12 Day Highlights of Turkey & Greece

12 days
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Group Tour
3 Istanbul, 1 Edirne, 1 Kavala, 2 Thessaloniki, 1 Kalambaka, 2 Athens
From$3,249
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Visit Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans, including the Harem section Discover Istanbul's sights including St. Sophia, the Hippodrome, Turkish & Islamic Art Museum and Grand Bazaar Embark on a cruise along the Bosphorus, the winding straits separating Europe and Asia Explore Edirne, an important gateway between Europe and the East with its iconic Selimiye Mosque Tour the archaeological site of Philippi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site Take a walking food tour, where you discover Thessaloniki's distinct local flavors View the Royal Tomb of King Philip and the famous "Vergina Treasures" Visit Meteora with its mystical Eastern Orthodox monasteries perched in mid-air Explore the Acropolis, an ancient architectural masterpiece and visit the Acropolis Museum †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

What's this trip about?

    3 Istanbul, 1 Edirne, 1 Kavala, 2 Thessaloniki, 1 Kalambaka, 2 Athens

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range18 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Europe

Attractions

  • Acropolis
  • Athens
  • Istanbul
  • Meteora
  • Thessaloniki

Trip includes

    • Flights New York-Istanbul, Athens-New York Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices Airline taxes & fuel surcharges 10 nights First Class accommodations
    • 3 nights Istanbul 1 night Edirne 1 night Kavala 2 nights Thessaloniki 1 night Kalambaka 2 nights Athens Hotel porterage All transfers included only with airfare purchase on package arrival & departure dates† 18 meals: 10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout Entrance fees per itinerary Comfortable wireless earphones for enhanced touring

Itinerary

DAY 1, Monday - Depart for Turkey
Depart for Turkey

DAY 2, Tuesday - Arrive in Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 7:30 PM, followed by a light dinner. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 4 PM Overnight: Istanbul Meals: Dinner

DAY 3, Wednesday - Istanbul City Tour
Embark on a city tour of Istanbul, the only city that straddles two continents. Begin with a visit to Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans between the 15th and 19th centuries, including the Harem section. The jeweled turban crests, silken caftans and pric...
DAY 4, Thursday - Grand Bazaar, Spice Market, Rustem Pasha Mosque, Bosphorus Cruise
Begin at the Grand Bazaar in the Old City, a favorite place for shopping. Following a carpet weaving demonstration, wander the labyrinth of streets and passages with more than 4,000 shops displaying jewelry, leather goods, carpets and more. Afterwards, explore the Spice ...
DAY 5, Friday - Explore Edirne
Depart Istanbul early this morning and travel to Edirne, an important gateway between Europe and the East. On arrival, visit Üç Serefeli Mosque with its four strikingly unique minarets and the Old Mosque, also known as the Grand Mosque, built in the early 15th century. A...
DAY 6, Saturday - Border Crossing to Greece, Kavala
This morning, leave Edirne behind and cross into Greece, stopping along the way for lunch. After border formalities, continue on to Kavala. Arrive and check into the hotel Overnight: Kavala Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 7, Sunday - Archaeological Site of Philippi, Thessaloniki
Begin the day with a visit to the archaeological site of Philippi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the ancient site and view monuments representing Hellenistic, Roman and Early Christian periods. Highlights include the acropolis, Hellenistic theater, agora, octagon...
DAY 8, Monday - Thessaloniki Walking Food Tour
Embark on a walking food tour, where you discover Thessaloniki's distinct local flavors and historic landmarks. Learn about the regional cuisine and sample Greek meze dishes and freshly baked goods. Visit the open-air market, with its charming paved alleys, stalls filled...
DAY 9, Tuesday - Archaeological Site of Vergina, Kalambaka
Depart Thessaloniki this morning, and head to the archaeological site of Vergina in Central Macedonia. Considered one the most extraordinary finds of the 20th century, Vergina was the first capital of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia. Visit the Royal Tomb of King Phillip...
DAY 10, Wednesday - Meteora Monasteries, Travel to Athens
Visit Meteora, meaning "suspended in the air", with its mystical Eastern Orthodox monasteries incredibly nestled perilously close to the edge of massive rock formations. Admire the exquisite specimens of Byzantine art and the panoramic vistas over the Peneios Valley. Fol...
DAY 11, Thursday - Athens City Tour
The exploration of Athens begins with a panoramic drive through the city center. View the Panathenian Stadium and the ruins of the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Arch, built to celebrate the arrival of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Continue on to visit the Acropolis, the anci...
DAY 12, Friday - Depart Greece
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight Meals: Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,249
Price per day$271
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Gate 1 Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Gate 1 Travel Reviews & Ratings

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DS

Jan 2024

Provided byGate 1 Travel

Gate 1 cares about money and not customer satisfaction or safety

We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however ...

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NBR

Dec 2023

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THE ABSOLUTE WORST

THE ABSOLUTE WORST. Dishonest, incompetent, fraudulent. We booked a trip to Europe with them, and it was a mess from start to finish. The flight that we paid extra...

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Joyce Toler

Dec 2023

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Poor customer service

It has been about 7.5 years since I traveled with Gate 1 Travel. In the past, customer service was exceptionally great! Now I am appauded with the unprofessional and...

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Tour Operator

Gate 1 Travel

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Gate 1 Travel offers escorted tours, European river cruises, independent vacations and customized international vacation packages for less. Our discount travel packages and tour packages to destinations worldwide provide exceptional value, saving our customers time and money. We have taken care of all the details so you don't have to. Find your dream vacation today.

Company Background & Highlights

Mission: To deliver More of the World for Less by developing quality, affordable vacations for North Americans. To provide exemplary service to our customers and to earn their loyalty. To respect our partners. To invest in our employees, providing a safe and comfortable work environment. To know and understand our products and destinations. To constantly innovate and be a leader in technology.

Founded in 1981 with 3 employees; now with over 200 employees worldwide

Headquarters: Fort Washington, PA (Suburban Philadelphia)

Overseas Offices: Hungary, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Morocco, Argentina, Indonesia, Great Britain, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Peru, Ecuador, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

30+ years of providing travel services to clientèle

Product Types

Escorted Tours - Group Tours

Small Group Tours

European River Cruises

Escorted Bus Tour/Sea Cruise Combinations

Independent City Stays

Independent Fly & Drive Packages

Multi-Destination Rail Packages

Customized Vacations (Vacation Builder)

Custom Groups and Individuals

Group Air

 

Target Consumer Market

Gate 1 Travel's target market is a traveler seeking high quality, affordable travel ranging from a superior tourist class to moderate deluxe class level of accommodations with the highest level of service.

Financial Security

Gate 1 Travel is backed by the largest, most well-respected financial institutions and insurance providers, guaranteeing the greatest level of financial security to every passenger. Gate 1 welcomes your inquiries of any of those independent offices.

Gate 1 Travel's active membership in USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association), a professional organization representing the world's leading tour operators, requires that Gate 1 meet a minimum requirement of $1 million professional liability insurance (Gate 1 maintains a $5 million policy).

Additionally , Gate 1 is required to participate in the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program, requiring them to post $1 million in security, held by USTOA, in the unlikely event of bankruptcy or insolvency.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Not Included:Gratuities.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
18 years and up
Additional Information
Additional Information: Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers.
Trip ID
gate1-TR-GR-12DHTRGR-PKG-23

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