Trip Itinerary

Thursday, May 31 FLIGHT OUT
6:15 AM Flight

TURKEY TOTAL: 1020 TL/$20/$583 40 TL per day on food
- Bus tickets and train ticket

Friday, June 1 – Istanbul – FOOD: 160 TL/ SIGHTS: 80 TL/ TRANS.: 30 TL/ VISA: $20/ Total: 300 TL/$20
10:15 AM Arrival
$20 – in Cash for visa
Get cash before leaving airport
Orange taxi to town – around 30 TL ($17) to hotel
Hotel Tulip House/196 Euros/49 per night/breakfast included/free wifi

Arrange transportation to Canakkale
Blue Mosque
Basilica Cistern

Sights:
• Ayasofya: 9-5, Tues.-Sun., 15 TL
• Sultanahmet Camii: free
• Topkapi Sarayi: 9-7, Wed. – Mon., 20 TL, get there early
• Basilica Cistern: 9-6:30, daily, 10 TL
• Grand Bazaar: 9-7, Mon.-Sat.
• Mosque of Suleyman: 9-4:30, daily, free
• Istanbul Archaeological Museum: 9-5, Tues.-Sun., 15 TL
• Bosphorus Cruise: 10:35, 1:35, daily, 12 TL
• Maybe Chora Museum: 9:30-4:30, Thurs.-Tues., 15 TLf

Saturday, June 2
Istanbul
Ayasofya
Istanbul Archaeological Museum
Grand Bazaar/Mosque of Suleyman/maybe Chora

Sunday, June 3 – Grand Bazaar closed
Istanbul
Bosphorus Cruise

Monday, June 4 – Ayasofya closed, Museum closed
Istanbul
Topkapi Sarayi
Grand Bazaar/Mosque of Suleyman/maybe Chora

Tuesday, June 5 – Canakkale – FOOD: 120 TL/ SIGHTS: 50 TL/ TRANS.: 35 TL/ TOTAL: 220 TL
Istanbul – Canakkale/go to otogar and take bus to Canakkale/around 35 TL
Hotel Limani – 81 Euros, 27 per night/breakfast included/free wifi

Sights:
• maybe Archaeological Museum: 9-5 daily, 5 TL

Wednesday, June 6 – BOOK METRO BUS for BERGAMA
Canakkale
Troy/8-7, daily, 15 TL
Take the minibus to Troy/around 10 TL round trip

Thursday, June 7
Canakkale
Canakkale-Eceabat ferry/7-midnight, every hour (30 mins. in summer)/25 min./5 TL roundtrip
Dolmus to Kabatepe/15 mins./8 TL roundtrip
Kabatepe Information Center/8-12, 1-5/3 TL
Mainly Northern Battlefield

Friday, June 8 – Bergama – FOOD: 120 TL/ SIGHTS: 30 TL/ TRANS.: 40 TL/ TOTAL: 200 TL
Canakkale – Bergama
Athena Pension/75 Euros/25 per night/breakfast included/free wifi
Book Metro bus in Canakkale/should be around 30 TL

Sights:
• Archaeology Museum/8:30-6:30/5 TL
• Red Basilica/Same/5 TL
• Asclepion/Same/10 TL
• Acropolis/Same/10 TL

Saturday, June 9 – ASK ABOUT BUS TO SELCUK
Bergama
Acropolis/Red Basilica

Sunday, June 10
Bergama
Museum/Asclepion

Monday, June 11 – All sights in Selcuk closed
Bergama – Selcuk/ FOOD: 120 TL/ SIGHTS: 100 TL/ TRANS.: 50 TL/ TOTAL: 300 TL
Bella Hotel/135 Euros/45 per night/breakfast included/free wifi
Go to otogar/14 TL for taxi/take bus to Izmir; 90 minutes; 8 TL/take bus from Izmir to Selcuk/10 TL/2 hours

Sights:
• Ephesus; 8-6:30, 20 TL; taxi (round-trip, 20 TL); the Slope Houses, 15 TL
• Ephesus Museum; 8-7, 5 TL
• Temple of Artemis; free
• Saint John’s Basilica; 5 TL
• Mosque of Jesus; free
• House of the Virgin Mary; round-trip cab, 30 TL
• Maybe go up to Sirince, dolmus from train station/round-trip 10 TL

Tuesday, June 12 – CHECK ON TRAIN TO AIRPORT
Selcuk

Wednesday, June 13
Selcuk

GREECE - 1070 Euros/$1440 25 Euros per day

Thursday, June 14 – Izmir to Athens/ FOOD: 100 Euros/ SIGHTS: 45 Euros/ TRANS.: 30 Euros/ TOTAL: 200 Euros
Take the train to the airport/one of the 3 in the morning/5 TL
1:00 PM from Izmir/8:50 PM in Athens
Hotel Kimon, 270 Euros, 54 Euros per night/no breakfast/free wifi
Bus X95, 1 hour, 4 Euro/to Syntagma

Sights:
• Acropolis; 12 Euro Pass; 8:30-8; get there early
• Acropolis Museum; 5 Euro; 8-8 – closed Monday
• Theatre of Dionysos; 8-8
• Ancient Agora; 8:30-8
• Maybe Keramikos; same
• Temple of Olympian Zeus; same
• National Archaeological Museum; same, Mon. 1:30-8; 7 Euro
• Goulandris Museum; Mon/Fri/Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5/7 Euro
• Byzantine and Christian Museum; 8:30-7:30; 4 Euro
• National Art Gallery; Mon, Wed-Sat, 9-3, Sun 10-2; 6 Euro
• Temple of Poseidon; 8-8; 4 Euro; leave early/coastal buses (12 Euro roundtrip)/from Mavro. bus
• Weekly Metro. Pass – 10 Euro

Friday, June 15 – PICKUP TICKETS AT DANAE OFFICES!!!!!!! OR ON MONDAY!!!!
Athens
Acropolis/Acropolis Museum/Theatre of Dionysos/Olympian Zeus

Saturday, June 16
Athens
Ancient Agora/Keramikos/National Arch./Get bus tickets for Cape

Sunday, June 17 – ASK ABOUT BUS TO NAFPLION
Athens
Syntagma/Museums

Monday, June 18 – Acropolis Museum closed/Byzantine Museum
Athens
Temple of Poseidon

Tuesday, June 19/ FOOD: 60 Euros SIGHTS: 20 Euros TRANS: 30 Euros TOTAL: 110 Euros
Athens – Nafplio – CHECK ON BUS TO MYCENAE
Go to Bus 51 to Bus Terminal A (2 Euros)/12 Euros – One way
Isioni Pension/120 Euros/40 per night/free breakfast/free wifi

Sights:
• Palamidi Fortress: 8-7, 4 Euros
• Archaeological Museum; 8:30-3, 2 Euros

Wednesday, June 20 – CHECK ON EPIDAVROS
Mycenae, Nafplio
Take bus to Mycenae/roundtrip, 6 Euros
Sights:
• 8 Euros, 8-8/also the museum

Thursday, June 21 – CHECK ON GYTHIO
Epidavros, Nafplio
Take bus to Epidavros/roundtrip, 6 Euros
Sights:
• 8-7:30, 6 Euros

Friday, June 22
Nafplio – Gythio TRANS: 50 Euros FOOD: 60 Euros SIGHTS: 5 Euros TOTAL: 120 Euros
Aktaion City Hotel/150 Euros/50 per night/free breakfast/free wifi – CHECK ON MYSTRAS/MONEM.
Take bus from Nafplio to Tripoli/1 1/2 hour/7 Euros
Take bus from Tripoli to Gythio/2 hours/10 Euros

Saturday, June 23 – CHECK ON BUS TO OLYMPIA
Mystras, Gythio
Take bus to Sparta (one hour, 8 Euros roundtrip)/bus to Mystras (30 min., 4 Euros roundtrip)

Sights:
• 5 Euros/8-7:30

Sunday, June 24
Monemvasia, Gythio
Check out Gythio bus schedule, and hopefully a direct connection to Monemvasia (or have to connect in Sparta) – should be around 20 Euros roundtrip

Monday, June 25
Gythio – Olympia/ TRANS: 20 Euros FOOD: 40 Euros SIGHTS: 10 Euros TOTAL: 75 Euros
Hotel Pelops/96 Euros/48 per night/free breakfast/free wifi – CHECK ON BUS TO DELPHI
Take bus to Tripoli/2 hours/10 Euros
Tripoli to Olympia/3 ½ hours/10 Euros

Sights:
• Archaeological Museum/9 Euros/8-8
• Ancient Olympia

Tuesday, June 26
Olympia

Wednesday, June 27 FOOD: 40 Euros SIGHTS: 10 Euros TRANS: 30 Euros TOTAL: 80 Euros
Olympia – Delphi
Olympic Hotel/80 Euros/40 per night/free breakfast/free wifi
Bus to Pyrgos (2 Euro, 30 min.), Pyrgos to Patras (2 hours, 10 Euros), from Patras take the bus to Thesso. stopping at Itea (around 15 Euros), and then Itea to Delphi (2 Euros, 30 mins.)

Sights:
• Delphi Site/Museum; 10 Euro; 8-7:45

Thursday, June 28 – BUS TO KASTRAKI
Delphi

Friday, June 29/ TRANS: 20 Euros FOOD: 60 Euros SIGHTS: 12 Euros TOTAL: 100 Euros
Delphi – Kastraki
Doupiani House/135 Euros/45 per night/free breakfast/free wifi
Bus from Delphi to Lamia (5 Euros), bus to Trikala (11 Euros), bus to Kalambaka (2 Euros), to Kastraki (2 Euros)

Sights:
• Moni Agiou Nikolaou; 2 Euros, closed Sunday, 9-3:30
• Moni Varlaam; 2 Euros, 9-4
• Moni Megalou Meteorou; 2 Euros, 9-5
• Moni Agias Varvaras; 2 Euros, 9-6
• Moni Agias Triados; 2 Euros, 9-5
• Moni Agiou Stefanou; 2 Euros, 9-1:30, 3:30-5:30

Saturday, June 30 – CHECK ON TRAIN BACK TO ATHENS
Meteora

Sunday, July 1
Meteora – Moni Agiou Nikolaou closed

Monday, July 2 TRANS: 33 Euros FOOD: 20 Euros TOTAL: 55 Euros
Meteora – Athens/Piraeus
Piraeus Dream Hotel/60 Euros/free breakfast, free wifi
Kastraki to Kalambaka (2 Euros)/by train (25 Euros); 4 ½ hours, try early train; prefer the train but the bus also works; 4 ½ hours, 30 Euros, arriving at Terminal B; then take the metro to Piraeus, 1 Euro

Tuesday, July 3 FOOD: 40 Euros TRANS: 60 Euros SIGHTS: 5 Euros TOTAL: 110 Euros
Athens – Mykonos
Piraeus to Mykonos ferry; 7:35 AM to 13:05 PM – 34 Euros
Dina’s Rooms/120 Euros/60 per night/no breakfast/free wifi

Sights:
• Delos; 5 Euros; 8:30-3; 15 Euros roundtrip, 30 min.

Wednesday, July 4
Delos, Mykonos

Thursday, July 5 FOOD: 40 Euros TRANS: 42 Euros SIGHTS: 20 Euros TOTAL: 105 Euros
Mykonos – Santorini
Loizos Apartments/110 Euros/55 per night/no breakfast/free wifi
Ferry to Thira; 14:55 to 17:35; 52.50 Euros; then take bus from port to Thira (4 Euro roundtrip)

Sights:
• Museum of Prehistoric Thera; 3 Euro, 8:30-8
• Bus to Kamari, 2 Euro, bus to Ancient Thira (4 Euro roundtrip); 4 Euro, 8-2:30; then take bus to Oia and then back, 4 Euros

Friday, July 6
Santorini

Saturday, July 7
Santorini – Crete SIGHTS: 10 Euros FOOD: 40 Euros TRANS: 65 Euros TOTAL: 115 Euros
Kastro Hotel/110 Euros/55 per night/free breakfast/free wifi
Ferry to Iraklio/17:55 to 19:30/51 Euros

Sights:
• Archaeological Museum; 10 Euros; 8-8
• Knossos; 8-7; 5 Euros roundtrip

Sunday, July 8
Crete

EGYPT TOTAL: 5000 EP/$15 for visa/around $200 for Abu Simbel tour

160 EP per day

Monday, July 9 Crete – Cairo FOOD: 640 EP SIGHTS: 730 EP TRANS: 100 EP TOTAL: 1500 EP/$15
11:20 AM – 12:10 PM: HER to Athens/on Aegean Air
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Athens to Cairo/on EgyptAir
Nile Season Hotel/$200/$50 per night/free breakfast/free wifi
Take taxi to airport in HER/12 Euros
Get a visa and cash/$15/free airport shuttle to hotel
Arrange taxi for pyramids

Sights:
• Egyptian Museum; 60 EP, 9-6:45/Royal Mummy Room; 100 EP, 9-6:20
• Coptic Cairo; Coptic Museum, 50 EP, 9-4; Hanging Church; St. Sergius, 8-4; Ben Ezra/Dress Code
• Giza Plateau; 50 EP, 8-6
• Khufu; 100 EP
• Khafre; 30 EP
• Menkaure
• Mosque of Ibn Tulun; 8-6; Gayer-Anderson Museum, 30 EP, 9-5; Khan Misr Touloun, 10-5; Al-Azhar Mosque, 24 hours; Khan Al-Khalili; Fishawi’s/Dress Code
• Average taxi anywhere in Cairo no more than 20 EP

Tuesday, July 10
Cairo – Focus on the Pyramids
Take taxi from hotel to the pyramids (Khufu); 40 EP roundtrip
Maybe Coptic Cairo after

Wednesday, July 11 – Arrange taxi for tour
Cairo – Focus on Museum
Then to Islamic Cairo

Thursday, July 12 Arrange taxi to airport
Cairo – Focus on Around Cairo/hire taxi for the day, 200 EP
• Saqqara; 52 EP, 8-5; North Saqqara; Pyramids of Abu Sir, maybe South Saqqara
• Meidum; 32 EP, 8-4
• Dahshur; 25 EP, 8-5

Friday, July 13 Cairo – Luxor SIGHTS: 770 EP TRANS: 264 EP FOOD: 640 EP TOTAL: 1675 EP/$280
11:30 AM – 12:40 PM
Get taxi at hotel and go to airport/60 EP
In Luxor, arrange transfer with hotel/25 Euros
Pavillon Winter Luxor/160 Euros/40 per night/free breakfast/wifi not free/

Sights:
• Karnak; 65 EP; 6-6
• Luxor Temple; 50 EP; 6-10
• Luxor Museum; 80 EP; 9-1, 5-10
• Mummification Museum; 50 EP; same
• Inspectorate Ticket Office; 6-5
• Temple of Hatshepsut; 30 EP; 6-5
• Ramesseum; 35 EP; 6-5
• Valley of the Kings; Ay, 25 EP; Ramses VI, 50 EP; Tut, 100 EP; 6-5; other 3 tombs, 80 EP
• Tombs of the Nobles; 6-5; around 150 EP
• Medinat Habu; 6-5; 30 EP
• Take ferry to West Bank; 2 EP round-trip; 20 EP per day for bike rental, at hotel

Saturday, July 14
Luxor

Sunday, July 15
Luxor

Monday, July 16 Arrange taxi to Aswan
Luxor

Tuesday, July 17
Luxor – Aswan FOOD: 800 EP SIGHTS: 350 EP TRANS: 600 EP TOTAL: 1750 EP/$300/not including $200 for tour
Movenpick Resort Aswan/$324/$81 per night/no free wifi/
Have Luxor hotel arrange taxi to Aswan, seeing: around 400 EP for the trip
• Esna; Temple of Khnum; 20 EP; 6-6
• Al-Kab; 30 EP
• Edfu; Temple of Horus; 50 EP; 7-10
• Kom Ombo; 30 EP; 7-9

Wednesday, July 18 Arrange Abu Simbel Tour
Aswan

Sights:
• Nubia Museum; 50 EP; 9-1, 5-9
• Northern Quarries; 30 EP; 7-6
• Aswan Museum; 25 EP; 8:30-6
• Sharia as-Souq

Thursday, July 19
Aswan – Abu Simbel Tour/make in Aswan/should be no more than $200

Friday, July 20 Arrange airport taxi
Aswan

• Philae; 50 EP, 7-5/organize taxi trip to High Dam and Philae; 200 EP; boat, 20 EP roundtrip

Saturday, July 21
Aswan – Cairo FLIGHT
1:40 PM – 3:05 PM
Taxi to the airport/40 EP

Sunday, July 22
6:35 AM Departure from Cairo
6:54 PM arrival in Denver

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Trip Length: 7 weeks
Blog Entries: 50
Photos: 448
Words: 17541

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Blog Entries

Date	Blog Title	Location
June 1st 2012	Arrival in Istanbul	Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul » Sultanahmet
June 2nd 2012	The Hagia Sophia	Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul » Sultanahmet
June 3rd 2012	Bosphorus Cruise	Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul » Sultanahmet
June 4th 2012	Topkapi Palace	Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul » Sultanahmet
June 5th 2012	Canakkale	Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Canakkale
June 6th 2012	Troy	Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Canakkale
June 7th 2012	Gallipoli Penisula	Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Canakkale
June 8th 2012	Bus to Pergamum	Middle East » Turkey » Aegean » Bergama
June 9th 2012	Bergama Acropolis	Middle East » Turkey » Aegean » Bergama
June 10th 2012	Last Day in Bergama	Middle East » Turkey » Aegean » Bergama
June 11th 2012	Bus to Selcuk	Middle East » Turkey » Aegean » Selçuk
June 12th 2012	Ephesus	Middle East » Turkey » Aegean » Selçuk
June 13th 2012	Last Day in Turkey	Middle East » Turkey » Aegean » Selçuk
June 14th 2012	Flight to Athens	Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens
June 15th 2012	The Parthenon	Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens
June 16th 2012	Another Day in Athens	Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens
June 17th 2012	Syntagma and More Museums	Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens
June 18th 2012	Last Day in Athens	Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens
June 19th 2012	Bus to Nafplio	Europe » Greece » Pelopennese » Nafplion
June 20th 2012	Ancient Mycenae	Europe » Greece » Pelopennese » Nafplion
June 21st 2012	Fun in Epidavros	Europe » Greece » Pelopennese » Nafplion
June 22nd 2012	Travel Day to Gythio	Europe » Greece » Pelopennese » Sparta
June 23rd 2012	Wandering Around Mystras	Europe » Greece » Pelopennese » Sparta
June 24th 2012	Monemvasia	Europe » Greece » Pelopennese » Sparta
June 25th 2012	Getting to Olympia	Europe » Greece » West Greece » Olympia
June 26th 2012	Ancient Olympia	Europe » Greece » West Greece » Olympia
June 27th 2012	Magical Delphi	Europe » Greece » Central Greece » Delphi
June 28th 2012	Ancient Delphi	Europe » Greece » Central Greece » Delphi
June 29th 2012	Journey to Meteora	Europe » Greece » Thessaly » Meteora
June 30th 2012	Up to the Monasteries	Europe » Greece » Thessaly » Meteora
July 1st 2012	Last Day at Meteora	Europe » Greece » Thessaly » Meteora
July 2nd 2012	Back Down to Athens	Europe » Greece » Attica » Piraeus
July 3rd 2012	Ferry to Mykonos	Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Mykonos
July 4th 2012	Sacred Delos	Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Mykonos
July 5th 2012	Ferry to Santorini	Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini » Fira
July 6th 2012	Around Santorini	Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini » Fira
July 7th 2012	Last Day in Santorini/Ferry to Crete	Europe » Greece » Crete » Heraklion
July 8th 2012	My Very Last Day in Greece	Europe » Greece » Crete » Heraklion
July 9th 2012	Flight to Cairo	Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo
July 10th 2012	The Great Pyramids and Around Cairo	Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo
July 11th 2012	A Day in Cairo	Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo
July 12th 2012	Day Trip to Alexandria	Africa » Egypt » Lower Egypt » Cairo
July 13th 2012	Travel Day to Luxor	Africa » Egypt » Upper Egypt » Luxor
July 14th 2012	Karnak Temples	Africa » Egypt » Upper Egypt » Luxor
July 15th 2012	The West Bank at Luxor	Africa » Egypt » Upper Egypt » Luxor
July 16th 2012	Last Day in Luxor	Africa » Egypt » Upper Egypt » Luxor
July 17th 2012	Drive Down to Aswan	Africa » Egypt » Upper Egypt » Aswan
July 18th 2012	Around Aswan	Africa » Egypt » Upper Egypt » Aswan
July 19th 2012	Down to Abu Simbel	Africa » Egypt » Upper Egypt » Aswan
July 20th 2012	My Last Day	Africa » Egypt » Upper Egypt » Aswan