Treasures of the Ancient World: Greek Islands and Turkey Cruise

Today you will stop in the seaside resort town of Kusadasi, which is located on Turkey's Aegean Coast. From here you can take a shore excursion to Ephesus. This ancient Greek city was widely known throughout the ancient world for its Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. While the origin of Ephesus is Greek, most of the ruins that you will see today are Roman, and in terms of preservation – these ruins rival those of Italy's Pompeii. Ephesus also has an interesting history with early Christians. It is believed that the Virgin Mary eventually settled here and lived until her assumption. St. Paul also lived in Ephesus for two years. It is also believed that St. John the Evangelist spent his last years in the region around Ephesus. Later on today, the cruise ship will stop in Patmos, a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea. Patmos is believed to be the place where St. John wrote the text of the Book of Revelation while in exile. The Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was constructed on one of the island's highest points. It is home to many treasures including priceless icons and manuscripts; monks still reside in the monastery today.

Today the cruise ship will stop on the Greek island of Rhodes. Throughout the ancient world, Rhodes was well known for its Colossus of Rhodes, which was a massive statue of the Greek Titan Helios; it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. During your stop in Rhodes, a shore excursion will take place that will include a guided tour of the Acropolis of Lindos and of Rhodes' medieval Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Should your group decide not to participate in the shore excursion, there is still plenty to be enjoyed inside Rhodes' historic city walls, which contain many boutiques, street vendors, restaurants, coffee bars and art galleries.

This morning we arrive to the island of Crete, the largest and most rugged of the Greek islands. Crete was home of the great Minoan Civilization, and the mythological home of Zeus. A shore excursion to the nearby Knossos excavations is available this morning. Here you can see archaeological discoveries that reveal a very advanced, 6000-year-old civilization. Alternatively, you may prefer to visit to the wine region of Peza – which lies south of the port city of Heraklion – and the quaint market town of Archanes, a lovely place to experience local cuisine and culture. Later this afternoon, you will arrive to what is arguably the best-known and most breathtaking of all of the Greek Islands: Santorini. Because of its volcanic origins, the island's formation and in particular its caldera are dramatically beautiful and quite rare. Santorini is interesting, historic and unimaginably picturesque. After Crete – nowhere else has as interesting archeological artifacts and ruins belonging to the ancient Minoan civilization. Many visitors also flock to scenic Santorini to taste its distinguished wines or to sunbathe on one of its many beautiful beaches – which are home to transparent, azure waters and black, red or white sand depending on which beach you visit. While in Santorini, you can relax in a local cafe, swim or check out the many jewelry boutiques. Should your group like to participate in a shore excursion, it could visit the village of Oia – best known for its famous sunset views – or cruise around the active crater of the nearby New Kameni island, a fascinating place for fans.

After breakfast in the hotel, enjoy the morning and afternoon at leisure in Athens. Consider paying a visit to the New Acropolis Museum or to the Ancient Agora. With tonight being your group's last night in Greece, a special evening has been planned which will begin with a scenic drive to the port city of Piraeus, where your group will enjoy ouzo with Greek appetizers in Mikrolimano Harbor. Afterwards you will return to Athens to visit its most-loved neighborhood: Plaka. This historic area was built on top of the ancient city of Athens. Here your group will visit a traditional Greek taverna for an evening of local dishes, Bouzouki music and Greek folk dances.

After breakfast in the hotel, your group will check out and transfer by private bus to the airport for its return flight to the USA.