. Compare Turkey’s version of beach life with that found on the Greek Islands. And debate which country serves up the tastiest cuisine. Balancing traditional towns with tourist hotspots, unique cultural experiences with bucket-list items, and free time with planned excursion, this trip to Turkey and Greece has all the makings of an unforgettable adventure.

Trip overview

Map of Highlights Of Turkey & The Greek Islands including Greece and Turkey
Start
Istanbul, Turkey
Finish
Santorini, Greece
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Turkey, Greece
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
ERSZC
This trip generates 43 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Discover the incredible ancient and modern history of Turkey as you explore thousands of years of history hidden within the remarkable ruins of Ephesus and discover Gallipoli on a guided tour that will teach you about the significant events that took place in this area.
  • Taste local fruit wines in one of the best-preserved Greek Ottoman villages in the country. Get to know the friendly locals with a home-made lunch at a local family in Cappadocia.
  • Travel and stay a little differently – and come home with memories to last a lifetime – from taking local buses and trains, to staying in one of the cave hotels that Cappadocia is famed for.
  • Get a birds-eye view of Cappadocia’s caves, fairy chimneys and honeycomb terrain with an optional balloon ride over this other-worldly landscape.
  • Uncover thousands of years of civilisation in Athens with a visit to the world-famous Acropolis and the ancient Agora.
  • Wander through the charming villages of Syros. When night falls, indulge in delicious seafood dinners in traditional tavernas as Rembetika music floats around you.
  • With its boutique culture, gorgeous beaches and thumping nightlife, the chic isle of Mykonos invites you to embrace your hedonistic side.
  • The sight of a Santorini sunset can turn even the most hardened of souls into a romantic. Walk along the volcanic rim of the island from Thira to Oia, passing through picturesque white villages that cling to plunging cliffs.

Is this trip right for you?
  • You will need to carry your bags on and off local trams and trains and ferries during this trip. Some of the Greek Islands are very hilly and mountainous, which means lots and lots of steps are an inherent feature of the landscape. You will have to be able to easily lift your luggage and carry it up and down stairs and inclines. Also, stone streets become very slippery when wet. 
  • There is an overnight train on this trip, the train is twin share with comfortable beds and all linen is supplied.
  • Transport in Greece is by way of  large ferries that transport hundreds of people, along with cars and trucks. There are no reserved seats and passengers are free to walk around the ferry freely. Luggage is stored in a designated area on the car deck and is not accessible while the ferry is moving.
  • Summer temperatures in Turkey and Greece can reach up to 40°C, which can be uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. On the other hand, early in the season (April) many businesses may still be closed and the weather is unpredictable, however you may have some of the major sights almost to yourself. Please consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Itinerary

Map of Highlights Of Turkey & The Greek Islands including Greece and Turkey

Inclusions

Meals

9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

Transport

Private Bus, Public Bus, Overnight Train, Plane, Ferry

Accommodation

Hotel (13 nights), Overnight Train (1 night)

Activities
  • Istanbul - Old City Walking Tour (Half Day)
  • Gallipoli - Fully guided Gallipoli tour & visit to the Commonwealth graveyards
  • Sirince - Village visit and fruit wine tasting
  • Troy - Archaeological site visit
  • Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
  • Selcuk - Artemis Temple Visit
  • Selcuk - Gozleme making demonstration and lunch
  • Cappadocia - Kaymakli Underground City
  • Konya - Mevlana Museum
  • Cappadocia - Valley walk
  • Cappadocia - Dinner at Local Family Home
  • Syros - Loukoumia Workshop Visit
  • Syros - Ano Syros Walk
  • Syros - Sunset Dinner
  • Delos - Day Trip to the Island of Delos
  • Delos - Archaeological Site
  • Santorini - Caldera Rim Hike to Oia
Optional activities
  • Istanbul - Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Public Boat) - TRY200
  • Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) - TRY1700
  • Istanbul - Galata Tower - EUR30
  • Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - EUR25
  • Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - EUR15
  • Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - EUR17
  • Selcuk - Basilica of St John - EUR6
  • Selcuk - Ephesus Archaeological Museum - EUR10
  • Ephesus - Terrace Houses entry - EUR15
  • Goreme - Whirling dervish performance - EUR30
  • Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR275
  • Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR325
  • Goreme - Open Air Museum - EUR20
  • Athens - Acropolis Pass for 5 Sites - EUR30
  • Athens - National Archaeological Museum - EUR12
  • Athens - Day trip to the Saronic Islands - EUR140
  • Athens - Day Trip to Delphi - EUR60
  • Athens - Lycabettus Hill - Free
  • Athens - Numismatic Museum - EUR15
  • Athens - Twilight Athens Urban Adventure - EUR99
  • Athens - Acropolis Museum - EUR15
  • Athens - Half day trip to Cape Sounio - EUR55
  • Syros - Archaeological Sites & Ruins - EUR5
  • Syros - Industrial Museum of Syros - EUR2
  • Syros - Historical tour of Ermoupolis Textile Heritage Museum - EUR20
  • Mykonos - Aegean Maritime Museum - EUR4
  • Mykonos - House of Lena - EUR2
  • Mykonos - Trip to Village of Ano Mera (by public bus) - EUR4
  • Mykonos - Paradise Beach (by public bus) - EUR4
  • Mykonos - Super Paradise Beach (by public bus) - EUR10
  • Myconos - Cooking Class in Myconian house & farm - EUR150
  • Santorini - Museum of Prehistoric Thira - EUR6
  • Santorini - Volcano & Hot Springs Half Day Trip (by boat) - EUR25
  • Santorini - Beer tasting at local brewery - EUR25
  • Santorini - Wine museum and wine tasting from - EUR25
  • Santorini - Archelogical site of Akrotiri - EUR12
  • Santorini - Sunset Cruise & Dinner - EUR90
  • Santorini - Semi Private Sunset Catamaran cruise & Dinner - EUR160

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. This trip starts in Istanbul on Day 1 at 1.00pm. This allows time after the joining meeting to explore Istanbul with your Leader.
2. A single supplement bookable for this trip, excluding Day 4 (Overnight train). Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. There is a 15kg checked and 8kg luggage restriction for the domestic flight in Turkey. 
The international connection between Istanbul and Athens has a 23 kg checked in luggage allowance and 8 kg hand luggage.

Essential Trip Information

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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Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 4 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Michael · Traveled June 2024
Review submitted 25 Jun 2024

Suzanne · Traveled September 2022
Review submitted 05 Nov 2022

Karen · Traveled August 2022
Review submitted 05 Sep 2022

Daniel · Traveled June 2022
Review submitted 09 Jul 2022
Highlights of Turkey & the Greek Islands
From
EUR €4,470