Diamonds of Mediterranean

Tour Code : CRG-DM
16 Days / 15 Nights Wander through the ruins of Classical Greece amid the metropolis of modern Athens. Admire the stunning panorama on volcanic Santorini, party on lazy Ios, trek through mountainous Crete and walk amongst crusader castles on Rhodes. Discover the delights of Turkey, her abundant history, the surreal landscape of Cappadocia, the awesome Saklikent gorge and the architectural masterpieces of Istanbul.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival Day
Welcome to Athens After lunch we take a leisurely walk to the sights of Classical Athens. See the Temple of Zeus, the largest temple in Greece. Stand in awe at the foot of the Acropolis and visit Athen's modern day symbol of peace, the ruined Temple of Athena Parthonos. Wander the agora, the ancient centre of daily social and economic life. Take in the impressive view of Athens by night.

Day 2 - Athens to Ios
Early start for an afternoon arrival in Ios. Make the most of your time on the ferry, work on your tan, read a book and relax. Take it easy before the night ahead on "the party island".

Olympic Period Only (6 August - 17 September) Day 1 - Arrival Day: Mykonos Welcome to Greak island life. Simply soak up the sun while lounging on the beach or take an optional day trip to the neighbouring island of Delos - this Mecca of Ancient Greece is today an island wide open-air museum. Day 2 - Mykonos to Ios Spend the morning on the golden sands or wander the charming white washed streets of Mykonos Town. This afternoon, we board a ferry to Ios.

Day 3 - Ios
Roll out of bed midday and spend the afternoon at the local beach or take the bus to the gorgeous Manganari Bay. If beaches aren't your obsession then explore Sikinos, a neighboring island virtually untouched by tourism.

Day 4 - Ios to Santorini
Experience a 'hell-ride' on the tubes - or ski, wakeboard and/or windsurf. If that sounds like hard work, then lounge on the beach or poolside and have drinks delivered straight to your sun-bed. Alternatively, wander the attractive hillside white washed chora before a late afternoon departure for Santorini.

Day 5 - Santorini
Take an optional boat trip in the world's biggest volcanic crater above sea level. Visit the active volcano, swim in the warm thermal waters and take a therapeutic mud bath. Ride a donkey, explore the picturesque cliff-hugging town of Oia and top the day with a dramatic Santorini sunset.

Day 6 - Santorini to Crete
Soak up the sun on the black sand beach. Hike, drive or ride to Ancient Thira, Akrotiri, or take in the stunning caldera panorama. This afternoon we board the ferry to Crete, the most diverse Greek island and possibly the most captivating. Explore the extraordinary Minoan Palace of Knossos.

Day 7 - Crete
Explore remnants from every large civilation to control the Aegean. Discover Roman temples, Byzantine churches, Venetian fortresses and Ottoman mosques. Or, trek through the wild beauty of the longest canyon in Europe, Samaria Gorge.

Day 8 - Crete to Rhodes
Today we cruise to Rhodes. Explore the medieval city of the Knights of the Order of St John. Experience a step back in time and follow the Street of the Crusader Knights to the Palace of the Grand Master. Walk along paved alleys amid gateways, obscure courtyards, Byzantine chapels, monasteries and unconquerable walls.

Day 9 - Rhodes
Check out the ancient Acropolis, the Temple of Apollo or the ancient stadium and cemeteries. Or perhaps visit the picturesque medicinal baths of Kallithea and soak up the hot sun on the golden beaches of Faliraki.

Day 10 - Rhodes to Fethiye via Marmaris
This morning we leave Greece behind and head for the Turkish town of Marmaris. Enjoy a delightful drive along the Mediterranean coast to the seaside town of Fethiye.

Day 11 - Fethiye to Antalya via Saklikent Gorge (B + L)
Trek through Saklikent canyon and/or take a tube ride down the rapids. This afternoon we drive to Antalya for our night stop.

Day 12 - Antalya to Cappadocia via Konya (B + D)
Today we cross the Anatolian plain as we follow an ancient silk trail. Visit the Caravanserai at Sultanhani and rest in Cappadocia for the night.

Day 13 - Cappadocia Tour (B)
Guided tour of the Cappadocia region visiting underground cities, open-air museums and fairy chimneys. This evening, optional Turkish Folklore show…not to be missed!

Day 14 - Cappadocia (B)
Free day. Hot air-ballooning, moped hire and trekking are all an option.

Day 15 - Cappadocia to Istanbul (B)
Drive to the nation's capital, Ankara, for a tour of Ataturk's Mausoleum and the Ancient Civilisations museum. This afternoon we drive to the enchanting city of Istanbul.

Day 16 - Tour Finishes (B)
After breakfast, we bid farewell to our new friends.

Tour Includes:
o Transportation by ferries between the Greek islands and a fully air-conditioned non-smoking bus in Turkey.
o Transfers between ports and hotels via bus in Greece (transfers between hotel and port in Athens is via metro).
o Services of a English-speaking professional tour guide in Turkey and an experienced tour leader in Greece.
o Excursions as per itinerary in Turkey.
o 15 nights hotel accommodation in share basis.
o 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.Gallipoli Tours

Tour does not Include:
o Cost of any daily excursions or transport on the Greek islands (excluding hotel transfers).
o Entrance fees to any sites or museums.
o Any flights, visas or personal insurance.
o Meals unless otherwise stated.

Note: For a tour of the famous WWI battlefields of Gallipoli, you must extend your stay in Istanbul for an extra day, as we have daily excursions to Gallipoli. Ask your tour guide or leader for more information and bookings.