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June 25,
Wednesday
Depart USA
(leave Wednesday – arrive Thursday)
Make sure your flights arrive in Istanbul by 2PM Thursday. We will
arrange the tickets from Istanbul to Antalya and from Izmir back to Istanbul. We'll
let you know the details of the inland flight, but the cost will be
about $300 per person - we will let you know exactly. You can include
this amount in your final payment.
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Day 1 |
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June 26,
Thursday
Arrive in Istanbul. Fly Directly to Antalya.
We will meet you all in the airport in Istanbul with your tickets to
Antalya and we'll all fly down together.
Your Turkish visa can
be purchased at the window to the left of Passport Control at Istanbul
International airport. The visa fee
for US Passport holders will be $20 USD for
a multiple entry. It MUST be
paid in cash. We all must get a multiple entry visa because we are going
to the Greek Islands.
At
Istanbul Airport - Get your Turkish Visa from the window at the left of
Passport Control. Go through Passport Control. Get
your luggage (if you have any) from Baggage Claim. (It’s always best to
just take hand carry luggage and not check anything). If you have time,
there
is a money exchange booth in the baggage claim area and it would be good
to change $100 for cab fare, etc.
Then go out baggage claim. We will meet you there.
Fly to Antalya. Take bus to the Gundogan.
Overnight at Antalya.
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Day 2 |
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June 27, Friday
Overnight at
Olympos.
Before breakfast you’re off to Phaselis a 7th century BC ruin. Explore
the ruins and the south port and have lunch. Sail off to
Olympos, one of the most
important cities of the Lycian League and home of Zeniketes, the famous
pirate and Hercules. Swim, relax, explore the ruins which span from
Lycian to Greek to Roman. The natural beauty of this port of call is
truly one of the most magnificent. At twilight we can visit
Chimera - born from a dragon,
these are the eternal flames that light the Olympics flame.
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Day 3 |
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June 28,
Saturday
Dinner and overnight at Karakoy
Bay.
Explore the Lycian Tomb ruins, swim and relax.
We can hike the Lycian Trail from Karakoy
Bay to Kale. Spend the day swimming and exploring the coves.
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Day 4 |
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June 29,
Sunday
Sail to Kekova. Dinner and overnight at
Kale.
Breakfast on the
boat then we sail on to Kekova,
the underwater city. Here we will visit the magical city of
Kale, the castle of the Knights of
St. John, and relax with a beer or a cup of tea and enjoy one of the
most beautiful sunsets you’ll ever experience.
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Day 5 |
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June 30,
Monday
Sail to Kas. Dinner and overnight at
Kas.
After breakfast we
will sail on to a
cute village of Ucugiz. This authentic village receives very few
tourists and it is nice to walk the streets and mingle with the
villagers. After a swim stop we will sail on to Kas. Want a carpet?
This is the place! Ismail the carpet dealer will entertain and
astound you.
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Day 6 |
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July 1,
Tuesday
Sail to Kalkan. Dinner and overnight at
Kalkan.
Breakfast on the boat, then
you’re off to the charming fishing village of
Kalkan. You’ll
take a mini bus ride to Letoon,
Xanthos,
Patara, three of the most
important cities in the Lycian League - Or cool off
at the Mediterranean’s longest beach - Patara Beach - also one of the
best body surfing and sand castle building beaches in the world. Kalkan
is a colorful hillside village and one of our favorite stops that offers
quaint cafes, unique boutiques and the nicest people around.
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Day 7 |
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July 2, Wednesday
Dinner and overnight at
Kalkan.
Before breakfast the captain will take off in the early morning (this
will be your only early wake up day). Breakfast
on the boat, then you’ll take a bus to
Saklikent, a natural gorge
which offers a wet and wild hike up the gorge to a waterfall. This is a
must! After a light lunch at one of the many unique restaurants along
the gorge you can take a tube ride down the river. This place is
awesome! Kids of all ages will enjoy this day.
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Day 8 |
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July 3, Thursday
Sail to Gemiler. Dinner and overnight at Gemiler.
Hike
to Greek Ghost town Kayakoy. Dinner and overnight at Soguk Su. Tip: Read
"Birds Without Wings"
by Louis De Bernieres.
Dinner and overnight at Soguk Su.
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Day 9 |
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July 4,
Friday
Sail to Butterfly Valley. Dinner and overnight at
Gemiler.
Sail to Butterfly Valley.
Hike to George's House for lunch and the waterfall. Sail to Gemiler
and stroll to the top of
Gemiler to see a breathtaking
sunset at St. Nicholas Island. Grab a bottle of wine and some glasses and make it a sunset
cocktail party! It's easy to get back down - even in the dusk. Dinner and overnight at Gemiler
Island.
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Day 10 |
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July 5,
Saturday
Sail to Fethiye. Dinner and overnight at
Fethiye.
Sail to Fethiye.
In
the city of Fethiye, ancient Telmessus, shopping, nightclubs, a
shave, manicure, pedicure, haircut, an incredible fish market, the best
Doner Kebap in Turkey, a fabulous hairdresser, restaurants and internet
cafes abound! This has become one of our most favorite places.
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Day 11 |
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July 6, Sunday
Dinner and overnight at
Aga Limani.
Sail to Aga Limani,
a nice little cove where you can swim. There is a small beautiful
beach that you can swim to from the boat. There is a great hike here
– just follow the road that you can clearly see on the right of the
small beach. The views from the top are spectacular. Dinner and
overnight at Aga Limani.
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Day 12 |
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July 7,
Monday
Sail to Gocek Bay. Dinner and overnight at Gocek Bay.
Gocek Bay, or more correctly the Gulf of Fethiye covers some 60-70square
miles, with numerous enchanting anchorages, where you can cast anchor,
either for a swim and a lazy lunch, or for the night.
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Day 13 |
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July 8, Tuesday
Dinner and overnight at Gocek Bay.
Explore more of Gocek Bay.
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Day 14 |
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July 9, Wednesday
Sail to Ekincik. Dinner and overnight at
Ekincik.
After breakfast we will set
sail for Ekincik, a small quiet cove just north of Dalyan.
You can rent a water taxi to take you to the beach. Rest today -
tomorrow is a busy day full of adventure! Dinner and overnight at Ekincik.
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Day 15 |
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July 10,
Thursday
Dinner and overnight at
Ekincik.
After an early breakfast, you’ll take a water taxi
to
Dalyan or ancient Kuanos is your
next port of call - and one of our favorite places! The Delta, with a long, golden sandy beach at its
mouth, is a nature-conservation area and a refuge for sea turtles (Caretta
Caretta) and blue crabs. At a bend in the river, high on the cliff face
above, you can see the fascinating ancient harbor city of
Kaunos,
with its magnificent Lycian tombs carved into the rock. We will explore
the ancient city of Kuanos, with it's interesting ruins, tombs and
incredible views form the top of the fortress. After a supurb lunch at
one of the fish restaurants along the river, we’ll visit the famous
Thermal Mud Baths, that have muddied the likes of Dustin Hoffman, Sting,
and many other celebrities. From here you can go back to the beach or
directly to the boat.
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Day 16 |
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July 11,
Friday
Sail to Marmaris. Dinner and overnight at
Marmaris.
Sail to
Marmaris,
an important stage on the Anatolia-Rhodes-Egypt trade route. The
city's museum is placed in the 16th century citadel, built by Suleyman
the Magnificent. The shopping district of Marmaris
abounds with colorful bazaars and markets. You can find Turkish carpets,
textiles and embroidery, leather, copper and brass wares, jewelry and
onyx carvings and the locally produced pine-scented honey is superb.
Dinner and overnight in Marmaris Marina.
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Day 17 |
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July 12,
Saturday
Sail to Bozukkale. Dinner and overnight at Bozukkale.
After a leisurely breakfast
we make our way out of the Bay to Bozukkale ancient Loryma, at the tip
of the Bozburun Peninsula where the ruins of the ancient harbor and
castle remains can only be reached by boat. Although the Turkish name
means "ruined castle", the castle on a hill at the entrance to the port
is in relatively good condition. It’s a fun, easy to hike to the top of
the castle where you have a fantastic view of the peninsula. In the
afternoon we'll get some fresh baked bread from the bread lady!
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Day 18 |
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July 13,
Sunday
Sail to Bozburun. Dinner and overnight at Bozburun.
After breakfast we
will continue following the bay northward around the Gulf of Hisaronu
until we find, hidden away in its own exclusive inlet, the town of
Bozburun, famous as one of the
gulet-building centers of Turkey. Dinner and overnight in Bozburun.
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Day 19 |
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July 14,
Monday
Sail to Hisaronu. Dinner and
overnight at Keci Buku.
Sail to Keci Buku. A well-sheltered hideout described as a "gem" in
the Turkish Waters Pilot - and it truly is. A wide, sweeping bay
surrounded by pine forests.
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Day 20 |
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July 15,
Tuesday
Sail to Ova Buku. Dinner and overnight at
Datca.
Sail to the tiny
village of Ova Buku. The village itself has a great little bay for
cooling off; for those looking for a little more privacy, a short hike
away is a lovely long and isolated beach; a perfect afternoon retreat.
Then off to
Datca the waterfront is lined with little bars, tavernas
and shops. Walking towards the beach, there is a tiny lake, with a
surprisingly powerful "mini-waterfall" - a great and very cooling
massage experience.
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Day 21 |
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July 16,
Wednesday
Sail to Knidos. Dinner and overnight at
Palamutbuku.
Depart in the morning for Knidos, an ancient Carian city, to visit the
remains of the Greek and Roman amphitheater, acropolis and temple, which
housed the famous statue of Aphrodite. Then we are off to Palamutbuku
for what it sure to be a wild Backgammon Championship at Cafe Vino - and
some delicious home made cheese cake.
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Day 22 |
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July 17,
Thursday
Sail to Bodrum. Dinner and overnight at Bodrum.
A little more shopping? It's Bazaar day in Bodrum! In the afternoon
we can treat ourselves to our last hamam. Then back to the boat for dinner.
For a special treat Bodrum's famous Halikarnas Discothèque has "Foam
Dancing" on Friday nights. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
So rest up and head off to the disco at 2AM for the show.
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Day 23 |
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July 18,
Friday
Sail to Turkbuku. Dinner and
overnight at Turkbuku.
Referred to as the St.-Tropez of Turkey, Turkbuku is a fashionable
destination for Turkish celebrities, and fashionable society, attracted
by crystal clear waters, excellent seafood restaurants and sophisticated
hotels. Much of the seafood in Turkbuku is caught by the fishermen who
still ply their trade from the traditional wooden jetties on the
seafront.
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Day 24 |
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July 19,
Saturday
Sail to Gumusluk. Dinner
and overnight at Gumusluk.
Gumusluk is a small village and lively fishing port, with more than a
dozen fish restaurants along the sea front, displaying a wide variety of
locally caught seafood.
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Day 25 |
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July
20, Sunday
Sail to Didyma. Dinner and overnight at Didyma.
Today we will visit the ancient trading city of
Miletus with four harbors was
once one of the biggest cities in Anatolia - larger than Ephesus.
Miletus gave the alphabet to the classical world and was also the
breeding ground for many philosophers and scientists, including Thales,
who calculated precisely the arrival of the solar eclipse. connected to
Miletus via a marble road is Didyma,
a sacred sanctuary under the custody of priests called Branchids which
housed one of the most famous Oracles of the ancient world (equaled only
by the Oracle of Delphi). The Temple of Apollo is almost all that's left
of Didyma with columns soaring over 60 feet high it is an amazing and
inspiring sight.
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Day 26 |
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July
21, Monday
Dinner and overnight at Didyma.
One of our all time favorite
places is Bafa Lake. The lake is surrounded by the
Latmos Mountains.
These mystic mountains are an excellent area for trekking tours to cave
where you can see prehistoric paintings. Since 700 A.D hermits and monks
have left their marks on these remote mountain slopes. Byzantine
monasteries and hermit caves are a favorite destination for study trips.
The lake is also listed as a bird sanctuary for 208 species of birds.
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Day 27 |
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July
22, Tuesday
Arrive to
Kudsadasi.
Dinner and overnight at Kusadasi.
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Day 28 |
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July
23, Wednesday
Tour of Ephesus.
Dinner and overnight at Kusadasi.
Today we visit Ephesus
a major player in the birth and evolution of Christianity. Ephesus
hosted one of the seven churches addressed in the Book of Revelation,
and was home to St. Paul and St. John. We will also visit the 6th
century Basilica of St. John built on the site of the Apostle's
tomb; the House of the Virgin Mary where Mary finished out her
days in this house after migrating to Asia Minor with John; and the
Temple of Artemis
dedicated to the goddess Artemis, once considered one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World.
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Day 29 |
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July 24, Thursday
Dinner and overnight in
Assos at the Behram Hotel.
Disembark the Gundogan. Leave Kusadasi after breakfast, drive down to
Pergamum (Bergama) along the coast. Drive to the Acropolis to see the
Temple of Dionysus. The Altar of Zeus was once covered with magnificent
friezes depicting the battle between the Olympian gods and their
subterranean foes but most of these famous buildings were removed to
Berlin by 19th-century German excavators. From the Acropolis, drive to
the Asclepion, the foremost medical and psychological treatment center
of its time. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the
cathedral-sized Red Basilica. St John the Divine wrote that the Red
Basilica was one of the seven churches of the Apocalypse, singling it
out as the throne of the devil.
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July 25,
Friday
Tour of Troy. Dinner and
overnight in Canakkale at the Hotel Tusan.
After breakfast,
drive to Troy National Park, and visit the ruins of the ancient city.
Excavations by Schliemann and others have revealed nine ancient cities,
one on top of another, dating back to 3000 BC. Drive further south to
Mt. Ida, rising 1774 meters with a wonderful view, peaceful green glades
and hot springs. We will try to contact Mustafa Askin, author and Tour
Guide to lead us on our tour.
Tour of Gallipoli.
After breakfast and a tour around Assos we are off to Gallipoli
where we visit the military memorials left from the World War I
Gallipoli campaign. Drive around the battlefields and the ruins. Take
the car ferry to Çanakkale where you can have lunch at a local
restaurant. After lunch, visit the Military Museum and Naval Museum.
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July 26,
Saturday
Dinner and overnight in
Bursa at the
Kervansaray Hotel.
Drive to Bursa and visit Tombs of Orhan, Mehmet. Mosque of Sinan,
Bazaar. Then we'll go back to our hotel, site of one of the oldest
hamams in the world and .
and treat ourselves to a famous Bursa Kebab.
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July 27,
Sunday
Dinner and overnight at
Istanbul at
the Best Western
Citadel.
Take the ferry from Bursa to Istanbul.
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July 28,
Monday
Dinner and overnight at Istanbul.
Tour of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Cistern, Hippodrome. Dinner under the Galata
Bridge and then go to the Orient Express Train Station for the Whirling
Dervish Ceremony.
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July 29,
Tuesday
Dinner and overnight at
Istanbul.
Tour of the Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar and finish off at the Spice
Bazaar. Dinner.
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July
30,
Wednesday
Depart from Istanbul to the USA (most flights are very early in the
morning)
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Some Useful Links...
Click here
for five days of free Do-It-Yourself tours
of Istanbul.
http://www.worldclimate.com
has useful monthly temperature and rainfall averages for thousands of
destinations worldwide. You can plan your vacations avoiding rainy
seasons or droughts. It can also assist you in deciding what to pack.
Just knowing
how to say “Thank You” in Turkish willl bring smiles and open doors.
Learn some Turkish! Rosetta Stone offers an excellent Free
Demo -
http://www.rosettastone.com (Click on "Individuals" then "Free
Demo.")
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