TURKEY AND GREECE TOUR
(June 11-27, 2010)

June 11: Chicago Istanbul
This evening depart at 10.20 PM aboard Turkish Airline non stop Boeing jumbo jet to Istanbul.

June 12: Istanbul
Arrive in the evening at 5.25 PM in Istanbul. Welcome and assistance upon arrival at the airport. Later transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

June 13: Istanbul
After breakfast, proceed on full day tour of Istanbul visiting Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Taksim District. We start our day with a visit to the impressive Topkapi Palace, which served as the palace of the Ottoman Sultans between the 16th and 19th centuries. It has a superb position overlooking the Bosphorus (Harem not included). We also pay a visit to the magnificent Haghia Sophia (St. Sophia’s Basilica) built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century. It is one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. After lunch (at clients’ own expenses), we will visit the fascinating and impressive Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), famous for its six minarets, its beautiful blue Iznik tiles, unique architecture and marble lattice work. Then visit the Byzantine Hippodrome, the centre of Byzantine life for 1000 years, where chariot races and competitive athletic events took place. Then we will finish the day with a visit to Grand Bazaar which is one of the world’s biggest and the oldest shopping venue. You will also have the chance to see the new city Taksim District and enjoy the walk through the famous Istiklal Street. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

June 14: Istanbul Ankara
After breakfast drive to Ankara. Upon arrival in the afternoon, visit the world renowned Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and its impressive array of archaeological finds, including Neolithic artifacts, a Hittite collection and Phrygian exhibits. This will be followed by a visit to Anitkabir, Ataturk’s Mausoleum. Ataturk was the founder of Modern Turkey. Later check in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

June 15: Ankara Cappadocia
After early breakfast, drive to explore the lunar landscape of Cappadocia visiting the Pasabag Valley, with its surreal mushrooming pinnacles and Avanos, renowned for its handmade pottery. Visit the stunning valley of Goreme and the open air museum, where the remains of churches and early Christian dwellings, hewn from the rock, date back thousands of years. Begin your discovery of Cappadocia with Goreme’s “Caves of God”, a UNESCO world heritage site. Monasteries and churches hewn into volcanic rock reached their peak between 7th and 13th centuries. You will see the ongoing erosion on the fairy chimneys of Pasabagi and will have a chance to get a brief in one of the regional pottery workshops in Avanos. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia (B, D).

June 16: Cappadocia
Free in Cappadocia to enjoy this unique landscape. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

June 17: Cappadocia Pamukkale
After early breakfast, en route to Pamukkale, visit the 13th century Selcuk Caravansarai, the traveller’s inn of “Sultan Han”. The next stop will be Konya which is famous for its Mevlana Museum and the Theological School of the whirling dervishes. As in the past, Konya is today still heavily influenced by Islamic culture. Konya is the home of the renowned religious sect of Mevlana, known as the “swirling dervishes”. Continue on to Pamukkale. Arrive and check in hotel for dinner and overnight.

June 18: Pamukkale Kusadasi
After breakfast journey inland to Pamukkale to enjoy the spas, pools and terraces of this natural wonder, called the “Cotton Castle”. This name is truly fitting; the brilliant white calcified terraces do truly resemble a Castle made of Cotton. Visit to Aphrodisiac, the city of the goddess of love, including visits to the Aphrodisiac Museum, the remains of the Temple, Odeon, Theatre, Hadrian’s Bath, Stadium and other ruins. Aphrodisiac ranks with Ephesus among the world’s best-preserved ancient cities. Then drive to seaside resort of Kusadasi, with its Island Fortress and pedestrian city centre. Arrive and check in hotel for dinner and overnight.

June 19: Kusadasi
10 April: After breakfast (9:00am – duration 6 hrs), visit the premiere Greco-Roman city of the ancient world, Ephesus. Explore the Temple of Hadrian, the famous Celsus Library, Great Theatre, Temple of Artemis and other Roman sites. Then visit the House of Virgin Mary and the impressive collections at the Ephesus Museum. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, D).


June 20: Kusadasi Samos Athens
After breakfast transfer to Kusadasi port to board the vessel for Samos,Greece Upon arrival clear the immigration formalities and transfer to airport to connect your flight for Athens. Arrive Athens and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

June 21: Athens Mykanos
After early breakfast, transfer from hotel to Athens port to board the ferry for Mykonos. Arrive in Mykonos and transfer to hotel. Enjoy your leisurely evening at the beach. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

June 22: Mykanos
A half-hour boat trip takes you to the famous historical Delos sanctuary, birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Your guide shows you the ancient temples, mosaic floor villas, the famous Delos "Lions", the amphitheatre and much more. Later explore the Mykonos town with its cobbled streets or relax on one of its many beautiful beaches. Dinner and overnight in Mykonos (B, D).

June 23: Mykanos Santorini
Transfer to Mykonos port to board the vessel to Santorini. Arrive in Santorini and transfer to your hotel. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Santorini (B, D).

June 24: Santorini
Today, we visit Prophet Elias Monastery where the view is breathtaking. The picturesque village of Pyrgos is close by for you to capture some magnificent photos. Embark for a boat trip to the volcano. With a 1.5 hour stop there is enough time to walk to the crater and observe the smoke with traces of sulphur that is emitted from a number of spots. Leaving the volcano behind, the boat now sails to the Hot Springs, where you can swim in the green sulphur waters. From there the boat will sail to the nearby island of Thirassia. During the trip you shall be able to see the two separate islands which make up the volcano. The first one is New Kameni and behind it, the long and narrow, Old Kameni. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

June 25: Santorini Athens
Morning at leisure to explore this beautiful island. In the afternoon transfer to Santorini port to board the vessel to Piraeus (Athens). Arrive and transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

June 26: Saturday Athens
Full day tour of Athens visiting Panathinaiko Stadium cradle of the first Olympic Games took place in 1896. Pass by the Prime’s Ministers residence, former Royal Palace (guarded by colorful Evzones), Zappion (Conference and Exhibition Hall). Proceed to Temple of Olympian Zeus (visit). Continue passing by National Garden, Hadrian’s Arc, St. Paul’s Church, Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown soldier, Schlieman’s House (Nomismatic Museum), Catholic Cathedral, Academy, University, National Library, Old Parliament, Constitution Square, Russian Orthodox Church, Acropolis (visit Propylae, Temple of Athena Nike, Parthenon, Erechtheion) and finally New Acropolis Museum. Return to hotel. Farwell dinner and overnight in Athens (B, D).

June 27: Athens Chicago
Transfer to airport for your Turkish airline flight to Chicago via Istanbul. Arrive in Chicago the same day with happy memories of Turkey and Greece.

The Air and Land cost - US $ 5385 per person (sharing twin/double room)

This tour cost includes the following items:
• Coach class international airfare from Chicago to Istanbul and return from Athens to Chicago aboard Turkish Airline.
• Coach class internal Greece domestic airfare. - Deluxe/First class hotel accommodation as per the program.
• All transfers, sightseeing and excursion tours by Private air-conditioned motor coach.
• Buffet breakfast and dinner daily at the hotel/local restaurant.
• Services of experience English speaking guide.
• Cruise/Ferry tickets as per the program.
• Services of accompanying Tour Director.
• Entrance fee to the places of visit.

  NOT INCLUDED: Visa fee, any airport taxes/surcharges levied by the airline, meals not mentioned above, Travel Insurance, porterage, airport taxes, mineral water, alcohol, items of personal nature such as laundry, telephone, room service, any increase of airfare or government imposed taxes, any airport taxes/surcharges levied by the airline any other items not mentioned in the tour inclusion list.

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: If you make full payment of the tour before November 15, 2009, you will receive “EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT” of US $ 250 per person.

ADVANCE PAYMENT:  We require an advance non-refundable deposit of $ 500.00 per person to make the reservation and hold it on ’definite basis’ before October 31, 2009.  The balance payment will be due at least 90 days prior to departure.

FORM OF PAYMENT: Please make the check or money order payable to ‘Pollina Tours & Travel Inc’.

CANCELLATION AND REFUND: An administrative fee of US $ 500 per person will be charged for any cancellation made once the tour is booked. A 25 % cancellation penalty will be charged if the bookings are cancelled between 90-30 days prior to departure. A 50% cancellation fee will be charged if the bookings are cancelled between 30-03 days prior to departure. For later cancellation or for unutilized services no refund will be permissible. Passenger must make all cancellations in writing and refund generally takes 6-8 weeks.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: We strongly recommend that you obtain a comprehensive Travel Insurance including but not limited trip cancellation, delay, loss of deposit, medical expenses, personal accidents and death, loss of baggage, personal belongings. Most Travel Insurance companies want you to buy insurance at the time of making your tour deposit.

PASSPORT AND VISA: a passport valid beyond six month of the date of return to USA is required to travel to Turkey and Greece. All US Citizens must obtain Turkish tourist visa. No Visa is required for Greece for US Citizens. All other nationalities must contact the Greece and Turkey embassy for visa requirement.

HEALTH: You are requested to consult with your physician in this regards. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.

All passengers are personally responsible to ensure that they are medically fit to travel.

RESPONSIBILITY: Pollina Tours & Travel, Inc. and/or their agents give notice that all tickets, vouchers and the coupons issued by them and all arrangements for transportation or for conveyance/hotel accommodation made by them as AGENTS of the passenger upon the express condition that they shall not be held liable for any injury, damage, loss , accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason or defect  of any vehicle, or through the act or default of any person or company engaged in conveying or housing the passengers or in connection therewith, or any of hotel proprietor or employee.

The operator/ or their agents can accept no responsibility for losses or incidental expenses due to delay or change in schedule, hotel overbooking or default , sickness, death, weather, quarantine or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passengers. Baggage is at owner’s risk throughout the tour. Pollina Tours & Travel reserves the right to accept or reject any person as tour participants, to expel any tour participants from the tour, to make changes in the itinerary whenever the company deems it is necessary for comfort, safety and convenience of the participants of their Travel Agents. All prices are quoted in US Dollars and are subject to change without notice.

The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or events during the time passengers are not on board their carriers and conveyance. The passengers contract in use by the carrier concerned when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation company and the purchaser of these Tours/ and or passengers. Check in and Check out time is 12 Noon. Sequence of the itinerary is subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.  





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