Travel through the wonders of the ancient Ottoman Empire on this luxurious 13 night vacation that’ll show you the best of the Mediterranean – as well as\u00a0a few hidden gems. Your trip will start off in the South Aegean Sea with some stylish beach time\u00a0on the chic and dynamic island of Mykonos, staying at\u00a0The Mykonos Grand, where\u00a0you’ll be shown the best spots to soak up the vibes of the island. From Mykonos, you’ll be flown by private helicopter over the Cyclades Islands for a few nights on the iconic island of Santorini staying at the Andronis Luxury Suites, From the islands, we’ll whisk you to\u00a0ancient Athens, before heading to Istanbul, where you’ll soak up Turkish culture\u00a0with our expert local guides.\u00a0Lastly, delight in a fairy-tale finish as you soak up the wonder of Cappadocia as you explore this magical, historic pocket of central Turkey.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Your adventure begins in Greece\u2019s Cyclades Islands on the chic, yet lively, island of Mykonos, where you\u2019ll be staying for three nights at the boutique hotel Mykonos Grand. Set over a private beach and boasting unbeatable sunset views over the Aegean Sea, the magnificent Mykonos Grand oozes luxury and serenity. Just 5 minutes\u2019 drive from the charming Mykonos town, you\u2019ll easily be able to visit the iconic 16th-century windmills and get lost in the town\u2019s labyrinth of cobbled streets. Stumble upon museums and art galleries in \u2018Little Venice\u2019 or enjoy the designer shops and fashionable restaurants along the waterfront. After dark, a hip, cutting-edge nightlife scene awaits, so head to the beach and be ready to revel in Mykonos\u2019 chicest cocktail bars and nightclubs. Our local guides on the ground will let you in on the best places to wine and dine, from eclectic beach bars to fine dining restaurants with views that’ll astound and amaze.<\/p>\n
Depart Mykonos in style with a helicopter ride over to stunning Santorini, absorbing the spectacular bird\u2019s-eye view of the Cyclades Islands whilst en route. For the next three nights, you\u2019ll hole up in the height of luxury at the island\u2019s Andronis Luxury Suites, where you\u2019ll relax and refresh in your private Jacuzzi, overlooking the island\u2019s lagoon directly from atop the caldera cliff edge. Embrace the authentic Greek culinary flavors that can be found in the tavernas of Fira and Oia. For those interested in Greek cuisine, we can arrange local cooking classes for you to master the bold flavors and combinations,\u00a0or\u00a0explore the island\u2019s numerous vineyards for a day of wine tasting with a local wine-maker. Once you’ve explored the perfectly preserved\u00a01600 BC ruins at nearby Akrotiri, you’ll be yearning for a little beach time. Luckily Santorini is home to some incredible and unusual beaches due to its volcanic landscape, including the Red Beach. For those that enjoy getting off the beaten track, our guides will let you in on a few secret beaches, which are only accessible by foot and where you’ll find\u00a0secluded coves and clear waters all to yourself.<\/p>\n
Leaving the islands behind, you’ll set sail to Athens by local ferry, showcasing some superb panoramic views over the Aegean. After a good night\u2019s sleep in contemporary comfort at the artistic, avant-garde New Hotel, you’ll be whisked off on a tour of Athens with a local archaeologist to explore the Acropolis, the Temple of Parthenon and Erechtheum. You’ll be guided through the old part of the city and\u00a0onto Lycabettus Hill for some exceptional views of the city. After your tour, you’ll\u00a0be driven to Athens airport, where we\u2019ll fly you over the Aegean Sea to Turkey and the beautiful city of Istanbul, where you\u2019ll embark on the second leg of your adventure.<\/p>\n
A half-hour drive will see you inside the \u00c7\u0131ra\u011fan Palace Kempinski\u2019s grand foyer. Here you\u2019ll be struck by supreme elegance and splendour, as you kick-start three nights in luxury, right in the heart of a truly captivating and cultural city. Within the chic district of Be\u015fikta\u015f and overlooking the sapphire blue Bosphorus strait, the hotel\u2019s location is unbeatable, arguably boasting the best urban escape in Istanbul. Away from relaxing by the infinity pool, we\u2019ll map out the city\u2019s main highlights for you, so go see east meets west in this fascinating, historic city, from its endless sightseeing and shopping to its world-class art galleries and restaurants. Soaked in history, you\u2019ll visit the Ottoman Empire\u2019s Topkapi Palace and the even older Byzantine basilica-turned-museum \u2013 the Hagia Sophia.<\/p>\n
For the last chapter of your journey, we\u2019ll fly you\u00a0inland to Nev\u015fehir airport, where you\u2019ll be collected for a 50-minute transfer into rural Cappadocia. Rest up for three nights in your own cave comfort at the unique and dreamlike Argos hotel, where you\u2019ll be charmed by the incredible, longstanding history of this former monastery. Beyond the magic of the Argos, you\u2019ll think you\u2019ve stepped into a fantasy land as you explore the mystical, whimsical landscape of Cappadocia, which also boasts a rich, age-old heritage. Head up the U\u00e7hisar Castle for the most spectacular views of Mount Erciyes and be enchanted by the region\u2019s \u2018fairy chimneys\u2019. Before you leave, we\u2019ll make sure you ride the region\u2019s famous hot-air balloons as they take colourful morning flight over the Pigeon Valley.<\/p>\n
Having been enthralled by ancient Anatolia, we regret that we have to fly you back home. You\u2019ll be flown back\u00a0to Istanbul, where your return flight awaits. This adventure offers an excellent, cultural combination, showcasing Greece and Turkey, and will more than satisfy both your sense of discovery and your relaxation needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Travel through the wonders of the ancient Ottoman Empire on this luxurious 13 night vacation that’ll show you the best of the Mediterranean – as well as\u00a0a few hidden gems. Your trip will start off in the South Aegean Sea with some stylish beach time\u00a0on the chic and dynamic island of Mykonos, staying at\u00a0The Mykonos […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":202342,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1456],"tags":[],"country":["Greece","Turkey"],"class_list":["post-184198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-us","country-greece","country-turkey","month-august","month-july","month-june","month-may","month-october","month-september","type-experience","feeling-contentment","feeling-revitalized","need-to-indulge","need-to-unwind","need-to-discover","what-beach","what-culture","who-couple","who-honeymoon","who-solo","who-with-friends"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n