Itinerary
Friday, May 11: Depart USA on transatlantic flight Athens.
Saturday, May 12: Upon your arrival in Athens, take a taxi to Hotel Arion, (+30 2103240415). After Dale and Patsy arrive at the hotel, we will walk to dinner at a nearby taverna. Overnight in the Hotel Arion.
Sunday, May 13: Breakfast at hotel (and every morning on tour) Morning walking tour with local guide of Acropolis and Agorà. Afterwards, we will explore the metro. Some of the stations are like museums in that they are displaying various artifacts that were found during the construction. Dinner at a nearby taverna. Overnight in the Hotel Arion.
Monday, May 14: Depart Athens for Nauplion with en route visit to Epidauros and Mycenae. Dinner and overnight at our hotel, the Hotel Amalia (+30-27520-24401)
Tuesday, May 15: Depart Nauplion for Olympia through some great scenery. Make sure your camera has fresh batteries! (Bummer: Our driver went the other way.) Dinner and overnight at Hotel Amalia (+30-26240-22190) in Olympia.
Wednesday, May 16: Morning visit to the site of the first Olympics in Olympia. Continue on to Delfi. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Amalia in Delfi (+30-22650-82101).
Thursday, May 17: Morning visit to the mystical site of ancient Delfi. When we are finished, we will return to Athens and continue on to Piraeus for our overnight ferry to Heraklion. Dinner in Piraeus. 21:00 departure on overnight ferry to Heraklion.
Friday, May 18: Morning arrival in Heraklion. Since our rooms won’t be ready yet, we will drop off our bags and visit the ancient site of Knossos. Afternoon free. Dinner and overnight in our hotel, Hotel Atlantis, (+30 2810 300330).
Saturday, May 19: Morning excursion to Festos. Afternoon free, Dinner and overnight in Hotel Atlantis, Heraklion
Sunday, May 20: Check out of hotel in time for 9:45 departure on the Flying Catamaran to Santorini. Upon arrival at 11:30, transfer to Santorini Palace Hotel (+30 22860 22771). The rest of the day is free to explore the town. We will wait for the arrival of the last four members of our group and then walk to dinner near the hotel. Overnight in Santorini Palace Hotel.
Monday, May 21: Full day excursion of the island with local guide, first a boat tour to the volcano followed by a bus tour. Dinner near the hotel. Overnight in Santorini Palace Hotel.
Tuesday, May 22: Free day in Santorini. Dinner near the hotel. Overnight in Santorini Palace Hotel.
Wednesday, May 23: Depart Santorini at 7:25 on Aegean Air #351, arrive Athens at 8:10. Coach transfer into Athens to visit Archaeological Museum. After museum visit, transfer to Anavyssos and the Eden Beach Resort Hotel, (+30 2291 0 60031). (Horrible hotel–do not use!) Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Thursday, May 24: Morning free to enjoy hotel. Afternoon transfer to airport in time to depart Athens at 2:50 on Aegean Air 651, arrive Rhodes at 3:50. Upon arrival, transfer to the Mediterranean Hotel, (+30 22410 24661). Dinner and overnight in the Mediterrannean Hotel.
Friday, May 25: Morning tour of Rhodes with local guide. (Good lunch recommendation, bad jokes.) Afternoon free. Dinner and overnight in the Mediterranean Hotel.
Saturday, May 26: Morning excursion to Lindos with local guide. (More bad jokes.) Afternoon free. Dinner and overnight in the Mediterranean Hotel.
Sunday, May 27: Transfer from hotel in time for 8:00 am departure by ferry to Marmaris, Turkey
Sunday, May 27: (cont.) .IMPORTANT: Bring along US$20.00 for Visa. Upon arrival in Marmaris at 9:10 (approximate), we will be picked up by our coach and Guide, Mehmet Tetik. At his suggestion, we visited Didymaion Temple to Apollo (stunning). Overnight in Pine Bay Marina Hotel (+902566181500) in Kusadasi.
Monday, May 28: Visit Ephesus, Ephesus Museum, Virgin Mary’s House. Overnight in Pine Bay Marina Hotel, Kusadasi.
Tuesday, May 29: Transfer to Pergamon, visit city, Acropolis, and Asklepion, Museum. Overnight in Berksoy Hotel, (+902326332595) Pergamon.
Wednesday, May 30: Transfer to Parmukkale. En route visit Aphrodisias, overnight in Lycus River Hotel (+90258-271 4341) Parmukkale.
Thursday, May 31: Transfer to Konya with en route visit of Hierapolis. Overnight in the Dundar Hotel (+903322361052) Konya.
Friday, June 1: Transfer to Cappadoccia with en route visit of Mevlana Museum, Sultanhani Caravansarai, and Zelve. Overnight in the Perissia Hotel (+903843412930), Cappadocia.
Saturday, June 2: Visit Goreme Open Air Museum, Pasabag, Avanos and carpet outlet. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Sunday, June 3: Visit Derinkuyu or Kaymakli Underground city, Sinisos village. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Monday, June 4: Transfer to Ankara where we will visit the Anatolian Civilization Museum, and Anitkabir (Ataturks’ Mauseleum.) Overnight in the Ickale Hotel, (+90312-231 7710) Ankara.
Tuesday, June 5: Transfer to Istanbul in time for boat tour on Bosphorus. Overnight in the Golden Age 1 Hotel (+90212-254 4906), Istanbul.
Wednesday, June 6: Visit St. Sophia, Underground Cistern, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome. Afterwards, time for shopping in the market. Overnight in the Golden Age 1 Hotel, Istanbul.
Thursday, June 7: Morning visit of Topkapi Palace and Archaeological Museum. Visit to Mahmet’s favorite mosque. Overnight in the Golden Age 1 Hotel Istanbul.
Friday, June 8: Tour ends after breakfast with transfer to the airport for return flight to USA.
ENROLLMENTS
Everything: The Whole Enchilada
Two additional nights in Istanbul
Laurence Barker, arrive March 11 on AL 718 at 17:05
Carrol Smith, arrive BA 634, at 2:25A
Donita Lincoln, arrive BA 634, at 2:25A
Maureen Nowotny, arrive AF 1532 at13:50
Dale & Patsy Meyers, arrive BA 632 at 18:05
Dale Fleishman & Ron Jenkins, depart Turkish Airlines #1845 8:30
Carrol Smith, depart BA 675 at 8:55
Donita Lincoln, depart BA 675 at 8:55
Lynne Bueler, depart BA 675 at 8:55
Sara & Charlie Lewis, depart BA 675 at 8:55
Maureen Nowotny, depart AF 2391 at 9:00 Janet Woltman & Scott Anderson, depart BA 679 at 13:55
Dale & Patsy Meyers, depart BA 679 at 13:55
Laurence Barker, depart AL 705 at 14:10
Joining tour in Santorini
Sara & Charlie Lewis, arrive Olympic Air 550 at 6:45
Lynne Bueler, arrive Olympic Air 550 at 6:45
Janet Woltman & Scott Anderson, arrive Olympic Air #558 at 19:10.
Dale Fleishman & Ron Jenkins, arrive Olympic Air #558 at 19:10.