This tour features a combination of escorted and independent travel. Part of your journey will be enjoyed as a group experience, led by expert tour leaders or local guides. The remainder is self-guided—whether by rail, cruise, or overland—allowing you the freedom to travel between destinations independently and explore at your own pace.
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
✓ Add return international airfares from $299
✓ Small group tour in Turkey, up to 20 guests only
✓ Guided travel in Greece (days 3–6) with the flexibility of free days to explore Athens independently
✓ Incredible sightseeing including marble masterpieces on the Acropolis in Athens, UNESCO-listed archaeological treasures of Delphi and Mycenae, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, Meteora's monasteries, vibrant Turkey's grand icons like the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the dreamy landscapes of Cappadocia,Hierapolis, the Temple of Apollo and Ephesus
✓ 7 nights in comfortable 3-star accommodation in Greece
✓ 7 nights in 4-star boutique and hotel accommodation in Turkey
✓ Breakfast daily, 8 dinners
✓ Fully escorted by professional, English-speaking tour guides in Turkey (days 8–15) and Greece (days 3–6)
✓ Flights from Athens to Istanbul and Izmir to Istanbul
✓ Comfortable, dedicated transport in air-conditioned vehicles
✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Upon arrival in Athens, you will be transferred to your hotel in the comfort of an air-conditioned car or bus. Once you have checked in to your hotel, you will have the rest of the day to explore the streets of Athens at your leisure.
After breakfast, you will embark on a sightseeing tour of the ancient city. With your guide, you will see the city centre, Constitution Square, House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library.
Afterwards, we head to classical Athens as we take in Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Then we arrive at the centrepiece of ancient Athens, the Acropolis. There visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the famous Parthenon. Your first taste of Athens would not be complete without a visit to the Acropolis Museum, a modern architectural building where, at last, the statues have found their home. After the tour, enjoy the rest of the day to explore Athens at your own pace.
You will begin touring with a guide today, until your return to Athens on Day 6.
We depart Athens in the morning, and drive the coastal route to the Corinth Canal, where you will make a short stop to take a look at the feat of man made engineering before driving on and seeing the ancient Theatre of Epidauros. After that, to the town of Nafplion before continuing onto Mycanae where we will visit the archeological site as well as the Tomb of Agememnon. Once we arrive in Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games, enjoy an included dinner and evening at leisure.
Today breakfast in the hotel is followed by a visit to the sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Stadium and the Archaeological Museum. You will have time to explore the museum before our scenic drive to Delphi, a city once regarded as the centre of the world. According to mythology, Zeus sent out two eagles from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world, and it was in this location that they met. The sanctuary of Delphi is set within the most spectacular landscape. Dinner is included tonight at your hotel.
Wake up to breakfast in the hotel and then head out to explore the Archaeological Site and Museum of Delphi, where amongst other archaeological treasures you can contemplate the unique bronze statue of the Charioteer dedicated to Apollo by Polyzalos. Perched high on the mountain tops, Delphi is truly a magical place to visit. Then depart for Kalambaka, a small town located at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, an almost alien landscape filled with gigantic rock formations. Enjoy an included dinner tonight at your hotel.
After breakfast, you can set out to explore the striking scenery and monasteries of Meteora. Perched on top of enormous pillars of rock that seem almost suspended in mid-air, stand a series of ancient monasteries showcasing a wonderful collection of Byzantine art. You will ascend to two of the monasteries to marvel at their beautiful contents before beginning the drive back to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, and Thermopylae, where you’ll make a short stop to see Leonida's Monument. Arrive in Athens early in the evening.
A full day to explore Athens at your own leisure.
Athens, home to beautiful ruins and ancient delights, is the perfect place to begin exploring this fascinating land of rich history. It’s one of the oldest cities in the world.
Take your included transfer to Athens airport, to make your flight to Istanbul where upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Today, you will be joining a group tour where you will meet your guide and fellow travelers to enjoy a city tour of one of the most important cities to grace history. Sitting on both the continents of Europe and Asia, Istanbul has had a vital influence on world culture and religion. Today, visit the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Hagia Sofia.
We depart Istanbul after breakfast, drive eastwards towards the nation’s capital, Ankara. An ancient city itself, Ankara was made capital of modern Turkey after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, at the end of World War I. Here, we visit the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. We continue further into the country to arrive at the striking landscapes of Cappadocia.
Marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia today as we visit the Goreme Valley Open Air Museum and the fairy chimneys, and explore the many levels of an underground city.
Photo opportunities are everywhere so have your cameras ready!
We drive south from Cappadocia this morning, towards Konya, along the ancient Silk Road. Upon arrival in Konya, we tour the city including the Mevlana Museum, the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi and the Alaeddin Mosque.
Today we head for Pamukkale and its calcium travertines. Along the way we visit the ancient site of Sagalassos. Conquered by Alexander the Great in 333 BC, earthquakes and plague saw its demise in 541-2. Today it is one of the best preserved sites in Turkey and is an UNESCO listed heritage site.
After breakfast, we visit the ruins of Hierapolis, the Temple of Apollo, Necropolis, and stroll over the magnificent white calcium terraces of Pamukkale.
This afternoon we will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods. We depart Pamukkale in the early afternoon to drive to the coastal town of Kuşadası.
We depart Kuşadası to one of the most important archeological sites in the country, Ephesus. Included will be a visit to the Temple of Artemis. Feel the mystical atmosphere of the ancient city and theatre before continuing to the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for its fruit wines.
Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and at the carpet village we learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value. We then fly back to Istanbul in the afternoon.
After breakfast, your journey across ancient Greece and Turkey concludes.
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
This package includes international airfares or has the option of adding international airfares to your booking when selecting your departure city.
If international airfares are included this will be stated in the ‘Inclusions’ section
Alternatively, if international airfares can be added to your booking you will be able to select your departure city after clicking ‘Book Now’ and a cost will be stated next to your selected departure city. This cost will then be added to your booking and flights will be added to your booking.
Conditions of flights for this package bookable by Inspiring Vacations:
Baggage
Included baggage differs based on your country of origin. Included baggage will be as per the following:
Country of Origin |
Carry-on Baggage |
Checked Baggage |
Australia |
7kgs |
20kgs |
New Zealand |
7kgs |
20kgs |
United States of America |
15lbs |
45lbs |
Canada |
15lbs |
45lbs |
India |
7kgs |
20kgs |
United Kingdom |
7kgs |
20kgs |
Baggage allowances provided by the airline might differ to the values stated above. However limitations are required due to transport storage restrictions on your selected tour or package.
Flight requests, amendments or preferences
We understand customers may wish to request changes to their included airfares. If you wish to fly with a certain airline, land at a certain time or change your flight in other ways we will gladly provide you with a personalised quote tailored to your specific requirements.
To make a flight request, please click ‘Book Now’ and select Would you like us to contact you around our flight service? By selecting this option you will be sent a request form after completing your purchase to make your request.
We would be more than happy to provide you with a quote for the following requests:
We are currently unable to provide a quote for the following requests:
If we can’t fulfill your request and you still wish to proceed with the booking, please select Land Only (excluding UK customers). This will allow you to travel on the land portion of the package without the included airfares. You will then be able to arrange your own flights separately.
FAQs
For more frequently asked questions please view our FAQs section.
Online check-in
Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a”3”
Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $1,404.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Visas may be required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Group Size
Maximum of 20 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Your transfer may be shared with other Inspiring Vacations customers.
Please specify in the 'Special Request' field when making your purchase your preferred travel arrangements and if you would like our team to book additional nights' accommodation. The additional cost for these land arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.