19D Diamonds of Med

Welcome to Greece! You will be transferred to your hotel and the rest of the day is yours, free to explore this ancient city. Tonight a welcome meeting and meet your fellow travelling companions.

This morning you will have half day tour and visit Acropolis, stop at the stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held. Admire the Olympian Zeus and Hadrians Arch. At the Acropolis visit the museum, the towering entrance of Propylaia, the Temple of Nike and the most famous of Greek relics, the Parthenon.

Early morning departure today for the breathtaking Island of Santorini, where you can soak up the sun and relax on the beach or perhaps explore the picturesque capital, Fira.

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.

Arrive in Mykonos and explore the white-washed town or head for the beach before experiencing the completely outrageous Mykonian nightlife.

Free day today. Spend the day on the beach, stroll around the town or take a trip to one of the small villages. This Mecca of Ancient Greece is today an island wide, open-air museum. Please Note: In September, the ferry schedules change. The Mykonos - Samos ferry departs Mykonos 21:20 and arrives Samos 02:45. So during September your room will be available in Mykonos until you are transferred to the port for your ferry to Samos. Then you will have a room available in Samos upon arrival.

Today you will catch a mid-day ferry heading towards the island of Samos and then another ferry to Kusadasi, Turkey.

After a leather shop visit, we will head to Aphrodisias the ancient city dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of Beauty, Love and Fertility, also famous for its school of sculpture, we visit the stadium, which is the best preserved in Anatolia, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Tetrapylon, theatre and the Museum. Then, we continue to Pamukkale.

Today, you are free to explore the town at your own pace and there is also optional tours and activities. Optional tours and activities; 12 Islands boat trip and Saklikent Gorge tour.

This morning we head to Kayakoy. The morning light provides excellent photos of this deserted Greek village. Afterwards we drive to the resort town of Antalya. We will visit the Antalya Museum with its wealthy collection from the ancient cities around the Antalya Province.

We will visit Perge a famous antique site, early in the morning. After Perge we drive to Aspendos which has the best-preserved 2nd Century Amphitheatre in Turkey. We return to Antalya city in the afternoon, and the remainder of your day is free.

We will visit the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the great 13th-century Sufi mystic and poet, whose teachings continue to inspire people worldwide. Inside the Mevlana Museum, we will explore his beautifully adorned tomb, ancient manuscripts, and exhibits on the Whirling Dervishes and their spiritual traditions. Continuing our journey along the legendary Silk Road, we will visit the Çatalhöyük Museum, which brings to life the fascinating history of one of the world’s oldest and most advanced Neolithic settlements.

Today we head to Cappadocia, visiting Sultanhani Caravansary, an ancient Silk Road stop off for merchants and traders. Later we explore the many levels of an underground city. After checking into our hotel we visit a traditional Turkish home for dinner. Here you can do a course and help cook if you wish.

Marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia today as we visit the Goreme Valley Open Air Museum and the fairy chimneys. We then visit Pigeon and Red Valley, followed by Cavusin village and lastly Avanos town where we will learn about hand-made pottery.

Early morning departure to the nation's capital, Ankara, where we visit Anitkabir, mausoleum of the famed Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, before returning to Istanbul.

Tour the exotic city that spans both Europe and Asia visiting the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace (including Hagia Irene and the Harem) and the Hippodrome. Cruise between two continents on the stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia in the afternoon with a 1-hour Bosphorus cruise by public ferry where your guide will explain the historical sites along the way.

After breakfast our tour concludes, and we say goodbye to our new friends and are transferred to the airport for your onward flight.