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Ancient stone ruins and ornate columns of Ephesus near Kusadasi under a dramatic, cloudy sky.
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Greece/Turkey

Greece & Turkey: Island Life, History & Culture

Program No. 25747RJ
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Itinerary
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All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
11 days
10 nights
What's Included
25 meals ( 9B, 8L, 8D )
6 expert-led lectures
8 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Check-in available from 3:00pm
Afternoon:
After arriving at the hotel, check-in and take some time to unpack and relax. Attend an orientation meeting. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible.
Dinner:
At the hotel, get to know your fellow participants with a welcome meal.
Evening:
Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Walking about 3 miles including uphill along a winding trail with over 100 well-worn steps to reach the Acropolis, no handrails; uneven, slippery and rocky at the top; standing up to 2 hours. At the Acropolis Museum, walking and standing for more than an hour. Popular sites may be crowded at certain periods.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will begin our exploration of Athens with a visit to its signature site, the Acropolis. Led by our local guide, we will climb the formidable Acropolis to explore the pinnacle of Greek Antiquity. Home to some of Ancient Athens’ most iconic monuments – the Parthenon, Erechtheon, and temple Athena Nike – the rocky summit was transformed into a manifestation of Greek advancement in culture and the arts. The Acropolis’s focal point is the Parthenon, built to honor the city’s patroness Athena, constructed under Pericles’ rule and completed in 432 BCE. We will also visit the renowned new Acropolis Museum.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most.
Dinner:
On your own to explore local cuisine.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Please pack your passport and any medications in your hand luggage today. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Check out of the hotel and transfer our luggage to the motorcoach before departing for our excursion. We will enjoy a scenic drive along the Athens Riviera on our way to Cape Sounion, the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula. Upon arrival we will visit the Temple of Poseidon, who according to Greek mythology was the "master of the seas" and brother of Zeus. Learn about the significance and value of Poseidon to Athenians and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Aegean sea before making our way to Lavrion to embark our vessel.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will transfer to port to embark our ship in the late afternoon for the cruise portion of our program. Once aboard, we will have a welcome drink to meet the ship's crew and staff, followed by a safety orientation before we depart. Please note that your departure is part of our Floating Campus programs. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice.
Dinner:
Aboard the ship, dinners will be open seating, and eaten in the dining room. These will involve traditional Greek cuisine and regional specialties made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients that celebrate each island’s heritage. Wine, beer, and soft drinks are included with dinner, with premium beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Athens on our journey to Delos.
Activity Note
We will use the ship's tenders to get to shore. Walking up to 3 miles on uneven ground with wide and exposed roads. There is no shade on Delos, so a hat and sunscreen is strongly recommended. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Having cruised through the early morning, we will arrive at the island of Delos, antiquity’s most sacred island and the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. We will set out on foot with our local guide and visit the island’s main archaeological sites. This is a walking Field Trip as the island is uninhabited and there are no vehicles on the island. The ship will then depart for the island of Mykonos.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
After pulling into port, take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Mykonos. Later in the afternoon, enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship or independently in Mykonos.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to depart for Ikaria.
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles on varied terrain, standing up to 2 hours. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Set off from the ship to explore Ikaria, “the island where people forget to die.” Rich in wine, tradition, and dramatic topography, Ikaria is best known for the extraordinary longevity and wellness of its residents. One of only 5 “Blue Zones” in the world, where residents live to the age of 100 in health and happiness at exceptional rates, Ikaria’s culture exemplifies the powers of connection, movement, outlook and special diets. In our exploration, we will learn the secrets to living longer, happier, healthier lives.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
At leisure aboard ship or independently in Ikaria. Later in the afternoon, enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking up to 3 miles on varied terrain, standing up to 2 hours. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Setting off the ship with our Group Leader, we’ll board a motorcoach for a field trip into Samos, a small island in the eastern Aegean Sea. In Vathi, the capital and main port, we will explore on foot and see where neoclassical architecture intertwines winding streets and small squares. We will also learn about Pythagoras, the influential philosopher and mathematician born here in the 6th century BCE. For a time, he lived in a cave apart from society where he developed and taught his theories.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time to explore on your own in Samos. Later in the afternoon enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave for Kusadasi.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking up to 3 miles on varied terrain, standing up to 2 hours. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will step off the ship, then board a motorcoach to take us to ancient Ephesus, where a local expert will lead our exploration. From the UNESCO inscription: “Located within what was once the estuary of the River Kaystros, Ephesus comprises successive Hellenistic and Roman settlements founded on new locations, which followed the coastline as it retreated westward. Excavations have revealed grand monuments of the Roman Imperial period including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. Little remains of the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World,’ which drew pilgrims from all around the Mediterranean.” Unlike her Greek counterpart, this Artemis was primarily a fertility goddess. We will also see ruins of what have been called the Terrace Houses, residential structures once inhabited by wealthy Ephesians.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
The day continues with an exploration of the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, followed by a visit to Selcuk Old Town, where we will have the chance to explore the local culture and enjoy some free time. Later in the afternoon, enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave for Patmos.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking up to 3 miles. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Depart the picturesque harbor of Skala for a short drive to the Grotto of the Apocalypse and the imposing Monastery of St. John, built 900 years ago. Its thick, high walls are crowned all around with battlements and eight chapels. Visit the Treasury museum in the Monastery with its jeweled chalices, crowns, vestments and old manuscripts dating back to 1073. We will then continue for an exploration in Chora lead by our local guide. Chora is of unique charm not only because of the dominating Castle and Monastery but for the Byzantine residences said to be the strongest ones built in the Aegean. Enjoy some time at leisure before returning to our ship.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time to explore Patmos on your own. Later in the afternoon enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave for Paros.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking up to 3 miles. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Set out from the ship on a walking discovery of Paros. We will visit the church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, an important pilgrimage site in the Orthodox world that was founded in the 4th century CE by the mother of Constantine the Great, Saint Helen. Our exploration will take us through narrow streets decorated with beautiful bougainvillea until we reach a typical island taverna, where we will be greeted with a sip of ouzo – a dry, anise-flavored aperitif that is a symbol of Greek culture. After exploring Paroikia, we will board our coach and head to a winery for a wine tasting, before returning to the ship
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time to explore Paros on your own. Later in the afternoon enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave for Lavrion.
Activity Note
Disembarkation by 9:00 AM.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Disembarkation at Lavrion Port will follow after breakfast, timing based upon cabin location and flight schedule. All participants must be off the ship by 9 AM. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!