Sept 10-13 Naxos, the nuptial isle of the god Dionysus, is home to charming Naxos Town and beautiful beaches. Our hotel is right on the beach at St. George Bay, so relax by the water, explore the picturesque villages, or opt for a day trip to neighboring isles of Delos (home of Apollo) and Mykonos.
Sept 13-16 Santorini, Ride a donkey or take the tram up from the harbor to the city of Fira, the site of many of those photos of blue sea and whitewashed buildings, The island is the edge of a famous volcano that may have wiped out the Minoan civilization. The traditional villages, built on tall cliffs, offer spectacular views over the submerged caldera.
Sept 16-19 Crete. According to Greek myth, this is where the hero Theseus defeated the minotaur hidden in the labyrinth of King Minos. We’ll visit the Palace of Knossos, see the ruins of the legendary Minoan civilization (2600-1150 BC), the oldest in Europe, and enjoy the picturesque villages of the largest Greek island.
Sept 21-24 Marmaris and Kusadasi, among the most beautiful cities of the Aegean, sit on the west coast of Turkey. Kusadasi will serve as our base for visiting Ephesus, where Paul walked and Mary lived after Jesus’ crucifixion. We’ll also visit Aphrodisias, one of the oldest sacred sites in Turkey dating back to 5800 BC., and bathe in Pamukkale’s mineral-bath spa used since the days of Ancient Rome.
Sept 25-28 Istanbul, once Constantinople, and one of the world’s greatest cities, is a crossroads of culture. We’ll visit Hagia Sophia, the greatest church in Christendom for 1000 years; the Blue Mosque, Islam’s elegant answer with six minarets and blue interior tiles; the Byzantine Hippodrome, the political and recreational heart of Constantinople; and the Grand Bazaar before coming home.
Sept 24-25 Pergamon was renowned in Roman times for its great library and as the center where Galen laid the foundation for medical practice. We’ll continue then to Troy, the site of the battle involving that famous horse, and then stay in Canakkale for the night. The next day, we’ll visit the Gallipoli peninsula and World War I memorials before continuing to Istanbul.
There are no 5 star hotels in our itinerary, but all accommodations will be clean, comfortable and well-located. We'll have a full time tour guide throughout Turkey, and you can opt for additional guided tours in Greece, or choose to spend time on the beach, soaking up the sun, sand and clear blue water.
Global Spirit’s small group travel style provides face-to-face connection with ordinary people around the world. That’s why our groups are limited in size, stay in locally owned accommodations, and use local tour guides. To borrow a phrase from travel guru, Rick Steves, all our trips seek to foster a “fanatically positive and militantly optimistic” experience and appreciation of other people, regions and cultures.
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Updated April 5, 2010