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Greece & Turkey Adventure: Athens to Istanbul

Greece & Turkey Adventure: Athens to Istanbul

From $ 3,530 AUD

Description

Journey from one ancient city to another on this nine-day overland trip across Greece to Istanbul. Discover the age-old temples of Athens, the Royal Tomb of Phillip, the Hospital Complex of Edirne and the culinary city of Thessaloniki. Along the way, make a stop at the floating monastery of Vistonida Lake, learn about silk in the shops of Soufli and meet women from the Pomak minority group, all before crossing the border to Turkey. With so much history and culture to explore, and local leaders from both nations guiding the way, you’ll get to know these two worlds in no time.

Trip Name
Greece & Turkey Adventure: Athens to Istanbul
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
9
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Wander the city of Thessaloniki, loved for its food, entertainment and culture, before an evening’s meze-style dinner.
  • Explore the city of Xanthi and the mountainous Pomakochoria area of Greece, where you’ll be treated to home-cooked treats made by local women.
  • Visit Vistonida lake, known for its blue lagoon and the floating Monastery of Agios Nikolaos, where you can enjoy a boat outing on the Evros River.
  • Learn about the art of silk weaving in Soufli – a town the UNWTO selected as one of the best tourism villages in the world.
  • Discover Turkey's history, flavours and communities on a locally guided tour through Edirne and through Istanbul’s Old City and its grand buildings.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. , OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk., MUSEUM VISITS & OPENING TIMES Many sites, attractions and museums are closed on Mondays (and sometimes Tuesdays). We recommend checking the opening times of anywhere you're interested to visit and making reservations where required/possible.

Day 1 - Athens
Kalimera! Welcome to Greece. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight in Athens – an ancient city built to honour the Olympian Goddess of wisdom, Athena. Join your leader for a welcome meeting at 6 pm this afternoon. There’s a lot to explore in this city, famous for the Acropolis and Parthenon, so it’s highly recommended you arrive a few days early to explore it all. After your welcome meeting, perhaps head out for some gyros and ouzo with your new travel companions and get to know eachother.
Day 2 - Thessaloniki
Wake up to a day full of tasty adventures. Start your morning with a leader-led walking tour of the central Athens food market. If you haven’t tried a Greek-style coffee yet, maybe find a place along the walk to do so. You’ll then leave Athens and board a train headed north to Thessaloniki – Greece’s second largest city. When you arrive, take the time to explore the city at your own pace. Tonight, maybe find a local restaurant and sample the flavours of Thessaloniki during a meze-style dinner. Keep the party going and ask your leader for their recommendations for local music spots.
Day 3 - Thessaloniki
Today is a free day. Maybe set off on a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed archaeological site of Aigai (Vergina Tombs). Walk through the remains of the monumental palace, beautifully decorated with mosaics and painted stuccoes, then discover the burial ground with more than 300 tumuli, some of which date back to the 11th century. This afternoon, take a stroll through the Byzantine Museum, explore the iconic White Tower of Thessaloniki, or unwind at one of the many cafés along the waterfront.
Day 4 - Xanthi
Enjoy a laidback morning before you set off by public bus from Thessaloniki towards your next stop in Xanthi – a city found on the crossroads of the Black Sea, Europe and Asia. When you arrive, set off on a guided city tour with a local guide. After your walk-through Xanthi’s old and new town centres, the rest of the evening is free for you to continue exploring the city. Tonight, maybe join your group for dinner to taste the unique cuisine of Thrace.
Day 5 - Xanthi
After breakfast, head up the mountain to visit an organisation of women from Xanthi who knit and create homewares and accessories in traditional styles. Next, you’ll be treated to a tasting of coffee and pies made by women from nearby Pomakochoria villages. Learn about the community of people in northern Greece known as the Pomaks, then enjoy a free afternoon to discover more about the places and people of Xanthi. Active travellers may like to head off on a hiking or rafting expedition in Nestos National Park. There are also plenty of things to explore around Xanthi, like the Folklore and Historical Museum, the Holy Monastery or the city’s many art galleries. Ask your local leader about their recommendations for activities or half-day trips in the area.
Day 6 - Alexandroupolis
Enjoy breakfast at your accommodation in Xanthi before beginning your journey to Alexandroupolis. Make a stop at the Church of Agios Nikolaos on an island in the Vistonida Lake. Look inside the nicknamed ‘Floating Monastery.’ Wildlife lovers may want to stay outside and keep an eye out for the lake’s pink flamingos. Arrive at Alexandroupolis – a seaside city known for its trademark lighthouse – for an afternoon boat ride through the Evros Delta National Wetland Park. You then have a free evening to relax or continue exploring.
Day 7 - Edirne
Begin your journey from Greece to Turkey, stopping at Soufli along the way – a village famous for its silk production. To learn about this ancient industry, you’ll have the option to visit the Art of Silk Museum, located in a restored neoclassical building with an attached shop selling locally made silk items. Cross the border into Turkey, saying goodbye to your Greek leader and meet your Turkish leader. Before arriving in Edirne, stop at the Sultan Bayezid II Complex Health Museum. Built in 1488, this complex played an important part in Turkey's health, education, social and religious life. Arrive at your hotel, settle in, then join your leader for an orientation walk and your first Turkish dinner.
Day 8 - Istanbul
Wake up in Edirne and hop aboard a bus headed to Istanbul. While it’s not the capital city of Turkey, it once was the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Today, Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city with popular sites like the Hagia Sofia Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar and Cistern. Discover the Old Town and its fascinating history on a guided orientation tour with your leader. The rest of the day is yours to explore. Tonight, you might like to meet up with your group for an optional farewell dinner.
Day 9 - Istanbul
Today your adventure comes to an end. There are no activities planned and you can depart the accommodation at any time. If you'd like to extend your stay in Turkey, just reach out to your booking agent ahead of time.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
01-06-202609-06-2026AUD $ 3,680-
31-08-202608-09-2026AUD $ 3,530-
07-09-202615-09-2026AUD $ 3,680-
21-09-202629-09-2026AUD $ 3,680-
12-10-202620-10-2026AUD $ 3,680-
26-10-202603-11-2026AUD $ 3,530-
29-03-202706-04-2027AUD $ 3,670-
19-04-202727-04-2027AUD $ 3,670-
10-05-202718-05-2027AUD $ 3,815-
31-05-202708-06-2027AUD $ 3,815-
14-06-202722-06-2027AUD $ 3,670-
28-06-202706-07-2027AUD $ 3,670-
12-07-202720-07-2027AUD $ 3,670-
02-08-202710-08-2027AUD $ 3,670-
23-08-202731-08-2027AUD $ 3,815-
06-09-202714-09-2027AUD $ 3,815-
13-09-202721-09-2027AUD $ 3,815-
27-09-202705-10-2027AUD $ 3,815-
11-10-202719-10-2027AUD $ 3,815-
25-10-202702-11-2027AUD $ 3,670-

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights)

Transport

Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, Taxi

Map