A
Mediterranean Escapade
Our 12-day Turquoise Coast odyssey includes a five-day
yacht cruise beginning beneath the walls of St Peter's Castle in Bodrum,
and three days in each of Istanbul & Cappadoccia . Departure weekly,
every Friday : April-Sep. From JFK.
Click here for the
11 day Ephesus edition
Just imagine! Friday you hop on a plane, and Saturday you're on a yacht
cruising the Mediterranean. Yes! It's that easy with our Turquoise Coast
getaway. You'll cruise aboard a comfortable, romantic gulet, the traditional
wooden sailing vessel used for centuries along Turkey's pine-fringed
Mediterranean coast.
You'll also spend two nights in exotic Istanbul to see its imperial
palaces, world-class museums, chic restaurants, bazaars and boutiques.
Your accommodations? An Ottoman-style mansion inn.
We'll even be able to tour the legendary Cappadoccia.
DAY 1 - USA/ISTANBUL Friday
We board our transatlantic flight to Istanbul in New York. Please ask
us for add on from your home town. Extend your air ticket to Cairo,
special air fare with tax: $200
Day 2 - ISTANBUL & BODRUM Saturday (D)
Our staff meets your international flight at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport
and escorts you to the domestic terminal for your onward flight to Bodrum.
Known in ancient times as Halicarnassus, Bodrum was once the capital
of King Mausolus, whose elaborate tomb, the Mausoleum, gave its name
to all grand tombs which followed. Our staff drives you to the waterside
Castle of St. Peter, built by the Crusaders in the early 1400s, where
your yacht awaits you, moored beneath the castle walls. Step aboard
and enjoy a welcome cocktail as you meet your captain and crew, after
which they'll prepare the first of many delicious shipboard dinners
for you. Settle in and relax: you're a l-o-n-g way from any cares or
worries here!
Day 3- KNIDOS & MERSINCIK Sunday (BLD)
Weighing anchor at sunrise, we sail south through Gokova Bay, passing
close to the Greek island of Kos (Karaada) and around the Resadiye Peninsula
to Knidos, famous in ancient times for its superb statue of Aphrodite
sculpted by Praxiteles. We drop anchor in Knidos's ancient harbor and
go ashore for a tour of the ancient city. Sailing south and east around
the peninsula, we reach the mouth of the Dalyan River, where we board
a motor launch for a voyage upriver to the Roman ruins at Caunus. The
sheer rock face overlooking the river is pierced by Lycian rock-cut
tombs dating from 600 BC. We return to our yacht and continue our leisurely
"Blue Voyage" to Mersincik, where we drop anchor for the night.
 Day
4- ÇATI, YEDI ADALAR & INGILIZ LIMANI Monday (BLD)
We continue our meandering route through these classical waters, stopping
at peaceful Çati cove, at Yedi Adalar (the Seven Islands) and
at Sedir (Sidera) Island. On Sidera we explore the Roman theater, ruined
Byzantine monasteries, and Cleopatra's Beach, a gift from Marc Anthony
to the Egyptian queen, with sand said to have been brought from Egypt.
Onward, we head for Marmaris, where Lord Nelson's fleet took shelter
as it prepared to attack Napoleon's forces at Abukir in 1798. For us,
"Green Marmaris," as it is called because of its surrounding
pine forests, is a welcome shore excursion with a wonderful bustling
bazaar, a long palm-shaded waterfront promenade, and a fortress that's
now a museum. We return to our yacht for dinner, moored at Ingiliz Limani
(English Port).
Day 5- SEDIR & ORAKLAR Tuesday (BLD)
Today is filled with the pleasures of sun and sea: swimming, reading,
relaxing, and enjoying a lazy shipboard lunch. Your yacht has everything
you need for water sports: facemasks and flippers, sailboard, canoe
and fishing tackle. We drop anchor at Oraklar for a calm night aboard,
gently rocking in the pellucid waters of the Mediterranean.
Day 6- BODRUM & ISTANBUL Wednesday (B)
Wonderfully refreshed by our voyage, we return to Bodrum harbor and
tie up beneath the castle walls. Bidding farewell to our captain and
crew, we drive to the airport for our flight to Istanbul, where we'll
be staying in a charming Ottoman mansion inn.
Day 7- ISTANBUL SLEEPER Thursday (BL)
Let us show you the City of the Sultans! In the morning we tour the
top sights including Topkapi Palace, Sancta Sophia, the Blue Mosque
and the Byzantine Hippodrome. After lunch, come with us for a shopping
spree in the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, with its 4000 shops. Board the
new sleeper overnight train to Ankara, private compartment. Dep. is
about 10 PM. Dinner is served in Istanbul prior to your departure.
DAY 8 CAPPADOCIA Friday (BLD)
Morning arrival at Ankara. Visit the Museum of Ancient Anatolian Civilization
& Ataturk Mausoleum, continue to Sultanhani, the Seljuk Turkish
Caravanserai before making the drive to Biblical Cappadocia and our
hotel.
DAY 9 -- CAPPADOCIA Saturday (BLD)
We explore the "Moonscape" of Cappadocia, visiting the painted
churches in the Goereme and Zelve Valleys, the rock hewn dwellings in
Ortahisar, the pottery making center of Avanos and the incredible underground
city of Kaymakl or Derinkuyu.
DAY 10-- ISTANBUL Sunday (B)
Fly back to Istanbul, remainder of the day at leisure.
DAY 11-- ISTANBUL Monday (BD)
day at leisure. Evening farewell dinner with Turkish Belly-dance.
Day 12-RETURN HOME Tuesday (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home, completely
refreshed, and with memories to last for years.
For
west coast, air fare add on subject to availability : $400
| Rate
per person in |
April
Through Oct |
| Triple
occupancy |
US$
2925 |
| Double
occupancy |
US$
2975 |
| Single
occupancy |
US$
4005 |
. Also, you can plan your departure for any day; it needn't be on a
Friday.
The supplement for this service is US$ 500 per person added to our normal
rates.
WHEN TO GO
You can get away to a Mediterranean yacht cruise any Friday from mid-April
through October, departing from New York's John F. Kennedy International
Airport. Would you like a private yacht? We'll be happy to arrange it,
just for you, on any date. Also, please call us for discounted airfares
from your home airport to JFK
BODRUM OR MARMARIS?
Yachts may depart from either Bodrum or Marmaris, depending upon availability.
- Your Mediterranean Escapade Includes...
- International airfare from New York (JFK) to Istanbul and return,
including all taxes (normally on Turkish Airlines, British Airways
or Lufthansa, but we reserve the right to use any IATA-approved international
airline) . For Jun 15 - Sep 14 please add $250 air fare supplement,
this doesn't apply when you handle your own air fare.
- Domestic airfares within Turkey, including all taxes
A 5-day (4-night) cruise aboard a Turkish gulet, staffed by a licensed
captain and crew
- Two nights' accommodation at a four-star Ottoman-style inn in
Istanbul, including tax & service charges .
- Two nights' accommodation at a four-star hotel in Cappadoccia
, including tax & service charges
- All meals aboard the yacht, and other meals as listed (cB = continental
breakfast; B = Breakfast; L = set-menu lunch; D = set-menu dinner).
- All transfers in Turkey (between airport, hotel, yacht, etc.),
including portage.
- Guided sightseeing in Cappadoccia as listed and a full-day sightseeing
tour in Istanbul, including lunch and admission fees
- The latest Lonely Planet guidebook to Turkey, and a language-learning
audio cassette keyed to the guidebook's Turkish Language Guide
What's
not included...
Extend
your stay in Turkey on board a comfortable Gulet
Amusing
airplane/train/bus or end-of-the-day reading? Turkey: Bright
Sun, Strong Tea, my humorous travel memoir:
http://www.brightsunstrongtea.com/
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