Hi

Check out this site, particularly the final three tours to Athens from Kusadasi or Marmaris. They meet your requirements (and more) but Mykonos is not included. However, the agency says that they will build a tour if you let them know your itinerary.

http://www.senkrontours.com/greecepackagetours.asp

Perhaps also think of emailing Fantasy Travel in Athens who also may be able to arrange something that will include all your destinations and departure preferences.

http://www.fantasy.gr/

jon

Hi

Check out www.gtp.gr or www.ferries.gr for Greek destinations. To get to Rhodes from Marmaris or Bodrum see - http://rhodes.marmarisinfo.com/index.php.

When are you going? Ferries run less frequently in the off season.

There is also the cruise option to visit the islands but this will be alot more expensive for you.

Hi,jon_rwr -Thanks so much for your prompt response and your helpful advice.

Jon has given you some good references, and if you want someone to build a tour package for you, making the bookings and arrangements, that would be the way to go. Recommend dealing with a Greek agency such as Fantasy Travel, as they would be best equipped to step in with help if the unexpected occurs, such as ferry delays that could affect the timing of your itinerary. Be aware that these agencies use the Greek ferry system, not their own boats.

If you are prepared to do the legwork yourself, it is very easy to reserve rooms on Greek Islands and book ferry tickets. For us to give you the best advice it is important to know when you are travelling, being as precise as possible, as tourism on the Greek Islands is very seasonal. The busiest time on the islands is the last half of July through the third week of August. Don't be tempted to arrange a tour that has you moving from island to island every day or two, as you will spend most of your time in transit.

Hi everybody for responding. I'm still trying to put together our tour through the Greek islands. at this point I'm prepared to do the leg work myself but I'm having trouble finding the ferry schedule from Rhodo to Santorini -> please help!
I included my schedule and I will appreciate it if you can criticize and make suggestions.
We are arriving to Istanbul on June 23
June 24 Sunday : Istanbul City Tour
June 25 Monday : Istanbul
June 26 Tuesday : flight to Cappadocia after 5pm
June 27 Wednesday : Cappadocia
June 28 Thursday : flight to izmir then Bodrum
June 29 Friday : Pamukkale tour
June 30 Saturday : Ephesus Tour
July 01 Sunday : bodrum to rhodo
July 02 Monday : rhodo -- ferri to santorini
July 03 Tuesday : santorini
July 04 Wednesday : santorini to mikonos by ferry leaves at 11 arrives at 2pm
July 05 Thursday : mikonos
July 06 Friday Mikonos to pireus athens
july 07 athens city tour
july 08 My daughter leaves to NY.

My husband, my son, and I still have one more week to tour Greece

On the Turkish portion :

- I cannot comment on istanbul, because you can only have a short glimpse in two days and whatever you choose to see during them, you will miss much more anyway. Might as well just relax on the Bosphorus and get over your jet lag rather than sightsee.

- Izmir airport is close to Ephesus and Pamukkale, so to take these tours from Bodrum rather than Selcuk or Kusadasi is rather a strange choice, adding unnecessary cost and travel times.

- If you must take the Pamukkale and Ephesus tours from Bodrum, then you should fly to Bodrum rather than to Izmir and then drive three hours or so to Bodrum going past Ephesus in the process, just to come back the same way, the next day.

Good luck, anyway.

As for the Greek part

You have calculated to little time on each island, when you should have planed at least 3 days per island.
In that short time, you won't have the time to really see anything.
Given the fact that you will have 1 extra week to spend in Greece, i would add that time to the islands.

Re Rhodes - Santorini: unfortunately Blue Star seems to be cutting back ferries between Rhodes and Santorini this year, and that leaves only three ferries per week between those destinations, one Blue Star (Mondays) and two with Prevelis (Thursdays & Sundays). Neither of these are scheduled as far ahead as July, yet. Prevelis is a year-round ferry, but stops at every little port between the two islands, and takes 14-19 hours for the journey.

These are actually Piraeus - Rhodes - Piraeus ferries with a stop at Santorini. Another alternative would be to go to Mykonos first and then Santorini. Blue Star has a route from Rhodes to Piraeus with a stop at Syros (near Mykonos) on Tue, Thu, & Sun at 1700, arriving early the next morning. There are daily ferries from Syros to Mykonos, and daily catamarans from Mykonos to Santorini.

Jumping from one island group to another is never easy. Ferry connections aren't daily, and journey times long. The easiest way to get from Rhodes to Santorini or Mykonos is by connecting flights via Athens.

Once again you guys are amazing with your prompt responses and timely advice. After reading the above comments I have modified my itinerary as follows:
June 23 :arriving to istanbul 10 am : in the afternoon visiting hajia Sofia museum and grand Bazar
June 24 Sunday : Istanbul Topkapy palace and blue mosque
June 25 Monday : city tour
June 26 Tuesday : Bosphorus bay in the morning Cappadocia after 5pm
June 27 Wednesday : Cappadocia
June 28 Thursday : flight to izmir at 7pm
June 29 Friday : kussadasi to Pamukkale tour
June 30 Saturday : kussadassi to Ephesus Tour
July 01 Sunday : kussadasi to Samos and then to mikonos
July 02 Monday : mikonos
July 03 Tuesday : mikonos
July 04 Wednesday : santorini
July 05 Thursday : santorini
July 06 Friday santorini to athens
july 07 athens city tour
july 08 My daughter leaves to NY.
The problem that we have with staying more days in the islands is that my daughter has to go back to therefore we need to be in athens
juy 8 . then what other set of islands will be better?

For Samos to Mykonos you may also have to change at Syros. During high season over the last few years the Samos - Piraeus ferry also stopped at Mykonos, and may very well do so again this this year. At the moment timetables run only into June, and show Ierapetra doing the run. Hopefully, when high season timetables are published, they will show a stop at Mykonos, and the ferry the newer Nissos Mykonos. The summer timetables for this route should be published within the next few weeks.