Personally escorted 2008 Spring Tour in Greece and Turkey - Sightseeing, Hiking & Fun!
Meandering Through Greece and Turkey
May 11-27, 2008
This is a new trip and one I have been wanting to do for many years. You will have an active hiking holiday with a chance to trek on a Greek island with the most beautiful harbor in the Mediterranean and in areas of the beautiful Turkish coast seldom visited by foreigners. Throughout we will be accompanied by local guides and friends. This first trip being offered at a reduced rate.
Spring is the most desirable season of the year in both Greece and Turkey and we are taking advantage of perfect weather, beautiful locales and many friends who await our arrival and will make our visit special.
$3195 dbl occupancy - plus International airfare
We’ll hike on the island of Symi, where spring flowers and wild herbs scent the paths, and visit the Turkish coast for the ruins of Ephesus, hike in the Turkish countryside, visit the sights in Istanbul, experience a Turkish bath and great shopping.
This is not a sit on the tour bus, look out the window sort of journey, but an active visit to the best the eastern Mediterranean has to offer.
TRIP DESCRIPTION:This is a new trip and one I have been wanting to do for many years. You will have an active hiking holiday with a chance to trek on a Greek island with the most beautiful harbor in the Mediterranean and in areas of the beautiful Turkish coast seldom visited by foreigners. Throughout we will be accompanied by local guides and friends. This first trip being offered at a reduced rate.
TRIP INCLUDES:NOT INCLUDED:
- All transportation by air, boat, midi bus between and in Greece and Turkey
- All lodging from seafront hotels to tree houses to local village home
- Alfresco dinner with Greek friends in Athens
- All breakfasts, Hugo’s special lunch in Symi, full board on the Lycian trek,
Freshly prepared Turkish lunch and lamb dinner with friends in Kusadasi- Shirley Smith as tour leader and local hiking and tour guides throughout
- Items of a personal nature
- Turkish Visa ($20)
- Entrance fees to historical sites in Turkey
- Tips and Gratuities for guides
DATES: May 11-27, 2008
Sun May 11 U.S - GREECEMon May 12 Arrive ATHENSDepart U.S. for Greece
Delta is a good carrier as it serves both Athens and Istanbul non stop, but other carriers possible as well. You might try for mileage tickets!Tues May 13 ATHENS - RHODES
Athens. Arrive Athens. Our hotel is easily reached by the new metro from the aAirport. Those arriving in the morning will walk with me to the
high hill of Lycabettus, for a beautiful overview of the city, and this
evening we will have dinner with some of my Athenian friends.Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.
Kaliope will meet us in the lobby at 9am for a private walk to the Acropolis.
You will learn much from this delightful woman. We’ll take her to lunch and then still have time to wander in the Plaka before we depart for the airport in the late afternoon.
Evening flight to Rhodes, where we will spend the night, have a chance to walk in the old medieval city at dusk and enjoy wonderful home style Greek cooking at Mama Sofia’s
restaurant.Meals included: Breakfast.
Wed May 14 RHODES - SYMI
Transfer to the harbor and depart for "my" lovely little island of Symi at 9am.
On arrival we will be met by my friend, and hiking guide, Hugo Tyler. Hugo will have prepared a picnic for us and all we need do is drop our bags at the hotel, change into hiking clothes and set off for a first hike in the mountains.
We’ll carry our picnic and enjoy our repast under a huge tree at the monastery. Dinner on our own, but we usually eat together and I have lots of places to suggest.
Meals included: Breakfast and Picnic Lunch.
Thurs May 15& Fri May 16 - SYMI
Two more full days of hiking with Hugo in Symi.
One day we will hike across the island, where we will be met by a boat to return us to the main harbor.
Plenty of time after hiking to explore the town.
NOTE: All hikes are optional, and if you wish to take off a day, that is no problem.
One night we should be able to visit the studio of my painter friend Cobi.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Sat May 17 - SYMI & DATCA TURKEY
Today, on board the small boat Triton, we make the short crossing to the small Turkish town of Datca.
Here we meet Nihat, a delightful and most knowledgeable gentleman. A native of Datca, he will take us on a private tour of the ancient ruins of Knidos and Old Datca. Our lodging is in a beautiful restored mansion.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Sun May 18 - TURKEY LYCIAN WAY TREK
Mon May 19 BABA DAGI TO FARALYA
We will be picked up in the morning for our several hour drive to Ovacik and the beginning of our trek on the Lycian Way. Welcome and dinner at the hotel.
NOTE: The following hike is considered Grade B medium trekking. You will carry day packs only and our luggage will be transported for us.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.
Tue May 20 FARALYA TO KABAK
Baba Dagi rises to a summit of 1989m (About 6,000 feet) and is capped with snow til April. It rises steeply from the sea, with just one gully and beach breaking the western slopes. As the background for the calm lagoon of Olu Deniz, it must be the most photographed mountain in Turkey.
We will have spectacular views as we climb the shoulder of Baba Dagi and after 5-6 hours arrive at the farming and bee keeping village of Faralya, overlooking Butterfly Valley. Dinner and overnight in local pension
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
In the morning we have an OPTIONAL descent to Butterfly Valley, down dry waterfalls. We can swim at the Butterfly Valley beach and climb back up to Faralya (4 hours).
In the afternoon we trek to Kabak along a forested path. Dinner and overnight in tree houses. 3.5 hours. Midnight swim!
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Wed May 21 KABAK TO ALINCAThur May 22 KUSADASIFor those who wake up early, there is the possibility of a morning swim. After breakfast we trek into the forested Kabak Valley, splash in the waterfalls and climb up a beautiful old mule trail to Alinca, with spectacular views over Yedi Burun (7 apes) Dinner and overnight in village house.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Today it is back to the "real world" as we make our way up the coast to the bustling seaside town of Kusadasi, gateway to Ephesus.
Hotel at water’s edge. After roughing it a bit, we will be ready to splurge on an fabulous seafood dinner at a nearby restaurant,
Meals included: Breakfast.
Fri May 23 EPHESUS - KUSADASI
Sat May 24 SIRINCE - ISTANBUL
After breakfast we’ll meet our guide, my friend Can, for a private tour of Ephesus, the most spectacular ruins in the Mediterranean.
Following our visit we will join another friend, Seydi, for a special lunch at his carpet workshop and showroom, located in a lovely rural setting. This will be your best choice of Turkish carpets, should you wish to purchase.
Lunch and carpet viewing over, we’ll head into town for the guys to try Turkish shaves and, those of us who want, to experience a Turkish bath.
Tonight we drive into the countryside where we join my Turkish friends for a delightful lamb dinner, outdoors in a tree shaded courtyard.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A different sort of day as we drive thru the countryside to the traditional little village of Sirince. Here we hike in the hills and valleys surrounding the village and come back into town for a luncheon of freshly made Gozleme, a Turkish speciality.
This afternoon we fly to Istanbul and transfer to the charming little Alzer Hotel across the street from the Blue Mosque. We’ll find a local spot for dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Sun, Mon, Tues May 57, 26, 27 ISTANBUL
Sunday: Our Istanbul guide meets us this morning to take us on a full day excursion to the main Ottoman and Byzantine sites of the city. We'll visit Topkapi, The Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia and more and have lunch at Topkapi overlooking the Bocphorus.
Monday: A free day in Istanbul to perhaps visit the Grand Bazaar and the Spice
Bazaar. Great shopping here! A last dinner tonight, joined, perhaps by
some Istanbul friends.Tuesday: We’ll say a sad farewell to this fascinating city and transfer to the airport for our return flight. (Transfer will be at your own cost, as people will have different flights.)
MEANDERING THRU GREECE AND TURKEY
$2995 dbl occupancy - plus International airfare
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
There may be a number of single supplements available. Fee to be determined. We also will try and match you with a room mate, if you would like.NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:
Tour price is based on 8 or more participants. We will run the trip with a minimun of 4 paying guests, but there will be a supplement of $150 for 4-7. Minimum 4, maximum 12 guests for this trip.BOOKING/DEPOSITS:
Call our office for availability. We will hold a space for 10 days. At that time a $300 deposit , by check, is due to confirm your participation. Upon receipt of your deposit we will send trip information and booking sheet.FINAL PAYMENT/LATE BOOKING/METHOD OF PAYMENT:
Final payment is due 45 days before departure (Mar 29, 2007) In the event of bookings within 45 days, final payment is due at time of reservation. For late bookings we reserve the right to pass on any costs incurred to confirm your space with our overseas operators.NOTE: PRICE ABOVE IS A CASH DISCOUNT PRICE. CREDIT CARDS MAY BE USED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 3%.
CANCELLATIONS:
We realize there are times when a cancellation is unavoidable. In that case the following conditions apply. You may always use your deposit toward another trip.
Up to 90 days prior to trip $100.00 89 - 60 days $200.00 59 - 30 days $300.00 under 30 days no refund unless space resold NOTE:
We reserve the right to make changes in the itinerary, based upon conditions at time of travel. Any such changes would be made to improve the quality and experience of the journey!
Please fill out and email our Reservation Form
Choose"Meandering Tour" as one of your tour requests.
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