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10 Day Greece and Turkey Highlights
Highlights: Athens, Istanbul, Cappadocia
Trip start: Athens
Trip end: Istanbul
Price Range from £1,736 to £1,946 *
* GBP per person based on 2-4 people, double occupancy. Custom designed personal tour. Prices subject to change.

National Geographic Adventure Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth '98.33 Client Satisfaction Rating'

Winner National Geographic 'Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth'
2008 & 2009

Trip Summary
Map of Itinerary
Expand [+]

Explore Greece and Turkey, a land where traces of the ancient history and mythology are still well-preserved. Start your tour with Athens, the Cradle of the European civilization and enjoy the panorama of the city center dominated by Acropolis. Enjoy a traditional dinner and Greek show. Continue discovering the ancient Greece with a tour to Argolis region in Peloponesse. The tour starts with a drive along the sardonic Gulf to the Corinth Canal which connects Aegean Sea to the Ionian Sea. Visit Mycenae, the Homeric city of the Atreides with Lions Gate, the Cyclopean Walls. Among many other attractions continue the tour with Epidavros and visit the sanctuary of Asclepius, the most brilliant centre of healing in the ancient world and the theatre. A tour to Delphi it is a “must” see. Also known as the “centre of the earth”, Delphi tour cannot be missed. The wild beauty and the inspiring landscape make this visit a unforgettable experience. Continue your tour with Istanbul epicenter of Turkey's hustle and bustle. A frenzy of business, nightclubs, entertainment and culture, the city is a haven for those who like all their senses stimulated. Absorb Istanbul's ancient structures, from its mosques to the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empire influenced architecture. Move forward with a visit to the Goreme National Park in Cappadocia, also reffered to as "Valley of the Fairy Chimneys". The formations were created after three volcanoes erupted around 30 million years ago. The area is also known for the spectacular homes that had been carved in the rock. This tour is only available from April to October.

Day Activities Hotel
Day 1
Athens
  • Athens: Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Welcome package - Per Group
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Self-Guided - Afternoon at leisure
  • Dinner (not included)
Plaka Hotel (3*) (B)
Day 2
Athens
  • Private - 1/2 d City Tour - Luxury Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Optional: Athens by night (with Dinner)
  • Dinner (included)
Plaka Hotel (3*) (B)
Day 3
Athens
  • Shared - 1/2 d Sounion Tour - Coach/Guide
  • Lunch (included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Plaka Hotel (3*) (B)
Day 4
Athens
  • Shared - Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus Tour (with Lunch) - Coach/Guide
  • Dinner (not included)
Plaka Hotel (3*) (B)
Day 5
Istanbul
  • Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Istanbul: Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Shared - Belly Dancing Show (with Dinner) - Vehicle/Driver
Antik (3*) (B)
Day 6
Istanbul
  • Shared - St. Sophia Church, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace & Grand Bazaar Tour (with Lunch) - Coach/Guide
  • Dinner (not included)
Antik (3*) (B)
Day 7
Cappadocia
  • Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Air - Istanbul - Goreme [Direct (1 hr)] - Economy
  • Cappadocia: Transfer - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Shared - Cappadocia Tour 1 (with Lunch) - Coach/Guide
  • Dinner (not included)
Perissia (3*) (B,D)
Day 8
Cappadocia
  • Shared - Cappadocia Tour 2 (with Lunch) - Vehicle/Guide
  • Dinner (not included)
Perissia (3*) (B,D)
Day 9
Istanbul
  • Transfer - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Air - Goreme - Istanbul [Direct Flight] - Economy
  • Istanbul: Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Dinner (not included)
Antik (3*) (B)
Day 10
Istanbul
  • Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Kensington Cares - 2
Depart (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, 1/2d = Half Day, Al = All Inclusive

Trip Options
All of our itineraries may be customized as you wish, add extra days, change a hotel, see different sights. Contact one of our expert consultants for your free, no-obligation vacation plan.

Itinerary

Day 1 Athens

Athens, the capital of Greece is named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom, who, according to legend, won the city after defeating Poseidon in a duel. The goddess' victory was celebrated by the construction of a temple on the Acropolis, the site of the city's earliest settlement in Attica. As a city state, the coastal capital of Athens reached its heyday in the fifth century BC as a centre for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato’s Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum. Athens is also the birthplace of Socrates, Pericles, Sophocles and its many other prominent philosophers, writers and politicians of the ancient world. Nowadays, the city retains a vast variety of Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a smaller number of remaining Ottoman monuments projecting the city's long history across the centuries.

Enjoy your private airport transfer today.

A welcome package with your vouchers, a city map, ferry tickets (if relevant) and any other touristic information that you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure as you relax at your hotel or enjoy the city sites.

Offering comfortable accommodation and convenient facilities, the Plaka Hotel (3*) Athens is an excellent choice for a demanding client, in a terrific location. Situated in the heart of Athens, the Plaka Hotel is located close to the Syntagma square, Acropolis, museums, Parliament, shopping area of Plaka and Cathedral. The hotel has cozy guestrooms that are well furnished and equipped with a host of modern amenities. For dining pleasure there is a small restaurant onsite, which is attractively furnished and offers a variety of cuisine. Conference facilities are available for people travelling on business purposes. The minimalist decoration, the friendliness of the staff and the cleanliness of the hotel are promising an unforgettable stay in Athens.

Overnight at Plaka Hotel (3*).


Athens
Athens
Plaka Hotel
Plaka Hotel
Day 2 Athens

This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Your expert guide takes you to see the centre of the city, Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library. Driving down Herod Atticus Street, you will see the Evzones in their picturesque uniform and the Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis, you will see the Hadrian's Arch, visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus, with a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896. On the Acropolis, visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally the Partenon. Entrance fees are included.

This enchanting evening tour commences with a scenic drive to Piraeus, 'the place over the passage', inhabited since the 26th century BC. Visit its natural harbors, such as lively Zea with its busy yacht marina and tiny Mikrolimano, one of the most picturesque corners of Piraeus. Journey to Plaka, the charming historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. The ideal atmosphere for your traditional dinner, enjoy the rest of your evening in a vibrant Greek tavern alive with traditional folk music and dancers.

Overnight at Plaka Hotel (3*).


Acropolis
Acropolis
Zea
Zea
Day 3 Athens

Enjoy a half day tour to Sounion. Drive along the scenic coastal road which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf, passing through some of Athens' most beautiful suburbs (Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza) to Cape Sounion where you will visit the 5th century B.C Temple of Poseidon with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world (on a clear day you can see at least seven islands).

Overnight at Plaka Hotel (3*).


 Temple of Poseidon
Temple of Poseidon
Day 4 Athens

Leave by the coastal road along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea, (short stop). Drive to Mycenae, the Homeric city of Atreides, the city “rich in gold” of the ancient poets. Visit the Lion’s Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, and the Royal Tombs e.t.c.  Depart for Nauplion through the fertile plain of Argolis, the picturesque town nestling at the foot of a cliff crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress (short photo stop), leave for Epidauros, to visit the Theatre (4th century B.C.) famous for its astonishing acoustics. Return to Athens by the National road connecting Epidauros with Corinth. Lunch in Mycenae.

Overnight at Plaka Hotel (3*).


Mycenae, Lion's Gate
Mycenae, Lion's Gate
Day 5 Istanbul

Istanbul (Byzantium, and later Constantinople) is the world's 3rd largest city and Turkey's cultural and financial center. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn. It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) side of the Bosphorus, and is therefore the only metropolis in the world which is situated on two continents. In its long history, Istanbul served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330–395), the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). The city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. The historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

Enjoy your private airport transfer today.

Airport transfer with your private car and driver.

Experience the great nightlife of Istanbul. With private transfers to and from your hotel, you'll enjoy dinner at one of the city's famous supper clubs. Your evening also includes a traditional Turkish show -a stunning performance of folk and belly-dancers, with Turkish music and traditional singers. (including 1/2 bottle of wine per person) .

A theme hotel, the Antik (4*) features four floors each representing a different period of Istanbul's history. Each floor of the hotel carries a name of the city as it was known at different times throughout the ages. Floors and rooms were designed to reflect the culture and art of their named civilization while providing all modern ammenities expected of a fine hotel.

Overnight at Antik (3*).


Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul by night
Istanbul by night
The Antik Hotel in Istanbul
The Antik Hotel in Istanbul
Day 6 Istanbul

Enjoy a full day tour of Istanbul with other travellers and see the most important sights. Visit the St. Sophia Church, the pride and glory of the Byzantine architecture (excluding the Gallery floor); the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue tiles; Byzantine Hippodrome, where once chariot races were held; and the Grand Bazaar, world’s largest covered bazaar with 4000 shops. After lunch (included in the tour price) visit Topkapi Palace, the famous residence of the Sultans (The Harem section is not included in the tour). The tour ends at your hotel.

Overnight at Antik (3*).


Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Day 7 Cappadocia

Cappadocia is a region in central Turkey, largely in Nevsehir Province. The name was traditionally used in Christian sources throughout history and is still widely used as an international tourism concept to define a region of exceptional natural wonders, in particular characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage. The term, as used in tourism, roughly corresponds to present-day Nevsehir Province. In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine (Black Sea). Cappadocia, in this sense, was bounded in the south by the chain of the Taurus Mountains that separate it from Cilicia, to the east by the upper Euphrates and the Armenian Highland, to the north by Pontus, and to the west by Lycaonia and eastern Galatia.

Airport transfer with your private car and driver.

Enjoy a direct flight from Istanbul to Capadoccia. The flight duration is about 1 hour.

Airport transfer with your private car and driver.

Enjoy a full day tour in a group setting in Cappadocia. Drive to Devrent valley and then to Pasabagi valley, to see the amazing fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. From here you will be driven to Avanos, the famous pottery town, to have lunch. After lunch depart from Avanos to see the beautiful examples of Byzantine art in the churches of Goreme Open Air Museum. Then be driven to Uchisar castle, the highest point of the region, where we have a fabulous panoramic view over Cappadocia, finally a visit to the Pidgeon valley. The tour starts and ends in your hotel.

Perissia (3*) is located in a World Heritage Site and home to many natural wonders such as the Fairy Chimneys, underground cities and cave churches in this region of early Christianity. You can enjoy many activities such as Ballooning, Hiking, Rafting, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking as well as sightseeing during the day and join the lively nightlife while tasting the famous Cappadocian Wine in the evening.

Overnight at Perissia (3*).


Goreme
Goreme
Goreme Open Air Museum
Goreme Open Air Museum
The Perissia Hotel exterior view
The Perissia Hotel exterior view
Day 8 Cappadocia

Enjoy a full day tour in a group setting in Cappadocia and visit the Ortahisar a natural citadel carved in rocks. Then visit Subterrenean City of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu, established in the 7th century by Christians fleeing persecution, in which a visitor is able to descend several floor levels. Drive to Cavusin Valley to see the troglodyte dwellings where people lived until mid 20th century. After lunch a visit to the Red valley, finally a visit to a Winery, Cappadocia is famous for its fertile vineyards due to the mineral-laden volcanic soil of the area. The tour starts and ends at your hotel.

Overnight at Perissia (3*).


Day 9 Istanbul

Airport transfer with your private car and driver.

Enjoy a direct flight from Kayseri airport to Istanbul. The flight duration is around 1 hour.

Airport transfer with your private car and driver.

A theme hotel, the Antik (4*) features four floors each representing a different period of Istanbul's history. Each floor of the hotel carries a name of the city as it was known at different times throughout the ages. Floors and rooms were designed to reflect the culture and art of their named civilization while providing all modern ammenities expected of a fine hotel.

Overnight at Antik (3*).


Day 10 Istanbul

Airport transfer with your private car and driver.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Depart from Istanbul airport - end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.


Kensington Cares
Kensington Cares

Trip Includes
Guaranteed departure – Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services

Trip Excludes
Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance

Trip Terms & Conditions

  • Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $250). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
  • Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
  • Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
  • Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.
  • Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
  • Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.kensingtontours.com/terms-and-conditions
  • Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.