Ancient Mediterranean Antiquities

At the conclusion of your cruise, disembark your ship and transfer by motor coach to Tuscany. Stop for lunch at a farmhouse, then continue through the scenic Italian countryside. Upon your arrival, check in and enjoy dinner at your historic villa. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Tuscany so you can make the most of your visit. (L, D)

This morning, drive to Florence for a walking tour of the city center, a UNESCO Site. See the Duomo as well as Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery, with its beautiful doors that Michelangelo called the “Gates of Paradise,” and more. After lunch, you will have free time to enjoy a gelato or espresso, shop, or explore the birthplace of the Renaissance. Then, proceed to a Tuscan winery, where you can tour the cellar and taste local wines before sitting down to a typical Tuscan dinner. (B, L, D)

After breakfast, travel to the walled city of Siena, located in the heart of the Chianti wine region. On your walking tour, see the exterior of the exquisite marble cathedral, the beautiful Mangia Tower, the Town Hall, the Piazza del Campo and other historic sites. Then you will drive to the charming medieval village of San Gimignano and have lunch at a typical farm. Walk back in time as you explore the village’s ancient squares, narrow streets and elegant cistern built in 1273. (B, L, D)

Enjoy breakfast at your villa before you check out. Then, board your motor coach and transfer to the airport in Florence for your flight home. (B)

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by a Viking Representative who will accompany you to your hotel. After check-in, relax and spend the rest of your day exploring the city on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Istanbul so you can make the most of your visit.

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch before checking in to your hotel and enjoying the afternoon at your leisure. This evening, journey to a restaurant located inside a cavern for a delicious dinner of local cuisine, accompanied by a folkloric show of traditional dances from across Turkey. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Cappadocia so you can make the most of your visit. (B, L, D)

This morning, join an optional excursion and take to the skies for a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia. Return to your hotel for breakfast, then visit local historic sites. Journey through the Dervent Valley, dotted with rock formations called “Fairy Chimneys.” In Avanos, observe a pottery demonstration and continue to an underground city. Explore the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO Site, and visit the Roman Uçhisar Castle. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel. (B, L, D)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. Upon your arrival, enjoy a panoramic drive past historic landmarks such as the “Blue Mosque,” the Hippodrome of Constantinople and the Topkapi Palace en route to your awaiting ship. (B)

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by a Viking Representative who will accompany you to your hotel. After check in, relax and spend the rest of your day exploring the city on your own. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Istanbul so you can make the most of your visit.

After breakfast, set out to explore Istanbul’s cultural treasures. Visit the Topkapi Palace and hear intriguing stories of those who resided within these walls. Continue to the Blue Mosque, a revered architectural masterpiece, and the Hagia Sophia, a landmark that has witnessed the rise and fall of several empires, and visit the Basilica Cistern. After a gourmet lunch, continue to the Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest marketplace. This evening, enjoy dinner at your leisure. (B, L)

After a light breakfast at the hotel, set out into the countryside to enjoy a farm-to-table brunch experience in an idyllic setting. Indulge in a feast of Turkish specialties of fresh, organic produce and artisanal delights, then journey to the Beylerbeyi Palace on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait; a summer retreat enjoyed by royals and sultans for centuries. After, browse the stalls of a local spice market—a kaleidoscope of colors and aromas. This evening, dine at your leisure. (B, L)

This morning, check out of your hotel and transfer to your ship to begin your cruise. (B)