Across the Aegean: From Mykonos to Bodrum

Start this grand adventure by arriving in Athens, where you’ll be greeted at the airport and escorted by private transfer to your centrally located hotel.

Once you’ve had time to refresh, join our Unforgettable Exclusive Welcome to Athens tour. A privately guided introductory experience, it was designed to orient you to the layout and rhythm of the capital.  Stroll through neighborhoods in the heart of the city while your local guide highlights notable sites and shares engaging stories, revealing history and daily life beyond the guidebooks. You can conclude with an optional pre-arranged dinner reservation, inviting you to unwind over drinks and savor the local cuisine.

Delve into Athens’ rich heritage with your local guide on an engaging tour mixing historical fact with mythology. Admire the Temple of Olympian Zeus before making your way up to the Acropolis, where your guide will reveal insider knowledge about the iconic monuments and their stories, including the Temple of Athena Nike, the Theatre of Dionysus, and the renowned Parthenon, standing watch over the city since the 5th century B.C.

Take in sweeping vistas stretching toward the Aegean before continuing to the Ancient Agora of Athens, once the center of political and philosophical life, helping to shape the Western world as we know it. 

Meals Included:
Breakfast

Experience Included:
Private Mythology of Athens tour including Acropolis, Ancient Agora and Acropolis Museum

Bid farewell to Athens this morning as your private driver escorts you back to Athens airport for your flight to Mykonos in the Cyclades. Upon landing, you’ll be met and transported to your hotel with another private driver. Take time to settle in and unwind, with the remainder of the day yours to enjoy at your own pace.

You might stretch out along the soft sands of Psarrou Beach, or wander the maze of whitewashed lanes in Mykonos Town before visiting the famous windmills above picturesque Little Venice, a fabulous photo-op. As evening falls, consider a seaside dinner or sunset drinks overlooking the Aegean.

Meals Included:
Breakfast

It’s time to discover the essence of Mykonos by joining a private guided tour that combines classic Cycladic beauty with intriguing cultural heritage. Begin in Mykonos Town (Chora), by strolling the labyrinth of narrow lanes, lined with white cubist-style homes and buildings, brightened with bougainvillea, blue doors, and window shutters.

Admire the 5th-century Panagia Paraportiani church, visit the island’s iconic Mykonos Windmills, and walk along the Little Venice waterfront, with its colorful captain’s mansions. You’ll continue beyond the town, visiting historic Armenistis Lighthouse to take in sweeping views and a peaceful beach, where you’ll have time to soak up the awe-inspiring Aegean scenery.

Meals Included:
Breakfast and Traditional Lunch

Experienc Included:
Private Mykonos town and island tour

With a day of leisure, you might ask our travel specialists to book a ceramic workshop – you can even make your own piece of pottery. Or, wander through Kastro. The island’s capital is like an open-air museum.

Admire the whitewashed Church of the Seven Martyrs, dramatically perched on a rocky islet just above the entrance to the medieval settlement, and stroll the maze of alleyways to discover hidden courtyards, Roman sarcophagi, and old homes enhanced by ancient marble pieces. Stop for a sweet treat like amydalota (almond treats) or melopita (a honey pie similar to a crustless cheesecake). Or visit the traditional village of Artemonas and the picturesque town of Apollonia.

Meals Included:
Breakfast

This morning, a private driver will collect you from your hotel in Mykonos and escort you to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you’ll enjoy a warm welcome and a private transfer to your hotel in the heart of the city. The remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy at your own pace. You might ease into the vibrant atmosphere of the Turkish capital by taking a stroll through the surrounding neighborhood, pausing to “refuel” with the strong traditional Turkish coffee.

Later, consider dining on fresh-caught Bosphorus seafood, flavorful kebabs, or classic köfte at a local restaurant.

Meals Included:
Breakfast

A privately guided excursion blends Istanbul’s iconic markets with a scenic adventure on the Bosphorus. Explore the legendary Grand Bazaar, a vast covered marketplace with a maze of some 4,000 stalls that are brimming with textiles, ceramics, gold, handcrafted treasures, and more. Your knowledgeable local guide will share insider tips for navigating and negotiating if you’d like to buy. Next, continue to the aromatic Spice Bazaar, with its colorful spices, teas, and tempting sweet treats.

Finally, board your private yacht for a cruise along the Bosphorus, drifting between two continents while admiring landmarks such as Dolmabahce Palace, Galata Tower, and the famous Bosphorus Bridge.

Meals Included:
Breakfast

Experience Included:

Private Grand Bazaar & Spice Market Tour & Private Bosphorus Cruise

Discover the storied past of Istanbul on a privately guided walking tour through the atmospheric Old City. Starting from your hotel, you’ll stroll through layers of Byzantine and Ottoman history. Step into Sultanahmet Square, the historic heart of the city, anchored by the breathtaking Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, while flanked by the ancient Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace.

You’ll tour the treasury rooms of Topkapi Palace, the imperial residence of the sultans for centuries, admire enduring relics like the ancient Egyptian Obelisk, and discover the opulent interiors of both Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. A break for an independent lunch is included.

Meals Included:
Breakfast

Experience Included:

Private Istanbul Highlights Walking Tour

This morning, a private driver will escort you back to Istanbul’s airport for your short flight to the Aegean coast. Upon landing in Bodrum, the “St. Tropez of Turkey,” you’ll be met by another driver for the private transfer directly to your hotel. With the remainder of the day free to enjoy at your own pace, you might take a stroll along the marina, where sleek yachts line the harbor beneath Bodrum Castle. As evening falls, sample the local fare at a waterfront restaurant, with some of the favorite local dishes including meze platters and fresh grilled sea bass, followed by a traditional Turkish dessert. 

Meals Included:
Breakfast

There’s so much to enjoy in this resort town that we’ve provided a full day for you to enjoy what interests you most. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and only a 10-minute stroll from the seafront. It contains the remains of pre-Mausolean stairways and tombs, original drainage systems, the narrow entry to Mausolus’ tomb chamber, and more. Bodrum Castle, overlooking the picturesque harbor, hosts the Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

It displays artifacts from the 16th-century BC to the 16th century AD., mostly discovered during underwater excavations, from ancient shipwrecks to a large collection of glass.

Meals Included:
Breakfast

Venture beyond Bodrum on a privately guided excursion that will reveal the region’s rural heritage and emerging wine scene. In the charming village of Etrim, you’ll observe skilled artisans practicing centuries-old carpet-weaving techniques, preserving traditions that have been passed down through generations.

Wander among stone homes dating back hundreds of years while gaining insight into authentic rural life and architecture. Continuing to Karnas Vineyards, an estate crafting highly-acclaimed wines, you’ll learn all about the pioneers who are cultivating Zinfandel in Turkey.

Stroll the grounds before sampling select vintages and discovering more about the journey in-depth from the vines and the harvest to the bottle.

Meals Included:
Breakfast

Experience Included:
Private Bodrum Village & Vineyard Tour

On this remarkable journey, you’ve visited the fascinating Greek capital of Athens and traveled across the Aegean, from Mykonos to the Turkish capital, and finally, Bodrum. With so many memories behind you, it will soon be time to make your return trip home.

Our driver will meet you upon checkout for the private transfer from your hotel to the airport to catch your flight back to Istanbul, an international hub and gateway to many exciting destinations. If you’d like to continue your explorations, near or far, our travel specialists will be delighted to assist; otherwise, we hope to see you again on another unforgettable adventure.

Meals Included:
Breakfast

Customize This Trip

All of the itineraries we create are fully customized and can be tailored to your exact preferences. If you would like to extend your stay in any of the destinations or add/remove any experiences, simply mention this to our travel specialists.