A rewarding walk from the mountains of inland Corsica to the rose coloured Calanques of Piana high above the sea. A veritable mountain in the sea, Corsica is the most geographically diverse of the Mediterranean Islands. It offers such a variety of landscapes from snow topped mountain peaks to fine sandy beaches. Age old paths link the high mountain plains with their shepherd huts through to the picturesque Mediterranean Coast. This itinerary starts in the central valley and crosses the Grand Randonnee 20 (GR20), the challenging long-distance route running most of the length of Corsica. On foot you'll discover scented pine forests and the pretty mountain village of Evisa, known for its chestnuts, and explore the deep Spelunca Gorge. From Porto you can explore the unique jumble of rose granite pinnacles including the famous Calanques of Piana before visiting Corsica's capital Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon.
Tour of "Sultan Ahmet Center", the heart of the "Old City" from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled.
Hagia Sophia, the Church of Divine Wisdom, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian.
Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its blue İznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets,
built in the name of Sultan Ahmet.
Hippodrome, center of sportive events (chariot races, athletics) and political activities of the
old city. Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius and German Fountain of Wilhelm II are
the monuments decorating the Hippodrome.
Grand Covered Bazaar, most attractive shopping center and the biggest "souk" in the world
with nearly 4000 shops selling antiques, jewellery, gold, carpets, leatherware and souvenir.
(Art demonstration of handmade Turkish carpets upon request)
The locations that appealed to me most were the Switzerland and Italy locations. I am someone who needs to do things with other people in order to be happy, so it was really nice to be able to find a person with whom i could explore the location of the day with during our assigned free time. I do wish occasionally to stay in some cities a little longer, either by free time or staying more days, but i understand the need for the current schedule. The schedule was a lot less hectic than i had initially imagined for my first tour bus type travel excursion and was pleasantly surprised at the overall trip, so i would definitely do it, though at this time i dont know where. I would be interested in touring again with some of the same guides, but i realize that is not a likely possibility.
I had a 20 day trip, so i had multiple guides throughout my tour. I had started with Lionel, then went to Linus, Angela, Incarne?, Abdel, and finally Mariano, on my last day. Although, not always enjoyable every moment, i did appreciate the greatly varrying styles of each guide. However, while they were all good in their own way, Incarne and Angela were my favorites due to their styles and interaction with the travelers, in terms of getting to know the travelers and their interests.
One thing i should improve upon for myself is to look at the provided information more carefully to determine what exactly is or is not provided. At the time i booked the trip i had not had a free moment to review all the information provided in the traveler information, so i would definitely take the time to research everything
Uncover a region where history and medieval castles meet rocky coastlines and mountainous terrain. Get a glimpse into the generations of culture and tradition throughout the Balkans and Transylvania. Experience the incredible Gothic architecture, legends and castles of Dracula, lush enchanting forests and fairy tale-like villages as you journey through Transylvania. Hit the beautiful Adriatic coastlines of Dubrovnik and Montenegro, the charming old towns and moving stories of Bosnia, the endearing quirkiness and colourful facades of capital cities Tirana and Skopje. With a mix of Greek, Slavic and Ottoman influences, the Balkans and Transylvania is nothing short of character! Discover the hidden gems for yourself as you journey through on this 17-day adventure.
Would highly recommend this trip. It provides great variety in scenery, beginning in the very hilly area around the base of Mt Olympus; down into lovely valleys and then stunning coastal scenery. We found the written directions to be excellent while the red and white track markers gave us lots of help as well. We were very impressed with Mehmet who kept in contact with us at the end of each day.
Discover the magic of Southeastern Europe on this 9-day adventure tour from Athens to Bucharest. Geared towards seniors, the easy pace allows you to enjoy landmark cities such as Sofia, Kalabaka, and Sandansky, with visits to Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece. Accommodations, meals, and transport are all arranged for a seamless experience. The highlight of this trip is the opportunity to traverse three countries in under two weeks, offering a compact yet thorough cultural journey.
This trip took us through a sparsely populated area of France, where we saw few people, but saw plenty of old buildings and walked along roman roads through the mountains.
The food and accommodation was excellent and we met some interesting people.
Highlights for us, were the Verdon Gorge and walking along the roman road that climbs through the mountains.
We completed this walk in August, when the temperature was 33 degrees, hot for walking. However, we will return again in the Spring or Autumn.
This tour is a must in Istanbul. You will begin the day with Roman Hippodrome, where the chariot races were organised by the Romans and Byzantines. Blue Mosque-the only mosque with six minarets and its surroundings will be our next place to visit. Next, you will see the German Fountain - a gift of Kaiser Wilhelm 2. And listen the stories of his liaison with the orient. Hagia Sophia - The Church of Divine Wisdom is the highlight of this day. Following the visits your guide will take you the Grand Bazaar for demonstration of Turkish Handicrafts.
Special Note: Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. Blue Mosque is closed on Fridays until 2 pm; Caferaga Medrese and Blue Mosque will switch places on Fridays.
Everyone in the Explore office was knowledgeable and helpful - they went above and beyond to give details of the trip and discuss its suitability and logistics. And a great bonus - the phone was answered quickly without endless waiting.
I had been apprehensive about my ability to walk quite so far for the full 6 days, but it was perfectly paced and plenty of time for coffee and lunch stops. The scenery was varied and the villages delightful.
The highlight of the trip was having our guide, Spiros, who spoke great English, was passionate about his island and the trail, hugely knowledgable about the local flora and fauna, and on top of all that, funny and kind and intent on ensuring that everyone had a great time.
Great walk, beautiful scenery, excellent accommodation, luggage transfers went without a hitch. Electronic map made it almost impossible to get lost. English weather!
Dissappointed as the hotel in Valencia was not booked. We all were at panic situation as the guide was helpless, we had to contact our Local agent in Mumbai from where got this booking done names Marathi Heritage Pvt Ltd who really made efforts to contact the hotel negotiate the issues.
