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Greece & Turkey

Greek Islands and Turkish Delights.

Greece Santorini

Yassou!

A dip in azure seas, a sip of pungent ouzo and a trip back in time to oracles and gods – Greece is the very essence of the alluring Mediterranean world. Greece is synonymous with islands – from history steeped Crete, awe-inspiring Santorini and windmill-studded Mykonos and many other gems scattered across the Mediterranean Sea. Feast on freshly caught fish, grilled lamb stuffed vine leaves and sweet baklava. Or devour some feta and figs, and some fresh tomatoes with salt and oil. Sip coffee in a harbour-side café as the fishing boats come into port, amble along country roads while families gather their olives and pat donkeys on their way to village markets with baskets laden with fresh tomatoes.

And then there’s Turkey, with its ethereal landscapes, archaeological sites, mosques, bazaars and fascinating ruins. The coast twinkles and Cappadocia delights. In the cities the air is alive with chatter and the thick scent of Turkish coffee, as well as sweet baklava which is best served like the generosity of its people. Warm. 

Planning a Greece & Turkey holiday? Connect with a Greece & Turkey holiday travel specialist to create your dream holiday, today!

DID YOU KNOW?

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Flight time.

The flight from Auckland to Greece or Turkey usually takes about 24 hours, with a stopover. While it’s a long journey, the ancient history and beautiful coastlines make it worth the effort.

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Best time to go.

The best time to visit Greece and Turkey is from May to October, when the weather is warm and dry, ideal for enjoying the beaches and historical sites.

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Time difference.

Greece and Turkey are 9 hours behind New Zealand. The time difference will require some adjustment, but it’s manageable.

Our favourite things to do in Greece & Turkey

Floating monasteries

See magical "floating" monasteries

Visit the monasteries at Meteora, perched atop giant rock pillars.

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Cyclades islands pier

Go Greek island hopping

Why settle for one Greek island when you can explore three?

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Restaurant Greece

Eat like a local

Bring your appetite – you’re in for a delicious adventure!

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Paintings at market

A hidden gem in Athens

Your new favorite sweet escape in the heart of Athens!

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Acropolis

Step back in time at the Acropolis (a Must-Do!)

Visiting the Acropolis is an absolute must when in Athens.

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Sunset in Oia

Best. Sunset. Ever!

Get ready to witness a Santorini sunset like no other in Oia.

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Hot air balloons in Turkey

Float above Cappadocia and sleep in a Cave hotel

A once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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Boats in the bay in Turkey

Sail through Turkey on a traditional gulet

Hop aboard a traditional Gulet for a sailing adventure through Turkey’s stunning coastline!

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Gallipoli

Experience the ANZAC Dawn service at Gallipoli

For Kiwis a visit to Gallipoli is a once in a life-time trip.

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Wine glasses

Visit a local winery in Crete

Experience the charm of Crete by visiting a local winery, where you can taste exquisite wines and meet local families

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Meet our Greece & Turkey specialists

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Jared Wilson

Jared Wilson

House of Travel Christchurch City


No. of countries visited: 40+ 

Favourite place to visit: Anywhere in South America

Next place on the list to visit: Kenya


Quote: “Never pass up a bathroom”

About me: With over 2 years of solo travel across 40+ countries, I am passionate about immersing myself in new cultures and uncovering the unique experiences each destination has to offer. Fluent in Spanish, Latin America is my particular area of experience and expertise. Whether you're after an exciting adventure or a peaceful getaway, I’m committed to designing a memorable and seamless trip tailored specifically to you. 

Why I love travel: It allows me to escape the sometimes repetitive nature of daily life. I enjoy experiencing new places or returning to ones that I love. I like making connections with people from places around the world and having experiences that can’t be replicated.

My travel tips:

  • Meet the locals Almost all of my favourite and most cherished travel experiences have involved meeting and making friends with the local people. It is a sure-fire way to have a more unique and intimate holiday experience.
  • When in Rome A cliché but one to that will enrich your travel, observe how the locals live and learn from it. Try the local brew or dish, join in on the fun. Also respect local customs and traditions, this will allow a richer and safer experience.
  • Expect the unexpected- Be ready for unforeseen circumstances that will inevitably occur at some point during a trip. If you are expectant and prepared for troublesome scenarios you can save yourself a lot of grief. After all, you want to make your break from reality as stress free as possible.

My top 3 favourite destinations:

  • Colombia- An up and coming travel destination, a country cursed with the reputation earned from its past. It is extremely geographically diverse and amazing bang for your buck. I still haven’t found a country with warmer and friendlier people.
  • Spain- A country full of amazing destinations to discover, with a rich history and a world class gastronomical scene. The fun loving people, the nightlife and the picturesque towns with uniquely their Spanish architecture are a must experience.
  • Mexico- Mexico is a country which is truly fascinating, an amazing place to get to know. It’s a big country with lots to explore - like the US it is made up of states (32), the more you see the more you’ll want to see. It is full of the most beautiful places you’ve never heard of. The locals are extremely friendly and of course the cuisine one of the best and most famous on the globe.

What’s in my suitcase:

  • Spare phone, cables and a travel adaptor- Fact is electronics are a very important travel tool and to be prepared is important so you don’t have to go in the dark.
  • A Journal- A great way to record all the little details and memorable moments. When moving fast and or experiencing a lot we naturally forget things. Writing it down will help to recall in future and also to have what you’ve written forever is something special.
  • Travel cubes- Will help you to keep your suitcase nice and organised for easy packing and ultimately will save you time making things easier to find.

My most memorable travel stories:

  • Walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain together with part of the Camino Portugues from Lisbon to Porto – totalling 1200kms. My hiking shoes broke so I did the last 1000kms in Sandals.
  • Doing a 32 day Top Deck bus tour around Europe. Easily one of the best months of my life full of laughs and all round good times. I made some strong friendships and saw a lot in such a short space of time.


Jared

Nicky de Clifford

Nicky de Clifford

House of Travel Merivale

Having spent the last 30 years in the Travel Industry I can safely say "I love my job" !!

Getting to put together dream holidays is very rewarding and it's great to see so many more Kiwis getting out to see this amazing world of ours...

I love to tailor holidays that are uniquely personal to you. Every person has different needs, wants and "must do's" for their holiday. Nothing is cookie cutter in the world of travel so being able to put together an itinerary that is bespoke and personal is rewarding for myself and for you, the traveller.

My favourite destinations would be Europe (especially France and Italy), South East Asia (especially Vietnam and Thailand) and of course our Island neighbours. I have been to Fiji numerous times and every time I just love it.
But there are so many places I have yet to travel to and I look forward to sharing my travel stories along the way.

I look forward to working with you..

Nicky

Catherine Johnson

Catherine Johnson

House of Travel Ashburton

Travel is my passion and to be able to share this with others is the best part of my job!

I love all aspects of travel-adventure, food, culture, relaxation and most importantly making life long memories.

Whether you're looking for a thrill-seeking adventure or a peaceful island escape, I can’t wait to help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

Catherine
Olivia Whiteside Jenkins

Olivia Whiteside Jenkins

House of Travel Riccarton

For as long as I can remember, travel has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up travelling multiple times a year, so it's no surprise I chose a career in the travel industry to carry this on in my adult life! 

My love of travelling and experiencing different cultures is what drives me to create bespoke travel itineraries for all of my clients. I truly believe that travel sparks our imagination, feeds our curiosity, and reminds us how much we all have in common.

I have explored various parts of the world along with our own backyard and will continue to do this to not only fulfil my desire to travel more but also to advance my knowledge of locations that may be of interest to my clients. 

Excelling your needs, wants and expectations before, during and after travel is my main priority. I would love to create a truly amazing trip and memories that will last you a lifetime!  

Olivia

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