Travel to Turkey: Voyaging Among the Dodecanese of Greece and Turkey

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Voyaging Among the Dodecanese of Greece and Turkey

			DAYS: 12 GRADE: I define PRICE: From $4195 per person HIGHLIGHTS: Istanbul Bodrum Kos Nissiros Tilos Symi Knidos Ephesus ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels/Lodges Yacht/Ship MEALS: As noted  [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch,   D-Dinner] Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services Send to a Friend Print this Itinerary

Travel to Turkey and Greece, island hopping the Turkish and Greek Dodecanese. Only by cruising in a luxurious Phoenician-style gulet can you appreciate the startling cultural and natural beauty of the Aegean. We walk into a volcano, snorkel and hike stunning coastlines and white-sand beaches, always catching glimpses of a history that produced many of the tragedies, triumphs, comedy and disasters of classical western culture. We explore Istanbul, visit Greek and Turkish villages, discover ancient ruins including an Ephesus tour, and sample delectable Turkish and Greek cuisine, all the while pondering how one region can offer so much. By virtue of our own Kutay family Turkish heritage, we are received as friends and family by our exceptional Turkish guides who share their personal insights into history and everyday life.
See: June 16-27, 2010 Family Departure

DAY 1 :  ISTANBUL
Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel in the Old City where we meet our guide. We take an afternoon stroll before dinner at an open-air terrace restaurant. Its an authentic introduction to typical and exotic Turkish cuisine and culture, and the view from our restaurant is unbeatable overlooking the Bosphorus, the Topkapi Palace, Suleimans Mosque, Goldern Horn, Galata Tower, Spice Market and the Bosphorus Bridge. Overnight at the Sultanahan Hotel (or similar), a former Ottoman government building converted to a historic hotel with tall ceilings and decorated with original ethnographic Oriental etchings. [D]

DAY 2 :  ISTANBUL
Today we spend the entire day exploring the grandeur of Istanbul. In the morning we visit a selection of splendid relics of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, including Aya Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Roman Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace and, if time permits, the Kapali Carsi (covered bazaar). Around sunset we hop onto a commuter ferry, joining local Istanbulis as they return home from work; a journey that reveals palaces, lavishly restored antique homes and embassies on both the European and Asian banks of the Bosphorus. This evening we take dinner at a traditional Turkish restaurant with a creative menu and lively gypsy Roma music. Overnight at the Sultanahan Hotel (or similar). [BLD]

DAY 3 :  EPHESUS - SIRENCE VILLAGE
Transfer to the airport for morning flight to Izmir and drive to the Ephesus area. Today we walk throughout the impressive ruins on our Ephesus tour with a specialist guide. One of the most impressive Roman ruins and important coastal cities, Ephesus attracted the worlds merchants, artists and the statesmen for centuries. Here we visit the relics of Hellenistic, Roman, biblical, Byzantine and Ottoman interests such as the ancient residential area of Ephesus, the Archeological Museum, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Drive to Sirince Village, located in the beautiful agricultural hills east of Ephesus. Enjoy local wine-tasting with dinner and overnight at the historic Nisanyan Houses or Gullu Konaklari, former Ottoman-style residences converted to private boutique guest houses in the village. [BLD] Drive: Izmir to Sirence 55 miles, 1.5 hours

Hike and sail the idyllic coasts of ancient Caria island hopping the Greek and Turkish Dodecanese.

DAY 4 :  BODRUM BOARD GULET
Arise in the morning to the sounds of chickens and local sheppards taking their goats to the hills to graze in this traditional Turkish village. A walk around town reveals daily rural village life of Turkey. Enjoy the lovely architecture, tea gardens, and handicrafts.  Drive to Bodrum to board our gulet moored in the harbor.  Bodrum, once called Halicarnassus, was the major city of the ancient province of Caria. Today, Bodrums unique architecture, historical pedigree, modern seaside taverns and vibrant nightlife have made it one of the busiest coastal resorts in Turkey and a popular spot for wealthy Turks, retired artists, and visitors alike. We visit the tomb of King Mausolus at Halicarnassus. The kings tomb was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the word mausoleum derives from the kings name. We also visit the Templar Castle of the Knights of St. John and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, one of the worlds best. Overnight aboard gulet in Bodrum Harbor. [BD] Drive: Sirence-Bodrum 110 miles, 2.5 hours

DAY 5 :  GREEK ISLAND OF KOS
This morning we sail for an hour and a half to the Greek Island of Kos and proceed through Greek customs. We are now in Greece. Kos has a history that stretches far back through the Mediterranean civilizations. We first visit the pretty harbor and the center of town. From here, we walk to the Asclepieion, an ancient temple where, in the 5th century BCE, Hippocrates started the famous medical center dedicated to Asclepius, the God of Health. We visit the Tree of Hippocrates, under which Hippocrates taught students the medicine Greeks had distilled from Persian and earlier sources. Kos' Asclepieion was once one of the major health centers of the ancient world. We take an easy three mile walk along the ruins and explore the modern town of Kos. Return to overnight aboard gulet in Kos. [BLD]

	Hiking in the crater of Nissiros Volcano.

DAY 6 :  NISSIROS - TILOS
Early in the morning we sail to Nissiros (or Nisyros), a small island in the middle of the Dodecanese complex, where we disembark and board vehicles for the half hour drive to the rim of the active Nissiros Volcano. We embark on a scenic walk into the caldera (easy trail; 1 hour) among steam vents and bubbling pools of sulphur-water. Returning to our gulet, we reboard and sail to Tilos. Tilos is a volcanic island with more than a dozen secluded beaches. It is studded with historic castles built to control the strategic routes across this part of the Aegean Sea. Geological diversity and the isolated location of the island present a remarkable and distinctive flora and birdlife. Tilos itself has twenty-eight varieties of orchids alone, eight of which are considered rare. The island has been registered as an EU Special Protected Reserve. We enjoy the afternoon on the stunning white-sand beaches and scenic trails. Overnight aboard gulet in Tilos. [BLD]

DAY 7 :  SYMI ISLAND
Cruising to the south side of the Isle of Symi we disembark for the short walk to the 18th century Panormitis Monastery located on Panormitis Monastery Bay. We hike two miles to a beautiful cove where we meet our gulet and sail to Symi, a small town well-known for its spectacular Neo-Classical harbor. As we approach by sailing up the inlet, we are surrounded on both sides of the steep hills by multiple tiers of houses, some white and some pastel yellow, but virtually all with Neo-Classical pediments a reminder of the 19th century when Symi was one of Greeces most prosperous islands. We take time to explore the harbor, streets and shops before returning to our gulet for dinner. Overnight aboard gulet in Symi. [BLD] 

Cruising to our next hidden cove and village.

DAY 8 :  DACTA PENNINSULA - KNIDOS
Today we sail due north to the Turkish peninsular town of Dacta, where we go through customs and re-enter Turkey. Continuing to sail across the deep blue waters of the Aegean we hug the northern coast of the peninsula until we reach the Turkish town of Knidos. After lunch on board, we explore the extensive ruins at Knidos, where Sostratos, the architect of the Lighthouse of Alexandria (another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), and Eudoxus, the astronomer who first calculated Earths circumference, were both born.  Knidos was one of the most visited Aegean harbors of the Greek and Roman periods, and the old town extends four miles along the water front. Much of historic Knidos survives, including several ruined temples, two theatres, and fortified walls with the old avenues crossing at perpendicular. We spend the night either in the harbor or at a nearby picturesque cove. Overnight aboard gulet in Knidos. [BLD]

	Village woman shows her spinning and weaving skills.

DAY 9 :  TURGUT VILLAGE - SELIMIYE
Walking from Knidos to the village of Turgut where they grow peanuts and produce honey, our island tour of Turkey visits one of the village homes to share sage-tea and honey with a local family. The villagers are predominantly bee-keepers, and we have an opportunity to buy local honey for the rest of our voyage. After strolling through this lovely village, we reboard our gulet and cruise to Selimiye, a sleepy fishing village with a small harbor, a few gift shops and restaurants. Overnight aboard gulet in a cove near Selimiye. [BLD]

DAY 10 :  TASLICA VILLAGE - FJORDS OF SERCE
After a relaxed morning walk in Selimiye we set sail for Bozburun. There are many quiet coves with crystal clear waters to choose from, and we explore the most attractive sites for a cool swim before lunch. We disembark in the afternoon and take a short drive to Taslica village. The road rises steeply, and the sea and coastal views are spectacular. Taslica village is famous for its "one thousand donkeys" and ancient wells. From Taslica village we hike (5 miles) on an ancient paved track through an equally ancient Carian site called Phoenix and on to the Fjords of Serce. The surface of the two mile segment of our route from Taslica to Carian glitters in the Mediterranean sun, the path polished by over 2000 years of foot traffic. We meet up with our boat at Serce Cove, a well protected natural harbor where ships have sought shelter for millennium. One unlucky ship that sank here in the 6th century is exhibited in the Bodrum Museum. Overnight aboard gulet in Serce Cove. [BLD]

DAY 11 :  DISEMBARK GULET - ISTANBUL
We disembark this morning for flight from Dalaman Airport to Istanbul. Transfer in to enjoy a free afternoon for walking and shopping before our farewell dinner at a lively traditional restaurant. Overnight at the Sultanahan Hotel (or similar). [BLD]

DAY 12 :  DEPART OR BEGIN EXTENSION
Transfer to Istanbul airport for international flights home or begin post trip extension. [B]

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Kurt Kutay 1(800)345-4453 C o n t a c t Adrian Chalker 1(800)345-4453