Travel to Turkey: Family Voyage Among The Dodecanese of Greece and Turkey

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Family Voyage Among The Dodecanese of Greece and Turkey

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

Join this special Turkey family tour sailing the idyllic coasts of ancient Caria and island hopping the Greek and Turkish Dodecanese. We walk into a volcano, snorkel and hike stunning coastlines and meander amidst the local orchids of Tilos, surrounded by the relics of a history that produced the tragedies, triumphs, comedies and disasters on which the foundation of classical western culture are built. We spend our days hiking, swimming, sailing, kayaking, exploring Greek and Turkish villages, meeting local families, discovering ancient ruins, and sampling delectable Turkish and Greek cuisine aboard our luxurious gulet, all the while pondering how one region can offer so much to the traveler. 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, political affairs, and everyday life. 

All our cultural tours to Turkey begin riding a commuter ferry to a local restaurant on the Bosphorus.

DAY 1 :  ARRIVE ISTANBUL
Upon arrival, we are warmly greeted and transferred to our hotel in the Old City. After checking into our rooms we meet our guide and take a late afternoon stroll before retiring to an open-air terrace restaurant for dinner. Our meal is an authentic introduction to Turkish cuisine and culture, and the unbeatable view from our restaurant overlooks the Bosphorus, Topkapi Palace, Suleimans Mosque, Golden Horn, Galata Tower, Spice Market and the Bosphorus Bridge. Overnight at the Sultanahan Hotel (or similar). The Sultahahan is a former Ottoman government building converted to a historic hotel with tall ceilings and decorated with original ethnographic Oriental etchings. [D]

DAY 2 :  TOUR ISTANBUL
Our entire day is spent exploring the grandeur of one of the worlds most important historical cities 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 board a commuter ferry, joining local Istanbuls 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 fish restaurant with a creative menu. Overnight at the Sultanahan Hotel (or similar). [BLD]

DAY 3 :  FLY IZMIR SIRENCE VILLAGE
In the morning we transfer to the airport for the flight to Izmir. We visit Ephesus Museum then drive up into the hills to Sirince Village and check in to our beautiful historic hotel. Sirince has a truly spectacular location overlooking verdant vineyards and olive groves that sweep down to the sea.  A walk through the town reveals exquisite architecture, tea gardens, vibrant cottage industries and local handicraft shops. There is time to relax and absorb the ambiance of village life. Overnight Nisanyan Everli Guest Houses or Gullu Konaklari. [BLD]

	Uncover the past on our expert guided Ephesus tour.

DAY 4 :  TOUR EPHESUS BODRUM - EMBARK GULET
Today we walk throughout the impressive ruins of Ephesus with our specialist guide. Romans of the 1st and 2nd centuries brought the greatest level of prosperity to Ephesus, which became the capital of the Roman world in Asia. The excavated city winds its way up a hillside, with colonnaded avenues, ancient temples, an agora, a stadium, shops, houses and the ornate two-story Library of Celsus. The Temple of Diana, another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was located in Ephesus, but unfortunately very little remains.

Drive to Bodrum to board our gulet, moored in Bodrums extensive harbor, formerly known as Halicarnassus, birthplace of the ancient Hellenic historian Herodotus. 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. Time permitting, visit Bodrums tomb of King Mausolus at Halicarnassus and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, one of the worlds best. Overnight aboard gulet in Bodrum Harbor. [BLD]

Swim and snorkel in the Aegean waters of Turkey and Greece.

DAY 5 :  SAIL TO GREEK ISLAND OF KOS
Savor a morning cup of coffee as we sail for an hour and a half to the Greek Island of Kos and proceed through Greek customs. 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. In the late afternoon, we return to our gulet. Overnight aboard gulet in Kos. [BLD]

DAY 6 :  SAIL TO NISSIROS - HIKE VOLCANO
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 active Nissiros Volcano. It is said that the island of Nissiros was born after a series of successive eruptions, which is unique in Greece. The volcano most certainly provided the raw materials for the formation of the island. We drive to the rim of the crater and embark on a scenic walk into the caldera (easy trail; 1 hour) and study the steam vents and the bubbling pools of sulphur-water. Returning to our gulet, we board and sail to Tilos, a volcanic island with more than a dozen secluded beaches. Studded with historic castles it was 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. With sixteen different biotopes and the significant diversity of species on Tilos, the island has been registered as an EU Special Protection Area. We finish the day by enjoying the beaches and hiking scenic paths (3-4 miles). Overnight aboard gulet in Tilos. [BLD]

	Fun on board the gulet!

DAY 7 :  HIKE TO PANORMITIS MONASTERY - SYMI HARBOR
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. After visiting the monastery and grounds, 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. We sail up the inlet 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 have time to explore the harbor, streets and shops before returning to our gulet for dinner. Overnight aboard gulet in Symi. [BLD] 

DAY 8 :  SAIL TO DACTA - EXPLORE KNIDOS RUINS
Today we sail almost due north to the Turkish peninsular town of Dacta, where we go through customs and re-enter Turkey. We sail due west, across the deep blue waters of the Aegean, before turning inland and east to 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 for four miles along the waterfront. Much of historic Knidos survives, including several ruined temples, two theatres, and fortified walls with the old avenues crossing perpendicularly. We spend the night either in the harbor or at a nearby picturesque bay. Overnight aboard gulet in Knidos. [BLD]

Explore villages and meet local families where traditional artisan crafts like carpet weaving prevail.

DAY 9 :  HIKE TURGUT - VISIT TURKISH HOME
Walking from Knidos to the village of Turgut where peanuts are grown and honey is produced, we visit 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 :  SAIL BOZBURUN - HIKE TASLICA TO CARIAN
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 FLY TO ISTANBUL
Return flight from Dalaman to Istanbul. Farewell dinner at a lively traditional restaurant. Overnight at the Sultanahan Hotel (or similar). [BLD]

DAY 12 :  RETURN HOME
Transfer to Istanbul airport for international flights home. [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