Greece & Turkey Adventure: Athens to Istanbul

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.Summer temperatures can be extreme (over 40°C) in many of the regions visited on this trip. This warm climate can be uncomfortable for some, especially as many of the transport options and accommodations we use will not have air conditioning. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability for that season., Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. Please also note that in some cases, bathroom facilities will be shared rather than en-suite and many accommodations in this part of the world do not have air-conditioning., On this trip, it’s strongly advised that you pack as lightly as possible, as you will be expected to carry your own bag. Although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15 kg (33 lb). Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient. However, we recommend that your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets and steps you will likely encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, a camera and other essentials for daytrips., There are some long travel days where we depart early in the morning to ensure we optimise our time at our next destination.