TOUR PROGRAM

Two sides of Aegean Sea, with KanulaTour,

Turkey & Greece

-Patras Carnival of Greece-

“kntrgr02”

 11nights 12days

Two countries, two civilisations, boths are on the cross of the roads. They are similar but different from each other, to the two side of Aegean Sea;

Tour Program Itineraries:

Day1, Arrive day, Istanbul City, (L,D) :    After a long distance flight, you are welcome to Istanbul, the city of two continents. Meeting at the airport on arrival and transfering to the city. Getting in the luxury vechiles and enjoy to moving around the city with panoramic tour, about two hours. Having the welcome Turkish tea (at a nostalgic, historical, -about 150 years old cooffee shop- on a hill with a magnifical view, scanery.   After that driving trough the jetty to get a boat and sailing within a waterway, called BOSPHORUS,; which is connecting “blacksea to mediterranian sea” and as a border between europe and asia continents. Bosphorus by boat. The bosphore’ shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will see the magnificent sights of the following attractions from your boat, like as Dolmabahce Palace, Yıldız palace, Ciragan palace, Ortakoy which is a symbol of tolerance with the religons.. a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries; Rumeli Fortress-build by Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II, the conqueror; Beylerbeyi Palace at the Asian shore..  Having the lunch at a restaurants under Old Historical Galata Bridge and than proceed to the hotel and after check in, free time for getting rest.    Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day2, Istanbul Historical,(B,L,D) :    Today arranged for the Eastern Roma Empaire(Byzantium) and Ottoman Empaire relics with full day tour program. Going to explore some of Istanbul's most important tourist attractions, including the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Hippodrome & Obelisk, Grand Bazaar(the first and biggest covered bazzar with thousands of shops) and the Topkapi Palace (the optional extra entrance fee to Harem Room).

Visiting also, Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) -The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice- before return the hotel. Dinner at a traditional Turkish Restaurants  Overnight in Istanbul. 

Gün3, Istanbul – (Greece) Kavala - Thessaloniki (B,L,D) :     Early morning taking the breakfast lunch boxes and leaving the hotel for Greece by land. After three hours drive arriving to the border of Turkey and Greece. After doing the facilities entering to the Greece land and driving on Agnetia Odos trough Kavala City. On arrival visiting and explore the most beautiful city of the region with its aqueducts, castle, Mehmet Ali Pasha museum and harbor. After the lunch, departing again for a two-hour journey, welcome to Thessaloniki. Panoramic city tour with photo break in Aristotle square, Hagia Irene Church and WHITE TOWER. Checking-in at the hotel and free time. Overnight in Thessaloniki. Greek tavern night with dinner.

Day4, Thessaloniki - Kalambaka – Ioannina (B,L,D) :   We set off from Thessaloniki to Meteora. The region, also known as Kalambaka. It is famous for its more than a thousand monasteries built by the monks to protect themselves in the early Christianity. After visit the area, having the lunch, and than continou for Ioannina City. The farming city in the middle of mainland of Greece. The city of a love story, the story of Greek Vasilik nad Ottoman ruler/governor Ali Pasha, who rebelled against the Ottomans for the love of the Vasilik and ended sadly with his murdered by the Ottoman sultan. The love of Vasilik and Ali Pasha, being the inspiration for the novel Monte Kristo Cont by Aleksander Dumas, was spoken by Greeks, Turks and Albanians for years and years. Ionnina panoramic city tour followed by a visit to Ali Pasha palace on the island in Pavmotis lake, Aslan Pasha Mosque and Museum in the castle, then check-in the hotel and free time. Suggestions, listening to rebetiko in taverns lined up by the lake, having fun, eating testfull ravioli and crayfish; shopping in the city famous for its silver filigree work.. Overnight in Ioannina

Day5, Ionnina - Parga - Preveza – Patras(B,L,D) :    Departure from the hotel after breakfast and arrival to a small lovely fisherman town by Ionian sea, Parga. whose name was heard with Pargali İbrahim Pasha, the famous Grand Vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent, After visiting the historical castle and narrow streets of the city, we move on to Preveze, which has an important place in the history of the Ottoman Empire. After the city tour and coffee break, it heads towards Lefkada and passing strait through the tunnel built under the sea of Ambrokikos Gulf, that the road is to Patra. The Patra, the largest city in the Greek Adriatic. Settlement at the hotel after the pnoramic city tour and visit the Byzantine Emperor Justinianos's castle and ancient theater in Patras. And delicious meals can be enjoyed at the restaurants along the beach and visioning the people who in the prepareation for the carnival.

Day6, Patras (Carnival) - Corinths – Athens(B,L,D) : After breakfast and leaving the hotel, a daily program is given and the meeting time and point are determined. Afterwards, free time to watch the carnival and having fun and shooting pictures of the world's second big carnival. It's carnival time,        Meeting after the carnival and departing for Athens, passing the Corintha strait. Arrive Athens in the evening. There is a tavern night in Athens on arrival whom not feeling tired. overnight in Athens.

Day7, Athens(B,L,D) :   After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, at 09:00 a half-day (5 hours) guided city tour to get to know Athens.

We start our tour by visiting the historical MARMARO stadium, which was held in 1894 and hosted the first modern Olympic games. We come to the hill where Syntagma square (constitution), parliament, National library, Academy of Fine Arts, Omonia square and Acropolis museum and Parthenon temple are located in order. After our visit here, we move on to the Monastraki region. After visiting the parts of the Acropolis on the outskirts of Monastraki and seeing Fethiye Mosque and the first University "Anyik Agora" here, we end our tour and return to our hotel at around 15:00. Free time and rest.  We spend our dinner in a tavern at fully rich table. Music, drinks and sirtaki and rebetiko. We are returning to our hotel in the morning.

Day8, Athens, Saronic Sea Cruise(B,L,D) :    Enjoy a fantastic day out at sea on a beautiful sailing boat, all along the mesmerizing Saronic Sea and its islands of Agistri, Moni and Aegina. Be welcomed on board with coffee, juices, snacks, and cookies; Enjoy an amazing day cruise around the Saronic Sea on a traditional sailing boat, Stop at Agistri, Moni and Aegina islands; Have lunch of delicious Mediterranean-Greek food and traditional wine and beers; Swim and sunbathe at different locations Enjoy the amazing atmosphere, Be attended to by a multi-lingual professional crew (4-5 persons); Relax with chilled music and free wifi on board. Overnight in Athens.

Day9, Athens – Istanbul – Cappadocia(B,_D) :    After breakfast, we leaves the hotel and get the way to the airport to leave Athens with beautiful memories and return to Istanbul back. Transfer to domestic flight to Kayseri/Cappadocia airport. Meeting on arrival and driving to the most beautiful landscaping area. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day10, Cappadocia (B, L, D) :    Before the sunrise, early morning, picking from the hotel and driev to meeting point, having a light breakfast and goes to the balloons, with the time of sun rising.. Air balloonning over the most beautiful landscape of the World. After the balloonning having the champains and getting the flight medal arcertificate. Dropping back to the hotel about 08:30-09:00 (tour subjected to extra fee)

After the breakfast, starting to the tour of Cappadocia, with a visit to the famous Derinkuyu Underground City which was built as a defence and hiding site during the period of spreading Christianity. Later go to the ancient Christian Village of Cavusin, where you will find a triple Apse church and a monastery of St John the Baptist. Afterwards you will be taken to the Sinasos Old Greek Village, where you will be amazed by magnificent old Greek and Ottoman houses. Today's tour also includes a short visit to Uchisar Natural Rock Castle and an easy 3km hike through Red Valley, which offers some great scenery that would not be accessible by car.   Dinners at the hotel, Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day11, Cappadocia – Istanbul (B,L,D) :    Today, visit the Devrent Valley and the Monk's Valley (Pasabagi), where you will find the world's most incredible fairy chimneys. Have lunch in Avanos and then go to Goreme Open-Air Museum to explore a variety of churches and monasteries, which were all carved from the soft volcanic stone and decorated with beautiful frescoes by Medieval Orthodox Christian Monks around 1000-1200AD. A visit to Ortahisar Natural Rock Castle for panoramic views of the city is also included.   Evening, checking out from the hotel and driving to Kayseri for getting the flight to Istanbul back. Having dinner on arrival and overnight in Istanbul.

Day12, Istanbul Two Continents (B, D) :    After the breakfast,placed on the vheicle for the tour of the day. Visit Dolmabahce Palace and continou to Ortakoy area, enjoy with magnificial scanery of the Bosphorus. Than driving trough over the Bosphorus Bridge and passing with a uniqe step from Europe Continent to the Asian Continent. Taking picture on Camlica Hill the highest point of Istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosporus from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional Turkish Ottoman style. Give a free time for traditional snacks as lunch.   Driving trough Kız Kulesi “maiden tower” and than to the airport. For the international flight back. Tour ending which was full of history, culture, gastro, shopping and entertainment. We are leaving to meet again with the pleasure of leaving a busy schedule behind, sweet tiredness and the excitement of being able to join the next KanulaTur tour.

We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another KanulaTour activities. Have a safe trip back home.