Today you’ll board an overnight flight to Istanbul.

Welcome to Istanbul! If you purchased your flights through Vantage, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Settle in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to acclimate before an evening Welcome Briefing and Dinner. 

After breakfast, head to the Fatih district, home to the Historic Areas of Istanbul, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin your explorations at the Topkapi Palace, once home to Ottoman sultans and today a magnificent museum. Your guided tour leads you into some of its many chambers, including the Harem Apartments. After lunch, continue to the spectacular Blue Mosque, named for the countless blue iznik tiles that adorn its vast interior. Cultural Discovery: Conclude the day among the teeming stalls and passageways of the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul’s historic marketplace.

Stretch your legs this morning during a walking tour of the Sultanahmet district. You’ll stop at the 6th-century Hagia Sophia, built as a church and later converted into a mosque. It has been a magnificent museum since 1935. After, follow your nose to the Spice Bazaar, where mounds of colorful turmeric, saffron, and countless other spices vie for your olfactory attentions. Be sure to sample some Turkish Delight, the nation’s favorite sweet, while you’re here! After lunch, enjoy an afternoon at your leisure. 

This evening, reunite with your fellow expeditioners at a local restaurant for a Farewell Dinner, which will feature a spread of classic Turkish dishes and traditional folkloric entertainment!

Transfer to the airport this morning for your flight to Athens, where you join the base program.

An overnight flight takes you to Madeira, Portugal, today.

Arrive today and settle into your hotel before a Welcome Briefing, where you’ll meet other travelers joining you for enriching discoveries. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Set out this morning for a half-day city tour. Cultural Discovery: Browse the fragrant stands of the marketplace brimming with produce carted in from all over the fertile island and stroll the cobbled lanes of the Old Town. Then ascend to the town of Monte, 1,800 feet above the sea. Splendid views greet you from here, but you might thrill more to the mode of transport you’ll use to return to Funchal: a traditional two-seater wicker toboggan or “basket sled.” A pair of pilots — skilled and expert carreiros — guide you downhill for the steep mile-long journey. Back in the city, enjoy the rest of your afternoon at leisure. This evening, experience more of Funchal on your own with a night at leisure.

Today, craft your own itinerary with a day at leisure.

Head to the Funchal airport for your flight to Lisbon, where you'll join the base program.

Welcome to Istanbul! Settle in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to acclimate. This evening, join your fellow travelers at a local restaurant for a special dinner, which will feature a spread of classic Turkish dishes and traditional folkloric entertainment!

After breakfast, head to the Fatih district, home to the Historic Areas of Istanbul, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin your explorations at the Topkapi Palace, once home to Ottoman sultans and today a magnificent museum. Your guided tour leads you into some of its many chambers, including the Harem Apartments. After lunch, continue to the spectacular Blue Mosque, named for the countless blue iznik tiles that adorn its vast interior. Cultural Discovery: Conclude the day among the teeming stalls and passageways of the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul’s historic marketplace.

Stretch your legs this morning during a walking tour of the Sultanahmet district. You’ll stop at the 6th-century Hagia Sophia, built as a church and later converted into a mosque. It has been a magnificent museum since 1935. After, follow your nose to the Spice Bazaar, where mounds of colorful turmeric, saffron, and countless other spices vie for your olfactory attentions. Be sure to sample some Turkish Delight, the nation’s favorite sweet, while you’re here! After lunch, enjoy an afternoon at your leisure. 

Transfer to the airport this morning for your flight home.

This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Funchal, historic capital of the lush “Garden Island” of Madeira, Portugal. In the early 1400s, the discovery of the island 323 miles off the coast of Africa was a catalyst for the Age of Discovery. Embark on a short orientation walk alongside your Cruise Director, then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps exploring the highlights of this lovely town, including its 15th-century cathedral and the scenic Santa Caterina Park, and stopping at a café to sip some of the island’s eponymous wine.

Set out this morning for a half-day city tour. Cultural Discovery: Browse the fragrant stands of the marketplace brimming with produce carted in from all over the fertile island and stroll the cobbled lanes of the Old Town. Then ascend to the town of Monte, 1,800 feet above the sea. Splendid views greet you from here, but you might thrill more to the mode of transport you’ll use to return to Funchal: a traditional two-seater wicker toboggan or “basket sled.” A pair of pilots — skilled and expert carreiros — guide you downhill for the steep mile-long journey. Back in the city, enjoy the rest of your afternoon at leisure. This evening, experience more of Funchal on your own with a night at leisure.

Today, craft your own itinerary with a day at leisure.

Head to the Funchal airport for your flight back to the U.S.