Hi, I plan a vacation for June 2017. What do you think about the following Itinerary? Any suggestions? Fly from South Africa via Istanbul (Turkey airlines) to Athens. As Ryan-air flight to Santorini leaves at 7 in morning we have to overnight in Athens, next day flight to Santorini (overnight 3 nights), Naxos 4 nights, Paros 4 nights, ferry back to Athens for afternoon flight to Istanbul. Flight to Bodrum or Fetiye for 7night sailing on Gulet (Turkey coastline), bak to Istanbul 2 nights), back to SA. Will it be better to do Turkey first and travel from Turkey to Santorini directly (skip Athens)? Any recommendations for sailing itinerary? (Fetiye to Marmaris or Bodrum area or...? Will it be too much in 1 vacation? Much appreciated.

What about Istanbul - plane - Athens - ferry - Paros - ferry - Naxos - ferry - Santorini - ferry - Kos - ferry - Bodrum?

The overnight ferry leaves Santorini 3times weekly at midnight and arrives at Kos at 6am (cabins or reclining seats available). The connecting ferry leaves Kos daily at 9.30am and arrives at Bodrum about 1 hr later.

Whether this itinerary will work for you really depends on your interests and preferences for pace. I haven't been to Greece yet, but FWIW, I thought Istanbul worth close to 6 full days for a first visit, had no interest in Bodrum, and found it difficult to keep my trip to Turkey under a month. You can find my trip report by clicking on my screen name and scrolling down my "profile" page to the section on trip reports.

Should be a great trip, no matter what you decide!

if you're only in athens for an overnight, why not just fly to santorini?

btw... sofitel hotel at the airport is great and just a simple walk across the street to the baggage counters.

i was surprised by athens and really loved it. i'm really not a museum person, but they have two truly fine museums of ancient antiquities.

don't miss the vendors who get on the ferry near naxos... they sell the most delicious rose-flavored jelly candies. my friends begged for more.

Unless your flight from Istanbul to Athens is really late, you could get an Aegean Air flight to Santorini that night.

7 nights on a gulet sounds like you'll be missing quite a bit of Turkey. I would recommend renting a car and spending that week exploring the Lycian Coast on land. You'll see a lot more and it's very easy to find day boat trips.

Thank you!! Really appreciate all the input!

I will not give information about the Greek islands, but for Turkey I can suggest provinces and cities such as antalya-kaş-belem-belek-bodrum-izmir-istanbul.

Hi all, thanks for the info. We've decide to go to Greek islands first Athens, Ferry to Paros - Naxos - Santorini - ferry to Kos - ferry - Bodrum. Decided not to do the Sailing trip.
Now I need more advice with the following please! Arrive in Bodrum on 15/06/17. This leave us with 8 nights till our flight 23/6/17 back to South Africa. Would love to go to-
Ephesus (have been there only once before cruise ship), Bodrum - Marmaris - Fethiye - Olimpos - Cuppadocia - back to Istanbul (2 nights).
Suggestions please?

It depends on our preferences, but I think your ideas for Turkey are overly ambitious. For example, it is not unreasonable to want at least 3 or 4 nights in Cappadocia or 5 or 6 nights for Istanbul.

Thank you so much. If more ideas come up please post. have a great day!

May be you should check Santorini - Bluestarferry (the same which goes to Kos) - Rhodos - catamaran - Fethyie - bus - Kas - Olympos - Antalya - Konya - Urgup/Goreme - Kayseri - plane - Izmir (Efes) - Istanbul.
But all that will hardly be doable in 1 week only.

More realistic solution:
fast ferry/jet Santorini - Mykonos, Hellenic Seaways ferry Mykonos - Samos, local ferry Samos - Kusadasi, local bus (every 30 min or so) Kusadasi - Selcuk/Ephesos, bus or train Ephesos (Selcuk) - Adnan Menderes (Izmir) airport, flight to Kayseri, bus to Izmir/Goreme, bus to Nevsehir, plane to Istanbul.

What neckervd said.

Possible alternative for arriving at Fethiye would be the 4hr 45min bus from Bodrum.
http://www.fethiyeseyahat.com/

I would suggest western regions for Turkey. Especially Izmir and Anatolia-mugla-mersin, such as the colors and the districts.

Thank you!

Hi, I can recommend the islands of Rhodes, Santorini and Mykonos for the Greek islands. For Turkey, I would especially recommend Antalya and İzmir-Dalaman-Gazipaşa-Alanya-Kemer-Bodrum-Marmaris regions.

Hi, last year I went to the Greek Islands and Antalya holidays and I can suggest Lesvos-Chios-Samos-Kos Islands for the Greek Islands. For Turkey I would suggest the city of Antalya and its regions. It is really filled with the beauty we need to see once in a while.

Ttt

Thank you all for the input, much appreciated.

Hi, we've Finally changed our itinerary to see more of Turkey. 21days- Arrive Istanbul and take flight same day to Kayseri. 3 nights Goreme before taking the overnight bus to Antalya, overnight Antalya. Next morning bus to Olympos (overnight). Next morning board Gulet - 4day Blue cruise to Fethiye.
3 nights Fethiye before taking the bus to Bodrum (3 nights), bus to Selcuk (2nights) for sirince and Ephesus before taking early flight from Izmir to Istanbul. 3 nights Istanbul before taking flight back to Johannesburg.
Questions: a) i've read some reviews that it is not advicable to visit Goreme open air Museum? b) Antalya - 1 day only- plan to visit old town - would you recommend visiting Mountain for cable car or not?
c) when in Fethiye wouldyou recommmend taking day trip to Dalyan or enough to do see closer to Fethiye before moving on to Bodrum? d) As Bodrum is aprox 5hours by bus would you recommend us rather stay 2 nights Fethiye and 3rd night between Fethiye and Bodrum to see whatever is in that area (see turtles, Mud bath)?

All depends on your interests. There are stunning archeological sites around Antalya which could take you busy during several days: Perge, Aspendos, Side, Aspendos (the 2 latter with stunning sandy beaches).....
These ruins are as impressive as those around Selcuk (Ephesos, Priene, Didimae....).
You don't need to go down to Cirali/Olympos in order to board a gullet for a Blue Cruise. Similar cruises are offered at Kas and at Fethyie.
I don't think that the cableway (gondola) will bring you a lot. It's often misty (and a lot colder) at Mount Olympos (7750 ft).
Bodrum is a kind of Turkish St. Tropez. I don't know how things will work this year with almost no tourists from Western Europe. There may be a lot of Russian tourists and some people from Istanbul.

In order to minimize the long bus rides, you may consider the following changes:
1. skip Bodrum: Istanbul - plane - Izmir (Efes etc.) - plane - Kayseri (direct flight not daily) - Göreme/Ihlara, etc - bus - Antalya - bus - Cirali/Kas/Fethiye - bus Dalaman - plane - Istanbul
2. skip Bodrum and Efes and fly directly from Istanbul to Kayseri and back from Dalaman.