Aegean Dreams

This Greece and Turkey 12 -day tour shows you the top sights of Turkey--Istanbul, Troy, Pergamon, Izmir, Ephesus, Kusadasi-- Then fly to Athens and Crete

Aegean Turkey, Honeymoon in Turkey
Compare with the 7-Day and the 9-Day Turkey Travel Packages . Add Egypt

DAY 1 - ISTANBUL- Saturdays - Weekly - Year Round

Our staff meets your plane and escorts you to your hotel. , Five stars : Hilton, Conrad, Hyatt or similar

DAY 2 - ISTANBUL - Sunday (BL)

After a visit to the aromatic Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar on the Golden Horn, we board a ferryboat and cruise northward along the Bosphorus, the strait which separates Europe and Asia. Sipping Turkish coffee or tea, we pass waterside palaces, mansions, forests and parks. Disembarking at a fishing village, we have a seafood lunch at a local restaurant, then drive south to tour fabled Topkapi Palace, where we will stroll through the palace gardens to see the Treasury and Chinese porcelains. Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 3 - DARDANELLES & TROY - Monday (BL)

We drive through Thrace (European Turkey) to Gallipoli, scene of famous battles in WWI. After lunch we cross the Dardanelles (Hellespont) and drive to legendary Troy to see the famous walls and a replica of the Trojan Horse before settling in at our hotel in Çanakkale. Breakfast , Lunch

DAY 4 - PERGAMON & IZMIR - Kusadasi - Tuesday (BL)

Driving south through the fields and olive groves along the Aegean shore, we come to Bergama, ancient Pergamon. Ascending its lofty acropolis, we see the Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysus and the remains of the 200,000-volume library which was surpassed only by Alexandria's. A few miles away, we tour the asclepion, the early medical center where Galen was a physician, before continuing to Kusadasi for the night. Breakfast , Lunch

DAY 5 - EPHESUS & KUSADASI - Wednesday (BL)

In the morning light we ascend Kadifekale, Izmir's hill crowned by a fortress built by Alexander the Great. Then it's off to biblical Ephesus to see the Basilica of St John the Evangelist, who came here with the Virgin Mary. Passing the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, we reach Ephesus, the most impressive ancient city on the Mediterranean. After our tour, we continue to the fine Ephesus Museum and the hilltop House of the Virgin Mary, said to be her last home on earth. We spend the night in the Aegean resort of Kusadasi. Breakfast , Lunch

DAY 6 - PRIENE, MILETUS & DIDYMA - Thursday (BL)

A short drive brings us to the well-preserved ruins of Priene, a very ancient city perched above the aptly-named Meander River. We next tour Miletus, where the philosopher Thales was born. Finally, we tour the gigantic oracular temple at Didyma, which challenged the primacy of Delphi. Breakfast , Lunch

DAY 9 - Izmir Athens Crete - Friday (B)

After breakfast , we escort you to Izmir airport for your flight to Athens , air tickets are included in our rate : Istanbul Athens Crete, in economy class , tax included , in Athens proceed on your own to connect with the onward flight to Crete.
As your flight over the blue Aegean lands in Crete our local rep will escort you to your hotel.

SampleHotels in Crete : All Inclusive Candia Maris Hotel & Resort in Crete

DAY 10 - Crete - Own activities- Saturday (B)
To stay in your lovely hotel and enjoy the beach, the service, and the amenities, or to venture out to explore some of the , coves, and villages . . . that is the question! No doubt, you'll mix a bit of both.
Your days will be filled. See below more details on tours in Crete.

DAY 11 - Crete - Own activities- Sunday (B)
Own activities , another day in this Mediterranean paradise .
Relax, and revisit a favorite café or shop ,sip an ouzo or retsina at a waterside café, discover a beach or two, pick up a loaf of fresh bread and cheese and olives, and picnic on a hillside as you look out to sailboats at sea. Your days will be filled. See below more details on tours in Crete.

DAY 12 - DEPARTURE- Monday (B)
After breakfast we'll call for you and see you to the airport . Air fare is included in our rate Crete/Athens. End of our service . Bon Voyage. Add Egypt ?

Rates per person- Deluxe Hotels

In Triple occupancy	US$ 4750.00
In Double occupancy	US$ 4820.00
In Single occupancy	US$ 6250.00

Rates are per person and include:

Airfares within Turkey in economy class , tax included , as well as air fare in economy class : Istanbul Athens Crete Athens .
All transfers within Turkey, always in a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur
All guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees
Pre -set Meals as listed including breakfast daily .
Accommodations in comfortable five star -class hotels are included.

Crete:

CLIMATE
Aegean climate year - round. Average temperatures 18 degrees in winter and 29 degrees during the summer.

Sample Hotels :

Heraklio / Hersonissos Area:

Creta Maris ( 5 stars)
Knossos Royal Village (5 stars)
Royal Mare Village (5 Stars) - Garden View Garden or for the higher $$ upgrade to VIP Bungalow with shared pool
Atlantis Hotel ( 5 stars - Town property)
Aldemar Royal Mare (5 stars)

Heraklio /Amoudara Area:

Candia Maris Hotel ( 5 stars)

Elounda Area:

Hotel Elounda Mare (5 stars):
Supplement $65 per person per night with breakfast & dinner included (part of the deal, cant delete).

Lasithi Area:

Hotel Elounda Mare (5 stars) : PRIVATE BUNGALOW with private pool: Supplement $200 Per person per night.

What's not included..

Turkish Visa Fee payable in cash upon arrival at the airport in Istanbul, or contact any of the Turkish Consulates near you .
Any shore excursion while cruising/sailing.
Travel Insurance. Please ask us for the flyer
Gratuities (at your discretion)

International airfare from to your home country

Extend your stay in Turkey on board a comfortable Gulet

Amusing airplane/train/bus or end-of-the-day reading? Turkey: Bright
Sun, Strong Tea, my humorous travel memoir:
http://www.brightsunstrongtea.com/