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Greece & Turkey Adventure: Athens to Istanbul
Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: ZMSU
Overview
Destination:
Greece,
Turk,
Start:Athens, Greece
Finish:Istanbul, Turkey
Finish:Istanbul, Turkey
Duration:9 days
Type:Group tour (max 12)
Travel Period
April 2026 - October 2027
Journey from one ancient city to another on this nine-day overland trip across Greece to Istanbul. Discover the age-old temples of Athens, the Royal Tomb of Phillip, the Hospital Complex of Edirne and the culinary city of Thessaloniki. Along the way, make a stop at the floating monastery of Vistonida Lake, learn about silk in the shops of Soufli and meet women from the Pomak minority group, all before crossing the border to Turkey. With so much history and culture to explore, and local leaders from both nations guiding the way, you’ll get to know these two worlds in no time.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please note that due to the small properties we use in Europe there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability, please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Your leader will change when you arrive in Edirne. After an introduction, your European leader will return to Greece, while your Turkish leader will take care of you on the Turkish part of the trip.
3. Please provide your full name and passport details at the time of booking so that we can secure train tickets for you.
2. Your leader will change when you arrive in Edirne. After an introduction, your European leader will return to Greece, while your Turkish leader will take care of you on the Turkish part of the trip.
3. Please provide your full name and passport details at the time of booking so that we can secure train tickets for you.
Highlights:
- 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please note that due to the small properties we use in Europe there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability, please speak to your booking agent for further information. 2. Your leader will change when you arrive in Edirne. After an introduction, your European leader will return to Greece, while your Turkish leader will take care of you on the Turkish part of the trip. 3. Please provide your full name and passport details at the time of booking so that we can secure train tickets for you.
Standard inclusions
- Meals: Meals: 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner.
- Transport: Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, Taxi.
- Accommodation: Hotel (8 nights).
- Athens - leader led orientation walk.
- Thessaloniki - Meze dinner.
- Thessaloniki - Orientation Walk.
- Vergina - Royal Tombs of Phillip visit.
- Xanthi - Olympiada beach swimming (seasonal).
- Xanthi - Orientation Walk.
- Xanthi - Pachni village visit and local coffee and pies tasting.
- Vistonida Lake - Nikolaos church visit.
- Soufli - village visit.
- Edirne - town walking tour.
- Istanbul - city guided tour.
Itinerary
Expand all 
Collapse all
Collapse allDay 1: Athens
Kalimera! Welcome to Greece. Your adventure begins in the country’s capital, Athens – an ancient city built to honour the Olympian Goddess of wisdom, Athena. Join your leader for a welcome meeting at 6 pm this afternoon. There’s a lot to explore in this city, famous for the Acropolis and Parthenon, so it’s highly recommended you arrive a few days early to explore it all. After your welcome meeting, perhaps head out for some gyros and ouzo with your new travel companions and get to know eachother.
Day 2: Thessaloniki
Wake up to a day full of tasty adventures. Start your morning with a leader-led walking tour of the central Athens food market. If you haven’t tried a Greek-style coffee yet, maybe find a place along the walk to do so. You’ll then leave Athens and board a train headed north to Thessaloniki – Greece’s second largest city. When you arrive, take the time to explore the city at your own pace. Tonight, maybe find a local restaurant and sample the flavours of Thessaloniki during a meze-style dinner. Keep the party going and ask your leader for their recommendations for local music spots.
Day 3: Thessaloniki
Today is a free day. Maybe set off on a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed archaeological site of Aigai (Vergina Tombs). Walk through the remains of the monumental palace, beautifully decorated with mosaics and painted stuccoes, then discover the burial ground with more than 300 tumuli, some of which date back to the 11th century. This afternoon, maybe walk through the Byzantine Museum, explore the White Tower of Thessaloniki or unwind with a wine tasting at Naousa.
Day 4: Xanthi
Enjoy a laidback morning before you set off from Thessaloniki towards your next stop in Xanthi – a city found on the crossroads of the Black Sea, Europe and Asia. When you arrive, set off on a guided city tour with your local leader. After your walk-through Xanthi’s old and new town centres, the rest of the evening is free for you to continue exploring the city. Tonight, maybe join your group for dinner to taste the unique cuisine of Thrace.
Day 5: Xanthi
After breakfast, head up the mountain to visit an organisation of women from Xanthi who knit and create homewares and accessories in traditional styles. Next, you’ll be treated to a tasting of coffee and pies made by women from nearby Pomachochoria villages. Learn about the community of people in northern Greece known as the Pomaks, then enjoy a free afternoon to discover more about the places and people of Xanthi. Active travellers may like to head off on a hiking or rafting expedition in Nestos National Park. There are also plenty of things to explore around Xanthi, like the Folklore and Historical Museum, the Holy Monastery or the city’s many art galleries. Ask your local leader about their recommendations for activities or half-day trips in the area.
Day 6: Alexandroupolis
Enjoy breakfast at your accommodation in Xanthi before beginning your journey to Alexandroupolis. Make a stop at the Church of Agios Nikolaos on an island in the Vistonida Lake. Look inside the nicknamed ‘Floating Monastery.’ Wildlife lovers may want to stay outside and keep an eye out for the lake’s pink flamingos. Make a stop at the Cyclopas olive press to learn all about Greece’s famous export and its many varieties. Arrive at Alexandroupolis – a seaside city known for its trademark lighthouse – for an afternoon boat ride through the Evros Delta National Wetland Park. You then have a free evening to relax or continue exploring.
Day 7: Edirne
Begin your journey from Greece to Turkey, stopping at Soufli along the way – a village famous for its silk production. To learn about this ancient industry, you’ll have the option to visit the Art of Silk Museum, located in a restored neoclassical building with an attached shop selling locally made silk items. Cross the border into Turkey, saying goodbye to your Greek leader and meet your Turkish leader. Before arriving in Edirne, stop at the Sultan Bayezid II Complex Health Museum. Built in 1488, this complex played an important part in Turkey's health, education, social and religious life. Arrive at your hotel, settle in, then join your leader for an orientation walk and your first Turkish dinner.
Day 8: Istanbul
Wake up in Edirne and hop aboard a bus headed to Istanbul. While it’s not the capital city of Turkey, it once was the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Today, Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city with popular sites like the Hagia Sofia Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar and Cistern. Discover the Old Town and its fascinating history on a guided orientation tour with your leader. The rest of the day is yours to explore. Tonight, you might like to meet up with your group for an optional farewell dinner.
Day 9: Istanbul
Today your adventure comes to an end. There are no activities planned and you can depart the accommodation at any time. If you'd like to extend your stay in Turkey, just reach out to your booking agent ahead of time.
Dates
Select a date or submit general enquiry
Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please see Terms of Use
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8 nights
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