The Romance of a Greek Honeymoon
Start in Istanbul
Including
a stay in Mykonos and a villa in Santorini
The
16 day edition combines the best of travel in the Eastern Mediterranean
: a 4 day stay in Istanbul & Greece: classical Athens, a cruise
through the Aegean, a stay in Mykonos and three full days in a hideaway
villa on Santorini.
Weekly on Sundays in Istanbul . Apr-Oct
The
Romance of a Greek Honeymoon
DAY
1 -- ISTANBUL, Sunday (D)
Our staff meets your flight and escorts you to your hotel: Conrad for
Deluxe or Aygun Plaza for First class.
Welcome reception in the evening and dinner , with our compliments.
Honeymoon special : Private transfers & touring in Istanbul at no
additional charges.
DAY
2 -- ISTANBUL, Monday (BLD)
We dive right into this fascinating city with visits to its top sights:
Topkapi, the palace of the Sultans for centuries; Hagia Sophia,
the greatest church in Christendom for a thousand years; the Blue
Mosque, with its exquisite blue tiles; the Byzantine Hippodrome,
scene of chariot races and gladiator combat; and the eerie Sunken Palace
cistern beneath it. Then a drive through modern neighborhoods brings
us to the ancient city walls and the Kariye Museum (Chora Church),
filled with brilliant Byzantine mosaics. Breakfast, Lunch at a local
restaurant , Dinner :
is included at a local home to meet the locals,
you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (
T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town).If you prefer a quiet dinner
at the hotel ,please do let's know.
Complimentary entrance tickets to the Harem's
Quarter in Topkape Palace in Istanbul, when you book your tour/cruise
with us
DAY 3 -- ISTANBUL, Tuesday (BL)
After breakfast we board a ferryboat, help ourselves to fresh Turkish
coffee or tea, and cruise northward along the Bosphorus, the
strait which separates Europe and Asia. Disembarking at a fishing village,
we enjoy a seafood lunch at a local restaurant, then drive south to
go on a shopping spree at the labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar.
Breakfast, Lunch .
DAY
4 --Athens, Wednesday (B)
Our local rep will assist you with the transfer to the airport escort
you to Istanbul airport for your flight to Athens . Breakfast is included
at the hotel.
ARRIVAL
IN ATHENS
Our Athens representative will meet you at the airport, assist you through
customs and immigration, and escort you to your hotel in the bustling
city center. :Stanley hotel for First class or Divani Palace for Deluxe,
other upgrades are available upon request. The rest of the day is yours
to enjoy as you wish. Stroll, browse for curios and treasures.
DAY
5 - ATHENS Thursday (B)
This morning you'll tour Athens and get to know the high points of the
city, especially the towering Acropolis and the adjacent museum. You'll
visit Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city, and see the Parliament,
and guards in colorful traditional outfits. Your afternoon is free for
further exploring or shopping, or you could well be drawn back by the
charm of the Plaka. Or take advantage of one of our optional tours,
such as an afternoon visit to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon,
with spectacular sunset view; or the Sound and Light show at the base
of the Acropolis.
DAY
6- ATHENS To MYKONOS Friday(B)
A 30 - minute drive (transfer included)will take you to Piraeus,
the port of Athens, to embark on your ferry heading for Mykonos and
by sunset, reach the jet-set isle of Mykonos. And transfer to your beach
hotel.
DAY
7- MYKONOS Saturday
(B)
For two days soak in the sun, Stroll at your own pace along lanes
lined with whitewashed houses, up to the Church of Paraportiani, or
along the shore to the island's signature windmills.
DAY
8- MYKONOS Sunday
(B)
One more day in Paradise soak more sun or enjoy an ouzo or a glass of
retsina at a waterside cafe.
.
DAY 9 - CRUISE From MYKONOS Monday(BLD)
Drive (transfer included)will take you to the local port , to embark
on your four-day cruise. You'll sail into the Aegean,
DAY
10 - KUSADASI (Turkey) and PATMOS Tuesday
(BLD)
We anchor at 7 a.m. in Kusadasi, on the Turkish mainland, gateway to
ancient Ephesus. Stroll the streets and stop in at shops filled with
leather goods and bargains in gold. Our optional tour takes you to Ephesus,
one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the world. You'll
re-board in time for an afternoon sailing. In the late afternoon, your
ship will call at the island of Patmos. Here you can visit the Monastery
of St. John where the Book of Revelations was written.
DAY
11 - RHODES Wednesday (BLD)
Our cruise ship arrives early at the harbor, allowing a full
day on the Island of Roses. The compact, cobbled medieval city is perfect
for exploring on your own. You'll want to visit the Palace of the Knights
of St. John, take a look at the wares in the boutiques, and spend some
time in a seaside cafe. We also offer an optional excursion to the Acropolis
of Lindos and the Valley of the Butterflies.
DAY 12 - HERAKLION (CRETE), SANTORINI Thursday (B)
We drop anchor in the port of Heraklion at 7 a.m. You can explore on
your own, or take an optional excursion to the 5000-year-old Minoan
Palace at Knossos and the archaeological museum. We sail at noon for
Santorini, where the lost civilization of Atlantis flourished. You'll
disembark for your stay in Santorini .
DAY
13 - SANTORINI Friday (B)
You'll take a leisurely breakfast on your private terrace. An optional
tour to the archaeological site of Akrotiri is offered. Or, you can
spend the day relaxing, and take in breathtaking views of the volcano
and caldera.
DAY
14 - SANTORINI Saturday (B)
The day is yours for relaxing or exploring on your own--or both! You
might take a boat across to the dormant volcano, and ascend through
a crater-pocked moonscape to the crater. Or savor a soak in hot sulphur
springs.
DAY
15 - SANTORINI Sunday (B)
Enjoy the views from your villa, discover a black-sand beach, savor
the sea breezes from the terrace of a cafe, or try your hand at fishing.
Or arrange a winery visit or another excursion. The choice is yours.
DAY 16 - SANTORINI, ATHENS, Monday (B)
Our personnel will assure a seamless transfer to Santorini's Airport.
You'll catch an early morning flight to Athens
( Included) , where you'll board your connecting flight, if your connection
is too early in morning from Athens, then you are better of flying into
Athens on Day 12, spend the night at Sofitel Athens Airport.
Rates
per person in US$, Double Occupancy, Cabins with 2 lower beds
| Hotels
|
First
class
|
First Superior |
Deluxe
|
| Inside.
Cat. F |
$2530
|
$2840
|
$3115 |
| Inside.
Cat. D |
$2580
|
$2890
|
$3165 |
| Inside.
Cat. DA |
$2600
|
$2910
|
$3285 |
| Outside
Cat. B |
$2790
|
$3000
|
$3375 |
| Outside
Cat. A |
$2840
|
$3050
|
$3425 |
Rate
includes:.
-
Lonely Planet travel guide 4-day cruise to Greek Isles .
- Villa
accommodation in Santorini, sample villas that are used:
For First Class superior , 4 stars accommodation:
Villa style "Astra Apartments" in Imerovigli, or in
a 1 or 2-bedroom apartment villas.
For 3-star, first class accommodation in the: "Grotto Villas"
in Firostefani in a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment.
For
Katikies Villas , or Pantheon Villas, please add 20 % supplement to
the deluxe rate.
- Hotel
accommodation in Athens (Sample hotels: Stanley for First, Titania
for the first Superior, and Divani for deluxe)
- Mykonos:
Petassos, For Royal Myconian please add $70 per person to the deluxe
rate .
-
Istanbul : First : Aygun Plaza, Superior First : Arena Ottoman Mansion
Boutique Hotel, Deluxe : Conrad or similar.
- Breakfast
daily at the hotels.
- All
meals during the cruise .
- Airport
greeting and assistance.
-
Transfer to hotel in Athens, and and from hotel to the cruise in Piraeus.
- Ferry
ticket Piraeus / Mykonos
- Round-trip
transfers in Santorini & Mykonos.
-
Hotel service charges and taxes
- Port
taxes
- Our
local hospitality services
-
One-way Istanbul/Athens & Santorini/Athens airfare
Not
included:
- Sample
accommodations with breakfast (B)
as indicated below, or at comparable properties, according to availability:
Athens:
Divani Palace
Acropolis : 5 Stars Moderate
Electra Palace (four stars).
- Santorini:
Chromata Apartment, in Imerovigli with view of the Volcano
(Four stars superior). Dana Villas: in Firostefani with view
of the volcano. ( Four stars superior)
Rose Bay on Kamari Beach Hotel (four stars) , or Astra Villa. For
Katikies Villas & Pantheon , please add 10 % supplement to the
deluxe rate.
The
Ancient Agora of Athens | The
Acropolis of Athens |Crete
|Royal
Myconian Hotel -Mykonos | Philippi
| Mycenae | Delphi
| Ancient Corinth
|
Divani Palace Hotel
|
