Istanbul to Athens: Isles and Antiquity
Sail from storied Istanbul to classical Athens on an 11-day journey that traces more than 2,500 years of history around the Aegean. Spend a night in Istanbul before boarding the exclusively chartered, deluxe small ship Le Dumont d’Urville for an 8-night cruise that links legendary sites of the Ottoman, Byzantine, Roman, and ancient Greek worlds. Walk the ruins of Troy and Pergamon, wander the medieval lanes of Rhodes, and enjoy time on the Cycladic isles of Naxos and Mykonos before concluding in Athens, cradle of democracy.
Tour Highlights
- Cruise for 8 nights from Istanbul, Turkey, to Athens, Greece, aboard Le Dumont d’Urville, an exclusively chartered deluxe small ship, with an additional night in a deluxe Istanbul hotel.
- Take in more than 2,500 years of layered history as you move through Ottoman, Byzantine, Roman, and ancient Greek sites and cities in one continuous itinerary.
- Explore Istanbul’s UNESCO-listed Historic Areas, where soaring mosques, churches, palaces, and bazaars reveal the former capital of two great empires.
- Call at Çanakkale for an excursion to the Archaeological Site of Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage site where myth and history meet on the windswept plains.
- Travel to Dikili for a visit to Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape, another UNESCO treasure known for its hillside acropolis and ancient library.
- Enjoy a full day on Bodrum’s lively harbor and castle-fringed waterfront, with its blend of ancient history and modern seaside culture.
- Step into the UNESCO-listed Medieval City of Rhodes, where the legacy of the Knights Hospitaller, Ottoman rule, and Greek island life all converge.
- Spend relaxed time on the Cycladic islands of Naxos and Mykonos, with their whitewashed villages, beaches, and atmospheric lanes.
- Conclude in Athens and nearby Piraeus, with opportunities to further explore classical monuments or extend your travels.
- Benefit from an inclusive meal plan featuring 2 receptions, 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 8 dinners.
- Deepen your stay with an optional Istanbul Pre-Tour Extension (available at additional cost) for more time in this unforgettable city.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1: Depart Home City
Day 2: Istanbul, Turkey
Day 3: Istanbul, Turkey | Embark Le Dumont D'Urville
Day 4: Çanakkale, Türkiye | Troy
Day 5: Dikili, Türkiye | Pergamon
Day 6: Bodrum, Türkiye
Day 7: Rhodes, Greece
Day 8: Naxos, Greece
Day 9: Mykonos, Greece
Day 10: Athens, Greece
Day 11: Athens, Greece | Piraeus | Disembark | Return to Home City
Operator
Gohagan & Company
Day 2: Istanbul, Turkey
Day 3: Istanbul, Turkey | Embark Le Dumont D'Urville
Day 4: Çanakkale, Türkiye | Troy
Day 5: Dikili, Türkiye | Pergamon
Day 6: Bodrum, Türkiye
Day 7: Rhodes, Greece
Day 8: Naxos, Greece
Day 9: Mykonos, Greece
Day 10: Athens, Greece
Day 11: Athens, Greece | Piraeus | Disembark | Return to Home City
Operator
Gohagan & Company