Turkey and the Greek Islands

The stunningly picturesque Greek islands have inspired mankind back to the time of Homer. Deep blue seas are contrasted by rugged coastlines, plunging cliffs, golden sand beaches, and isolated coves. The human touch is equally attractive with characteristic “sugar-cube” architecture, blue-domed churches, white-washed monasteries, photogenic windmills, and crumbling fortresses. History has left a footprint as well, providing ancient archaeological sites to be explored. With the addition of 4 days in Turkey we explore the world class sights of Istanbul and incomparable Ephesus.

Day 1 Istanbul Sept 13
Welcome to Turkey. We’ll gather for our traditional get-acquainted meeting in the hotel before enjoying a classic Turkish dinner together.
Ottoman Hotel Imperial (2 nights) https://www.ottomanhotelimperial.com/

Day 2 Istanbul Sept 14
Today will be a full-day exploration of this amazing city. Our expert local guide will present the highlights of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the famous Grand Bazaar. We’ll leave no important stone unturned on this blockbuster sightseeing day.

Day 3 Kusadasi Sept 15
Today is primarily a travel day. We’ll be picked up from our hotel and transferred to Istanbul’s airport where we will catch our flight to Izmir. We’ll be transferred to our hotel in Kusadasi, arriving mid afternoon. The rest of your afternoon is free to explore the beautiful port town of Kusadasi.
Ramada Hotel (2 nights) https://www.ramadahotelkusadasi.com/

Day 4 Kusadasi Sept 16
Today our destination is the archaeological ruins of Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient sites in the world. The excavations here reflect centuries of history, from classical Greece to Rome. It was once the eastern Mediterranean’s main commercial center. A local expert will make the site come alive as we explore the squares, baths, beautifully preserved theater, and famous Library of Celsus together.

Days 5 to 10  Gulet Charter Sept 17 - 22  View the B&BII
For the next 6 days we take our accommodation with us – the Gulet “B&BII”. Private cabins, ensuite bathrooms, a comfortable salon (dining room), and plenty of room to relax are just the beginning of the amenities on this comfortable vessel. We’ll use our mobile base to visit 4 or 5 islands, some of which do not receive regular ferry service, as we motor our way south toward Marmaris and Rhodes. Island explorations will mostly be left to you to create your own experiences. We’ll provide logistical support, recommendations, and optional organized excursions when appropriate. The itinerary is subject to sea and weather conditions, but our proposed itinerary follows.

Day 5 Kalimnos
Here on Kalimnos we’ll have dinner next to the harbor with live Greek music. After dinner we’ll be treated to a performance of traditional Greek dancing.

Day 6 Nysiros
Nysiros is a tiny, perfectly round, volcanic island without regular ferry service. Almost completely undeveloped, this makes a fascinating island stop. In the afternoon we’ll be bused to the impressive and active volcanic crater. We’ll continue up to a spectacular viewpoint and explore a tiny, white-washed, caldera-clinging village before returning to our floating hotel for the evening.

Day 7  Tilos
A couple hours of morning motoring brings us to Tilos. This is an almost completely untouristed island with sweeping sand beaches, crumbling Venetian castros (fortresses), and rugged hills.

Day 8 Symi
Symi is one of the most picturesque islands in the entire Aegean. With its pastel colored Neoclassical houses tumbling down the steep slopes to its picturesque harbor. Plus, a craggy and steep interior provides a backdrop for a lovely coast frequently riven by fjord-like inlets.

Day 9 Kos
Our final island stop is Kos. Kos has the best developed tourist infrastructure of the islands we will visit. The port town is dominated by a crusader castle which can be visited. Within the town are a couple of ancient archeological sites and the beautifully restored Casa Romana. The island’s premier ancient site, the Asklepion, is a mere 5 kilometers to the west and can be reached by a tourist train. This will undoubtedly be the best shopping opportunity on the cruise as well.

Day 10 Datca/Marmaris
After a morning of additional exploration on lovely Kos, we will motor east to our final port of Datca. We’ll have a unique seafood dinner together, spending one last night on the B&BII.

Day 11 Rhodes Sept 23
This morning we’ll be transferred to the Marmaris ferry terminal where we catch our short ferry to Rhodes. After clearing customs we’ll board a bus for a short journey to Lindos. There our local guide will reveal the secrets of the picturesque Acropolis of Lindos. We’ll have to turn our clocks back almost 3000 years for this smaller version of Athens’ famous hill. It may not stack up in scale, but the cliff-top, seaside venue is spectacular! Then a scenic drive returns us to our beach-side hotel in Rhodes Town.
Hotel Mediterranean (2 nights)

Day 12 Rhodes Sept 24
We’ll begin today by exploring the World Heritage listed Rhodes Old Town with our ace local guide. Although Rhodes has an ancient pedigree, the ambiance is decidedly Medieval. The crusading Knights of St John arrived in 1309, carving out a Feudal fief on the island, ruling for two centuries, and putting a permanent stamp on the town’s architecture. Highlights include the massive city walls and the Knights Quarter with its storied Avenue of the Knights. Impressive fort-like mansions and the charter houses of the various chivalric orders line the street. We’ll also tour the magnificent 14th century Palace of the Grand Masters. Your afternoon is free to explore the twisting alleys of the Turkish, Byzantine, and Jewish quarters.

Day 13 Tour Over Sept 25
Tour over after breakfast. Imprint will assist with airport or port transfers. For those continuing on to Santorini, we’ll be transferred to the airport for our mid-morning flight to Santorini.

Santorini Extension

Day 1 Santorini Sept 25
A morning flight will transport us to sublime Santorini. What can be said about Santorini that has not been said a thousand times before? It is stunningly beautiful, breathtaking, sublime, transcendent. All true and more. The rest of our island hopping, wonderful as it will have been, was simply preamble. Santorini is the ultimate island visit. We’ll be transferred to our caldera-clinging hotel and you’ll be free for the rest of the day.
Hotel Volcano View (3 nights) https://www.volcano-view.com/

Day 2 Sept 26
An entire island exploration tour is our plan for today. Escorted by our ace local guide Eugenia, we will visit Akrotiri (exceptional Minoan civilization ruins); a red sand beach; a lunch break on Kamari Beach (swimming available); one of the islands colorful villages; and spectacular Oia with the best views on the island. We’ll conclude our explorations with wine tasting in a local winery.

Day 3 Sept 27
Today is entirely free to order as you please. You may opt to relax in our gorgeous island hotel, perched on the rim of the caldera with sweeping views.  We can help organize an optional visit to the active volcanic island in the midst of the spectacular caldera. Hike up to the summit with tiny fumaroles of steam emerging from cracks in the trail. Evidence of volcanism is evident everywhere in the lunar-like landscape.  Or do some wine tasting, shopping, beach hopping, or simply relax at one of the hotel’s 3 swimming pools with the world’s best view. We will gather for a final Happy Hour to share memories before enjoying a final taverna dinner together.

Day 4 Extension Over Sept 28
Extension over after breakfast.  There are flights, ferries, and fast boats to neighboring islands and back to the mainland to extend your trip or connect with your flight home. Imprint will assist with port or airport transfer arrangements.

Post-Santorini Athens-Meteora-Delphi Extension

Day 1  Athens  Sept 28

An AM flight (included) jets us to Athens. In the afternoon we’ll have a guided visit of the mighty Acropolis and the magnificent new Acropolis Museum. The Acropolis, crowned by the iconic Parthenon, is a bucket list site that represents our historical and cultural connection to Periclean Athens and the foundations of the western paradigm. The state of the art museum beautifully displays the archeological treasures of the storied hill.
Hotel Attalos (1 night) https://www.attaloshotel.com/

Day 2  Meteora  Sept 29
Before departing Athens today we will visit the National Archeological Museum. We’ll see the very best of Greece’s archeological treasures from Minoan to Hellenistic sculpture and artifacts. Departing Athens we will drive to Meteora. The name Meteora is derived from the Greek word meteoros, which means “suspended in air.” The soaring pinnacles and jutting cliffs make for one of earth’s most dramatic geological displays. The earliest inhabitants were 11th century hermits, seeking isolation from the profane world. By the 14th century, Turkish conquests forced the Byzantine church to seek ever more remote and isolated refuge. Meteora was a perfect sanctuary. Eventually 24 monasteries were built, of which 6 remain active today. We’ll arrive in time to see the setting sun illuminate the dramatic spires in photographic light.
Hotel Kastraki (1 night) http://www.hotelkastraki.gr/

Day 3   Delphi  Sept 30
We’ll start our day with a guided tour of some of the more dramatically situated monasteries, perched precariously atop the amazing stacks of Meteora. Beautiful ikons, frescoed chapels, giant wine casks, winching baskets for supplying the communities, and stunning vistas highlight our visit. In the afternoon we’ll make the winding drive to Delphi. After settling into our hotel we’ll have dinner together in a local taverna.
Hotel Acropole (1 night) https://delphi.com.gr/

Day 4   Delphi to Athens  Oct 1
This morning our amazing guide Penny will give us a guided tour of the Archeological Site and new Museum of Delphi. Delphi was the “navel of the ancient world” and the location of the famous Delphic Oracle, whom all men great and small consulted before important decisions. In the afternoon we’ll drive back to Athens. You can be dropped at the airport or Syntagma Square. Tour ends in Athens. (Note: we cannot arrive at the airport before 5:00PM. If planning a departing flight for the evening of Oct 1, make sure you have sufficient time for check-in, immigration, and security.)

[Itinerary details & hotels subject to change]

What’s Included:

12 nights accommodation (15 with extension; 18 with 2 extensions); All breakfasts, 5 dinners, 2 lunches (+ 1 and 2 dinners with respective extensions); All tour transport (bus, boat, airplane); All tips (tour director, guides, drivers, group meals, boat crew, and hotel staffs); Full-time services of an Imprint tour director plus local guides; All entrances & guided tours: Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Ephesus, Lindos, Palace of the Grand Masters; All activities: Grand Bazaar, Rhodes Old Town, Greek music & dancing, volcano excursion Nisyros, and more; Santorini Extension: Akrotiri entrance & tour; Oia, village visit, beach visits, wine tasting; Athens-Meteora-Delphi extension: Entrances & guided tours: Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, NAM, Meteora monasteries, and Delphi Archeological Site & Museum

Important exceptions: Tour participants are responsible for the cost of drinks, free-time sightseeing and meals, expenditures of a personal nature, flight baggage overage fees, and Turkish visitor visa.