2008 Itinerary

Southbound

Click here for northbound

• Indicates day of cruising

Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul
Tour begins: 6:00 PM. Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey. Your Turkey and Greece tour includes an included transfer from Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport to the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul. Your hotel boasts beautiful views of the Bosphorus. Meet fellow travelers at the welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey

Day 2: The imperial Ottomans
Istanbul is truly the crossroads of Europe and Asia; visit the imperial seat of the Ottoman Empire, Topkapi Palace, including the living quarters for the Sultan’s harem. Drive to Süleymaniye Mosque and mausoleums, a glorious tribute to Ottoman artistry.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey

Day 3: Exotic Istanbul
Explore beautiful Hagia Sophia, a 1,400-year-old Byzantine church with lovely figurative mosaics. View the Basilica Cistern, an underground Byzantine structure. Then see Turkish carpets and colorful kilims in the Covered Bazaar.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey

• Day 4: Blue Mosque
Tour the Blue Mosque, one of Istanbul’s landmark sites featuring six minarets, a host of domes, and intricate blue tilework. Lunch includes Turkish favorites and is followed by a boat ride on the historic Bosphorus. Board your luxury motor-sailing ship, Wind Star / Wind Spirit for your Greek Island cruise exploring the treasures of the Aegean with Tauck.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit

• Day 5: Cruising the Aegean Sea
Enjoy the views on this Greek Island cruise in the Aegean Sea. Take advantage of the ship’s swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center, and sauna. In the evening, try your luck in the casino, or check out a movie or novel from the library.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit

• Day 6: Antiquities of Ephesus
Dock in Kusadasi, Turkey today. Drive to Ephesus, once the chief port on the Aegean, now known for its spectacular antiquities and ruins. See the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, Gate of Hercules, Greek Theater, and other temples, baths, and colonnaded streets. See artifacts in the Selçuk Museum in one of Turkey’s best museums.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit

• Day 7: Discover Rhodes
Arrive at the island of Rhodes, Greece, with a wealth of monuments. Take a guided tour of the walled medieval city of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit the Gothic Palace of the Grand Masters.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit

• Day 8: Turkish coast wonders
Your Greek Island cruise charts a course to Bodrum today to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Halicarnassus Mausoleum, built in the 4th century BC and originally topped with an enormous horse-drawn chariot statue. Visit the Castle of St. Peter, built during the Crusades by the Knights of St. John, and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, with artifacts from ancient shipwrecks.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit

• Day 9: Spectacular Santorini
Rise early to catch spectacular water views of Santorini as the ship pulls into port. Tour the town of Fira with its white washed, blue-domed buildings set on high, steep slopes above the sea. Meander around Fira on your own in the afternoon, and return to the ship by traditional means, the donkey.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit

• Day 10: Mykonos & Delos Islands
Call on glamorous Mykonos, weather permitting. Take a boat to the tiny island of Delos, the mythological birthplace of Apollo and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This religious pilgrimage destination features sacred temples, sanctuaries, theaters, and shrines to the Gods, and is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Spend the afternoon in Mykonos, known for leather goods and jewelry.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit

Day 11: Epidaurus and Charming Nafplion
Your Greek Island cruise ends today when you disembark from the ship in Piraeus. Travel to Epidaurus and check out the well-preserved theatre built in the 4th century BC to seat 15,000 people. Enjoy a guided walk in Nafplion with fine neoclassical architecture crowned by hilltop fortresses, then poke around on your own and find a seaside taverna for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Nafplia Palace / Amphitryon Hotel, Nafplion, Greece

Day 12: Mycenae to Athens
Continue to Mycenae where you’ll see the imposing Lion Gate and interesting tombs at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrive in Athens, the birthplace of Western Culture, where your Greece tour continues at one of the world’s favorite hotels.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece

Day 13: The Acropolis
In the quiet early morning, visit the Acropolis; this is the site of four of the greatest masterpieces of classical Greek art – the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum, and the Temple of Athena Nike – a highlight of any Greece tour. See one of the world’s best collections of ancient Greek art and artifacts at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. In the afternoon, pursue your own interests in Athens. Share favorite highlights of your Greek Island cruise during our farewell dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece

Day 14: Journey home
Tour ends in Athens. A transfer is included from the Hotel Grande Bretagne to the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos). Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours before the departure of your flight.
Meals: Breakfast

Inclusive Prices

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel and ship accommodations, entertainment, special dinners, land and sea transportation, sightseeing, shore excursions, luggage handling, airport transfers, and the services of local guides, drivers and the Tauck Director are included.

Hotel and Ship Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel and ship accommodations with private baths. Depending on the tour departure date, the cruise portion of the tour will be aboard the Wind Star or her identical sister ship the Wind Spirit. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, this standard remains uncompromised. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms with a rollaway cot when available and are not recommended for comfort.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary. For your cruise Tauck provides an onboard credit of $140 USD per guest for wine with dinner. This credit applies to your cruise portion only.

Tauck Director – Each “Treasures of the Aegean” cruise is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for hotel, restaurant and ship staffs, and local guides and drivers are included.

No Options Sold – Your Tauck Director will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

Not Included

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to Tauck Travel Protection for more information.

Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral water, soft drinks, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, departure taxes, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Tauck Director Gratuities - The customary gratuity to the Tauck Director is not included. Gratuities should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.

Additional Information

Airline Security Measures – In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

ATM and Credit Cards - Tauck recommends that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this tour to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. Tauck also recommends that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Cruise Regulations – International maritime security guidelines require that your passport or travel document information be provided to the cruise line prior to embarkation. Please provide this information to Tauck as soon as you book your cruise or boarding may be denied.

If you are U.S. citizen, Tauck is required to provide to the cruise ship your:

• Passport Number, including date of birth and place of birth - or
• Government Issued Photo ID number such as a Driver’s License Number or a Military ID number (Tauck strongly recommends that if you do not have a passport, you should carry with you a notarized copy of your birth certificate with a raised seal.)
  

If you are a citizen of another country, Tauck must provide:

• Passport Number, including citizenship, passport date of issue, and passport date of expiration

Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecasted at the time of printing.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at time of booking. You or your booking agent will be advised of such changes. When making flight arrangements, allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs.

Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

Preparing to Go

Air Conditioning - The motor coaches used on this tour are air-conditioned for your comfort. The Windstar ships and all of the hotels on this itinerary have air conditioning. Please note that European air conditioning should be considered as a climate-control system; most have three settings for the fan, plus a "cool" setting. Very few of the European systems actually have a temperature setting. In general, the amount of cool air that is produced from a European air conditioning system may be less than what you may experience in your own living environment.

Clothing and Packing - As you prepare for travel, select a wardrobe that is light and cool but is adaptable and allows for layering. Most days are spent outside or in transit. Therefore, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Breezy days at sea and cool evenings will require warmer, layered clothing. A jacket and tie are not required for gentlemen aboard ship, but may be preferred or required at some local restaurants.

The "casual elegance" of a Windstar ship is also reflected in the way their guests dress. Windstar recommends that you wear imaginative, yet relaxed, stylish, yet comfortable, clothing as you would at an elegant land resort. For women's daytime wear, they suggest walking shorts, skirts, sarongs, lightweight tops and cover-ups; for evening wear - sun dresses, pants, or informal cocktail attire. For men's daytime wear, they suggest Bermuda shorts, polo shirts, and khaki pants; in the evening - lightweight trousers and short-sleeved dress or polo shirts. No suits or ties are required. Shorts, jeans, and t-shirts are not permitted in the restaurant or bistro during the evening.

Valet laundry service is available at the hotels listed on this itinerary. Additionally hair dryers, irons and ironing boards are either located in your guest room or are available immediately upon request. Onboard the Windstar ships next-day laundry and pressing service is available; dry cleaning services, irons and ironing boards are not available. Each stateroom is equipped with a hairdryer.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription (or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you), a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for cruising on the Aegean Sea:

• Casual daytime wear – shorts, slacks and short-sleeve shirts
• Jacket and tie for men, for optional local dining
• Casually-elegant evening wear for ladies
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
• Bathing suit
• A light sweater or jacket for the cooler months or a breezy night
• Binoculars
• Insect repellent
• Camera, lenses, batteries and plenty of film
• Comfortable walking shoes, well broken-in
• Travel alarm
• Raincoat and collapsible umbrella
• Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling
  

Elevation - The maximum elevation on this tour is 500 feet (152 meters).

Health - To fully enjoy this tour’s itinerary, you must be in fairly good health and able to walk reasonable distances, as some of the sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot, often over broken or uneven ground. Many of the sites visited were built in antiquity and have many steps and uneven surfaces. It is important that you wear sturdy, comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken-in. The amount of walking that you choose to do, however, is at your discretion. Additionally, you should be steady on your feet to circumnavigate the decks of the Windstar ship while cruising on the Aegean Sea. Some ship to shore transportation is by local tender. These are safe transports but occasionally you will get wet with spray.

Tauck is not able to accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

A doctor and limited medical facilities are available onboard. However, if you take special medications, please bring an adequate supply with you; they may not be available onboard. Medical services and all medicines (except acetaminophen, aspirin and anti-nausea pills) dispensed to you by the ship's doctor will be charged to your shipboard account. If you become ill during the voyage and the physician is unable to care for your needs onboard, you will be transferred to medical facilities onshore. Due to the limited medical facilities on the ship, Windstar Cruises will not accept reservations for infants 24 months of age or younger or for women who will be 27 or more weeks pregnant as of the time their travel with Windstar concludes.

The Windstar cruise ships are registered in the Bahamas. Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

The Wind Star and the Wind Spirit do not have elevators.

Smoking is not permitted on the motor coaches. Onboard the ship, cigarette smoking is allowed on the starboard (right) side of the lounge. Smoking is not allowed in the casino or in the restaurant. Pipe and cigar smoking are only allowed only on the deck.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

If you are a U.S. citizen, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Greece or Turkey. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, pre-recorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also logon on to the CDC Internet website at www.cdc.gov.

If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of Greece and of Turkey to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

Luggage Restrictions:

Special Luggage Restrictions for this Tour
Due to space constraints aboard Windstar and on motor coaches in Turkey and Greece, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to one small carry-on, no larger than an average size knapsack, that will easily fit under your seat, as overhead racks are not wide enough to accommodate large bags.

Checked Luggage – General
While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies on enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees and frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

As of June 2006, many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg), per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage size and weight may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.

Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage size, piece or weight policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.

Carry-on Luggage - General:
Although oversized bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not allow for access during daytime travel.

Travel Document Requirements – If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a valid passport which will remain valid for at least six months after your tour ends. You are also required to obtain a visa to enter Turkey. Visas are available through the Windstar cruise ship onboard prior to your arrival in Turkey, or at the customs’ desk on arrival at Istanbul's International Airport (depending upon the direction of your itinerary). The cost of the visa is $20 USD per person; visas may only be purchased in U.S. dollars. Exact change is suggested.

If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact an embassy or consulate of Greece and of Turkey to determine what travel documentation is required.

Although Tauck generally recommends that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour, Windstar Cruises has made this a condition of travel on their ships. It is also a good idea to carry a photocopy of the first page of your passport, as well as to leave photocopies of your travel documents and identification papers with someone at home.

Travel with Children – Many countries have specific entry requirements for children less than 21 years of age who are traveling with or without both parents. Usually a notarized letter, signed by the parent or parents not traveling with the child and stating the name of the child, the adult guardian, the itinerary and dates of travel, and the flight number, is required. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires you to comply with the regulations of the country you are visiting. This information is available from each country’s consulate. Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by the improper documentation of any guest, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, Tauck does offer for download a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

Windstar Cruises stipulates that minors traveling to any foreign country must be accompanied by both parents, or, if they are not accompanied by both parents, they must have a notarized paper of permission signed by the parent(s) not accompanying them. If the other parent is deceased or the child has only one legal parent, a notarized statement must be provided as proof. Furthermore, cruise passengers less than 21 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or chaperone that is at least 25 years of age. One adult chaperone is required for every five people less than 21 years of age. Parents, guardians and chaperones are responsible for overseeing the onboard conduct of minors. Alcoholic beverages will not be served to passengers less than 21 years of age.

Destination Information

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel, group functions, and when sightseeing or when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually ample opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not impact others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your service extends to Greece and Turkey.

Currency and Exchange Rates - The currency in Greece is the Euro. In Turkey the currency is the Turkish New Lira although U.S. dollars are widely accepted.

In Greece, banks and exchange bureaus are widely available and travelers’ checks and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are widespread and are generally the most cost effective and convenient method of obtaining euros.

In Turkey, currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and ferry ports; banks have the least favorable rates and highest commissions, but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. Travelers’ checks can be exchanged at some banks and exchange bureaus, but are not as welcome as cash or credit cards. U.S. dollars or euros are preferred.

We also recommend that you carry some cash in U.S. dollars, in $1, $5, and $10 denominations, for miscellaneous use when only a small amount of currency is required. Should you have any questions, your Tauck Director will be happy to assist you.

Onboard the Windstar ships, an imprint of your credit card will be taken upon embarkation in order to open your shipboard account. All charges throughout the cruise are signed to your stateroom. Only on the last day of the cruise can cash (in U.S. dollars only) and credit cards be used to purchase goods and services. There is no foreign exchange counter and no ATM machine onboard the ship. The ship uses U.S. currency only and will cash travelers’ checks and provide U.S. dollars.

To obtain the most current exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website www.oanda.com.

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the United States after your tour, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the alcohol and tobacco that can be a part of this exemption - one-liter of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes, and 100 cigars. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the United States. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs website for further details and up-to-date limits at www.cbp.gov.

Greece currently levies a 19% Value Added Tax (VAT) on consumer purchases; Turkey levies an 18% VAT. (The tax may be higher on luxury items and lower on basic goods.) As a rule, if you are not a resident of the country in which the purchase is made (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union), you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.

If you are a resident of another country, you should refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance.

Electrical Current – The electrical current in Greece is 220 V, 50 Hz, AC, and in Turkey is 230 V, 50 Hz, AC. Onboard the Windstar ships, each stateroom is equipped with one 110 V and one 220 V, 60 Hz, AC electrical outlet. If you bring a small electrical appliance that is not compatible with these systems, you should bring the appropriate adapter and converter required to operate your appliance.

Time Zones – Athens and Istanbul share the same time zone; they are 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From late March through October, these locations switch to Daylight Savings Time and are 3 hours ahead. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.timeanddate.com.

Weather – The Mediterranean and Aegean coasts of Greece and Turkey enjoy long hot dry summers and mild winters. Summer temperatures in Greece are tempered by the Etesian northerly wind which blows across the Aegean Sea, and breezes called "meltemia", however, mainland temperatures are often very high. Winters are mild and wet, although rainfall is generally low in most areas.

	Average Temperature
	Athens, Greece		Istanbul, Turkey
Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
January	56 / 44	13 / 7	47 / 37	8 / 3
February	57 / 45	14 / 7	48 / 37	9 / 3
March	60 / 47	16 / 8	52 / 39	11 / 4
April	66 / 53	19 / 12	62 / 46	17 / 8
May	75 / 60	24 / 16	70 / 53	21 / 12
June	83 / 68	28 / 20	79 / 61	26 / 16
July	88 / 73	31 / 23	82 / 65	28 / 18
August	88 / 72	31 / 22	82 / 65	28 / 18
September	82 / 67	28 / 19	77 / 59	25 / 15
October	73 / 59	23 / 15	67 / 53	19 / 12
November	66 / 53	19 / 12	59 / 47	15 / 8
December	59 / 48	15 / 9	52 / 41	11 / 5
	Santorini, Greece		Bodrum, Turkey
Month	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC	Hi/Lo ºF	Hi/Lo ºC
January	57 / 50	14 / 10	59 / 46	15 / 8
February	57 / 50	14 / 10	59 / 46	15 / 8
March	61 / 52	16 / 11	63 / 50	17 / 10
April	66 / 55	19 / 13	70 / 55	21 / 13
May	72 / 61	22 / 16	79 / 63	26 / 17
June	79 / 68	26 / 20	88 / 70	31 / 21
July	81 / 72	27 / 22	93 / 75	34 / 24
August	81 / 73	27 / 23	93 / 73	34 / 23
September	77 / 70	25 / 21	86 / 70	30 / 21
October	72 / 64	22 / 18	79 / 63	26 / 17
November	64 / 57	18 / 14	68 / 55	20 / 13
December	59 / 52	15 / 11	61 / 50	16 / 10

	Average Rainfall
	Athens, Greece		Istanbul, Turkey
Month	Inches	Millimeters	Inches	Millimeters
January	1.8	46	3.9	99
February	1.9	48	2.6	66
March	1.7	43	2.4	61
April	1.0	25	1.9	48
May	0.6	15	1.2	30
June	0.2	5	0.8	20
July	0.2	5	0.8	20
August	0.3	8	1.0	25
September	0.4	10	1.6	41
October	1.9	48	2.8	71
November	2.0	51	3.5	89
December	2.6	66	4.8	122
	Santorini, Greece		Bodrum, Turkey
Month	Inches	Millimeters	Inches	Millimeters
January	1.7	42	2.9	73
February	1.4	35	2.7	70
March	1.3	32	3.2	80
April	0.5	12	1.3	33
May	0.3	7	0.5	12
June	0.1	3	0.1	1
July	0.4	9	0.0	0
August	0.2	4	0.0	1
September	0.2	6	0.3	7
October	0.7	18	1.0	26
November	1.7	44	3.1	79
December	1.8	46	4.3	108

To determine current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.weather.com.

If You Have to Cancel

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in our Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers Tauck Travel Protection.

If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties reduced. Click here for more details.

If you choose not to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

Did you know that you can link-up Tauck itineraries to create longer journeys? Many of these trips are in the same region, and depending upon availability you might connect with them before or after your trip. Alternatively, you might find one of these options better suited for your interests and preferences or for when you are available to travel.

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