TURKEY AND GREECE WITH CRUISE - 15 DAYS

Arrive at Tocumen International Airport 3 hours early to board your flight to Istanbul. Overnight on board.

Arrival at Istanbul International Airport at 4:55 p.m., greeted by our Spanish-speaking representative, and transferred to the hotel. Overnight stay.

Breakfast. Departure for Bursa. Panoramic tour of this important city, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit the Green Mosque and Mausoleum. After lunch en route (not included), continue your journey to Kusadasi/Izmir. Arrival. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.

Note: Overnight stays may be in Izmir or Kusadasi depending on the season.

Breakfast. At the scheduled time, transfer to the port of Cesme to board the Selectum Blu Cruises ship for a tour of the Greek Islands. (The island tour is subject to weather conditions.)

Boarding. Departure at 4:00 PM. After check-in, guests can enjoy the ship's services. Overnight on board.

Full board on board.

Arrival in Rhodes at 8:30 a.m. Time to enjoy the island.

The Island of Rhodes The largest of Greece's 12 islands, Rhodes is located in the Aegean Sea, just across from Marmaris. Rhodes relies almost exclusively on tourism. The city of Rhodes, considered the center of the island, is divided into two: the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town, as its name suggests, is the part where the historic buildings are located. Surrounded by 12-meter-thick walls, the city is dominated by the effects of the knights and the Ottoman period. The Old Town is the part of the island that attracts more tourists than the others, with its narrow streets, where knights traveled in the past, and the mystical atmosphere of the castle, churches, and mosques. The Archaeological Museum, which once served as a hospital for knights, and the statue of Aphrodite in this museum are some of the places worth seeing. Lindos is the most visited spot on the island after the Old Town. Lindos, 47 km from Rhodes Town, is a favorite with tourists, with its whitewashed, cubic houses, indigo-blue windows adorned with geraniums, narrow, winding streets, and the ancient castle that opens a page in history as you reach the top of the town. The locals have also thought of those too lazy to climb the castle and have introduced donkey taxis.

The boat departs at 18:00 pm for Santorini. Overnight on board.

Full board on board.

Arrival in Santorini at 6:00 a.m. Time to enjoy the island.

Santorini is famous for its traditional Greek architecture. The island is known for its whitewashed buildings and blue roofs in the typical Aegean style. Famous for its whitewashed villages clinging to volcanic rocks on black sand beaches, Santorini owes its name to Saint Irene in the 13th century. The most important sites on the island are Akrotiri, Ancient Thira, Fira, and Oia. Many points on the island, especially Oia and Fira, offer stunning views of the sea and the caldera.

This resort with wonderful views is located 580 steps from the small port of Skala Fira. This port can be reached by cable car or by mule via the steps. Oia, the third largest port on the island, has become a traditional settlement after the earthquake. Surrounded by neoclassical mansions, Oia is considered mysterious.

The boat departs at 3:00 PM for Mykonos. Arrival at 9:00 PM.

Mykonos Town is the most visited and expensive Greek island, with its whitewashed alleys and cube-shaped houses. The island's main visitors are the world's jet-set. Mykonos, one of Greece's most spectacular islands, was founded in 1615. Famous for its beaches, the best beach on this island is located on the south coast. This beach, located 4 kilometers from Mykonos Town, is called Platis Gialos. Mykonos is a classic Aegean beach, with its narrow streets, whitewashed houses, and red and white flowers overflowing along the roads. The most extraordinary feature is the island's nudist camp. One of the main reasons Mykonos is so famous is its vibrant and endless nightlife. The fun starts at 4:00 p.m. with the booming music and lasts until the first light of morning.

Full board on board.

Time to enjoy the island. The boat departs at 6:00 a.m. for Samos. Arrival at 1:30 p.m.

Samos is an island located in the eastern Aegean Sea of ​​Greece. It has been influenced by many civilizations throughout history and has been home to significant historical, cultural, and natural wealth. Samos, which was an important Greek cultural center in ancient times, especially with Miletus, is known for its three-quarters of an ancient building, such as the Temple of Artemis and Heraklion. The island, which is also known as the birthplace and home of the famous mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras, is noted for its natural beauty, historical ruins, and rich cuisine.

Although the island is notable for its mountainous and forested landscape, it is a popular destination for its beaches, bays, and mountain views. It stands out as the island's capital for its narrow streets adorned with traditional Greek architecture, its taverns, and its port. Samos' cuisine is known for its Aegean flavors and is especially famous for its wines made from the famous Muscat grape. Enjoying the beach, practicing water sports, hiking, visiting ancient ruins, and exploring cozy villages are some of the activities on the island, which has offered unforgettable moments to its visitors for centuries with its history, nature, and traditional atmosphere. Samos, also known as the island of Samos, reveals all its beauty from your first moment on the island.

The boat departs at 1:00 a.m. for Kusadasi.

Breakfast. Arrival in Cesme at 7:30 a.m. Guests may depart the ship after breakfast. Disembarkation.

Transfer to the hotel in Kusadasi. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay.

Breakfast. Departure at approximately 8:00 a.m. (time to be confirmed by the guide) to visit the House of Mary, located on a nearby hill. This site is venerated as the final resting place of the mother of Jesus, who, according to Christian tradition, spent her final years in Ephesus under the care of the Apostle John. Today, the house is an important pilgrimage site for both Christians and Muslims, who consider it a sacred site. Lunch en route (not included).

We will pass through Selçuk for a panoramic tour of this city rich in history, appreciating the Ottoman castle, the Basilica of St. John, and the Temple of Artemis, which has established Ephesus as an important religious and cultural center of ancient times. We will continue the visit to a showroom specializing in leather goods, where you can see high-quality products made from sheepskin and famous for their lightweight pieces. Continue to Pamukkale. Arrival. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay.

Note: Accommodation may be in Izmir or Kuşadasi depending on the season.

Lunchbox breakfast. Departure at approximately 6:00 a.m. (time to be confirmed by the guide) to Pamukkale to visit ancient Hierapolis and Cotton Castle, a true natural wonder, featuring a giant waterfall, stalactites, and natural pools. The name "Hierapolis" is derived from Greek and means "sacred city," referring to the numerous temples and religious sites that once existed in the city. Lunch en route (not included).

One of Hierapolis's most notable features was its famous theater, which had a capacity to hold thousands of spectators and is still largely preserved today. The city gained recognition as a popular spa and healing destination due to its natural hot springs and white limestone pools. These mineral-laden waters created stunning natural terraces and waterfalls known as "Pamukkale," which in Turkish means "cotton castle." Pamukkale and Hierapolis are listed together on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to their historical significance and natural beauty. The region is also known for its cotton production, and we will have the opportunity to learn about locally made textiles. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay.

We suggest taking the OPTIONAL BALLOON RIDE EXCURSION (subject to weather conditions).

➤ Approx. 2 Hours Duration / Spanish-Speaking Assistance / Hotel Pickup and Drop-off *The operation of this tour depends on weather conditions. In case of cancellation, the tour may be rescheduled to the next day, subject to availability, replaced with the Pamukkale Balloon Tour and/or Combo Tour, or fully refunded.*

Departure is around 5:30 a.m. to allow plenty of time, as the balloons can only fly early in the morning to enjoy the beautiful sunrise and avoid drafts. The capacity of each basket depends on the balloon, but ranges from 20 to 24 people. Once there (6:00 a.m.), you can see the balloon being prepared. It's beautiful to watch the balloon being filled with air using the burners, as it begins to lie on the ground. Once the balloon is ready and everyone has had breakfast, they climb into the basket.

Breakfast. Departure at approximately 8:00 a.m. to visit this wonderful region with its fascinating and unique landscape formed by volcanic lava over 3 million years ago. Starting at the Göreme Open-Air Museum, a monastery with chapels carved into volcanic rocks and decorated with 13th-century frescoes, we continue to the region's stunning valleys with their otherworldly landscapes, where you can appreciate views of the region's iconic geological formations, the famous "Fairy Chimneys." We will stop to enjoy the incredible and expansive panoramic views of some of the famous valleys of volcanic rock with their spectacular shapes. Lunch en route (not included). Continue to the Cappadocia Underground City, one of the many impressive engineering feats built by ancient local communities to protect themselves from attack throughout history. At the end of the tour, visit a carpet center to learn about the artisanal production of these truly treasured pieces, and a center for precious stones and jewelry with exclusive designs from the region.

Return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay.

Lunchbox breakfast and early departure (approximately 6:00 a.m., time to be confirmed by the guide) to Ankara for a panoramic tour of Turkey's capital and the Mausoleum of Atatürk, the founder of the Republic. Lunch en route (not included).

On the way to Cappadocia, you will admire the Salt Lake, where you will make a photo stop at this spectacular site, followed by a visit to a caravanserai, a Silk Road inn. Overnight stay.

Breakfast. Full-day excursion to the Pearls of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus (without lunch). Departure at approximately 8:00 a.m. (time to be confirmed by the guide). Visit the old Jewish quarter in Balat and the Greek quarter in Fener, where you will admire the magnificent views of the Golden Horn. Then, visit St. George's Cathedral, the principal patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Church. Continue to the Suleymaniye Mosque, designed by Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan and boasting the largest dome of any mosque in Istanbul. We then head to the Spice Bazaar, a charming place with its unique color and aroma, the perfect place to buy teas, herbs, nuts, traditional sweets, and, of course, spices. The tour culminates with a boat ride across the Bosphorus, the strait that divides the city between Europe and Asia. We'll appreciate the wonderful views of the Ottoman fortresses, palaces, villas, and the bridges that connect both sides of the city. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay.

Note: The order of the Istanbul excursions may be reversed, depending on operating conditions, such as the number of participants, weather, traffic, or closure dates of the monuments.

Breakfast. Free day for personal activities. Accommodation.

We suggest taking the OPTIONAL JEWELS OF CONSTANTINOPLE EXCURSION (includes lunch at a traditional restaurant):

Departure at approximately 8:00 a.m. (time to be confirmed with the guide) for a tour of the city's historic center, where you can observe the variety of vestiges of the different empires that shaped modern-day Istanbul: the Roman Hippodrome, the center of Constantinople's social life for thousands of years, where you can also see the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Obelisk of Constantine, and the German Fountain; the Blue Mosque, with its more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles imported from Iznik; enjoy a panoramic view of Hagia Sophia, built in 537 as an architectural marvel that has served as a church, mosque, and museum. From the outside, the structure impresses with its enormous dome, which was an astonishing technical achievement in its time and remains one of the largest domes in the world. We continue to the majestic Topkapi Palace, home to the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years. We will visit the beautiful royal gardens, the kitchens, and the royal treasury rooms.Discover the mysterious Harem, where the sultan's wives and children lived, famous for its luxurious decor. We continue to the Aya Irini Church, a Byzantine church that was not converted into a mosque, and conclude our tour at the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, where haggling is a tradition. Return to the hotel.

Note: For admission to Hagia Sophia, please inquire about the supplement.

Breakfast. At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for your flight to Panama City.