DAY 01: DEPARTURE MANILA

Enjoy your flight amenities on board.

DAY 02: ARRIVAL ISTANBUL – TOUR (D)

Group’s arrival at Ataturk International Airport. Meet your guide and proceed for a visit to Chora Museum which is famous for well-preserved frescoes and mosaics. Continue to visit the Blue Mosque, facing St. Sophia, famous for its blue Iznik tiles and unique 6 minarets, which was built in the name of Sultan Ahmet. Afterwards visit Topkapi Palace, the seat of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries, and visit the treasury section. At last, we will browse around the exciting Grand Bazaar, a maze of over 4000 tiny shops selling gold, jewelry, leather work and fine carpets. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 03: ISTANBUL (BD)

After breakfast, drive for a visit to St. Sophia Museum, one of the great architectural marvels of the ancient world. We continue to the Hippodrome, the sportive and political center of the Old City. Then we will visit the Suleymaniye Mosque, a masterpiece of famous architect Sinan, built during the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. Lastly, we visit the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 04: ISTANBUL – KAYSERI – CAPPADOCIA (BD)

Check-out from the hotel after breakfast. Transfer to Istanbul airport to catch a flight to Kayseri. Drive to Cappadocia and we visit the incredible Underground City of Kaymakli where early Christians lived secretly to survive and keep their faith. Picture stops will be given at the Valley of the Birds and the foot of the Uchisar Castle. Afterwards, proceed to the Goreme Valley to visit the rock-carved churches hollowed out of volcanic ash. We also visit Avanos Village, the famous local pottery and carpet shows allowing ample time for shopping in the afternoon. Also, time will be allocated for the local souvenir shopping. Proceed to hotel for check-in, dinner, and overnight.

DAY 05: CAPPADOCIA – KONYA – PAMUKKALE (BD)

Following an early breakfast, we will drive to Konya, the center of the Selcuk Empire as well as the city of Mevlana and his Whirling Dervishes. After visiting the Mevlana Museum, we will continue driving to Pamukkale and proceed to our hotel for check-in, dinner, and overnight.

DAY 06: PAMUKKALE – KUSADASI (BD)

You will tour the Antique City of Hierapolis where Calcareous hot springs descending over cliffs have created fascinating travertines in the form of white terraces and basins. Drive to Kusadasi to Selcuk and visit the House of the Virgin Mary on top of Mt. Coressos. Then our memorable visit to Ephesus. Dinner and overnight hotel.

DAY 07: KUSADASI – EMBARK CRUISE – PATMOS (BLD)

Breakfast at the hotel, check out, and then view one of the Seven Churches of Revelation, the Temple of Artemis (One of the Seven Wonders of Antiquity). Proceed for transfer to Kusadasi Port By 1030 am, embark on the cruise at the port of Kusadasi, Turkey. Embark on your 03 Day Aegean Iconic Cruise and sail to the island of Patmos known as Jerusalem of the Aegean. Lunch on board.

PATMOS: Arrive in the afternoon and take the optional tour to visit the Monastery of St. John and the Grotto of St. Anna or, Wander around the main town. Depart Sailing in the evening. Dinner on board. In the evening enjoy the on-board entertainment program. Overnight on board.

DAY 08: CRETE (HERAKLION) – SANTORINI (BLD)

Crete (Heraklion): Take an optional tour of the Minoan Palace of Knossos – 1st European Civilization (HER-02). The ancient city of Knossos, with constant habitation from the Neolithic era until the 5th century A.D., is beyond doubt the land that “gave birth” to the first civilization of Europe, the Minoans. The first excavations were begun in 1878 by the Heraklian Minos Kalokairinos. A bit later (1900-1913 & 1922-1930) the excavations by the British Sir Arthur Evans were to complete the scientific research, bringing to light the Minoan palace in its entirety, which was, according to tradition, the residence of the wise King Minos. The palace of Knossos spreads around the large Central Court. You will reach the awe-inspiring Throne Room, the fresco of the “Prince of the Lilies”, the imposing Grand Staircase, the Queen’s Megaron in the east. Walking through the apartments of the Knossos palace and observing the finds even as passers-by, you will feel part of this cultural heritage. We will stop in Heraklion on the way back to the ship. Heraklion was founded in 824 and is an important homeland of many contributors to Literature and Art, some examples of which are the Nobel winning poet Odysseas Elytis, the Renaissance painter Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco) and the writer Nikos Kazantzakis. Heraklion is also endowed with some wonderful edifices: the “Koules” fortress, the award-winning Venetian structure of the Loggia, the Morosini Fountain, the Basilica of Saint Mark, and the Church of Agios Titos. Starting the walk from Liberty square of Heraklion guests will pass by the shopping streets of Dedalou and 25th August and see the aforementioned sights along the way.

Santorini: Take an Optional Tour on the island of Santorini which was formed by the eruption of the volcano in 1600 BC or enjoy the day free at own leisure. In the evening, enjoy the live on-board entertainment or try your luck in the casino. Overnight on board.

DAY 09: CRUISE ARRIVAL ATHENS (LAVRION) – DELPHI – KALAMBAKA (BD):

Breakfast on board followed by disembarkation. Meet your guide at Lavrion Port and proceed for a tour of Delphi, the ‘navel’ of the ancient world, as characterized by the scientists according to the myth, meaning it is the central point of planet Earth. Delphi is known for its world-famous oracle. The oracle was renowned in Ancient Greece, as pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean would visit it to receive the prophecies of the ancient Greek god Apollo. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. Visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the museum containing such masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture. In the afternoon depart for Kalambaka, the town nesting on the foot of Meteora. Check-in at hotel, dinner, and overnight.

DAY 10: KALAMBAKA – ATHENS (BD)

Check-out from hotel after breakfast then proceed for a visit to Meteora with its impressive scenery, ageless monasteries (2), suspended between earth and sky. The monasteries are perched on top of towers of sandstone, which for centuries provided inaccessible retreats for the monks. Inside the Byzantine Monasteries see priceless historical and religious treasures. In the afternoon, depart to Athens. Arrive in the evening and transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 11: HALF DAY ATHENS SIGHTSEEING TOUR – DEPARTURE (B)

Check-out after breakfast. Proceed on a half-day tour. Pass by Syntagma Square, the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Athens Academy, the University, the National Library, Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and 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 harmony between material and spirit”, the Parthenon. Rest of the day is free until transfer to Athens International Airport for your flight back home.

DAY 12: ARRIVAL MANILA

Home sweet home.