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9D Golden Fleece (incl. 7 days cruising)
Greece / Turkey
OVERVIEW
The Golden Fleece, operated by Louis Hellenic Cruises, offers relaxation, sightseeing  and fabulous Greek food not only for the young, but also the young at heart. Beginning and ending in Athens, you'll cruise for 7 days to the Cycladic islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes and Patmos as well stops in Turkey at Kusadasi and bustling Istanbul. There's nothing quite like watching the sun set over the Mediterranean from the bow of your luxury cruise ship while sipping on the cocktail of the day. Paradise.
Tour Highlights These highlights are included in the price of your tour.
- Athens
- Visit the famous Plaka area
- Istanbul
- Visit the City - Grand Bazaar and Blue Mosque
- Mykonos
- Visit Mykonos town & see the traditional Cycladic-style houses
- Patmos
- See the Monastery of St. John on Patmos
- See Izmir, the birthplace of Homer
- Visit Izmir's local bazaar
- Rhodes
- See the fortified town of Rhodes
- Santorini
- Visit the main town of Fira
- See the spectacular volcanic islands surrounding Santorini
Daily Itinerary
 Day 1 Arrive Athens (Hotel)
Check-in to your hotel and spend the afternoon getting a sneak peek at Athens, Europe’s oldest city. This evening meet your Tour Representative and fellow Contiki travellers. Start your tour off with a night to remember and get to know your group at an optional dinner in the rustic district of Plaka. Perched on the shady slopes beneath the Acropolis, Plaka is full of traditional tavernas that spill out onto the pavements.
Day 2 Athens and sail to Istanbul (Cruise ship)
Athens is crammed with myth and ancient wonders, and busy with modern, urban soul. With a free morning, keep exploring this open-air museum. You could honour the birthplace of drama by climbing around the massive Theatre of Dionysus or get the background on Ancient Greece at the National Archaeological Museum. Otherwise, experience Athens’ urban heart, take off into the streets and find a hole-in-the-wall food joint, where you can try the famous souvlaki. Later, board our cruise ship bound for Istanbul. Settle into your cabin and watch the sun set over the Aegean then kick off the cruise with your new friends in the nightclub.(B,D,S)
Day 3 Cruising to Istanbul (Cruise ship)
There’s a day’s sailing ahead of you, so take advantage of the fantastic facilities onboard. Position yourself poolside and take in the views of the Dardanelles from the deck or have a go at one of the activities on hand. Pulling into Istanbul, we’ll drop anchor at Karaköy, the city’s main port. Stretch your legs on land before dinner and get into the cosmopolitan hub of Istanbul – the last stop on the Silk Road and the only city in the world to span two continents.(B,L,D,S)
Day 4 Istanbul and the Bosphorus (Cruise ship)
With a day here, there’s plenty of time to get a real feel for this cultural melting pot. Begin with an optional tour of Istanbul and get an insider’s angle on the city with our Local Guide, who’ll show off the city’s core sites. Cross the Galata Bridge for stunning views, check out Emperor Constantine’s Hagia Sophia and then eat at the magnificent Topkapi Palace, former home of the sultans. Our Rep shows you one of the city’s major draw cards, the stunning Blue Mosque. It’s an amazing building with a series of domes and minarets dominating the skyline, complete with a breathtaking interior of tens of thousands of blue tiles. After that, we head right into the heart of the city and plunge into several kilometres of shops at the Grand Baazar. It’s an unforgettable shopping experience, where tacky trinkets and authentic treasures are sold side by side. With carpets, jewellery, spices, music, electronics and more, the place is buzzing, so make sure you’ve got your haggling hat on. Otherwise, live a bit of Istanbul’s daily life. Try your hand at backgammon in a sidewalk café and watch the crowds go by as you sip on Turkish coffee. Chill out in a tea garden, or take to the time-honoured tradition of the hammam (steam bath house) and get scrubbed down on heated marble stones. Tonight, head to Greece’s stunning islands. Sail between two continents on the world’s narrowest navigated straight.(B,L,D,S)
Day 5 Cruising from Istanbul to Mykonos (Cruise ship)
We arrive at the island of white-washed houses and blue-domed churches. Enjoy the sunset over “Little Venice” and soak up the atmosphere before returning to the ship to sail for Patmos.(B,L,D,S)
Day 6 Cruising to Izmir via Patmos (Cruise ship)
Wake up to Patmos, with its sacred spots and wild countryside. Get the background from our Rep on why the island attracts both pilgrims and holiday makers. Explore the monasteries, traditional settlements and country churches. Get into the spirit of the island with an optional excursion that takes you to Patmos’ UNESCO World Heritage sites: the 11th century Monastery of the Apocalypse and to the Grotto of St. John – the hilltop cave where John the Apostle lived for many years. Our next port of call is the Turkish town of Izmir, with its modern cosmopolitan flair. Enjoy a long walk along the “quais” (quays), stroll around the city, visit the main bazaar & be surprised by its old Greek Neoclassical mansions & buildings & the French quarter. Finish your day by heading up to the port-side castle for maybe a drink & some panoramic city views before heading back to the ship for the night. *Please note:* Tours departing in September & October 2011 will cruise to Kusadasi instead of Izmir. Please call our reservations team if you have any questions.(B,L,D,S)
Day 7 Cruising to Rhodes (Cruise ship)
Next up is Rhodes, smack in the middle of three continents, serving up a mix of relics from different civilisations. Choose to learn more about the island as the group travels through history in an optional excursion with a Local Guide. Head up to the Acropolis of Lindos and wander within the walls of Rhode’s medieval town centre, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Use your free afternoon to explore the modern side of Rhodes or discover more of the old town. There’s some of the best shopping in the region with great prices on local goods like honey, olive oil, leather and silver. Relax on the awesome beaches, put your feet up with a glass of local wine and order fresh seafood or calamari (squid rings) - typically Greek food! Back on board, we set sail to the port of Heraklion.(B,L,D,S)
Day 8 Cruising to Santorini via Crete (Cruise ship)
Today we start the day off with a visit to the biggest of the Greek Islands, Crete. Choose an optional excursion to the Palace of Knossos where our Local Guide will tell you the story of this 4000 year old mythical Minoan Palace, where the minotaur (half-man/half-bull) was slain. Next up: Santorini. This island will make your jaw drop with its stunning natural beauty – the result of a massive volcanic eruption. From the water look up at the iconic blue–domed, whitewashed churches. Once we’re back on land, head up the cliff and the twisting stone steps, save your breath on a donkey ride or take it easy in the cable car for views of neighbouring volcanic islands. Your Rep will fill you in on Fira – dramatically perched on the edge of the crater - as the group explores its narrow streets. Get tips on the best places to pick up a piece of Santorini’s famous jewellery and where to try out the delicious local speciality, domatoktedes (fried tomato balls). Otherwise head to one of the distinctive black or red sand beaches, and soak up the breathtaking scenery. You could jump on an optional boat ride out to the active volcanic island of Nea Kamini. Cruise past lava formations and get up close to the active crater.(B,L,D,S)
Day 9 Arrival into Athens
After breakfast and a farewell to our hosts, we disembark in the Piraeus and head to Syntagma Square. Set right in the heart of Athens and home to Greece’s parliament, this is where our tour ends. For those who are keen to learn more, there’s a chance to step back in time to the birthplace of democracy. Get the run down on the Parthenon and the Acropolis from our Local Guide, as you wander around the famous columns perched above the city sprawl.(B)
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