The Location – Impeccable Istanbul, Astonishing Athens!

Istanbul: If you fancy history, then there is no better place for you than Istanbul. Its history can be traced back to 15th century, during the period of Ottoman Sultans - and their exquisite collection of ornaments belonging, the jewels of Imperial treasury and even the enshrining relics of Prophet Mohammed. Besides that, Istanbul preserves the history of monuments as well. The lights of Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine will keep you wanting for more!

Athens: Where history meets present! A day out in Athens is a day back in time. The powerful civilization and empire are things that define the city. The city is still dominated by 5th Century BC landmarks. Buzzing with museums and temples, Athens has it all for you to have a enjoyable trip.

 

8-day holiday itinerary

Day 1: Starting off in Istanbul- Relish this fusion of Historical significance and cultural heritage

Day 1 is on you! This means that after you are driven down to your hotel from the airport, you can enjoy some me time exploring the city on your own.

Day 2: The Magic continues in Istanbul

Now, this is going to be a big day! Your day starts as early as 8.30 am when you start off from your hotel for the city tour. The first destination is Topkapi Palace, a great place of the Ottoman sultans from 15th to 19th century, housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle and enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. This will be followed by a visit to Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque for its marvellous Iznik tiles. A trip to Hippodrome is a trip worth having! Its three monuments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine are wonders you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
Phew! That was tiring! So, time for lunch break at 1.00 pm. Recommencing from the break, you’ll visit the Grand Covered Bazaar, which has more than 4,000 shops spread across the streets and passages and with each trade having its own area. With this, the day will come to a halt and you’ll be transferred back to your hotel.

Day 3: Shop, Hop and Cruise! - Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour 

Day 3 starts early! At 8.30 am, you’ll be picked up from your hotel for the Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping tour. You’ll instantly realise that you’ve arrived at Spice Bazaar when you inhale the air filled with enchanting aromas of cinnamon, mint, saffron, thyme and other herbs and spices. You’ll then get on a traditional excursion - Bosphorus by Boat, where you boat along the waterway dividing Europe and Asia. During your ride, you’ll come across magnificent sights that will make your excursion a smooth sail. First up will be Dolmabahce Palace, followed by the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. On reaching the coastal edge, you’ll witness Ciragan Palace. Seeing Ortakoy, you’d learn about the gatherings of artists every Sunday to exhibit their work along the streets. Last but not the least, the Rumeli Fortress! Built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452, it has a great history attached to it and will be of great interest to you. Now, you’ll visit Beylerbeyi Palas, the summer residence of Ottoman Sultans. Over the centuries, this place has existed in its original, renovated state. It has preserved antique furniture and magnificent gardens, with the Harem on the Asian side of Istanbul. Along the Bosphorus bridge, you’ll experience the two sides of the world as you cross from one continent (Asia) to another (Europe).
It’s not over yet! Time to a trip to the highest point in Istanbul, Camlica Hill. Reaching the top, you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul. Truly magical! You can also yield to the traditional silk weaving skills of Turkish women at carpet weaving course. Also, don’t miss out the opportunity to explore Turkish jewellery, handcrafts centre and a modern leatherwear show. After the memorable cruise, invest some time in shopping, along with gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen. The rest of the evening is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4: From one city to another! - Istanbul-Greece Tour

Post a hectic day, devour in some delicious breakfast and leave for Greece. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by our local representative who will escort you to the hotel. Once you freshen up, you can traverse around the city and prepare yourself for the exciting days to come.

Day 5: A tour of Athens - the rest is history!

You’ll start your morning with our sightseeing tour of the centre of Athens, including Sintagma, the Constitution of Greece. The history of it goes back to the Greece War of Independence, during which the first three revolutionary Greek constitutions were adopted. Afterward, you’ll visit the Old Parliament House, which is located at Stadiou Street in Athens. In front of the building stands a large equestrian statue of General Theodoros Kolokotronis, cast in bronze.Continuing the tour, you’ll pay visit to The National Library of Greece near the centre of city of Athens. It boasts of 4,500 Greek manuscripts - one of the greatest collections of Greek scripts. There are also many chrysobulls and archives of Greek Revolution. Then a long drive will take you to Herod Atticus Street, where you’ll see the Presidential Palace and the Evzones in their picturesque uniform. The palace served as the Royal Palace until the abolition of the monarchy by referendum in 1974.

On your way to the Acropolis, you will get to visit the Hadrian's Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and also make a short stop to the Panathenaic Stadium. The most interesting part about this stadium is that it was refurbished twice for 1896 Olympics. First stop in Acropolis is Acropolis Museum which focuses on findings of the archaeological site of Athens. It was built to accommodate every artifact found on the rock and on its feet. From Greek Bronze to Roman and Byzantine Greece, the variety in the museum will spoil you for choices. Halfway through the day, you’ll visit the Golden Age of Athens - one of the architectural masterpieces of the world. The last stop of the day will be at The Parthenon, a temple in Acropolis, where there is harmony between material and spirit - an enchanting experience indeed. Back to hotel, where you can relax the rest of the day after a tiring outing.

Day 6: Hello there, Delphi!

The sixth morning of Turkey-Greece trip will kick off with a drive through the fertile plain of Boeotia, where you’ll be crossing the towns of Thebes. To all who don’t know, Thebes is connected with the tragedy of king Oedipus - Levadia and Arachova. You’ll then have a short visit to explore the famous colourful rugs and carpets. Moving on, upon arrival in Delphi, you’ll get to witness the centre of the Ancient world - the Omphalos of the Earth, whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of Hellenic world. Afterward, you stop by the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the Museum that contains masterpieces of ancient sculpture as the bronze Charioteer and the famous athlete Aghias. You will have lunch in the modern village of Delphi. After the tour, you will be driven back to your hotel in Athens. Overnight in Athens.

Day 7: Trip to the Three Musketeers of Athens: Poros -Hydra-Aegina

Starting off with a cruise tour, visiting the three beautiful islands of the Saronic Gulf. The first destination of the course will be Poros, a small Greek Island in the southern part of Saronic Gulf. Like other ports in Saronic, the town of Poros is a hot weekend destination amongst the tourists as well as the locals. Besides, its richness in rich vegetation makes it a must-watch. You’ll continue to sail for another one hour for Hydra, which is separated from Peloponnese by narrow strip of water. In old days, it was known as Hydrea island, with reference to the springs on the island. Explore the donkey-ride, enjoy the most beautiful walk, and find peace in scintillating crystal clear water. Your last stop will be Aegina, which you’ll reach after 2 hours of sailing from Hydra. The names Aegine comes from Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, who ruled the island. At the end of the tour, you’ll sail back to Piraeus and then to hotel. Overnight in Athens.

Day 8: Adios Athens!

After breakfast check out your hotel and we will arrange your transfer from hotel to Athens International airport for your flight back home.

Valid for travel from 05/03/2019 to 04/12/2019

Surcharge: A non-refundable surcharge per room, per night, applies payable directly to FABgetaways at time of booking. Dates and prices have been identified in the Booking Calendar.

Blackout Dates: There will be dates on which this deal will be unavailable. Dates for these have been marked on the booking calendar under blackout dates.

Availability: To confirm your dates of stay at purchase, click on 'Book Now' and select your preferred package. Use the calendar to browse and select available dates. Dates with a surcharge and blackout dates are identified.

Package Cancellation Policy: Any cancellation will incur a full payment. A no-show on the day of arrival will also incur charges equivalent to a full stay.

Each package is valid for two adults

Maximum Guest Capacity: The maximum room capacity is two adults.

Package excludes:

• International flights and departure taxes, if any
• Overweight luggage surcharges
• Early check-in and late check-out charges, if any
• Expenses of a personal nature, gratuities and tips
• Travel insurance
• Beverages & meals that are not mentioned in the itinerary
• Peak season/public holiday surcharges, if applicable
• Any other services or inclusions not mentioned in the packages
• Turkey and Greece Entry Visa charges

The package cannot be split.

Offer only available for consecutive nightly stays.

Dining inclusions do not include beverages (unless otherwise stated).

Menus are subject to change without notice.

Please note that full terms and conditions apply - refer to FABgetaways.com/terms-and-conditions

Services

On-trip support: Our Travel Concierge team is at your service - before, during and even after your holiday! Please reach out to us on email: travelconcierge@FABgetaways.com

Private guide: Meet the expert behind the expert! A holiday in a country that boasts about its expertise in art and culture needs an expert guide. With your English-speaking guide, experience the best of the country and don’t miss out on anything significant.

Facilities

Airport transfers: Arrive and depart in style, as this holiday offers you a private pick-up and drop from and to the airport.

Shared transportation: You will be escorted from one marvel to another in the comfort of a shared vehicle. Make sure you enjoy the scenic drives and don’t miss out on the several photo-ops along the way!

Reviews

For your 8-day Turkey-Greece Holiday, you start from Turkey. There are direct flights available to Turkey from several major metro cities in India.

For any questions or queries to book the deal, you can contact us at travelconcierge@fabgetaways.com or check our FAQs.