TURKEY - A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME ITINERARY:
Saturday:
Board your flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
Sunday: Arrive Istanbul
After arriving at Istanbul, transfer to your executive
sea-view room overlooking the Bosphorus — a beautiful strait
that divides Europe from Asia. This evening join fellow
travellers for welcome cocktails and trip briefing. The
Ritz-Carlton Istanbul
Monday: Istanbul
Today you explore Istanbul’s imperial heritage from the time
of the Byzantines and the Ottomans. First, the doors of Hagia
Sophia open privately for you. Next, visit enchanting Topkapi
Palace, the seat of the Ottoman government. Return to your hotel
for a lunch at leisure, then in the late afternoon, take a
private cruise on the Bosphorus. At the end of your cruise,
enjoy a delicious seafood dinner. The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul B, D
Tuesday: Istanbul/Antalya
One of Turkey’s most impressive sights is the Istanbul
Archaeological Museum. View tiles from Babylon, Hittite Tablets,
the ‘gold’ of Troy, Classical Greek and Hellenistic art, and
Alexander’s Sarcophagus. Take in the exquisite Turkish art in
the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, housing manuscripts,
miniatures, woodwork, stonework, ceramics, glassware, metalwork,
and exceptional examples of antique Turkish carpets. This
afternoon, fly to Antalya, home to some of the best-preserved
ruins in the Mediterranean. This evening, weather permitting,
dine at the Golf Club on the hotel premises. Kempinski Hotel The
Dome B, L, D
Wednesday: Antalya/Aspendos/Antalya
Begin your classical archaeology chapter this morning by
exploring extraordinary ruins, the world’s best-preserved
antique theater and the aqueduct at Aspendos. Continue to
Antalya for lunch and a visit to the renovated Antalya Museum,
one of Turkey’s largest museums, displaying 5,000 works of art,
housed within 14 exhibition halls and open air gallery. Your
afternoon and evening are at leisure. Kempinski Hotel The Dome
B, L
Thursday: Antalya/Lycia/Simena/Kalkan
Drive via the breathtaking coastline to Phaselis, a Lycian
port where Alexander the Great set up winter quarters in the 4th
century BC at the foot of Mt. Tahtali. Arrive at the mountainous
peninsula of Lycia and explore the rock tombs and the great
theater of Myra. Board a glass-bottom boat bound for enchanting
Simena, a sunken city on Kekova Island. Your overnight
accommodations and the remainder of your evening are at the
Patara Prince Hotel, a seaside paradise, situated on a steep
hillside opposite Kalkan Bay. Patara Prince Hotel B, L, D
Friday: Kalkan/Patara/Xanthos/Makri/Fethiye
Today, you head toward the Turquoise Coast. After stopping
first at Patara, where ancient ruins blend with one of the
largest beaches in the Mediterranean, continue onto ancient
Xanthos and Makri. Here you learn the story of the ‘Exchange of
Populations’, a common practice among Balkan countries between
1888 and 1928. Later, arrive in Fethiye and enjoy dinner at your
hotel. Ece Saray Marina & Resort B, L, D
Saturday: Fethiye/Caunos/Iztuzu Beach/Bodrum
Caunos and the Koycegiz River Delta are among the most
beautiful areas of Turkey, a delightful combination of natural
beauty, flora, fauna and ancient history. Take an “African
Queen”-style boat ride through the reed beds of River Dalyan to
reach once-mighty Caunos and explore its ruins. Continue toward
the seashore and stop at the beautiful Iztuzu Beach where
sea-turtles nest. After lunch, continue to Bodrum and arrive at
your luxurious boutique hotel overlooking the bay. The Marmara
Hotel B, L, D
Sunday: Bodrum
Today you privately explore picturesque Bodrum, home of
Herodotus, the ‘Father of History,’ and visit a museum unlike
any other, the Underwater Archaeology Museum. The afternoon is
at leisure to explore the markets of Bodrum or to relax at the
hotel. The Marmara Hotel B
Monday: Bodrum/Didyma/Priene/Kusadasi
En route to Kusadasi, visit the ancient Ionian sites of
Didyma and Priene, among the world’s most impressive ruins from
the Classical Age. In the evening, weather permitting, travel to
nearby Ephesus for a private, catered dinner complete with music
by a chamber orchestra from the Izmir Symphony. An unforgettable
evening! KoruMar Hotel (Deluxe Floor) B, L, D
Tuesday: Kusadasi/Ephesus/Kusadasi
Ephesus, for its sheer size and grandeur, is unmatched as an
archaeological site, the best preserved classical city in the
Mediterranean. One of the wonders of the ancient world, its
Artemision was a giant, all-marble temple, five times larger
than the Parthenon in Athens. Extensive excavations conducted
without interruption since 1865 have revealed only a tenth of
this massive city. Explore Ephesus this morning with a special
opening of the ‘Terrace Houses.’ Later, visit the Camlik Village
Weavers Association for a barbecue lunch and a lecture on the
art of weaving in Turkey. KoruMar Hotel (Deluxe Floor) B, L
Wednesday: Kusadasi/Izmir/Istanbul
This morning, fly to Istanbul in time for lunch at another
great restaurant. After lunch, start exploring the Age of Sinan
with a visit to the Suleymaniye Mosque, built by the great
architect Sinan.Later, check in to your hotel, located in the
heart of the Old Town. Tonight you are privileged to another
private opening, this time at Chora Church — the richest
repository of Byzantine mosaics in the world. Dinner is next
door at Asitane Restaurant, housed in a 19th-century mansion,
serving recipes from the Ottoman royal kitchens. Four Seasons
Hotel Istanbul B, L, D
Thursday: Istanbul
Today, continue to explore the best of Istanbul: her
classical mosques and bazaars, and the works of the great
architect, Sinan, whom Frank Lloyd Wright called “the supreme
architect of all time.” The Blue Mosque and Rustem Pasha Mosque
communicate the Ottoman ideal of a perfectly balanced
socio-politico-religious community. In addition, the Spice
Bazaar and Grand Bazaar are monuments to the rejuvenation of an
old imperial capital. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul B, L
Friday: Istanbul/Edirne/Istanbul
Travel to Edirne and explore Eski Cami, the Murad II Mosque
and the architectural masterpiece of Selimiye, built by Sinan.
Edirne is the second Ottoman capital and one of Turkey’s
best-kept secrets. Return to Istanbul late this afternoon and
this evening join your fellow travellers for farewell cocktails
and dinner at the Blue Room. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul B, L, D
Saturday: Istanbul/USA
Board your outbound flight.
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