Please note: A visa is required for U.S. and Canadian passport holders to enter Turkey. 

On a Land & Sea journey through Istanbul, the Aegean and Athens, you'll discover the sites of Homer's Odyssey and two thriving modern cities. Beginning among the treasures of the Ottomans in Istanbul, your vacation continues when you board a cruise ship to explore Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes and Santorini. When you next set foot on land, you'll be in the cradle of democracy, Athens, where a guided tour introduces you to the original city on a hill.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Overnight Flight

If you did not take our pre-tour extension, your trip begins with a regularly scheduled overnight flight to Istanbul aboard an internationally recognized airline.

Day 2 - Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul! A Go Ahead representative greets you at the airport after you clear customs and then escorts you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or begin acquainting yourself with the city. At an included dinner this evening, meet your fellow travelers.
Included meals: breakfast (in flight), dinner

Day 3 - Istanbul

Your Tour Director acquaints your with Istanbul on this morning’s sightseeing tour. You’ll visit the city’s Hippodrome, the breathtaking Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia. About 1,000 years older than St. Peter’s in Rome, this awe-inspiring building was the pride of Christendom until the city fell to the Turks in 1453. This evening is free to enjoy at leisure or join an optional excursion to the Bosphorus, also known as the Istanbul Strait. The Bosphorus marks the boundary between European Turkey and Asian Turkey; it’s also the narrowest navigable strait in the world, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara.
Included meal: breakfast
Included entrances: Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia

$55 USD

Bosphorus Straits Cruise Journey through the Bosphorus Straits on this cruise. You'll see decadent Ottoman palaces and imposing medieval castles as you journey through this narrow waterway, which separates Europe from Asia. On your way you'll stop for a visit to a local spice market. Lunch is included. Please note: This excursion is weather dependent.

Day 4 - Cruise

Enjoy a free day to explore Istanbul. This afternoon, board your ship, begin your cruise and enjoy dinner at sea. Please note: Shore excursions during your cruise are operated by Louis Cruise Lines and are not included in your purchase price. Shore excursions can be purchased directly from Louis Cruise Lines upon embarkation.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 5 - Cruise

This afternoon, your first port of call is the Turkish city of Izmir. Explore on your own, or you might opt to visit the nearby ruins of Ephesus, one of the best preserved cities of ancient times.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 - Cruise

This morning, dock at the island of Patmos. St. John of Patmos was exiled here in the 1st century A.D., during which time he wrote the apocalyptic Book of Revelation. This afternoon, dock in the gorgeous island of Mykonos. Known for its white-sand beaches and cobblestone streets, Mykonos is also home to several old-fashioned windmills that have become icons of the isle. Your cruise departs Mykonos late tonight, so be sure to check out the festive nightlife while you’re here.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 - Cruise

Dock first thing this morning in Rhodes, where you’ll have a full day. The largest of the Dodecanese Islands, Rhodes is a very popular resort area. According to myth, this island erupted from the sea to appease Helios, the sun god, after Zeus overlooked him while distributing the Earth among the other gods. Rhodes was a center of Hellenistic culture in its early days, then became the territory of the medieval Knights of St. John. Its three major archaeological sites, Ialyssos, Lindos and Kamiron, date back to the 7th century B.C. Enjoy free time to walk through the Old Town, explore the Jewish Quarter or see some of Rhodes’ Turkish mosques.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8 - Cruise

This morning, your cruise calls on Crete, where you might visit Knossos, the royal complex of the ancient King Minos. Knossos is the legendary home of the Minotaur, which King Minos imprisoned in a labyrinth. This afternoon, cruise to Santorini, a volcanic island of black-sand beaches, sprawling vineyards and cliff-lined shores thought by some to be the lost city of Atlantis. You might want to visit the Petros Nomikos Exhibition Center in Fira, the island’s capital, to learn about the daily lives of the ancient Greeks. During your evening on Santorini, you’ll have time to admire the Mediterranean sunset for which the island is renowned and perhaps enjoy a glass of white wine.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9 - Athens

Your cruise concludes this morning when you dock at Piraeus, the port of Athens since the days of Pericles. A local guide introduces you to the highlights of this bustling ancient capital. On your tour of the Acropolis—the original City on a Hill—you can walk amid the ruins of the Parthenon and the Temple of Athena Nike. Descending from the Acropolis, view the Presidential Guard in their traditional costumes and the classically inspired Greek Parliament. Then pass through Syntagma Square, where you’ll see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This evening, consider joining our optional Greek Folklore Dinner, featuring live music and traditional Greek dancing.
Included meal: breakfast
Included entrances: Acropolis site

$75 USD

Greek Folklore Evening Head down to Athens' lively Plaka district for a night of food and fun. You'll enjoy Greek specialties along with a showcase of traditional dances from across Greece, including the well-known plate dance. Careful, though: our travelers have been known to jump on stage and join in the fun. Opa!

Day 10 - Athens

Today is free to enjoy the charms of Athens as you please. Consider joining an optional excursion to Cape Sounion. This is the southernmost tip of the Attica Peninsula, and in ancient times, an important temple to the sea god Poseidon was located here. This evening, return to Athens for an included Farewell Dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

$39 USD

Cape Sounion Take in the sights of Apollo Coast—including sandy beaches, natural and manmade harbors and, of course, the Aegean Sea itself—during this unforgettable journey to the southern tip of the Attic Peninsula. High above the sparkling shoreline, the Temple of Poseidon dominates the landscape. Sixteen elegant Doric pillars remain of the original structure. From this lofty cliffside vantage point, you can see five Aegean islands on a clear day. After a guided tour, you'll have some free time to enjoy a coffee, go shopping, or just explore the area. Please note: This excursion involves some walking on uneven terrain.

Day 11 - Athens

A Go Ahead representative escorts you to the airport for your return flight home.
Included meal: breakfast
(In the case of early morning departures, breakfast may not be provided.)