The Great Odyssey
The Great Odyssey
The Great Odyssey
18 Days Starting in Istanbul and ending in
Visiting: İstanbul, Ankara, Ürgüp, Pamukkale, İzmir, Athens, Mikonos, Thera, Heraklion
From:
$3850
$3677 (USD)
The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$173
NB: Prices correct on 14-May-2024 but subject to change.
Tour Overview
Follow the path of Odysseus on this custom tailored tour of Turkey and Greece meant to give you the most amazing adventure through antiquity. From the ancient steps of the Parthenon to the sensational crumbled walls of Troy, you will stand with legends and gods, sailing through the incredible waters of the Mediterranean, and wandering along the path of history. Every adventure starts with that first step; come take it with Eskapas.Please Note that trip may follow Canakkale - Bursa - Istanbul itinerary instead of Canakkale - Gallipoli - Istanbul for some departure date. Please consult us during your booking.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Istanbul Arrival
Location: İstanbul
Arrival to Istanbul . Meet with english speaking assistant at the airport . Transfer to the hotel for check in . Overnight: Istanbul Meals: N/A
Day 2 : Istanbul
Location: İstanbul
Breakfast at the hotel . Drive from your hotel to Spice Market for shopping . Free time. Then meet and proceed to take 1,5 hrs Bosphorus Cruise excursion along the bosphorus , that is dividing the 2 continents Asia & Europe . During the excursion you will enjoy the beauty of Istanbul , with its forest , Palaces and wooden old houses built on both continents . Lunch at local restaurant . After lunch visit Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) , Hippodrome and the famous Hagia Sophia . Free time at Grand Bazaar .
Overnight: Istanbul Meals: Breakfast - Lunch
Day 3 : Istanbul - Ankara
Location: Ankara
Breakfast at the hotel . Departure from the hotel to visit Topkapi Palace ( harem section entrance free is not included ) the house of the ottoman sultans . Departure from the hotel to Ankara – the capital of Turkey . Arrival to Ankara in early evening
Overnight: Ankara Meals: Breakfast - Dinner
Day 4 : Ankara - Cappadocia
Location: Ürgüp
Breakfast at the hotel . Visit Anatolian Civilizations Museum where you will see the Neolithic & Paleolithic ruins from Urartu , Hatti, Hittite, Phrygia civilizations, then proceed to Mausoleum of Ataturk , the founder of Turkish Republic. In the afternoon drive to Cappadocia . En route visit the Underground city that is one of the biggest underground city in the region, constructed by the first Christians to protect themselves from the attacks.
Overnight: Cappadocia Meals: Breakfast - Dinner
Day 5 : Cappadocia
Location: Ürgüp
Breakfast . Full day visit at Cappadocia . Visit Göreme Open Air Museum - a UNESCO Heritage site , a fantastic region with it’s cave churches located on the valley. Then proceed to Uchisar Village and then the spectacular fairy chimneys. Visit Derbent Valley with and explore the natural rock formations and get a chance to attend the workshops of carpets and onyx-stones .
Overnight: Cappadocia Meals: Breakfast - Dinner
Optional Tour | HOT AIR BALLOON TOUR
In the early morning departure from your hotel . a chance to live this unique experience, an overlooking to Cappadocia from the sky , see the beauty of the region the rock formations, fairy chimneys, natural formations, lunar landscapes ..
Day 6 : Cappadocia - Sultanhani - Pamukkale
Location: Pamukkale
After the breakfast at the hotel , drive to Pamukkale. En route visit Sultanhan Caravansarai that was built during Seljuk Empire and used long years as a stop over for the travellers and merchants. Continue to Pamukkale . Visit Cotton Steps – a UNESCO heritage site that has been believed to have healing thermal water.
Overnight: Pamukkale Meals: Breakfast - Dinner
Day 7 : Pamukkale - Ephesus - Izmir
Location: İzmir
Breakfast . Drive to Selcuk – Ephesus . Visit the Ephesus Ruins – the city that was dedicated to Artemis I the Odeon, Temple of Hadrian, the House of Love, the Library of Celsus, the Agora .Then proceed for Virgin Mary House - has been believed it is the final resting place of the mother of Jesus . Then stop at Leather Production Store . Proceed for Izmir . Overnight: İzmir Meals: Breakfast - Dinner
Day 8 : Izmir - Pergamon - Troy - Çanakkale
Breakfast . Drive to Pergamon ( Bergama ) region and visit the ruins of Asclepion which is the first hospital of Asia Minor in human history . Then continue to Troy , visit the famous city that evokes the poetic name of Homer's Iliad. Continue to Canakkale .
Overnight:Çanakkale Meals: Breakfast - Dinner.
Day 9 : Çanakkale - Gallipoli - Anzac Cove - Istanbul
Breakfast . We will cross Dardanelles Strait by car ferry and continue to Gallipoli Peninsula. We will visit one of the most emotionally touching places in Turkey, the WWI Battlefields of Gallipoli, including Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Ariburnu Cemetery, ANZAC Commemorative Site, Respect to Mehmetcik Statue, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston's Jolly, Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels, 57. Regiment Turkish Memorial,The Nek,Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial.
Overnight:İstanbul Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 : Istanbul - Athens (Flight)
Location: İstanbul
Breakfast . Transfer to airport and fly to Athens (flight ticket is included) . After your arrival in the mythical city of Athens, the transfer to your hotel will be conducted in one of our private vehicles. A member of our English speaking team will meet you at your hotel, help you with the check-in, inform you of all the details of your trip, introduce you to the city and its everyday way of life and answer any questions you may have. The rest of the day will be free for you to relax and enjoy Athens at your own pace.
Overnight: Athens Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 : Athens
Location: Athens
After your breakfast and, at the agreed time, you will commence the panoramic tour of the Athenian Neoclassical Center: the Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the University, the Library, and National Academy, the Ilion Palace, the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Gate, the Panathenaic Stadium, and many other monuments and sites of great interest. You will learn all there is to know about their history and background from the licensed English-speaking Tour Guide accompanying you on this tour.
Your next stop will be the "sacred rock", the spectacular, unique and magnificent Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. The entrance fee to both sites is included. At the end of the visit, you can either choose to return to your hotel or set out on your own adventure through the charming and picturesque streets of Plaka.
In the evening, we have included a guided walking tour that will take you through the prettiest districts of the capital, such as Anafiotika, Thissio, Monastiraki, and Plaka.
Overnight: Athens Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 : Athens - Mykonos
Location: Mikonos
Early in the morning, your assistant will escort you to Piraeus port in one of our private vehicles and you will take the ferry to the cosmopolitan island of Mykonos. The crossing is scheduled at the ideal time of the day so that you can enjoy the sun on deck and marvel at the deep blue of the Aegean Sea.
Upon your arrival, one of our English-speaking representatives will welcome you, transfer you to your hotel and introduce you to this famous island.
The rest of the day is free for you to relax and immerse yourself in the 'slow' way of life of the natives.
Overnight: Mykonos Meals: Breakfast
Day 13 : Mykonos
Location: Mikonos
Free day to enjoy this magnificent island. Mykonos is the meeting point of the international "jet set", famous for its wonderful beaches, the dazzling shops and vibrant nightlife.
Overnight: Mykonos Meals: Breakfast
Eskapas Tip: Just a short distance away by ferry, there is the historic island of Delos, which, according to Greek mythology, was the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. This small island, inhabited since 3000 B.C., was one of the most important cultural centers of antiquity.
Day 14 : Mykonos - Santorini
Location: Thera
After breakfast, we will pick you up at the agreed time, in one of our private vehicles, to drive you to the port, where you will continue on to your next destination, the island that is an inexhaustible source of inspiration, Santorini. As the ferry approaches the port, you will admire the capital city of Fira, with its white houses perched on the cliffside and facing the volcano.
Upon disembarkation, one of our English-speaking representatives will welcome you, escort you to your hotel and introduce you to some of the most outstanding features of this picturesque island. The rest of the day is free for you to wander through the narrow streets and become part of this amazing world.
Overnight: Santorini Meals: Breakfast
Day 15 : Santorini
Location: Thera
Free day to explore, at your own pace, this magical island, considered to be the lost continent of Atlantis. The name of the island was given by the Venetian Giacomo Barozzi due to the presence of a chapel dedicated to Saint Eirini. His descendants remained until 1576, when the island became part of the Duchy of Naxos and until the Turkish conquest by Piyale Pasha.
Overnight: Santorini Meals: Breakfast
Day 16 : Santorini - Crete
Location: Heraklion
At the agreed time our staff will transfer you to the new port of Santorini, Athinios, where you will board the ferry to the largest island in Greece, Crete and more precisely to the port of Heraklion. Upon your arrival we will meet you at the port and transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight: Heraklion Meals: Breakfast
Day 17 : Heraklion
Location: Heraklion
After your breakfast, you will have a free day to explore this incredible city. We suggest a leisurely stroll through the charming historical center and, of course, a visit to the extraordinary Palace of Knossos, home to the fabled King Minos and the ferocious Minotaur.
Overnight: Heraklion Meals: Breakfast
Day 18 : Heraklion - Athens Departure
After breakfast, at the appointed time, our staff will transfer you to Heraklion airport, where you will board your flight (included) back to Athens. In Athens, you will connect to your international flight, which should ideally depart after 12:30 hrs.
What's Included
Accommodation
17-night 4-star/first class accommodation.
- Istanbul : Hotel Yigitalp or Hotel Grand Gulsoy or Hotel Ramada Grand Bazaar or similar 4**** hotel in Old City
- Ankara: Point Hotel or Latanya Hotel or Anadolu Downtown or Holiday Inn Cukurambar or similar 5***** hotel.
- Cappadocia : Dinler Hotel Urgup, Perissia Hotel Urgup or similar 4**** Hotel
- Pamukkale: Colossae Thermal Hotel or Richmond Thermal Hotel Pamukkale or Ademipira Thermal Hotel or similar 5***** Hotel
- Izmir: Hotel Blanca or Hotel Kaya Prestige or similar 4**** Hotel
- Gallipoli: Hotel Iris or Hotel Akol or similar 4**** hotel
- Athens : Airotel Alexandros 4* or similar in Athens
- Mykonos: Pelican Bay Art Hotel 4* or similar
- Santorini : Venus Aphroditi Hotel 4* or similar
- Crete, Heraklion: Artree Suites or Pavo Art Hotel or similar 4*
Flights
- Athens - Istanbul international flight is included
- Crete - Athens domestic flight is included
Guide
Official English speaking guide during visits (Sometimes bilingual)
Meals
17 Breakfasts - 1 Lunch - 6 Dinners
This tour offers Vegetarian food option on request. Simply let Eskapas know the food option that you prefer.
Additional Services
All entrance fees mentioned in the programs (the program may follow Canakkale-Bursa-Istanbul instead of Canakkale-Gallipoli-Istanbul for some departures)
Transport
All transport and transfers per itinerary as described in the program.
- Normal Ferry ticket with numbered seats Piraeus - Mykonos.
- Fast Ferry ticket with numbered seats Mykonos - Santorini.
- Fast Ferry ticket with numbered seats Santorini - Heraklion.
What's Not Included
- Before/After air fares
- Stay-over taxes to be paid directly to the hotels in Greece
- Tips to the guide and driver
- Personal expenses
Please Note
This trip requires Passport ID page copy of each traveler. You can cover your photo on the page with a piece of paper It is required to issue your flight tickets, cruise tickets of ferry tickets.
On the other hand It is always advisable that you get a photocopy taken of your passport’s information page, prior to your travel, for security reasons. This is particularly useful if the trip is international, and the person is far away from their home country. A photocopy of your passport makes passport renewal an easier process, especially in a situation where the passport was damaged, lost or stolen.
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
At Eskapas we have a flexible policy. You must change it until 30 days prior to your departure otherwise any changes mean "cancellation".
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Solo travelers must pay single supplement to have a private room due to hygien reasons.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Eskapas has been established in 2000 in Istanbul
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
All hotels used to accommodate our customers are certified by “Hotel Association of Turkey”; they all are committed to use maximum 50 % capacity
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
COVID-19 RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL RULES Eskapas is committed to fulfill the following regulations to protect its customers from the risk of Covid-19 : 1 – Eskapas will fulfill all safety rules mentioned in the “Safe Tourism Certification” prepared by Turkish Ministry of Tourism; that plan covers all aspects of the journey from the aircraft to the airport, transfers, touring and hotels (tga.gov.tr/abou
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes you can.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your timetable - voucher that will show your itinerary with timing and hotels (30 days before prior to your arrival date)
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May 11, 2025 - May 28, 2025Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
ESKAPAS allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 61 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
ESKAPAS allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform eskapas, 61 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
ESKAPAS requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 61 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of eskapas charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 25% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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