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Day 1: Istanbul
Istanbul Hippodrome, where horse races took place during Roman and Eastern Roman (Byzantine) times, Blue Mosque, One of the masterpieces of the Ottoman architecture, Basilica Cistern, the biggest cistern in town with 336 columns, St. Sophia, the masterpiece of the Byzantine architecture, Topkapi Palace, main residence of the Ottoman Sultans until the second half of the 19th century, Grand Bazaar, Ottoman style shopping area, having 64 Boulevards and streets 22 gates, 16 Inns and 3600 shops. Overnight in Istanbul
Day 2: Istanbul
Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise to Black Sea by chartered boat, Sadberk Hanim Museum having a great historical overview of Asia Minor, Rumeli Castle a 15th century Ottoman castle built on the Bosphorus, Dolmabahce Palace, main residence of the Ottoman Sultans after the second half of the 19th century, Yildiz Palace, A castle type of Ottoman palace built by Sultan Abdulhamit II on the hills overlooking the Bosphorus, Overnight in Istanbul
Day 3:
Istanbul — Gebze (Lbyssa of the ancient Bithynia region) — Safranbolu (Unesco World Heritage Site) Beylerbeyi Palace, Summer Palace ofthe Ottoman Sultans, Drive to Hannibal's Tomb, Tomb of the Carthagenian commander Hannibal, Drive to Safranbolu. From the 13th, century to the advent of the railway in the early 20th century, Safranbolu was an important caravan station on the main East–West trade route. The Old Mosque, Old Bath and Süleyman Pasha Medrese were built in 1322. During its apogee in the 17th century, Safranbolu's architecture influenced urban development throughout much of the Ottoman Empire. Overnight in Safranbolu
Day 4:
Safranbolu — Ankara, The Old Houses, mosques and bath, Turkish Delight workshop, with varieties of Turkish Delight including the one with Saffron, Handicraft center, Drive to Ankara, Overnight in Ankara
Day 5: Ankara
Ankara Anatolian Civilizations Museum, an overview of the history of Anatolia (Asia Minor), The Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of the modern Turkey, a summary of the recent history of Turkey, Overnight in Ankara
Day 6: Ankara
Hattusa (Unesco World Heritage Site) Drive to Hattusa, capital of Hittites, who immigrated into Asia Minor from Caucasus in the beginning of the 2 nd millenium, City walls, Great Temple, Lion's Gate, Ground Gate, Sphinx Gate, Lion's Gate, King's Gate, The Palace, The Museum in Bogazkoy, a museum in the nearby village, Yazilikaya Open Air Temple, an open air temple a few kilometers from Hattusa with reliefs on the surface showing some of the most important deities of the Hittite pantheon. Overnight in Hattusa.
Day 7:
Hattusa — Hacibektas — Cappadocia (Unesco World Heritage Site) Hacibektas, Monastery of derviches and the tombs of holy saints, Sarihan, Karavan hotel built in 1249 by Seldjukian Turks, Pigeons Valley, a valley with large pigeon populations, Uchisar village located on the heights of a steep hill like an Eagle's nest, Optional derviche ceremony.
Day 8: Cappadocia
Cappadocia, Urgup a charming town famous for cave dwellings and wines, Sinassos, an old Greek village with churhes and stylish houses, Cemil Village with an abandoned church dating from 1908, Sobessos, a recently found Roman site, where I believe a small Roman garrison resided initially, Mazi Underground City, an Indiana Johns type of adventure, Valley of Onions, with rock dug churches decorated with frescoes and monasteries, Uchisar village offering the best panoramic view with lined up valleys underneath and Erciyes Mountain in the Horizon,
Day 9: Cappadocia
Cappadocia Optional hot air balloon flight, Visit Avanos, ancient town of Venessa located by the Kizilirmak river famous around Turkey for pottery making. Pasha bag, giant mushroom rocks, so called fairy chimneys. Goreme Valley or Goreme Open Air Museum. In this valley you will see beautiful cave churches like Apple church, Snake church, Dark church, Sandal church, Buckle church etc. all decorated with beautiful biblical frescoes. Overnight in Uchisar.
Day 10: Cappadocia
Cappadocia Derinkuyu Underground city, ready to get lost in an 8 storey underground city? The Crater Lake, A crater lake with stunning view, Guzelyurt town and it's cave dwellings, Rose Valley, Visit of a cathedral size hidden church dug in the rocks, in the bottom of a large valley, Optional Folk Dance night in a rock dug cabaret,
Day 11:
Cappadocia — Konya Monastery of Mevlana, a 13th century poet and philosopher, founder of whirling derviche secte, Karatay School, a masterpiece of Seldjukian architecture, Ince Minare School, 13th century Seldjukian school where scientific research was carried out, Mosque of Alaattin with tombs of Seldjukian Sultans, Palace building, parts of an old Seldjukian palace.
Day 12:
Konya — Antalya Aspendos, located by the ancient Eurymedon river, where Eurymedon battle took place in 469 B. C., Perge, an ancient Greco Roman site.
Day 13:
Antalya — Antalya Hadrian's Gate, a roman gate with nicely decorated arches, Ancient city, Ancient pier, Antalya Museum, display of statues found in Pamphlylia region,
Day 14:
Antalya — Termessos — Gocek — Gulet, Drive to Termessos, A Psidian city built on the top of Solymos Mountain at an altitude of 1050 meters. From now on we will leave our minivan in Gocek and start discovering the Lycian Coast on a Luxury Gulet. There will be a cook, a sailor and a captain on the gulette where you will be served on full board basis. We will embark the gulet at Gocek in the afternoon. The Gocek coves and islands are the meeting place of Turkey’s and the world’s intellectual social groups. Gocek which was a calm and quite village until almost yesterday, is now the scene of some construction work. We ll cruise to Yassicalar Islands. These groups of islands are so small that no one could come up with names for each of them. They are known as Yassicalar group of Islands. There are no facilities on the islands. On the largest island the beach is near the point and a small pool formed, it is excellent for children. One is able to swim between the different islets, the closest being just 12 meters of distance. If you can swim for half an hour, you can visit four different islands and if you have shoes with you you can walk on each of them. Overnight in Yassicalar Island.
Day 15:
Today we will sail or cruise to Oludeniz. The Blue lagoon of Oludeniz has calm, crystal-clear waters which make it ideal for watersports and a safe place for people to swim. Part of the lagoon area is now protected as one of Turkey’s national park. Option’s for para gliding are available.
Day 16:
Around sunrise we have an early departure to Firnaz Bay near Kalkan where we expect to stop and serve breakfast and have time for swimming. Sail or Cruise to Kas, a charming small town, former Antiphellos founded in the 4th century B. C. Lycian rock tombs, sarcophagi and the Roman theatre can still be seen. The town offers excellent diving and swimming opportunities. It is possible to arrange a scuba diving with a diving inscrtuctor here. Two dives of 35 minutes each might be ideal for starters. We stop for swimming, in a bay near Kekova.
Day 17:
After breakfast Departure to Sunken City of Kekova which is a protected ancient Lycian site sunk under the water after a quake. The site was declared as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2000 and diving is no longer permitted in the area.
Day 18:
Today is the day we will sail or cruise to Simena, Kalekoy, which offers a bird’s eye view of the bays, inlets, islands and colourful yachts sailing peacefully over the sea. Some people hire a sea kayak to explore the area. Our next destination will be Kalkan, which is a lovely small hilltop town that overlooks a tiny bay. It is a quaint, traditional town with white washed houses, shuttered windows and balconies with brilliant flowers that casdade to the streets below. Kalkan is a lovely, peaceful holiday town of the Turkish Mediterranean coast. In addition to Kas we will visit Xanthos, capital of ancient Lycia. Patara with infinite sand beaches and wonderful setting and Letoon another ancient Lycian city dedicated to Leto, is next. Both Xanthos and Letoon are Unesco World Heritage Sites. Return to Gulette late in the afternoon.
Day 19:
Arrival to Butterfly Valley, Pieri, Rapos, Euglapia, are just some of over 40 different species of butterfly that grace this beautiful bay. Starting with spring, they can be observed for up to 9 to 10 months of the year. We will have a breakfast here and start sailing back to North. We will arrive at Fethiye in the afternoon, you can see the town of Fethiye or go shopping, another option might be having a Turkish bath. Overnight in Fethiye.
Day 20:
After we had our breakfast in Fethiye harbour, we will sail to Olive Island. It is located at the South end of the Yassicalar group of islands. It is the only privately owned island in the area. There is also an olive pressing workshop dating from the Otoman times on this island. Next will be the Tersane island where we will have large time for swiming and relaxing.
Day 21:
Today is our last sailing day. We will have some great bays to complete our weekly sailing. First stop will be at Domuz Island. It is believe that it has taken it's name from the wild boars living on that island before. The island is also called Prince Island referring to a prince who lived here. Boats can easily anchor and moor in the cove of islands as its sheltered from the winds. Next stop is the Cleopatra Bay which is also known as Hamam (bath) Cove. This island is one of the coves that boats and yachts on the Blue cruise can not pass without visiting. The cruisers love to spend the night here. Right next to the quay you will see the ruins of a monastery, which is partly under water. You may enjoy having a pleasant walk on the shore and in the forest if you get off the boat. This is a lovely place to spend the night and we will do so. Overnight in Cleopatra Bay.
Day 22: Gocek — Pamukkale
After breakfast at 10:00 our gulet criuse will end in Gocek Harbour. We will take our minivan to drive to Pamukkale (Unesco World Heritage Site). Visit the travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis. Dedicated to Hiera, wife of the legendary founder of Pergamon. This ancient city has an important necropolis. The excavations initiated by the Italian archaeologist Paolo Verzone who passed away several years ago are now being carried out by a team of Italian archaeologists following his trend. The martyrium of St. Philippe is high up on the hill but requires an extra 1 hour round trip walk. The Theater, Nypmphaion, Plutonium temple are all concentrated around the same district close by the water source where you will see the open air swimming pool. There will be many Russian fellows coming for daily excursions from Antalya and they will be around you. They are very polite and kind. However the Turkish staff seem to be tired of this mass of tourists.
Day 23: Aphrodisias
Nysa Aphrodisias, a city dedicated to Aphrodite, Overnight in Nysa (Sultanhisar)
Day 24: Nysa — Halikarnassos
Drive to Halikarnassos The Mindos Gate, The Mausoleum, (One of the Seven Wonders of the Hellenistic Period) The Castle of European knights housing the biggest Underwater Archaeology Museum of the world.
Day 25: Didyma — Miletus — Priene — Sirince Village
Drive to Didyma Visit the dipteros temple dedicated to Apollo, Miletus, leader of the Ionian Cities, Priene, is another ancient Ionian city built following the grill plan of Hippodamus from Miletus, Drive to Sirince Village.
Day 26: Ephesus
Ephesus Drive to Ephesus, an ancient Ionian city, metropol of Roman Empire in Asia Minor. Terrace Houses, houses of rich Ephesians located on the slope of a hill, Artemis temple, (One of the Seven Wonders of the world in the Hellenistic period) Museum, displaying nice statues, reliefs, objects found in Ephesus and in the neighbouring areas. Basilica of St. John, a Basilica built by Justinianus on top of formerly so called tomb of St. John. Overnight in Sirince Village.
Day 27: Ephesus — Belevi Mausoleum — Sardis
Drive to Belevi, visit the Mausoleum, possibly built for Lysimachos one of the generals of Alexander the great. Continue to Sardis, capital of the Lydian Empire Visit the mint by the ancient Pactolus river, Artemis Temple, a pseudodipteros temple dedicated to Artemis, The gymnasium, mainly built for sportive activities The synagogue, built by Jewish communities, The start of the ancient king road, which connected Sardis to Persia,
Day 28: Sardis — Pergamon
Drive to Pergamon, Acropolis, the Trajan temple, the famous library, Athena temple, the theater, the altar of Zeus (one of the seven wonders of the world) Asklepion, medical center, Overnight in Pergamon.
Day 29: Pergamon — Troy — Tomb of Dardanos — Canakkale
Drive to Troy, visit city walls of different levels of the site. Troy I, II and VI. Proceed to the tomb of Dardanos, a local king who connected his ancestry to Zeus and Electra. Drive to Canakkale. Overnight in Canakkale.
Day 30: Canakkale — Istanbul
Take ferry to the European side, Visit the Gallipoli Battle fields, War museum, where several items from the war, photographs, letters and personal belongings of the soldiers are displayed. Anzac Cove, where Anzac troops disembarked, Lone Pine cemetery, Trenches, Memorial of 57th regiment, Chunuk Bair, the high strategical hill overlooking at the Aegean and the Dardanelles at the same time. Proceed to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 31: Istanbul
Istanbul Archaeology Museum, Main archaeology museum in town City Walls rebuilt by Constantine the great, Church of St. Saviour in Chora, masterpiece of the Byzantine art, Eyup Mosque, a sacred place for muslims, Cafe Pierre Loti, a historical place where French novelist Pierre Loti lived offering great view of the Golden Horn bay, Koc Industry Museum, located by the ancient Lengerhane where anchors were manufactured has displays showing the recent industrial development in Turkey. End of my services.
