Treasures of the Aegean: Greek Island Cruise, Athens & Istanbul (2012)

Fly from the U.S. to Athens, Greece.

An OAT representative will meet you at the Athens airport and assist with your transfer to our Athens hotel. This afternoon, enjoy a walk to get acquainted with the area around the hotel. We gather for a Welcome Drink and briefing, before dinner on your own.

This morning, we travel overland across the plain of Thessaly, past Mount Brallos, and through a landscape studded with rocky pinnacles to Kalambaka. Enjoy lunch on your own en route. After our afternoon arrival, enjoy time at leisure or for personal exploration.

It’s rewarding to linger in or walk around Kalambaka’s main squares and enjoy the atmosphere of this provincial town in Thessaly. This evening we dine at our hotel.

This morning, we ride by coach to the towering rock formations, on top of which are built the famous monasteries of Meteora. We’ll enjoy breathtaking views from this unique setting and visit the monasteries, some of which date to the 16th century. Meteora means “suspended in the air,” and these astonishing retreats are indeed perched atop pinnacles that rise about 1,000 feet from the valley floor. For centuries, the monasteries served as Christian redoubts while the Ottoman Turks ruled Greece, and the monasteries are still in operation today.

After lunch on your own, you can join our discovery of a Byzantine tradition during a visit to a nearby icon-painting workshop, or return to the hotel for the remainder of your afternoon at leisure. This evening, enjoy dinner hosted by a local Greek family in their home.

After breakfast we travel overland to Delphi, driving across the plains of Attica and Beotia before we start climbing the slopes of Mount Parnassus. We have lunch on our own along the way, and later reach the picturesque mountain village where we will stay tonight.

A healthful Mediterranean style of cooking, Greek cuisine is popular throughout the world, with its reliance on olive oil, grains, wine, fish, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Late this afternoon, we learn how to prepare classic Greek specialties in a cooking class. Then, you are invited to enjoy an authentic taste as we gather for dinner.

Today, absorb the majesty of ancient Delphi, including the Temple of Apollo where the oracle once prophesied. This ancient sanctuary is beautifully set in a landscape fit for a god, at the foot of a mountain with a vista over olive groves to the Bay of Itea.

Those entering the sanctuary of Apollo in ancient times first purified themselves with the water of the Castalia Fountain, situated in the area. As we approach the Temple of Apollo, we walk the Sacred Way used by ancient Greeks such as the historian Plutarch, who was a priest of Apollo at Delphi. We’ll see treasuries built here by the Athenians, the Thebans, the Corinthians, and the Syracusans—the great powers of their day—and the theater, built to seat 5,000 people, from which it’s possible to get an amazing view if you climb to the top row. We also see the famous Tholos at the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. Located a short distance from the main ruins, the circular structure was constructed between 380 and 360 BC and once consisted of 20 Doric columns, three of which have been restored.

We also visit the recently renovated Delphi Archaeological Museum. The unmatched holdings here include the larger-than-life bronze Charioteer, dating to about 470 BC and one of the finest surviving bronze works of antiquity. The museum is filled with other masterpieces from the Archaic, Classical, and Roman periods, including scenes of the gods watching the Trojan War, a nine-statue family monument from the fourth century BC, and a sculpture of Roman Emperor Hadrian’s beloved friend Antinoos.

Then we return to the hotel and the remainder of the afternoon is free. Dinner is on your own this evening.

After breakfast, we begin our transfer to Piraeus. You will have time for lunch on your own, and then we embark on our cruise.

This evening, meet your crew and enjoy a Welcome Drink. We'll enjoy dinner onboard, followed by Greek dancing. During the night, our ship sails toward the island of Syros

This morning we explore Syros, whose main port town, Ermoupoli, is the capital of the Cyclades. This is the largest of the island ports that we visit; in the late 19th century, it was the main port for all of Greece, and it has a wealth of beautifully restored historic buildings including old mansions and churches. We take a walking tour and discover the charms of this lively traditional Aegean port town. Here, we'll also taste one of Greece's favorite sweets, Loukoumi, a gelatin candy dusted with powdered sugar.

We have lunch onboard and then cruise to Mykonos. We make an afternoon visit to this vacation spot popular with the international jet set.

We enjoy dinner together onboard and moor for the night in Mykonos.

This morning, we make a short cruise to Delos. The mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, Delos has been settled for more than 5,000 years. We'll stroll among the restored remnants of markets, towers, and fountains, and see the preserved mosaics that earned this outstanding preserve of antiquities designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After lunch onboard, we cruise to Naxos, arriving late this afternoon. This is the largest and most mountainous island in the Cyclades, topped by 3,294-foot Mount Zas. Regarded by the ancient Greeks as being sacred to Dionysos, Naxos still produces excellent wine. In Greek legend, this was also the island where Theseus cruelly abandoned Ariadne, breaking his promise to marry her in return for the help she had given him in defeating the Minotaur.

We dine aboard ship again this evening.

We ride across Naxos to the village of Kournochari and then take a walk to Melanes, a valley hamlet rich with fruit and olive trees, and visit a garden where a half-finished ancient kouros sculpture lies on the ground. This kind of statue of a young man from Greece's Archaic period may have been intended to portray a guardian of Zeus, and was modeled after the formal style of ancient Egyptian sculpture. From here, we transfer to Naxos Town and descend on foot to the harbor, where we return to the ship for lunch. Your afternoon is free to relax or to explore Naxos further on your own.

Gather in the early evening for a bus ride to some homes of local residents, where we'll enjoy a special island dinner. Later, back on the ship, we are treated to a lively dance performance by members of the island's folk-dancing association. Our ship charts a course toward Santorini overnight.

Alight from your ship this morning and take in the exquisite beauty of Santorini. This remarkable island is the remnant of the rim of a volcanic caldera, much of which was blasted away by a huge eruption in 1600 BC. The bay enclosed by the crescent is nearly 1,300 feet deep, and our destination, the village of Fira, is perched on the caldera rim, about 1,000 feet above the water. You may choose your method of ascent: a funicular (cable car) or a traditional donkey ride. In this spectacularly situated town, gleaming white houses look down hundreds of feet to the bay. We'll visit a local museum and learn about the excavations at Akrotiri—an ancient Minoan city buried by volcanic ash—during our tour here. Although the site of Akrotiri is not open to the public while it undergoes restoration, we drive to the picturesque village of Oia and learn about the fascinating ancient history of this area.

You may enjoy some free time in Santorini this afternoon, then enjoy dinner aboard the ship this evening. We cruise to our next port, Amorgos, an elongated island which winds like a serpent through the sea.

After breakfast this morning, we depart for the Hozoviotissa Monastery. The pride of Amorgos, the monastery was built into the cliff face to honor what the locals call "The Grace of Panagia," more commonly known as "The Virgin Mary." Perched hundreds of feet above the water, the monastery's interior is lined with icons, paintings, and collected treasures, and is presided over by monks.

After our monastery visit, enjoy free time in Amorgos. Settled since the fourth century BC, this unspoiled island owed its prosperity during ancient times to its proximity to the coast of Asia Minor. Its name derives from the Mourgos, a rare plant used to extract the red dye for royal garments. You'll have the rest of the morning to experience the traditional ambiance of this undiscovered gem.

After lunch back aboard our ship, we cruise to the isle of Patmos, arriving in time for dinner onboard.

This morning, we explore the beautiful and rugged island of Patmos, named a Sacred Island by the Greek government in 1981 and long a popular pilgrimage site. Though small in size, Patmos abounds in ancient myth. It was believed that Patmos originally existed at the bottom of the sea, visible only by moonlight, until Zeus gained permission from Poseidon, his brother, to raise it into the light and warm it into life. According to Roman legend, the island received its name when Poseidon stepped on it (patima being Greek for "step"). And it is also said that Orestes fled to this island to escape the vengeance of the Furies after he killed his mother, Clytemnestra.

The island served as exile for another important figure from history: St. John the Evangelist, one of Jesus' twelve apostles. At the time, the island's near inaccessibility made it a perfect site for the banishment of criminals and political agitators. Exiled from Ephesus, St. John lived in a grotto beneath the Temple of Diana for 18 months, between AD 95 and 97. It was there that he was said to have received his vision of fire and brimstone and dictated the Book of Revelation. He also wrote the Fourth Gospel during this period.

During this morning's included tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, we'll visit the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse, where St. John lived and worked. If you see cracks in the walls of the cave, consider that they are said to have appeared when the apostle heard the voice of the Lord. We'll also explore the eleventh-century Monastery of St. John, built by the monk Christodolous on the ruins of the Temple of Diana. Fortified over the next two centuries to protect it against marauding pirates, this imposing monastery is visible virtually everywhere on the island and has remained in continuous operation for more than 900 years. We'll see some priceless religious relics during our visit here, and be sure to listen for the remarkable acoustics inside the main chapel. We'll also enjoy breathtaking views of the Aegean in Hora, the 17th-century town of dazzling white houses that tumbles down the hillside surrounding the citadel.

After lunch back aboard our ship, enjoy some free time on Patmos before our ship sets sail for Kusadasi, arriving in the evening. Enjoy the Captain's Farewell Cocktail and Dinner as our ship remains moored at Kusadasi.

We disembark our small ship in Kusadasi this morning and head out to probe the ruins of nearby Ephesus—one of the best-preserved and most extensive (2,000 acres) classical Greco-Roman city in Asia. Located 60 miles from Izmir, Ephesus dates to at least 1300 BC and was home to the early philosopher Heraclitus. As the commercial center and capital city of Roman Asia Minor, it was once the fourth-largest city in the Roman Empire, boasting a population numbering more than 300,000. One ancient legend attributes the founding of Ephesus to the Amazons of Greek mythology. Another credits the Athenian Androclus, who received advice from an oracle to establish a colony at the "place of the fish and the boar." And so, when he and his crew saw a wild pig charge out of underbrush set ablaze inadvertently by locals grilling fish, he staked his claim on the Anatolian shore. Since 1992, Grand Circle Foundation has been contributing to the preservation and ongoing excavations of this remarkable site, with its donations to the Foundation of Friends of Ephesus.

Our discoveries in Ephesus include a visit to the Basilica of St. John, constructed in the fifth century over the tomb of the evangelist St. John, and the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

After Ephesus, we'll visit a local cooperative to learn how world-renowned hand-woven Turkish carpets are produced. We'll also enjoy lunch together here.

Late this afternoon, we transfer to the airport for our short flight to Istanbul. We check into our hotel before dinner on your own at one of this cosmopolitan city's many great restaurants.

Enjoy the day getting to know Istanbul, the great romantic city straddling the Bosporus Strait. This morning, we'll visit a few of the great landmarks of the city's historic center, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First, we'll explore the sprawling Topkapi Palace, the maze of opulent buildings that served as the seat of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries. The Topkapi was a city-palace with a population of approximately 4,000 people. It housed all the Ottoman sultans from Sultan Mehmet II to Abdulmecit—nearly 600 years and 25 sultans. Today, it is the world's oldest and largest surviving palace, one of the world's richest museums, and a masterpiece of Turkish architecture—a complex of shady courtyards overlooking the Golden Horn, where the Sea of Marmara meets the Bosporus. Highlights include the weapons collection, and galleries exhibiting the imperial collection of crystal, silver, fabled jewels, and Chinese porcelain.

We'll also visit the supremely beautiful Sultan Ahmet Mosque. The mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 by the architect Mehmet under the orders of Sultan Ahmet I, who, interestingly, ascended the throne at age 14, was the 14th ruler, and died 14 years later. The mosque is part of a large complex consisting of tombs, medreses (theological schools), fountains, a health center, homes, storehouses, and other buildings, but it is best known for its courtyard, elegant domes, and six heavenly minarets. As we remove our shoes to enter the mosque, you'll see how it earned the name Blue Mosque: Its interior gleams with a magnificent paneling of blue-and-white Iznik tiles.

After lunch on our own, our tour continues at the magnificent Hagia Sophia, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Constructed as a Christian church during the sixth century, this Church of the Holy Wisdom served as the mother church of the Orthodox religion for more than 1,000 years. In 1453, the Ottoman Turks seized control of Istanbul and converted the church into a mosque, which it remained until 1935. Today, it is a museum.

Among the wonders of this remarkable structure is its huge dome—the model for Byzantine churches to come. As you enter the Hagia Sophia, note the cannonballs along the outer courtyard, which remain from the Ottomans' siege of the city. Entering the sanctuary, you will be awed by its immense vaulted ceiling that soars above the four arches on which it rests. Admire the marble walls and the juxtaposition of Islamic calligraphic roundels with golden Christian mosaics that are still being uncovered. Please note: Hagia Sophia is closed Mondays. If this day falls on a Monday, we will visit Chora Museum instead.

Just outside, you'll also see the Roman Hippodrome, where thundering chariots once competed in races. Wrestling, boxing, and other athletic events were also held here, as were political rallies. Women will be glad that times have changed, as they were not admitted when the arena was built, in AD 203. Of special note at the Hippodrome are the Obelisk of Theodosius, which dates to around 1500 BC and which was transported to Istanbul (then Constantinople) in AD 390. You'll also see the fourth-century Constantine Column; the Greek Serpentine Column, one of city's oldest monuments, dating to 479 BC; and the German Fountain, a gift to the Ottoman Sultan in 1898.

Your introduction to Istanbul concludes with a stroll through one of the largest (and with its origins in the 15th century, the oldest) covered markets in the world, Istanbul's Grand Bazaar (known as the Covered Bazaar to the Turkish people). As you browse among the 4,000 shops stretched along miles of labyrinthine passageways, you'll find that the street names recall the days when each trade had its own quarter: goldsmiths' street, carpet sellers' street, and the street of the skullcap-makers. Perhaps you'll find a bargain in brilliant hand-painted ceramics, copper and brassware, gleaming gold jewelry, spices, leather goods, traditional costumes, and antiques.

This evening, we'll celebrate our travels with a Farewell Dinner together a local restaurant.

This morning you rise very early to transfer to the Istanbul airport for your flight home. If you are taking the optional post-trip extension, you fly from Istanbul to Nevsehir.