Mediterranean Adventure

Turkey & Greece Tours

Greece is the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, the Olympic Games, political science, literature, historiography, major mathematical principles, and theories of tragedy and comedy. Turkey has a city that spans two continents, is the place of the first ever Christian church, and has the oldest operating underground railway in Continental Europe. All of these and more.

Discover both countries and why they are part of historical heritage for centuries!

Highlights of Turkey & Greece Tours

  • The history of Αthens’ legendary Acropolis
  • Visit the white and colorful houses in Santorini
  • Explore the hot air balloons in Cappadocia
  • Istanbul’s mosques and its culture richness

Date & Cost

DATES

DAYS

COST (double / single)

April 18th – 28th, 2024

11 days

$3295 / 3795

Now $2995 / 3495

Turkey & Greece Itinerary

Day 1
Athens

Afternoon        Arrivals at the airport and hotel

Evening            Welcome group dinner. Take a walking tour of Athens at the beautiful neighborhood of Plaka District and the famous monumental Temple of Olympian Zeus

Meals included: dinner

Day 2
Athens

Morning        Take a guided tour of Athens at Olympic Stadium, part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex

Afternoon     Visit the Acropolis Parthenon, a former temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. Explore the Temple of Athena Nike, built around 420 BC, being the earliest fully Ionic temple on the Acropolis. Local olive tasting, and free time to walk around the city and marketplaces

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3
Santorini

Morning        Travel to Santorini. Walking tour of Santorini, the classic Greek Thera island

Afternoon     Explore the beautiful white houses and colorful views around the city, Fira, Oia and other places. Free time to visit local restaurants, beaches, and stores.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch 

Day 4
Mykonos

Morning      Take a ferry from Santorini to Mykonos, about 2.5 hours.

Afternoon     Walk around the Little Venice and its neighborhood with elegant old houses, experiencing the romantic and traditional atmosphere. Free time to explore the museums and the beaches, and enjoy a traditional Greek lunch

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5
Samos

Morning        Walk tour at Panagia Spiliani Church. Explore the Eupalinos Aqueduct, part of World Heritage in Greece

Afternoon     Free time at Pappa Beach to relax, enjoy the best restaurants, and if you like, try the famous Samos wine, which has won international awards. Take a ferry from Samos to Kusadasi, about 1.5 hour.

Evening         Free evening

Meals included: breakfast

Day 6
Kusadasi

Morning        At Güvercinada, or the Pigeon Island as it is also known, a short walk along the coast to explore the castle and history

Afternoon     Walk around the Kus island and have a free time

Evening         Flight to Konya

Meals included: breakfast, lunch

Day 7 
Konya

Morning        Visit the Mevlâna Museum at the heart of the city

Afternoon     Have a free time with an optional walking tour to see the best attractions in the city

Evening         Drive to Cappadocia

Meals included: breakfast, lunch

Day 8
Cappadocia

Morning        Explore the center of Cappadocia, and have the famous Turkish coffee and desserts

Afternoon     Visit the rock formations in underground cities in Kaymakli. Hot air balloon tour to experience the amazing views from the high (optional) and have a free time

Evening         Go to Istanbul

Meals included: breakfast, lunch

Day 9
Istanbul

Morning         Visit the Blue Mosque, the only mosque in Istanbul that has six minarets. Go to the basilica Cistern, Yerebatan Saray, a place that was the setting for the James Bond film

Afternoon      Explore Santa Sofia, the basilica built between 532 and 537 to be the cathedral of Constantinople. Walk around the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, and have a free time

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner   

Day 10 
Istanbul

Morning         Tour around the Dolmabahçe Palace and enjoy the city view at Galata Tower

Afternoon      Visit the Topkapi Palace MuseumFree time to purchase the last souvenirs

Evening          Goodbye dinner

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11
Istanbul

Departures

Meals included: breakfast 


Tour Operator

info@colibritraveltours.com

Sylvia  +1 617-301-1237

Emergency Telephone Numbers

Greece – Country Code +30 | Police 112 | American Embassy: (+30) 21 0721 2951 Address: Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 91, Athina 115 21, Greece

Turkey – Country Code +90 | Police 100 | American Embassy: (+90) 312-455-5555 Address: 110 Atatürk Blvd. Kavaklıdere, 06100 Ankara,Turkey

Panataxi: 7-55-5555

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Accommodation

We stay in 4/5 stars boutique hotels that best reflect the local architecture and flavors.

Air condition

Towels and soap

Hair Dryer

Safe

Example from past accommodations

Inclusions

What’s included?

What’s not included

Essential Travel Information

for Turkey and Greece tours 
visa requirements, health, currency and more

Important notice:  OVERNIGHT TRAIN. This trip has an overnight train included, the train is comfortable and reserved on a twin share basis, with comfortable beds, pillows and linen supplied. Please travel extremely light as you will be responsible for bringing your suitcases on train and ferries.

 

 

▹ Visa requirements for Turkey and Greece tours

✔︎ TURKEY: Citizens of the US and Canada require a visa to enter Turkey. Visas must be obtained through the e-Visa system at https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ at least two weeks before your arrival in Turkey. This multiple entry e-Visa costs about USD 60 and is valid for 90 days. Visa cost can change. 

✔︎ GREECE: There are no special visa requirements for US citizens entering Greece for less than 90 days. Please make sure your passport is valid for at least another 6 months and has empty pages. 

 

 

▹ Health, Vaccinations

✔︎ All travelers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the opinion of our group leader or local guide any traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund. You should be able to walk at least 2-3 miles a day and be able to climb at least two sets of stairs.
✔︎ You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure.
✔︎ There are no major health risks associated with traveling to Turkey and Greece.
✔︎ At least 30 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
✔︎ If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour and any possible delays ( we recommend additional 1-2 weeks of supply).
✔︎ If you tend to get motion sickness please travel with appropriate medication. If you have a sensitive stomach consider bringing imodium as well.

Health Insurance: international health insurance, evacuation or cancelation insurance are not included. We recommend purchasing those before the trip. See the insurance box on the sidebar of this page.

 

 

▹ Electricity

✔︎ Greece and Turkey operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, F, or L plugs with two or three small, round pins.

✔︎ Please remember to bring a proper adapter.

 

 

▹ Connectivity, Internet

✔︎ The Internet is available in all hotels although speed may vary.
✔︎ Please consult your phone plan provider for phone call and text messages, international charges and plans.

 

 

▹ Time zones
Greece and Turkey are both two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and seven hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET). 12 pm in New York is 7 PM in Greece.

 

▹ Currency, cash, credit cards

✔︎ The currency in Italy is Euro and in Turkey-Turkish lira.
✔︎ Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas
✔︎ ATMs are  available in all major towns and cities and credit cards are generally available in tourist shops and restaurants. Visa and MasterCard are better than American Express, Diners.  Smaller venues accept cash only.

 

▹ Transportation and arrival information

✔︎ If you add airport pick up our driver will meet you at the airport with a sign that says: Colibri Travel & Tours. If you do not see your driver immediately stay right by exit from the secure area for another 15 min. If you still can’t find each other please give us a call. Driver’s name and phone number will be provided within 24 hours before your departure.
✔︎ If you choose to arrange for your own transportation we will meet you at the hotel or casa. In this case please make sure that you have the address and phone number.

 

 

▹ Baggage allowance

✔︎ Our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights. Additional baggage can be a subject of extra fees. Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
✔︎ We recommend that you make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents and a set of clothes, pijamas and cosmetics (travel size) in your carry-on bag in case of baggage delays. ber of your first hotel printed out.

 

▹ Tipping

✔︎ It’s customary to offer your guide and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
✔︎ We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10 per day per person and giving the tips to tour leaders to distribute between drivers, guides etc.
✔︎ Tips can only be paid in cash.

 

▹ Itinerary

Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travelers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any such changes once on tour.

 

We LOVE to talk about travel. If you have any questions please give us a call: 617 301 1237 or email us: info@colibritraveltours.com.

We are always happy to talk to our travelers and answer the questions!

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Register now!

Steps to enroll:

  1. Fill up the registration form on-line here.

Or download the registration form below, fill it out and send to info@colibritraveltours.com or mail to Colibri Travel & Tours, 341 Pearl St, Cambridge, MA 02139.

2. Send us a copy of your passport and deposit check via password protected email or regular mail.

3. Pack your bags and enjoy!

Small group:

8 - 20 ppl

Physical rating:

Easy

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Reviews

This Turkey and Greece tours was simply phenomenal. Coming from another continent I wasn’t aware of both countries' turbulent history. Our guides were excellent in explaining the past, the culture, and the present. Greece was beautiful. Santorini is like a fairy tale and so is Cappadocia. Those were my two absolute favorites. I loved and appreciated the beautiful hotels on all the Greek islands and their local flavors. Our group got along very well and we shared lots of laughs over grappa - Gosh, it is a strong liquor. I can’t think of any downsides of the trips - may be the ferry rides were a bit too long. But overall superbly planned and executed.

Victor C. Worcester, MA

When deciding to plan our Greece tours we found this tour company - Colibri Travel & Tours. The owner, Sylvia, was very quick to respond to any question and advised to take the Turkey extension as well. We were glad we did. I wouldn’t normally choose Turkey as a vacation destination but having a little sample of this country was perfect. Istanbul is quite cosmopolitan and Cappadocia understandably touristy so we felt safe and comfortable. Although there was a good amount of time on the bus because of the size of Turkey, we were reading different stories from Greek mythology and it was quite entertaining. The ancient sites were amazing, ranging from prehistoric to Greek, Roman, and early Christian to Byzantine and Ottoman. Great food, beautiful landscapes, and warm and welcoming people. After taking this tour we booked two more while we were still on the 1st tour: Cuba and Peru. So far this is the best tour company I have traveled with.

Robert B, Exeter, NH

It has taken me way too long to write this review. It was our first Colibri Travel & Tours and it definitely won't be our last! To say that the tour exceeded our expectations would be an understatement. The Turkey and Greece tours was full of amazing experiences that were packed into a great itinerary. We loved the sites, hotels, food, and especially our guides and drivers. The other tour group members were all interesting people who were fun to travel with. It was great to travel in a small group. I saw the big bus tours on our way and I will surely avoid those in the future. We were always leaving them behind as they were standing in huge queues. I knew I would love Greece because many of my friends took different tours to Greece but this tour changed how I think about Turkey. I can say that a hot balloon tour in Cappadocia was the #1 highlight of the trip.

Monica Z. New Haven, CT

We found this company to be excellent. They were well organized and easy to reach. Turkey and Greece tours was great - start to finish. We have recommended a friend to you. She wants to go to Cuba.

Amy and Rick C.Minneapolis, MN