ITINERARY

We will visit one of the underground cities of Cappadocia which was used in times of danger. Lunch in Konya which was the capital of the Selcuk Empire and adorned with elobrate monuments of the 12th and 13th century. We visit the Mevlana Museum which houses the tomb of the world famous mystic philosopher Mevlana. A sacred Islamic shrine and object to pilgrimage from all over Turkey. Proceed to Karatay Museum which was a theological school and displays the most exquisite Selcuk tiles of the 13th century. Dinner and overnight in Konya.

Drive to Antalya, the most famous resort center on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Continue to Aspendos, visit the best preserved Roman Theater built by Marcus Aurelius in Asia Minor. Then we drive to the impressive aqueducts of the city better preserved than the ones in France, Campagna. Lunch at a local restaurant. Drive to Perge which was once the greatest learning center and visited by St. Paul. It is still one of the most impressive Greco-Roman sites of Turkey. Arrive Antalya, dinner at hotel. Overnight in Antalya.

Leave hotel for our visit to the Archaeological Museum which houses an elaborate collection of statues and artifacts from Perge and surrounding cities. Continue to Phaselis, once a major port city flourished under Persian, Roman and Byzantine rule. After lunch continue to Finike for our embarkation on your gulet to sail along the Lycian Coast for our voyage into the most hidden harbors of ancient Turkey. Sail to Andriace. Arrive at Andriace. Overnight. Dinner on board.

Today we land at Andriache, the ancient port of Myra, where St. Paul embarked on his voyage to Rome. Then we drive to nearby Myra, the home of St. Nicholas. At Myra, we visit a large Roman theater and splendid rock-hewn tombs with delicate carvings. We also visit the Church of St. Nicholas, built in the 11th century. We then have a short sail to Kekova Bay with an exquisite beauty and many ancient ruins, particularly the submerged city as a result of earthquakes. As we approach Kekova island, we see Simena atop the hill with a dramatic location and has been isolated for centuries. Lunch served on board. Later in the day, you may enjoy a swim in this beautiful bay. In the evening, we arrive at Kas, the ancient Lycian city of Antiphellos. Spend the night. Dinner and overnight on board.

This morning we disembark our boat for our overland tour of the Lycian capital of Xantos, the least of all the Lycian cities to be incorporated into Roman rule. We visit Letoon, the religious capital of the Lycian League dedicated the mother of Artemis and Apollo, Leto. Drive to Fethiye where we reboard the boat. Dinner and overnight on board.

After lunch, we disembark for a journey aboard a small boat up the Dalyan River to the ruins of ancient Caunos, once a port city with its magnificent rock cut tombs overlooking the river. We sail further to spend the night off the coast of Marmaris. Dinner and overnight.

Today we sail to the ancient city of Knidos, the home of the irresistible nude statue of Aphrodite by Praxiteles. It was a founded by the Dorian and famous for its good quality wine. Dinner and overnight.

We arrive at Bodrum, the ancient Halicarnassus, the birthplace of Herodotus and the home of one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Mausoleum. We will visit the Castle built in the 15th century by the Knights of St. John which houses the Museum of Underwater Archeology. After lunch, we meet our driver to drive overland to the Temple of Apollo in Didyma, the best preserved and the largest of all the temples dedicated to Apollo and was an oracle center. Then we drive to Kusadasi, a beautiful resort on the Aegean to spend the night. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Kusadasi.

Morning tour of Ephesus, the greatest of all the Roman cities in Asia Minor. It was the home of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Our tour of Ephesus includes the elegant library of Celsus, the grand theater where St. Paul preached, the Temple of Hadrian, Marble Street and also a special visit to the Roman villas of Ephesus with their elaborated wall paintings. We also visit the House of Virgin Mary where according to a legend she spent her last years. After lunch, we visit the local museum of Ephesus and the Basilica of St. John who is believed to be buried here. Late in the afternoon, we transfer to Izmir airport for our flight to Istanbul. Transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Transfer to the international airport for outgoing flights.