Mediterranean Odyssey: Greece & Turkey

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Grande Bretagne. A transfer is included from Athens International Airport to historic Hotel Grande Bretagne, located in the heart of Athens. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening.

In Athens, excursion choices include a guided tour of the Acropolis, high above the city, with its complex of temple ruins including the iconic Parthenon; peruse the staggering wealth of archaeological treasures at the Acropolis Museum, accompanied by a local guide. Visit picturesque Plaka, a tree-lined neighborhood of narrow streets, and sidewalk cafes, for time at leisure. Or, begin the day with a panoramic drive viewing iconic city sights such as the Academy (founded by Plato), the National Gardens and Panathenaic stadium – site of the first modern Olympic games; visit the Acropolis Museum and Plaka. Drive the short distance to the port of Piraeus and board Star Legend; this evening, sail for the Cycladic islands.

Arrive at Mykonos, Island of Winds, known for resorts, glorious beaches, fishing boats, and (naturally) windmills. Everyone begins the day with a walking tour of the town of Mykonos, then your choice of shore excursion. Ferry to Delos, birthplace of Apollo; the most sacred island in Ancient Greece, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site teeming with ruins from prehistoric times to Antiquity. Or, on an island drive, visit a farm for a taste of traditional daily life as well as homemade bread and tzatziki. Following time to explore Mykonos on your own, join us later this afternoon for a special experience – an olive oil tasting and presentation aboard ship with a master sommelier.

Crete was the island hub of the Ancient World, and Heraklion, its capital city, is steeped in 5,000 years of history and unrivaled collections of Greek artifacts. Explore centuries of architectural influences, from ancient Minoan to Arabic and Byzantine, on a guided walking tour, Or visit the Palace of Knossos, a Minoan masterpiece, and the fabulous Archaeological Museum, one of the top museums in Greece. At a family winery, the owners give you a tour and talk about winemaking over a lunch of local specialties.

Rhodes was a maritime power and a center of fabulous wealth and culture before an earthquake in 226 BC shook the city-state to its core. It fell into ruin until the Crusades, when the Knights of St. John captured Rhodes and restored its glory. The walled medieval city they built is a place out of time, an astonishing warren of stone streets, arches, and alleys, with beguiling architecture and beauty around every corner. Its centerpiece is the massive Palace of the Grand Master, a treasure-house of artifacts and mosaics. Take a guided walking tour of Old Town followed by a Greek lunch at a local restaurant. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Rhodes as you wish.

Alongside Lindos and Ialyssos, Kamiros was unified in the 5th century BC to create the powerful city-state of Rhodes. Today, Kamiros stands as a testament to those ancient times, and is sure to be a memorable experience on your tour of Greece. Notable for its production of oil, wine and figs, you'll have an opportunity today to see the remnants of the ancient civilization, including a stop in Filerimos for views of its architecturally-unique monastery, before enjoying an afternoon to do as you wish. Tonight, an evening briefing precedes dinner aboard the ship.

Welcome to Turkey! Today, your ship docks in the port city of Bodrum, known in ancient times as Halicarnassus and once home to the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, also known as the tomb of Mausolus. Your journey through this ancient city takes you on a guided exploration of the Castle of St. Peter. Built by the Knights Hospitaller to be used as a mainland stronghold, the castle was eventually taken over by the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s where it remained under their control for nearly 400 years. Following World War I, the castle laid dormant, it wasn't until 1962 that the Turkish Government transformed the space into the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archeology, housing the underwater discoveries found from ancient shipwrecks throughout the Aegean Sea. You'll be able to explore the museum and its collection of amphoras, ancient glass, bronze, clay and iron items on a tour of the museum followed by a visit to the aforementioned Temple of Mauselous, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This afternoon, your adventure continues as you embark on a three hour excursion aboard a traditional wooden boat along Bodrum's turquoise coast. Tonight, your ship sets sail for Kusadasi.

Arrive this morning in the port of Kusadasi, Turkey for a guided excursion to Ephesus, one of the world's best-preserved classical cities revealing important vestiges of an ancient Roman civilization; in its heyday, marble lined the streets, fountains flowed, and an eternal flame burned upon a sacred altar. Take a walking tour of the ancient city, seeing the Odeon, Temple of Hadrian, Trajan's Fountain, the Arcadian Way and the two-tiered Library of Celsus. Have lunch at a local restaurant and a carpet demonstration before returning to the ship for cocktails. Enjoy a special dinner ashore this evening, complete with music by the Aegean Chamber Orchestra, at the Library of Celsus at Ephesus. Chart a course for the island of Patmos tonight.

Today you'll discover the many charms of the picturesque island of Patmos, an important Christian pilgrimage site for its role in the writing of the Book of Revelations in the Christian Bible by St. John the Theologian. You'll have a choice of activities today. The first is a photography excursion through the historic heart of Chora, Patmos' capital city; with your guide, make your way through the old village's maze of winding cobblestoned streets and arched alleyways, learning to compose and capture stunning images of ancient whitewashed buildings and bell towers, rugged cliffs and hills, and blue Aegean seascapes. Alternatively, take a tour of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian plus a visit to the Grotto of St. John – also known as the Cave of the Apocalypse – where tradition has it that John of Patmos received visions from Jesus that he recorded as the Book of Revelations; the grotto and the monastery have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following lunch, you'll have free time to explore the port of Skala on Patmos. Tonight, join us for a farewell reception and dinner as your ship charts a course back to Athens.

Tour ends: Athens. Disembark your Windstar ship for an 8:15 AM transfer. Flights should depart after 11:45 AM due to disembarkation schedules which cannot be guaranteed. A transfer is included to Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport or Hotel Grande Bretagne. Allow at least three hours for flight check-in.