Treasures of the Aegean – Southbound

14 days
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews  
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USTOA

Small Ship Cruise
From the Parthenon to the Blue Mosque, see classical antiquities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites on a cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey aboard Wind Star, featuring memorable hotel stays in Athens and Istanbul.

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Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Guided tour of the Acropolis and visit to Acropolis Museum; exploring Mycenae
    • including Agamemnon's tomb; cruising the Greek Isles; visits to Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque; a boat ride in Istanbul on the Bosphorus; a carpet demonstration in a village near Kusadasi; and a special Greek dinner in ancient Rhodes

What's this trip about?

    From the Parthenon to the Blue Mosque, see classical antiquities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites on a cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey aboard Wind Star, featuring memorable hotel stays in Athens and Istanbul.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityIstanbul, Turkey
End CityAthens

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Greece
  • Turkey

Attractions

  • Athens
  • Ephesus
  • Epidaurus
  • Istanbul
  • Piraeus
  • Rhodes
  • Santorini

Trip includes

    • All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers Traveling with Tauck's private group and the same Tauck Director on land and at sea aboard the ship Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $3,353 3 nights at InterContinental Istanbul and 3 nights at one of the world's top rated hotels, Hotel Grande Bretagne in the heart of Athens Exclusive Tauck evening on the island of Rhodes featuring traditional Greek dinner with folkloric entertainment Special Tauck Experiences featuring local cultural entertainment and music include belly dancing and music performances onboard ship Cruise along the Bosphorus in Istanbul A carpet demonstration in a village near Kusadasi Aboard ship – daily cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks and wine with dinner Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted 33 meals (13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners) on land and at sea; service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, and porterage

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Istanbul

Tour begins: 6:00 PM InterContinental Istanbul. A transfer is included from Istanbul Ataturk International Airport to the InterContinental Istanbul. Meet fellow travelers at the welcome reception and dinner.

MEALS : D

LODGING : InterContinental Istanbul

PORTOFCALL : Istanbul

Day 2 Istanbul's Topkapi Palace & other sights

Istanbul is truly the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and the center of Turkish history and culture. Begin the day with a visit to exotic Topkapi Palace, residence of the sultans and the seat of power for the Ottoman Empire for 400 years; during your tour, you’ll see t...

Day 3 The Hagia Sophia & Istanbul's Grand Bazaar

Guided sightseeing today includes the vast underground Basilica Cistern and one of the world’s true architectural gems – beautiful Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine masterpiece. First constructed in 537 AD and destroyed, rebuilt and modified throughout the centuries, this cat...

Day 4 The Blue Mosque & more, then embark your ship in Istanbul

This morning in Istanbul, tour the light-filled Blue Mosque, studded with domes and minarets on the outside and glistening with some 20,000 colored tiles and 260 stained-glass windows inside; the Hippodrome, in the center of the city when it was called Constantinople,...

Day 5 Cruising the Aegean Sea

Spend a relaxing day at sea as your yacht charts a course along the Turkish coast to Kusadasi with sails unfurled; you are free to experience the amenities and activities aboard Wind Star... perhaps challenging a shipmate to a board game on deck, taking a refreshing s...

Day 6 From Kusadasi, explore the antiquities of Ephesus

Dock in Kusadasi, Turkey, today. Drive to Ephesus, once the chief port on the Aegean, now known for its spectacular antiquities and ruins. See the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, Terrace Houses, Gate of Hercules, Greek Theater, and other temples, baths, and ...

Day 7 Discover the island of Rhodes

Your cruise arrives at Rhodes this morning, which basks in sunshine for more than 300 days a year. Join us for a guided tour of Rhodes’ medieval Old Town – there are about 200 lanes in this Hellenistic city that lead to columned ruins, temples and cobblestone streets ...

Day 8 Turkish coast wonders in Bodrum

Wind Star charts a course to Bodrum, Turkey, where you will see the remains of the ancient city of Halicarnassus, including the ruins of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, tomb of King Mausolus of Caria. Visit the Castle of...

Day 9 The spectacular island of Santorini

Rise early to catch spectacular water views of the Greek island of Santorini as the ship pulls into port. Visit Oia and the capital city of Fira with its whitewashed, blue-domed buildings set on high, steep slopes above the sea. Sightseeing today is by cable car, donk...

Day 10 Explore the islands of Mykonos & Delos

Your ship calls on glamorous Mykonos today, weather permitting. A choice of activities includes a tour of the island or a boat ride to the tiny island of Delos, the mythological birthplace of Apollo and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This religious pilgrimage destinati...

Day 11 Disembark in Piraeus, National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Disembark Wind Star today in Piraeus and head to Athens for an orientation tour of the capital of both ancient and modern Greece, and one of the oldest cities on Earth. Then view one of the world’s best collections of ancient Greek artifacts on a guided tour of the Na...

Day 12 Antiquities in Corinth and Mycenae

Take an excursion from Athens today beginning with a visit to the famed – and narrow – Corinth Canal and ancient Corinth. The once-powerful ancient Greek city of Corinth lies on the isthmus connecting the peninsula of the Peloponnese and the rest of Greece; today you'...

Day 13 The Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum & Athens as you please

In the quiet early morning, before the crowds, visit the Acropolis of Athens – the rock above the city on which four of the greatest masterpieces of classical Greek art and architecture sit – the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum, and the Temple of Athena Nike....

Day 14 Journey home

Tour ends in Athens. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Hotel Grande Bretagne to Athens International Airport is included. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Athens

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Dates & Availability

Price From $7,190
Price per day$514
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tauck Reviews & Ratings

4.2/5  Great
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Kurlyk40

May 2024

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Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

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Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Ship & cabin information
WIND STAR
WIND STAR Windstar Cruises’ slogan, “180° From Ordinary,” aptly describes the delights of a voyage aboard the intimate Wind Star and Wind Spirit. These totally modern, four-masted schooners are twin sisters designed to show guests the world from the perspective of a luxury motor-sail-yacht. All staterooms (188 square feet) feature ocean views, closed circuit color television, DVD and CD players, a mini-bar/refrigerator, international direct-dial telephones, a hairdryer and private baths with luxurious toiletries and plush robes. Public areas include a salt water swimming pool, a hot tub and the pool bar on deck 4, an intimate lounge and bar, a fitness center, and a library offering books, videos and CDs for use in staterooms. Of particular note is complimentary water-skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling and kayaking, weather permitting. “Casual elegance” defines life aboard these sleek vessels, with jackets and ties never being required. Dining in The Restaurant or in the more casual Veranda Restaurant is an epicurean delight. Over 90 crewmembers attend to the needs of just 148 guests, assuring attentive service.
WIND STAR Built: 1986 Renovated: 2007 Length: 440 ft. Draft: 14 ft. Beam: 52 ft. Tonnage: 5,350 gross registered tons Cruising Speed: 9 knots Air Conditioned: Yes Elevator: No Number of Guests: 148 Crew Members: 90 Registry: Bahamas Crew Nationality: International Internet: Send / Receive / Surf
WIND STAR
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-GTS2017

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