Istanbul
| country: | Greece, Italy, Turkey |
| trip type: | A small group adventure. |
| departures: | 2006: 30 Sep |
| price: | From £1,245 (22 days) excluding flights, local payment E300 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Istanbul
From evocative Istanbul through ancient Greece to historic Rome, this is an exciting trip that follows in the footsteps of Homer and Hercules.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-2: | Istanbul. Like a lost and forgotten kingdom, exotic Istanbul waits to be re-discovered. We explore beautiful Topkapi Palace, having evolved in style and structure through many eras. |
| Day 3: | Thessaloniki. One of Europe's oldest cities, Thessaloniki is famous for its Byzantine architecture. Wander among ancient churches displaying fine mosaics and wall paintings such as St Demetrius or St Sophia. |
| Days 4-5: | Mount Olympus. The abode of the gods and home to rich varieties of flora, Mount Olympus is a breathtaking place to stretch the legs, either with a summit hike or a leisurely lowland stroll. |
| Days 6-8: | Athens. Combining a very walkable city with an abundance of time allows us to enjoy Athens' highlights. Admire the sweeping views from the prime vantage point of the Parthenon. |
| Day 9: | Meteora. The seemingly inaccessible sandstone peaks of Meteora are home to incredible clifftop monasteries, once inhabited by monks escaping the unsettling Turkish occupation. |
| Days 10-11: | Vikos Gorge. There is no end to the trekking options radiating through this spectacular canyon landscape. Make the most of them from our base in the tiny traditional village of Monodendri. |
| Days 12-14: | Parga & Paxos. Slow down the pace with a lazy lunch in Paxos. This jewel in the Ionian Sea's turquoise waters is covered in wild flowers, fruit trees and terraced vineyards. |
| Days 15-16: | Lecce. Admire the lavish Baroque decoration in this aristocratic town and explore its Greek and Roman legacies or do as the locals do and escape to the beach! |
| Days 17-19: | Alberobello. White-washed each year, the unique cone-shaped trulli are an interesting backdrop to a village bike ride. We stay in a region renowned for its outstanding Italian wines, olive oil and pasta - it's essential to try them all! |
| Day 20: | Naples. Carved out by many mighty empires and nationalities of merchants and pirates, Naples is still a major trading port and fascinating to explore. |
| Days 21-22: | Rome. Arrival into the Eternal City is marked by a sumptuous dinner in the cobblestone setting of its ancient streets. A fitting time to reminisce and say ciao to your fellow travellers. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) award winner
This tourism business won an award in our 2004 Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical, Magazine of the Royal Geographical Societyhow this holiday makes a difference
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Traversing three countries from Istanbul to Rome, it is important for travellers to learn as much as possible in advance about the many cultural differences so that we can travel respecting these differences and minimising any possible negative impacts. Travelling large distances also provides numerous opportunities for local interaction as we cover so much ground using all means of public transport. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during your journey.
Your leader and the occasional local guide will be able to direct you to many local eateries throughout the trip, helping you discover real local fare, at real local prices (and probably helping you learn some local language at the same time). In some of our overnight stops, such as Monodendri, a tiny village isolated on a hillside, we stay in small private guesthouses owned by local families – a great way to interact and also put money back into the local community. In other destinations, such as Moudiano, you get to enjoy the atmosphere and rub shoulders with the locals in the morning markets. Getting away from using motorised transport we also explore the countryside by bicycle or by foot – a great way to cover a lot of ground, see the scenery close up, and get some fresh air at the same time. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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