| Day 1 | Depart US
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| Day 2 | ATHENS, Greece
Fly to Athens and transfer to
your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 3 | ATHENS, Greece
A full morning’s guided tour of
the ancient citadel of Athens, the
Acropolis. Built during the “Golden
Age” of Athens between 447-438BC
under the orders of the great statesman
Pericles, the Acropolis represents the
magnificent achievements of Athenian
culture during this remarkable era. You
will also visit the recently opened
Acropolis Museum. In the afternoon,
you are free to relax or continue
exploring the city.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 4 | PIRAEUS, Greece
After spending a morning in Athens
when you are free to visit the
marvellous National Archaeological
Museum, the ancient Agora and the
magnificent Hephaisteion or simply
wander through the streets of the
bustling Plaka district, you check out
of your hotel and transfer to the port
of Piraeus to board Aegean Odyssey.
Nighttime departure for Nauplia.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 5 | NAUPLIA, Greece
Anchor off the port of Nauplia in
time for breakfast. The morning will
be dedicated to exploring the great
Mycenaean culture that flourished in
this area, known as the Argolid plain,
between 1600-1300BC. At its heart is
the ancient city of Mycenae, reputedly
the capital of Agamemnon and the
“well-built citadel” of Homer’s Iliad.
In the afternoon, there is the option
to visit Epidaurus, sacred to Asclepios,
the god of medicine, and the site of
the best preserved of all ancient
Greek theatres. Or you may choose
to visit the elegant town of Nauplia,
where you will find an excellent
Archaeological Museum housed
in the impressive former Venetian
Arsenal. Return to Aegean Odyssey
for an evening sailing to Crete.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 6 | RETHIMNON, Crete, Greece
This morning, travel by road to
Heraklion and a tour to the Minoan
site of Knossos. The heyday of
Minoan civilisation (2000-1600BC)
was marked by the construction of
great palaces, the best known of
which is Knossos. Excavations
were begun in 1899 by the British
archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans,
who controversially “restored” the
palace with his own eccentric ideas
of Minoan interior design. In the
afternoon, there an option to see
the beautiful town of Chaniá, which
was once the Minoan settlement of
Kydonia and has been fought over by
Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and
Turks. Or you can explore the wellpreserved
Venetian and Ottoman
architecture in Rethimnon. Late
departure for Santorini.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 7 | SANTORINI, Greece
In the morning you are greeted by one
of the Aegean's most spectacular sights:
the cliffs of Santorini rising from a great
half-moon caldera. Visit the Minoan
settlement of Akrotiri: dating from the
16th century BC this ancient city was
wonderfully preserved under volcanic
ash. It is then on the to exquisite Oia,
a village of whitewashed houses, bluedomed
churches and tavernas carved
into cliffs. Then we visit the clifftop
town of Fira and the Archaelogical
Museum. Evening departure for Delos.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 8 | DELOS, Greece/MYKONOS, Greece
Delos is one of the most interesting
archaeological sites in Greece and was
the paramount religious sanctuary of
the ancient Greek world. The morning’s
tour explores the island’s temples,
buildings and, of course, its famous
lions. A lunchtime sail to nearby
Mykonos for some people-watching
and evening drinks. Evening departure
for Izmir.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 9 | IZMIR, Turkey
Aegean Odyssey arrives in Izmir this
morning. Founded around 3000BC, the
port of Izmir has been a major trading
centre since the 3rd century AD. The
afternoon will be spent in Ephesus, the
ancient Roman capital of the province
of Asia and today one of the greatest
sites of the classical world. Overnight
in Izmir.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 10 | IZMIR, Turkey
This morning's tour is to the Hellenistic
ruins of Pergamon. Founded by the
Greeks in the 8th century BC,
Pergamon once rivalled Athens and
Alexandria as a centre of culture and
learning. Here you will see the remains
of the Altar of Zeus, the Temples of
Dionysus and Trajan and the impressive
Greek theatre. Afternoon departure
for Skiathos, Greece.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 11 | SKIATHOS, Greece
At breakfast, we arrive at Skiathos
where you can spend the morning
relaxing in the picturesque little town.
Leave at noon to cruise past Mount
Athos. The so-called "Holy Mountain"
is really a long peninsula, which rises
at its southern tip to a 6,000 ft. peak. Dotted along its length are some
twenty ruling monasteries, some
dating from the 10th and 11th centuries,
and innumerable smaller monastic
settlements and hermitages. Women
are strictly forbidden to set foot on the
Mountain, together with – at least in
theory – all female animals. Fortunately,
most of the monasteries (several of
which are quite spectacular) are on
or near the coast and will be seen
clearly from our ship.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 12 | LEMNOS, Greece
In the early morning, you arrive at Lemnos: this volcanic island controls
the approaches to the Dardanelles and
the morning’s tour will centre on the
capital Myrina, which is overlooked
by the fortifications of the impressive kastro. This was a stronghold in turn
fought over by the Byzantines, Venetians
and Ottomans. In the afternoon, the ship cruises through the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 13 | ISTANBUL, Turkey
Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul –
in this city you will find some of the
greatest buildings and works of art
in the world. Disembark Aegean Odyssey
for your morning’s sightseeing which
will take in the Byzantine sixth-century
cathedral of Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi
Palace – residence of the early sultans –
and the Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue
Mosque). At lunchtime, you will arrive
at your hotel for check in. In the
afternoon you are free to explore
the city or relax at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 14 | ISTANBUL, Turkey
A free day to explore the delights of
Istanbul: a good opportunity to haggle
in the Grand Bazaar, visit one of the
world’s richest collections of classical
artifacts at the Archaeological Museum,
see the Süleymaniye mosque built for
Süleyman the Magnificent and the late
Byzantine masterpiece, the Church of
St Saviour in Chora, or take the optional
Bosphorus boat tour, one of the greatest
pleasures of a trip to Istanbul.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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| Day 15 | ISTANBUL, Turkey
Check out of your hotel and transfer
to the airport for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
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