ITENERARY

FRIDAY: ISTANBUL
Upon your arrival you will be met and transferred to your selected hotel in
Istanbul. Balance of the day at leisure.

SATURDAY: ISTANBUL
Full day Istanbul sightseeing tour with lunch, including the Topkapi Palace
Museum, the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia or St. Saviour and the Grand Bazaar.

SUNDAY: ISTANBUL
Morning at leisure in the city, for your last visits and shopping. In the afternoon,
transfer to the port in order to embark the 5-night cruise to the Greek
islands and Turkey.

MONDAY: IZMIR
Arrival at Izmir, Turkey’s third largest city which has always been famous for
its port, one of the most important in the country for trade and exports of
dried figs, sultanas and hazelnuts, and at first glance looks like an extremely
modern city.
Choose the optional tour to Pergamum a city that together with Alexandria,
enjoyed over three centuries of economical prosperity which resulted in
exceptional cultural and artistic development. A second option is the tour
to Ephessus famous in antiquity for its temple of Diana, during the years of
the Roman Empire. The Greek port of Ephesus became the greatest city in
Asia Minor and among the innumerable monuments you will see the Forum,
the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the Thermal Baths of Scolastika and the
Great Theatre built in the Greek era and reconstructed in the Roman period,
which is still noted for its remarkable acoustics.

TUESDAY: PATMOS/MYKONOS
Early morning call to the island of Patmos, where participating in the
optional tour, you will have the opportunity to visit the Monastery and the
Grotto of St. John, where he lived and recorded the Book of Revelation.
In the afternoon arrival in Mykonos, the island of the international “jet-set”,
famous for its beautiful sandy beaches and incredible nightlife.

WEDNESDAY: RHODES
A full day in the beautiful island of the Roses. On a hill above the charming
town of Lindos rises and ancient Acropolis. Below lays the bay of St.
Paul. The crusading knights of St. John left the medieval city of Rhodes
behind when they were defeated by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. The
presence of the Ottoman Turks is marked with their minarets, mosques and
Turkish bath. An optional tour not to be missed.

THURSDAY: CRETE/SANTORINI
First port of call is to the Cretan port of Heraklio. Take the opportunity to
participate in the optional tour to the Palace of Knossos to visit the centre
of the Minoan Civilization. In the afternoon, continue to the most breathtaking
island, Santorini. The town of Fira’s white washed houses, narrow
streets and open air cafes, cling to a steep cliff accessible by cable car or
mule. To the south, Akrotiri with its recent Minoan excavations which support
the theories that Santorini might be the lost continent of the Atlantis.

FRIDAY: PIRAEUS/ATHENS
Early morning arrival in Piraeus port. After breakfast on board, disembarkation
and transfer to your selected hotel in Athens. Balance of the day at
leisure.

SATURDAY: ATHENS
Morning sightseeing tour of Athens including all famous monuments: the
Panathenaic Stadium, the ex. Royal Palace, the Temple of Olympian Zeus,
the Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the
Academy, the University, the National Library and the Constitution Square
(Syntagma). Tour ends with visit at the Acropolis and the New Acropolis
Museum (except Mondays). Balance of the day at leisure.

SUNDAY: ATHENS/AIRPORT
At the indicated time according to your departure flight, you will be transferred
to the airport.