Ephesus & The Cities of The Aegean

ITINERARY

DAY 1 Depart Heathrow 1125 on Turkish Airlines via Istanbul to Bodrum, arriving 2045. Embark Sultan at Bodrum for fourteen nights.

DAY 2Cruise west along Bodrum Peninsula past the islands of Kos, Pserimos and Kalimnos for overnight in bay of Yalikavak.

DAY 3 Across Gulf of Mandalya then anchor off beach of Altinkum for Didyma (vast oracular temple of Apollo) and Miletus (Roman theatre, baths of Faustina). Overnight at nearby Cenetkoy.

DAY 4 Cruise along Ionian coast past Samos (birthplace of Pythagoras) for two nights at Kusadasi.

DAY 5 Whole-day excursion to Ephesus (theatre, commercial and state agora, Celsus library, bath houses, temples, colonnaded streets) followed by Selcuk Museum, St John's basilica (tomb of the evangelist), temple of Artemis (one of ancient wonders of the world).

DAY 6 Morning: Hellenistic site of Notion (theatre and temples in wild setting) and Claros (vast oracular temple with underground passages). Afternoon: cruise through Kos Channel and mouths of Meander River for two nights at small quayside at Akbuk.

DAY 7 Excursion to Priene (spectacular mountain city): temple of Athena, theatre, bouleuterion. Overnight at Akbuk.

DAY 8 Excursion to Lake Bafa and Heraklea under Latmos (once-thriving Hellenistic port now stranded on lake shore): temple of Athena, Roman theatre, hermits' caves then cruise to quiet inlet of Kazikli for overnight.

DAY 9 Cruise south to ancient city of Iasos: acropolis, theatre, mosaic houses, late Roman agora, bouleuterion. Overnight in ancient harbour of Iasos. 

DAY 10 le-day excursion to Euromos (almost complete temple of Zeus) then through mountains to Labranda (Hellenistic houses and streets) and Milas (Mausolus's original capital). Overnight in quiet cove of Bargilya.

DAY 11 Morning: ancient Bargilya followed by quiet day cruising along northern edge of Bodrum Peninsula for overnight in secluded harbour of Gumusluk (ancient Myndos).

DAY 12 Cruise south to Knidos: temple of Apollo, tholos temple of Aphrodite Euploia (once home to famous statue by Praxiteles), Doric portico, early Byzantine churches. Overnight in ancient harbour of Knidos.

DAY 13 Further visits in Knidos then cruise across Ceramic Gulf to Orak Adasi for afternoon at leisure. Overnight at Orak Adasi. 

DAY 14 Cruise to Bodrum: 14th century castle of St Peter (built by Knights of St John), Underwater Archaeology Museum, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus (one of ancient wonders). Overnight at Bodrum.

DAY 15 Disembark Sultan. Depart Bodrum 1020, arriving Heathrow 1515.