Greece & Turkey with Mediterranean Cruise

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Eleven Day Itinerary​

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Athens ... Delphi ... Meteora ... Mykonos ... Kusadasi  ...

Rhodes ... Santorini ... Piraeus ... Corinth

 

Day One - Today, we begin our journey on our trans-Atlantic flight. Meals will be served aloft.

Day Two - European Gateway City / Athens / Delphi: Following our connecting flight, we will arrive in Athens. After being greeted by our tour manager, we'll motor north to Delphi. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax, explore or rest for the exciting days ahead. Overnight in Delphi. (D)

Day Three - Delphi / Kalambaka: Delphi, with its looming golden red cliffs 2,000 ft. above the Bay of Corinth, is where the Oracles held court. We will have a tour of the shrine, walk the "Sacred Way," and visit the Sanctuary of Apollo and the Nine Muses. In the afternoon, we'll continue north to Kalambaka for our overnight. (B, D)

Day Four - Meteora / Athens: Today, we'll see and visit two world-famous Byzantine monasteries perched precariously atop huge, red sandstone columns of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the cliff side caves, then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, later transformed into monasteries. This afternoon we'll motor through the region of Pharsalia where Caesar defeated Pompey in 48 BC, and then south to the plain between the crescent Bay of Marathon and Mount Pentelicon, en route to Athens. Overnight in Athens. (B, D)

Day Five - Athens: Today we tour Athens, the heart of both ancient and modern Greece. Called the birthplace of Western culture, it is one of the world's most venerable cities. The Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Archaeological Museum, the Royal Palace - all provide insights into the glories of Greece. Modern Athens abounds with fine shops, fabulous restaurants and quaint tavernas. Our sightseeing tour of Athens will include the Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus, the Roman Forum, the Parthenon, and much more. This evening we we'll enjoy a special dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Athens. (B, D)

Day Six - Set Sail / Mykonos: This morning, we will be transferred to Piraeus, the port of Athens. We board our cruise ship, which is scheduled to set sail at 11:00 A.M. For the next four nights, the ship will be our “floating hotel.” After a relaxing time at sea, we arrive at the port of Mykonos, known for its dazzling white beauty and sophisticated jet-set atmosphere. Take time to stroll through the white-washed, flower-decked town to the sculpture-like church of Paraportiani, or along the waterfront, or to see the famous windmills. We sail this evening. (B, L, D)

Day Seven - Kusadasi (Ephesus) / Patmos: At 7:00 A.M., we dock in Kusadasi, the port for the city of Ephesus - now a part of Turkey. Here our shore excursion tour is included for us to see this ancient, excavated city of the New Testament. We walk Curetia Street over the same worn stones that the Apostle once trod. The Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. We see the Fountain of Trajan, the Library of Celsus, the Baths of Scholastica, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Basilica of St. John. At noon, we set sail for Patmos. It was here that St. John the Divine - in exile - wrote the Book of Revelation, the mysterious, prophetic book of the New Testament. An optional tour is available to the monastery commemorating John's life here in about AD 95. This evening, we set sail. (B, L, D)

Day Eight - Rhodes: Arrive Rhodes in the early morning … it is a city rich in Roman and Greek culture. There will be time to stroll down the Street of the Knights to the market area for shopping and a wonderful Greek lunch. If you choose, you may take an optional tour to the ancient city of Lindos. Magnificently situated between two bays with sandy beaches, an ancient acropolis and a medieval castle, Lindos is famous as a most striking and impressive city. Again. we return to the ship for dinner and evening entertainment. Sail this evening. (B, L, D)

Day Nine - Heraklion / Santorini: This morning we stop at Heraklion (Crete), the largest of the Greek Isles and site of one of the world's earliest civilizations. Here, you will have the opportunity to see the treasures of one of Greece's finest museums or to take an optional trip to Knossos, fabled palace of the ancient Minoan kingdom. In the late morning, we set sail for Santorini, perched on the rim of an ancient volcano high above the sparkling blue sea. Some think this is the site of the lost city of Atlantis. We depart from Santorini this evening. (B, L, D)

Day Ten - Piraeus / Excursion to Corinth / Athens: Following our disembarkation this morning, we'll visit the ancient treasures Corinth. Here we will see the Temple of Apollo, the baths and sites that were so familiar to Paul as he brought the good news of Christianity to these citizens. We then motor to the famous theatre of Epidaurus, experiencing its perfect acoustics. Following hotel check in, the remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure. This evening we'll enjoy our “farewell dinner.” Overnight Athens. (B, D)

Day Eleven - Athens: This morning, we are transferred to Athens International Airport to begin our journey home.

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