Greece & Turkey Adventure: Athens to Istanbul
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Follow the Greek coast from the Aegean Sea to Turkey
Journey from one ancient city to another on this nine-day overland trip across Greece to Istanbul. Discover the age-old temples of Athens, the Royal Tomb of Phillip, the Hospital Complex of Edirne and the culinary city of Thessaloniki. Along the way, make a stop at the floating monastery of Vistonida Lake, learn about silk in the shops of Soufli and meet women from the Pomak minority group, all before crossing the border to Turkey. With so much history and culture to explore, and local leaders from both nations guiding the way, you’ll get to know these two worlds in no time.
Start: Athens, Greece
End: Istanbul, Turkey
- Duration
- 9 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
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Explorer
- 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
Why you'll love this trip
- Wander the city of Thessaloniki, loved for its food, entertainment and culture, before an evening’s meze-style dinner.
- Explore the city of Xanthi and the mountainous Pomakochoria area of Greece, where you’ll be treated to home-cooked treats made by local women.
- Visit Vistonida lake, known for its blue lagoon and the floating Monastery of Agios Nikolaos, where you can enjoy a boat outing on the Evros River.
- Learn about the art of silk weaving in Soufli – a town the UNWTO selected as one of the best tourism villages in the world.
- Discover Turkey's history, flavours and communities on a locally guided tour through Edirne and through Istanbul’s Old City and its grand buildings.
Itinerary
Kalimera! Welcome to Greece. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight in Athens – an ancient city built to honour the Olympian Goddess of wisdom, Athena. Join your leader for a welcome meeting at 6 pm this afternoon. There’s a lot to explore in this city, famous for the Acropolis and Parthenon, so it’s highly recommended you arrive a few days early to explore it all. After your welcome meeting, perhaps head out for some gyros and ouzo with your new travel companions and get to know eachother.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Athens - leader led orientation walk
- Athens - Lycabettus Hill
- Athens - Acropolis Archeological site (tickets must be booked online) - EUR30
- Athens - Acropolis Museum entrance - EUR20
- Athens - National Archaeological Museum - EUR15
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details 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.
Wake up to a day full of tasty adventures. Start your morning with a leader-led walking tour of the central Athens food market. If you haven’t tried a Greek-style coffee yet, maybe find a place along the walk to do so. You’ll then leave Athens and board a train headed north to Thessaloniki – Greece’s second largest city. When you arrive, take the time to explore the city at your own pace. Tonight, maybe find a local restaurant and sample the flavours of Thessaloniki during a meze-style dinner. Keep the party going and ask your leader for their recommendations for local music spots.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Thessaloniki - Meze dinner
- Thessaloniki - Orientation Walk
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
Due to essential upgrade works by Hellenic Train company, a bus replacement service will operate between Athens and Thessaloniki. Travel times may be around 45 minutes longer than usual. Work is scheduled to be completed by Summer 2026.
Today is a free day. Maybe set off on a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed archaeological site of Aigai (Vergina Tombs). Walk through the remains of the monumental palace, beautifully decorated with mosaics and painted stuccoes, then discover the burial ground with more than 300 tumuli, some of which date back to the 11th century. This afternoon, take a stroll through the Byzantine Museum, explore the iconic White Tower of Thessaloniki, or unwind at one of the many cafés along the waterfront.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Vergina – Pella : Day trip to Vergina & Pella – ( without entrance tickets ) - EUR50
- Thessaloniki - Museum of Byzantine Culture - EUR8
- Thessaloniki - White tower of Thessaloniki - EUR8
- Thessaloniki - Thessaloniki water boats to beach ( One Way ) - EUR10
- Thessaloniki - Visit Historical & Cultural Monuments of Thessaloniki with public Bus Cultural Route No 50 - EUR2
Enjoy a laidback morning before you set off by public bus from Thessaloniki towards your next stop in Xanthi – a city found on the crossroads of the Black Sea, Europe and Asia. When you arrive, set off on a guided city tour with a local guide. After your walk-through Xanthi’s old and new town centres, the rest of the evening is free for you to continue exploring the city. Tonight, maybe join your group for dinner to taste the unique cuisine of Thrace.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Xanthi - Guided Old Town tour
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
After breakfast, head up the mountain to visit an organisation of women from Xanthi who knit and create homewares and accessories in traditional styles. Next, you’ll be treated to a tasting of coffee and pies made by women from nearby Pomakochoria villages. Learn about the community of people in northern Greece known as the Pomaks, then enjoy a free afternoon to discover more about the places and people of Xanthi. Active travellers may like to head off on a hiking or rafting expedition in Nestos National Park. There are also plenty of things to explore around Xanthi, like the Folklore and Historical Museum, the Holy Monastery or the city’s many art galleries. Ask your local leader about their recommendations for activities or half-day trips in the area.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Xanthi - Pachni village visit and local coffee and pies tasting
- Xanthi: Nestos Natural Park – Activities plus transfer - EUR30
- Xanthi : Visit a local beach by public bus – ( summer months) - EUR6
Enjoy breakfast at your accommodation in Xanthi before beginning your journey to Alexandroupolis. Make a stop at the Church of Agios Nikolaos on an island in the Vistonida Lake. Look inside the nicknamed ‘Floating Monastery.’ Wildlife lovers may want to stay outside and keep an eye out for the lake’s pink flamingos. Arrive at Alexandroupolis – a seaside city known for its trademark lighthouse – for an afternoon boat ride through the Evros Delta National Wetland Park. You then have a free evening to relax or continue exploring.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Vistonida Lake - Monastery of Saint Nicolas visit
- Archeological Museum of Alexandroupolis - EUR10
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
Begin your journey from Greece to Turkey, stopping at Soufli along the way – a village famous for its silk production. To learn about this ancient industry, you’ll have the option to visit the Art of Silk Museum, located in a restored neoclassical building with an attached shop selling locally made silk items. Cross the border into Turkey, saying goodbye to your Greek leader and meet your Turkish leader. Before arriving in Edirne, stop at the Sultan Bayezid II Complex Health Museum. Built in 1488, this complex played an important part in Turkey's health, education, social and religious life. Arrive at your hotel, settle in, then join your leader for an orientation walk and your first Turkish dinner.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Soufli - Village visit
- Soufli - Silk Museum visit
- Edirne - Sultan Bayezid II Complex Health Museum visit
- Edirne - Guided walking tour
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours but may be longer if there are delays during the border crossing.
Your leader will change when you arrive in Edirne. After an introduction, your European leader will return to Greece, while your Turkish leader will take care of you on the Turkish part of the trip.
Wake up in Edirne and hop aboard a bus headed to Istanbul. While it’s not the capital city of Turkey, it once was the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Today, Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city with popular sites like the Hagia Sofia Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar and Cistern. Discover the Old Town and its fascinating history on a guided orientation tour with your leader. The rest of the day is yours to explore. Tonight, you might like to meet up with your group for an optional farewell dinner.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Istanbul - city guided tour
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Today your adventure comes to an end. There are no activities planned and you can depart the accommodation at any time. If you'd like to extend your stay in Turkey, just reach out to your booking agent ahead of time.
- Breakfast
Inclusions and activities
8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, Taxi
Hotel (8 nights)
- Athens - leader led orientation walk
- Athens - Lycabettus Hill
- Thessaloniki - Meze dinner
- Thessaloniki - Orientation Walk
- Xanthi - Guided Old Town tour
- Xanthi - Pachni village visit and local coffee and pies tasting
- Vistonida Lake - Monastery of Saint Nicolas visit
- Soufli - Village visit
- Soufli - Silk Museum visit
- Edirne - Sultan Bayezid II Complex Health Museum visit
- Edirne - Guided walking tour
- Istanbul - city guided tour
- Athens - Acropolis Archeological site (tickets must be booked online) - EUR30
- Athens - Acropolis Museum entrance - EUR20
- Athens - National Archaeological Museum - EUR15
- Vergina – Pella : Day trip to Vergina & Pella – ( without entrance tickets ) - EUR50
- Thessaloniki - Museum of Byzantine Culture - EUR8
- Thessaloniki - White tower of Thessaloniki - EUR8
- Thessaloniki - Thessaloniki water boats to beach ( One Way ) - EUR10
- Thessaloniki - Visit Historical & Cultural Monuments of Thessaloniki with public Bus Cultural Route No 50 - EUR2
- Xanthi: Nestos Natural Park – Activities plus transfer - EUR30
- Xanthi : Visit a local beach by public bus – ( summer months) - EUR6
- Archeological Museum of Alexandroupolis - EUR10
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, learn more about our climate commitment.
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Before you book you should know
- Summer temperatures can be extreme (over 40°C) in many of the regions visited on this trip. This warm climate can be uncomfortable for some, especially as many of the transport options and accommodations we use will not have air conditioning. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability for that season.
- Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. Please also note that in some cases, bathroom facilities will be shared rather than en-suite and many accommodations in this part of the world do not have air-conditioning.
- On this trip, it’s strongly advised that you pack as lightly as possible, as you will be expected to carry your own bag. Although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15 kg (33 lb). Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient. However, we recommend that your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets and steps you will likely encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, a camera and other essentials for daytrips.
- There are some long travel days where we depart early in the morning to ensure we optimise our time at our next destination.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Athenaeum Κ29 Hotel
Agiou Konstantinou 29, Athina
Athens
10437
GREECE
Description
Welcome to Athenaeum K29 Hotel – Where Smart Design Meets Urban Comfort
For travelers seeking a stay that blends smart, practical design with fully functional interiors, Athenaeum K29 Hotel is the perfect choice. Our boutique hotel in the heart of Athens offers a curated selection of rooms and suites, each thoughtfully designed to maximize space in a sustainable and eco-friendly way.
Guests will enjoy minimalist décor accented by bold, vibrant colors, all bathed in abundant natural light to create a visually striking and serene atmosphere.
Whether you're visiting for business or leisure, our modern business center on the mezzanine level ensures you stay productive and connected.
Located in a central and lively part of Athens, Athenaeum K29 Hotel captures the essence of urban comfort. With its modern style, friendly service, and seamless connectivity, it’s the ideal base for discovering the city.
Instructions
From Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” By Metro: Follow the signs to the airport metro station. Purchase a one-way ticket (€10) and take Line 3 (Blue Line) toward Agia Marina. At Syntagma station, transfer to Line 2 (Red Line) toward Anthoupoli and disembark at Omonia station. The hotel is approximately 300 meters from the station. The total journey takes about 1 hour. Metro service operates daily from 06:00 to 23:30. By Bus: Bus X95 runs 24/7 from the airport to Syntagma Square, departing every 20 minutes. From Syntagma, take Metro Line 2 (Red Line) toward Anthoupoli and get off at Omonia station. The hotel is an 300-meter walk from the station. Alternatively, a taxi from Syntagma to the hotel costs approximately €8, with a surcharge between 23:30 and 05:30. By Taxi A direct taxi from the airport to the hotel takes about 45 minutes. A night surcharge applies between 23:30 and 05:30. If you would like to arrange a transfer in advance, please contact us.If you have pre booked an arrival transfer, your transfer driver will be waiting at the arrival gate holding a board with the Intrepid Logo or your name. In case you are not able to find the driver, please go to the designated area at EXIT 4, where an assistant will be able to help you. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience delays, please contact the transfer operator directly:+30 2286 800 870, +30 694 561 3427
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. 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 note that due to the small properties we use in Europe there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability, please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Your leader will change when you arrive in Edirne. After an introduction, your European leader will return to Greece, while your Turkish leader will take care of you on the Turkish part of the trip.
3. Please provide your full name and passport details at the time of booking so that we can secure train tickets for you.
4. Due to a border crossing with Turkey, we require your full name and passport details at the time of booking in order to secure relevant transfers. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 60 days of departure.
5. Due to essential upgrade works by Hellenic Train company, a bus replacement service will operate between Athens and Thessaloniki. Travel times may be around 45 minutes longer than usual. Work is scheduled to be completed by Summer 2026.
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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