Program

DAY 1: LARNAKA-ATHENS-CONSTANTINOPLE
Gathering at Larnaka Airport. Luggage arrangement and departure for Eleftherios Venizelos Airport. Arrival. Departure for Istanbul Airport. Arrival. Luggage collection and departure by luxury air-conditioned bus to our hotel. Check-in. Free time to get a first taste of beautiful Constantinople and have dinner (optional). Overnight.

DAY 2: ISTANBUL-HAYA SOPHIA-BOSPHORUS-COVERED MARKET-AQUEST OF JUSTINIAN-BOSPHORUS
Breakfast. We continue with a visit-tour of the wonder of the ages and one of the most imposing monuments of Old Constantinople, Hagia Sophia. We will see only the main church, the right aisle and the narthex. The rest are closed because it is now a mosque. Opposite Hagia Sophia we will visit the Basilica Cistern or Aqueduct of Justinian. It was the largest underground reservoir in Istanbul with a capacity of more than 80,000 cubic meters of water. Optional lunch. We continue our program, to the Golden Horn from where we will take the boat for a cruise on the Bosphorus. For an hour and a half we will enjoy the ancient Strait, which is today called the Bosphorus and we will see the Galata Tower, the first and second suspension bridges of the Bosphorus. Return to the hotel, after first visiting the Covered Market, which is really worth it, to do our shopping or even just for a walk. The large covered bazaar is also known as the Grand Bazaar and extends over 100 alleys with 4000 fancy little shops. Overnight

DAY 3: ISTANBUL-PRIGIPONISIA-DOLMA BAXE-EGYPTIAN MARKET
Breakfast. Departure for the Asian part of Istanbul, where we will take the boat to visit the Princes' Islands. We will visit the island of Halki, where the Theological School of Halki is located, which has been closed since 1971, the Monastery of the Holy Trinity. Then we will go to the island of Princip, the largest island of the 9 Princes' Islands. Lunch. Visit to the Metropolitan Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Return to Constantinople. Visit to the Dolma Baxe Palace (optional). Return to our hotel. Free time. Overnight.

DAY 4: ISTANBUL-CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast. Early morning departure to Cappadocia, famous throughout the world for its unique landscape (distance approximately 700 kilometers). We will pass through Nicomedia, continue to Klavdioupolis, pass outside the capital of Turkey, Ankara and continue to Cappadocia. During our route we will have a stop for an optional lunch. Arrival in Cappadocia. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

DAY 5: CAPPADOCIA-KORAMA-ZELVI VALLEY-AVANOS-SINASOS
Breakfast. We begin our visits to Cappadocia. We will visit the open-air museum in the Korama Valley (Goreme) with the unique monastic complex of rock-hewn churches and chapels (rock monasteries) of Agia Barbara, of Saint Basil the Great, of Saint Onufrio, decorated with indescribable frescoes with scenes from the Old and New Testaments as well as with images of local saints who were worshipped in Cappadocia. We will see the monks' dining rooms. We continue to the Zelvi Valley, where we will get to know the Fairy Chimneys up close. Coffee break and rest on the banks of the Aly River in the village of Avanos. Lunch (optional). Then departure for the village of Sinassos, one of the richest villages in Cappadocia, before the population exchange. We will visit the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen. Those who wish can have an (optional) hot air balloon flight to admire the magnificent view from above and enjoy the sunrise. Return to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

DAY 6: CAPPADOCIA-NEAPOLIS-MALAKOPI-PROKOPI-CAESAREA-ANKYRA
Breakfast. Departure for a visit to Neapolis with the Church of the Virgin Mary and then to Malakopi with the Church of Saints Theodore. Then a visit to Prokopi where we will see the house (stable), where Saint John the Russian lived as a servant and cook. Then a visit to Caesarea where Saint Basil lived. Free time. Departure for Ankara. Arrival. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

DAY 7: ANKARA-ISTANBUL
Breakfast. Departure for return to Istanbul with intermediate stops and a stop for an optional meal, after first taking a tour of Ankara. Arrival. Check-in at the hotel. Free time. Overnight.

DAY 8: CONSTANTINOPLE-PHANARIS (AGIOS GEORGE)-AIRPORT-LARNAKA
Breakfast. Departure for a visit to the Cathedral of Saint George at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, at the Phanar where we will have a church service. Here we will see the Closed Gate and the martyrdom site of Patriarch Gregory V. Departure for the Istanbul Airport for the return flight. On the way, visit the Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi (Baloukli). Here there are the miraculous Holy Water, the tombs of the Patriarchs and benefactors of the Greek Nation and the cistern with the traditional fish. Also visit the Church of Panagia of Vlachernae, where the Akathist hymn was sung for the first time in 626 AD. Departure for the airport. Arrival at Larnaca airport.