DAY 1
Istanbul, Turkey
The splendid city of Istanbul has many unique and fascinating features. It is the only city in the world reaching across two continents, with its old city in Europe and modern Istanbul situated in Asia, separated by the Bosphorus Strait. It is also unique in having had capital status during two successive empires, Christian Byzantine and Islamic Ottoman, and the legacy from both is visible in the modern city today. The charm and character of Istanbul lies in its endless variety and jumble of contradictions. Its fascinating history has bequeathed the city a vivid inheritance of Byzantine ruins, splendid palaces, ancient mosques and churches, hamams (bath-houses), and exotic bazaars. Modern Istanbul exudes trendy bars and nightclubs, western boutiques, office blocks, and elegant suburbs.
Arrive: 03/09/2023- Depart: 03/09/2023
DAY 3
Thessaloniki, Greece
Thessaloniki is the capital of Macedonia and one of the oldest cities in Europe. General Kassandros named it after his wife, who happened to be Alexander the Great’s half-sister. With its wide avenues, parks and squares, some travellers consider it far more attractive than Athens. The city’s past under Ottoman rule shows in numerous Byzantine churches, and museums housing Byzantine artefacts. Its rich Jewish tradition reflects in its synagogues and the Jewish Museum, while renowned monasteries display the influence of early Christian communities. Visitors can try the Turkish Baths, wander the central market, or relax at Aristotelous Square’s cafes and restaurants. Thessaloniki also has a vibrant nightlife, with a number of lively bars and clubs.
Arrive: 05/09/2023- Depart: 05/09/2023
DAY 4
Volos, Greece
Volos is a vibrant coastal city, located at the foot of the majestic Mount Pelion, and overlooking the stunning Pagasetic Gulf. The city has a rich history dating back to ancient times, with traces of Neolithic settlements and Mycenaean civilisation still visible today. Volos is a popular destination for tourists, thanks to its picturesque location, beautiful beaches, and charming historic centre, with its cobblestone streets, traditional architecture and lively tavernas. The city is also known for its delicious local cuisine, which includes specialties like tsipouro (a strong spirit), pies with wild greens and fresh seafood. Visitors can explore the Archaeological Museum of Volos, stroll along the seaside promenade or take a scenic drive up to the Pelion mountain villages, where they can experience the unique cultural traditions of this fascinating region.
Arrive: 06/09/2023- Depart: 06/09/2023
DAY 5
Mykonos, Greece
Mykonos is upmarket, fashionable and a favourite among gay travellers. It’s quite possibly Greece’s most expensive island. Designer shops, perfect beaches, colourful tavernas and throbbing dance clubs are all on offer. That said, trendy crowds and nude beaches have not erased the destination’s enchanting traditional flavour. Sightseers can visit the island’s archaeological museum, which displays finds from the necropolis (cemetery) on nearby Rhenia. Day trips to the uninhabited island of Delos are also highly recommended. The UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site was the Aegean’s religious centre during ancient times, and features in some captivating myths. Its history is almost as interesting. Visitors can explore the temples and the Avenue of the Lions, and see stunning archaic sculptures in the museum.
Arrive: 07/09/2023- Depart: 07/09/2023
DAY 6
Heraklion, Greece
Situated in the eastern Mediterranean, Crete is by far the largest of the many Greek Islands and offers something for every kind of traveller. Its northern coastline is home to busy holiday resorts and a wealth of powdery white beaches where couples and families come to soak up the Mediterranean sunshine. The gateway to the island is the large, modern city of Heraklion, which is not so much an island idyll as a vital commercial centre. Other major holiday resorts in Greece include nearby Malia, lively Agios Nikolaos, Rethymnon with its lovely old town, and Chania, to the west, which known for its 14th-century Venetian harbour and waterfront restaurants.
Arrive: 08/09/2023- Depart: 08/09/2023
DAY 7
Patmos, Greece
Located in the Dodecanese Archipelago’s north, Patmos is off the beaten path for most people holidaying in Greece. Its lovely landscapes and peaceful atmosphere make it worth visiting. Patmos is home to around 300 churches, scattered in villages and on hillsides. Greek Orthodox icons occupy nearly every wall, which may account for them being the island’s most popular souvenirs. The island’s main towns are Skala and Hora. Both are charming villages with rows of whitewashed houses and 17th to 18th-century mansions. Visitors should be respectful of the traditions and beliefs of the local population and dress modestly. That is, women are required to wear long skirts and cover their shoulders, while men must wear long pants. Patmos lacks any sort of nightlife or rowdy attractions, but offers tourists a glimpse of a simpler way of life.
Arrive: 09/09/2023- Depart: 09/09/2023
DAY 8
Athens, Greece
Athens exudes a unique charm through its mix of street markets, vine-covered tavernas, souvenir stalls, ancient monuments and high-rise buildings. For tourists, a plus is that most of the capital’s attractions are accessible by foot. Athens can chart its history back thousands of years and is regarded as the cradle of Western civilisation. More specifically, it’s democracy’s birthplace, and where philosophy, art and architecture were refined. The city declined after the Classical Age, dwindling to nothing but a town in the colourful area now known as the Plaka. It emerged as independent Greece’s capital in 1834. Today, the city is bustling. And though the pollution, frantic gridlock and dingy buildings are a striking contrast to the open beauty of Greece’s coast and islands, Athens is truly the country’s beating heart. Ancient wonders like the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Temples of Zeus and Hephaestus ensure that the city will always lure travellers.
Arrive: 10/09/2023- Depart: 10/09/2023
