 This Greece tour explores Athens and Istanbul, and cruises through the Greek islands and along Turkey's Aegean coast aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit, a motor-sailing yacht that hosts just 148 Tauck guests. See the best of the ancient world, from the Parthenon to the Blue Mosque, plus museums stuffed with art and other treasures. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Acropolis, Mycenae, Delos, the medieval city of Rhodes, and historic district in Istanbul. Examine ancient ruins in Epidaurus and legendary Ephesus, and stroll the atmospheric towns of Mykonos, Fira, and Nauplia. In Istanbul, enjoy the Bazaar as well as ornate palaces and mosques.
2008 Itinerary
Southbound
Click here for northbound
• Indicates day of cruising
Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul
Tour begins: 6:00 PM. Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey. Your Turkey and Greece tour includes an included transfer from Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport to the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul. Your hotel boasts beautiful views of the Bosphorus. Meet fellow travelers at the welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey
Day 2: The imperial Ottomans
Istanbul is truly the crossroads of Europe and Asia; visit the imperial seat of the Ottoman Empire, Topkapi Palace, including the living quarters for the Sultan’s harem. Drive to Süleymaniye Mosque and mausoleums, a glorious tribute to Ottoman artistry.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey
Day 3: Exotic Istanbul
Explore beautiful Hagia Sophia, a 1,400-year-old Byzantine church with lovely figurative mosaics. View the Basilica Cistern, an underground Byzantine structure. Then see Turkish carpets and colorful kilims in the Covered Bazaar.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey
• Day 4: Blue Mosque
Tour the Blue Mosque, one of Istanbul’s landmark sites featuring six minarets, a host of domes, and intricate blue tilework. Lunch includes Turkish favorites and is followed by a boat ride on the historic Bosphorus. Board your luxury motor-sailing ship, Wind Star / Wind Spirit for your Greek Island cruise exploring the treasures of the Aegean with Tauck.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 5: Cruising the Aegean Sea
Enjoy the views on this Greek Island cruise in the Aegean Sea. Take advantage of the ship’s swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center, and sauna. In the evening, try your luck in the casino, or check out a movie or novel from the library.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 6: Antiquities of Ephesus
Dock in Kusadasi, Turkey today. Drive to Ephesus, once the chief port on the Aegean, now known for its spectacular antiquities and ruins. See the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, Gate of Hercules, Greek Theater, and other temples, baths, and colonnaded streets. See artifacts in the Selçuk Museum in one of Turkey’s best museums.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 7: Discover Rhodes
Arrive at the island of Rhodes, Greece, with a wealth of monuments. Take a guided tour of the walled medieval city of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit the Gothic Palace of the Grand Masters.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 8: Turkish coast wonders
Your Greek Island cruise charts a course to Bodrum today to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Halicarnassus Mausoleum, built in the 4th century BC and originally topped with an enormous horse-drawn chariot statue. Visit the Castle of St. Peter, built during the Crusades by the Knights of St. John, and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, with artifacts from ancient shipwrecks.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 9: Spectacular Santorini
Rise early to catch spectacular water views of Santorini as the ship pulls into port. Tour the town of Fira with its white washed, blue-domed buildings set on high, steep slopes above the sea. Meander around Fira on your own in the afternoon, and return to the ship by traditional means, the donkey.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
• Day 10: Mykonos & Delos Islands
Call on glamorous Mykonos, weather permitting. Take a boat to the tiny island of Delos, the mythological birthplace of Apollo and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This religious pilgrimage destination features sacred temples, sanctuaries, theaters, and shrines to the Gods, and is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Spend the afternoon in Mykonos, known for leather goods and jewelry.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit
Day 11: Epidaurus and Charming Nafplion
Your Greek Island cruise ends today when you disembark from the ship in Piraeus. Travel to Epidaurus and check out the well-preserved theatre built in the 4th century BC to seat 15,000 people. Enjoy a guided walk in Nafplion with fine neoclassical architecture crowned by hilltop fortresses, then poke around on your own and find a seaside taverna for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Nafplia Palace / Amphitryon Hotel, Nafplion, Greece
Day 12: Mycenae to Athens
Continue to Mycenae where you’ll see the imposing Lion Gate and interesting tombs at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrive in Athens, the birthplace of Western Culture, where your Greece tour continues at one of the world’s favorite hotels.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece
Day 13: The Acropolis
In the quiet early morning, visit the Acropolis; this is the site of four of the greatest masterpieces of classical Greek art – the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum, and the Temple of Athena Nike – a highlight of any Greece tour. See one of the world’s best collections of ancient Greek art and artifacts at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. In the afternoon, pursue your own interests in Athens. Share favorite highlights of your Greek Island cruise during our farewell dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece
Day 14: Journey home
Tour ends in Athens. A transfer is included from the Hotel Grande Bretagne to the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos). Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours before the departure of your flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Ancient civilizations beckon on this Turkey and Greece Island cruise -- book now!
Dates & Prices
May 21, 28
Jun 4, 11, 18, 25
Jul 9, 16
Aug 13
Sep 3, 10, 17, 24
Oct 15
14 Days from $6,990 July – August 20 Departures
| Double | Single | Triple | Category B – Deck One
| $6990 | $9876 | $6561 | Category A – Deck Two
| $7190 | $9976 | $6628 | | | | | May – June; August 27 – October Departures
| Double | Single | Triple | | Category B – Deck One | $7290 | $10,176 | $6861 | | Category A – Deck Two | $7490 | $10,276 | $6928 |
33 meals included.
International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability).
Travel North or South: Cruise operates North from Athens and South from Istanbul. Sightseeing is identical.
Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our comprehensive Cruise Protection Plan.
Note: Land portion of this cruise involves significant walking, as vehicle access to antiquities and ruins is often limited. Sightseeing in Athens, Istanbul, and the Greek Islands features ancient sites with steps and uneven terrain, where walking is more difficult. |
