Book Now
DAY 1
Overnight flight
DAY 2
Arrival in Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul, crossroads of the East and West. After clearing customs, you’ll meet your Full-time EFCB Tour Guide and the rest of your group. Did you know that Istanbul is the world’s only city that spans two continents?
Welcome drink
Get to know the other travelers in your group over some welcome drinks. Afterwards, head out on the town, or go back to the hotel to catch up on some sleep.
DAY 3
Sightseeing tour of Istanbul (local guide)
Sightseeing tour of Istanbul (local guide)
A local guide introduces you to Istanbul’s major sights. Discover the ancient Hippodrome, which served as the public center of Byzantium for more than a thousand years. Then visit the incredible Blue Mosque, before continuing on to the Topkapi Palace, one-time residence of the Ottoman sultans. Your tour finishes with a stop at Istanbul’s legendary Grand Bazaar, where you can browse and barter for all kinds of treasures, from brassware to spices.
Optional Bosphorus cruise (extra cost)
Optional Bosphorus cruise ($60 pre-booked)
Join an optional half-day cruise through the Bosphorus Straits, the waterway that separates Europe and Asia. First you’ll visit a spice market and the Rustem Pasha Mosque, before boarding your 2-hour cruise at Tarabya Bay. Lunch is included.
DAY 4
Travel to Canakkale
Travel to Canakkale
Take a ferry from Eskihisar to Yalova, and continue to Canakkale, whose shores touch both Europe and Asia. The city is known for its crucial role during the Battle of Gallipoli in WWI. Today, the Gallipoli peninsula is a national park dedicated to those who lost their lives here.
Sightseeing tour of Troy (local guide)
Sightseeing tour of Troy (local guide)
Journey to Troy, the city where the beautiful Helen incited the Trojan War in the 12th century B.C. The most famous part of the ten-year war was its end, when the Greeks hid in a wooden horse that the Trojans mistakenly thought was a peace offering. Tour the ancient site, where the remains of nine civilizations dating back 5,000 years were excavated only 120 years ago. Later, travel on to the coastal town of Dikili.
DAY 5
Guided excursion to Pergamon (local guide)
Guided excursion to Pergamon (local guide)
Travel to Pergamon, where a local guide will show you the sights. Pergamon was once one of the world’s most magnificent cities. A highlight of the tour is a visit to the impressive Acropolis. Later, spend some free time on the beach.
DAY 6
Sightseeing tour of Ephesus (local guide)
Sightseeing tour of Ephesus (local guide)
Travel to Ephesus, one of the Mediterranean region’s best-preserved classical cities. During the Roman Empire, Ephesus was considered the greatest city in Asia Minor. See all the highlights, including the Forum, the Odeon, the Thermal Baths of Scolastika, the Temple of Hadrian and the Great Theatre. After a visit to the Archaeological Museum, you may also have the chance to see the nearby house where the Virgin Mary is said to have spent her last days.
Travel to Kusadasi
Travel to Kusadasi
Continue on to the picturesque Turkish village of Kusadasi, on the Aegean coast.
DAY 7
Board cruise
Board cruise
Set sail on a three-day odyssey. With stops in Patmos, Heraklion and Santorini, get your fill of scenic beauty, rich history and good old-fashioned rest and relaxation. The cruise line will offer optional excursions during your island stops, and on-board the ship you’ll have plenty of time for games, shopping, swimming, and basking in the sun.
Patmos
Patmos
Patmos is one of the 12 Dodecanese Islands that extend off the western coast of Turkey. After many centuries of foreign rule, Patmos still retains its Greek language and culture. The cruise company will offer an optional visit to St. John’s Monastery, with a panoramic view of the whole island and the surrounding sea. This optional includes a visit to a nearby grotto, where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. The cruise line will also offer a scenic island tour. (Please note: Due to scheduling, you may only have time to do one optional.)
DAY 8
Heraklion
Heraklion
Head to the island of Crete, and visit the town of Heraklion. Your cruise optional includes a visit to Knossos Palace—quite possibly the site of the ancient Minoan Kingdom—plus free time in the heart of Heraklion City. You can also join the cruise line’s “A Taste of Crete” scenic and culinary excursion, which includes stops at a modern winery and a local taverna. (Please note: Due to scheduling, you may only have time to do one optional.)
Santorini
Santorini
Santorini is a small group of volcanic islands full of amazing landscapes. The cruise line offers an optional excursion to Oia, a one-time fishing village built on red rocks overlooking the Aegean Sea, and Thera, a small town perched on the caldera rim. You can also go on the cruise line’s optional Volcanic Shores cruise, which navigates the Palea and Nea Kameni islets. (Please note: Due to scheduling, you may only have time to do one optional.)
DAY 9
Disembark cruise
Disembark cruise
Your cruise will end at Piraeus, a city within the Athens urban area.
Sightseeing tour of Athens (local guide)
Sightseeing tour of Athens (local guide)
Discover ancient Athens with a local guide. It's hard not to feel the past as you walk in the sandalsteps of the ancient philosophers, merchants and artisans. See the Temple of Athena Nike, which once housed a gold statue of the goddess, and pass the stadium where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896. Also climb the famed Acropolis and view the legendary Parthenon.
Walking tour of Athens
Walking tour of Athens
Your tour guide will show you some of the other can't-miss spots of Athens, including the bustling Plaka district. Check out Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus—construction on the temple began in 515 B.C.
DAY 10
Optional Cape Sounion excursion (extra cost)
Optional Cape Sounion excursion
Opt to take a journey to Cape Sounion and view the Temple of Poseidon, located on a promontory overlooking the Aegean Sea.
Free time in Athens (nighttime)
Top 5 nightlife suggestions:
1. Psirri District – This up-and-coming, trendy neighborhood is full of café bars with outdoor seating.
2. Thiseion District – Located under the Acropolis, this is a central area with a vivid nightlife scene.
3. Akrotiri – Enjoy the cool sea breeze as you dance the night away in this open-air club.
4. Dora Stratou Dance Theatre – See more than 75 performers in a traditional folk dancing show on Filopappou Hill.
5. Gagarin 205 Live Music Space – Catch the biggest international music acts here, as well as local groups and DJs during the week.
For more ideas and details, see our Athens city guide.
DAY 11
Travel to Delphi
Travel to Delphi
Continue to Delphi, Greece's most beloved site. Delphi is perched on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Look up for breathtaking views of the craggy cliffs of Parnassus. Below, a stunningly beautiful plain of olive trees stretches as far as your eyes can see, toward the Gulf of Corinth.
DAY 12
Sightseeing tour of Delphi (local guide)
Sightseeing tour of Delphi (local guide)
A local guide will introduce you to Delphi, site of Apollo's famed Oracle. Back in the day, Greece's military leaders would leave gifts for the Oracle in hopes of good fortune in battle. Visit the Temple of Apollo, the spot where legend says the god communicated with mortals. Also visit the Delphi Museum. A huge bronze charioteer is among this collection’s ancient treasures, which date back to 550 B.C.
Night ferry from Patras
Night ferry from Patras
Continue on to coastal Patras, where you'll board your overnight ferry bound for Italy.
DAY 13
Sightseeing tour of Pompeii (local guide)
Sightseeing tour of Pompeii (local guide)
Arrive this morning in Italy and travel to Pompeii for an amazing trip into the preserved past. Doomed by the ash and pumice of Mt. Vesuvius looming above it, Pompeii is a remarkably intact ancient Roman town. Walk the streets and see the remains of villas, ancient temples and bath houses.
Travel to Rome
Travel to Rome
Continue through the Italian countryside to Rome, the Eternal City. Did you know that Rome had barbers as far back as 300 B.C.?
Free time in Rome (nighttime)
Top 5 nightlife suggestions:
1. Campo de’ Fiori – Many young people gather in the early evening inside and outside the bars in this area, making it a good starting point.
2. San Lorenzo area – Popular with students, this area is known for its reggae scene and numerous clubs.
3. Big Mama – Blues lovers head to this music club in Trastavere.
4. Testaccio – There is plenty of action on this circular street lined with bars and nightclubs.
5. Opera – For a true cultural experience, go see an opera in the country where opera was born.
For more ideas and details, see our Rome city guide.
DAY 14
Sightseeing tour of Rome (local guide)
Sightseeing tour of Rome (local guide)
Go way back into history with a local guide. Step through the grassy Forum Romanum, where all kinds of business, commerce and administration of justice took place back in ancient times.
Roman Colosseum
Roman Colosseum
Your tour includes a visit to the massive Colosseum, built back in 70 A.D. The huge amphitheater held up to 50,000 spectators, who would gather to watch anything from bloody gladiator contests to mock sea battles to dramatic representations of classical mythology.
Optional pizza-making and dinner (extra cost)
Optional pizza-making and dinner ($45 pre-booked)
Opt for a festive night in an Italian kitchen. Prepare the dough, lay on the toppings, fire it in the oven, and eat it—all under the expert guidance of a real pizzaiolo.
DAY 15
Visit to Vatican City
Visit to Vatican City
Visit this country within a city, home to the Pope. Walk through the incomparable St. Peter's Basilica, built on the site where the saint was martyred. Also visit the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s stunning ceiling frescos have amazed visitors for centuries.
Transfer to Florence
Transfer to Florence
Drive through the countryside to Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region. Did you know that the Italian language originated in Florence?
DAY 16
Sightseeing tour of Florence (local guide)
Sightseeing tour of Florence (local guide)
Cover Florence on foot with a local guide. Get a feel for this famous Renaissance city at spots like the Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio (a medieval bridge that is one of the most photographed sights in Florence). Continue past the Chiesa di Santa Croce, final resting place of Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo.
Florence Duomo
Florence Duomo
The Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral is better known as the Duomo, after its famous dome that dominates the Florentine skyline. The dome, designed by sculptor and architect Brunelleschi, was a real technological and architectural marvel at the time of its construction.
Optional excursion to Pisa (extra cost)
Optional excursion to Pisa ($50 pre-booked)
Opt to take a half-day trip to Pisa, home of the legendary Leaning Tower. Snap some photos of this 12th-century architectural misfit. Visit the Pisa Baptistery, known for its interesting acoustics, and the Pisa Cathedral. Legend says Galileo came up with his law of the pendulum here.
DAY 17
Free time in Florence (daytime)
Top 5 free time suggestions:
1. The Uffizi Gallery – You can't miss this place; it's one of the top art museums in the world.
2. Galleria dell'Accademia – Another must-see gallery, the Accademia is home to Michelangelo’s world-famous David.
3. Giardino di Boboli – Enjoy the fresh air in this giant green park, complete with statues, caves and an island fountain.
4. Shopping around piazza Santa Croce – Those seeking real Italian leather products need look no further.
5. Palazzo Vecchio – This fortress-like palace has a 312-foot-high bell tower and a bunch of cool sculptures.
For more ideas and details, see our Florence city guide.
Return to Rome
Return to Rome
Head back to the Italian capital for your final night.
Farewell dinner
Share some last laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at an included farewell dinner with the group.
DAY 18
Flight home
Don't want to go home?
Plan beforehand, and you can change your return ticket and explore more of Rome on your own, or visit another city and fly home from there. To request special travel, fill out this form.