Travelling to both Turkey & Greece for 16 days cost around RM8,000++ including international & domestic flight ticket.

I got the flight deal for RM2,901 from Qatar Airway for multiple destination:

Kuala Lumpur > Doha > Istanbul

Athens > Doha > Kuala Lumpur

16th Nov 2015 – 1st Dec 2015

Indeed, it was a good deal, unless you’re flying only to Turkey then it will be ONLY RM2,400 for a return from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul!

HIGH SEASON *Summer (May – October) / LOW SEASON *Winter (November – April)

I love to travel during low season, I mean WHY NOT? Flight is cheap, less crowd, hotel is cheap, you get all the leisure time!

My primary destination was Turkey so I spent about 10 days in Turkey and 6 days in Greece. So the brief planning was:

9 nights Turkey >> 2 nights Santorini >> 1 night Athens >> 1 night Kalambaka >> 1 night Athens

10 Days in Turkey

I booked through this travel agent name YukiTour after I found good reviews about this agent on Tripadvisor. It was a budget trip, so I took the bus option to get around Turkey. The price for the tour wasn’t expensive as I thought! *Probably the price is freaking you out, but if you compared the price that I spent for the whole trip to other tour that organized by Travel Agencies, you’ll definitely know why I said this is a budget trip. 😀

It was €595 for a 10Days 9Nights (inclusive of transport & hotels)!

It was a good deal last year since the depreciation of Euro, but as of now, it still cost less than RM2,800!

Undoubtedly, we were all pleased with Yukitour arrangement, we were well-taken care of throughout the trip in Turkey, each city ground tour arrangement and also intercity bus arrangement are all GOOD!

The 9 Nights 10 Days Turkey Itinerary by the travel agent is as follows:

Day 1: Istanbul

Upon Arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, you will be greeted at the gate and transfered to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day to see Istanbul on your own.

Day 2: BOSPHORUS Boat Cruise (Istanbul)

You will be picked up from the hotel and begin with a half day tour, starting Bosphorus cruise, end of the tour transfer back to hotel or Sultanahmet area. Free afternoon and overnight in Istanbul. (Breakfast)

Day 3: Instanbul >> Gallipoli (Canakkale)

Early morning pick up from the hotel, to depart for Gallipoli. Full days tour of Dardanelles, Kabatepe War museum, Brighton Beach, Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. At the end of the day, we will cross the dardanelles and be transfered your hotel in Canakkale. The rest of the evening is yours, and will stay in Canakkale for the night. (Breakfast & Lunch)

Day 4: Troy (Canakkale) >> Selcuk (Kusadasi)

Depart for half days tour of Troy. We will visit the Trojan Horse, Helen of Troy, where over 10 ancient cities have been discovered, built one on top of the other, dating back to 3500 BC. After the tour we will return to Canakkale and transfer you to the bus station to go to Selcuk. Once you arrive in Selcuk, you will be transfered to your hotel and the rest of the night is yours. (Breakfast)

Day 5: Ephesus tour (Selcuk)

At 09:30am we will depart for a full days tour of the Ephesus Ruins, Temple of Artemis, the Hadrian, Celcius Library and House of the Virgin Mary. We will have lunch on the tour, and end the day with transfer to the hotel, free time and overnight in Selcuk. (Breakfast & Lunch)

Day 6: Pamukkale tour >> Cappadocia

You will be picked up for a full days tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis. Pamukkale which means cotton castle, has been formed over time by the natural hot springs, rich in calcium and carbonate, that flow down the slope. We will also visit the ancient Roman Health Spa of Hierapolis, made most famous for it is thermal springs, theatre, Agora and the Necropolis. After tour free time to get overnight bus to Cappadocia. (Breakfast & Lunch)

Day 7: North Cappadocia tour

After arrive in Goreme, pick you up from bus station and transfer to hotel than at 9:30 depart for a full days tour of Northern Cappadocia, we wil visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, Devrent Valley, Avanos, Pasabag, Cavusin village. End of the tour transfer back to hotel and stay at Cave hotel in Cappadocia. (Breakfast & Lunch)

Day 8: South Cappadocia tour >> Istanbul
**Add on Hot Air Balloon Tour (EUR 130/pax)

04:30am pick up from the hotel and head out for Hot Air Balloon tour. 8.30am ended Hot Air Balloon tour, back to hotel and go on a full day tour of Southern Cappadocia. We will visit Pigeon valley, Underground city (Kaymakli or Derinkuyu) and walking Rose Valley to explore Cappadocia and nature. End of the tour back to hotel and take your luggage for transfer to bus station. Take an overnight bus to Istanbul. (Breakfast & Lunch)

Day 9: Istanbul

When you arrive in Istanbul bus station please ask a shuttle bus to Sultanahmet. The day is for you explore old city of Istanbul and you can enjoy at Hagia sophia, Blue Mosque or Topkapi Palace. Shopping also another interesting option. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 10: Istanbul >> Greece

According your flight we will pick you up from the hotel and transfer to the airport. (Breakfast)

The Price Chart:

What is included:

6 Days in Greece

For 6 days in Greece, I planned and booked everything on my own 🙂

To catch a flight from Istanbul to Santorini, you will have to transit in Athens, you may find more flight frequency during the High Season (May – October) but less flights during Low Season (Nov – April).

Istanbul > Athens > Santorini

I booked my flight from Istanbul > Santorini with Aegean Airlines. It was €88 from Istanbul > Athens > Santorini & €46 from Santorini > Athens.

Accommodation in Santorini:

I was having a trouble on choosing whether to stay at Thira(Fira) which is the capital town or the popular Oia! Since I’m travelling in low season in Winter, I guess I make the right choice to stayed at Thira(Fira)!

TAKE NOTE!! If you also plan to travel to Santorini during low season, a lot of hotels & restaurants are closed in Oia.

The hotel I stayed was Aroma Suites. I got a good hotel deal during the expedia promotion period, RM1,024 for 2 nights stay in a Quadruple Room that can accommodate 4 persons.

I was searching online looking for private car tour in Santorini, but all the quote I get wasn’t really a good price, it’s like €350 (1 day) with English speaking driver. Hence I didn’t make any private car booking online and ask for the private car from the Hotel during my check in, INDEED, I got a good price, about €100-150, half of the price of my online inquiry!

Santorini > Athens

Athens is all about acropolis, I had enough hierapolis/roman theatre in Turkey, so I wasn’t so keen to explore more on this, hence, I searched for other places to visit in Greece and sha-bam, I found Kalambaka aka Meteora!

Hotel Attalos (EUR 56/night Twin Room)

This hotel in Athens is near to the Monastiraki Station, which is the main square where you can shop, a lot of restaurants, and also near to all the acropolis! The hotel has an amazing rooftop bar that overlooking the night view of acropolis too!

Athens > Kalambaka (Meteora)

I took the train from Athens to Kalambaka, it cost EUR 15.70 each way for a first class coach (what’s difference between first class coach & normal coach is that, first class you get a private room with 6 seats).

Hotel in Kalambaka – Hotel Kosta Famissi (EUR 45/night Twin Room)