Crusader Castle Gulet Yacht Cruise

Our 13-day Turquoise Coast odyssey includes an eight-day yacht cruise beginning beneath the walls of St Peter's Castle in Bodrum, and Istanbul.

Click here for the Independent traveler edition with no sightseeing included, you design your own itinerary as you go !

DAY 1 - USA/ISTANBUL - Wednesday - Weekly : April thru end of Oct
We board our transatlantic flight to Istanbul in New York. Economy class, tax included .
Air fare add-on available from major USA cities.

DAY 2 - ISTANBUL Thursday
Our local rep. meets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel. Have your first look at Istanbul this afternoon!

DAY 3 - ISTANBUL Friday (BLD)
In the morning we take a full -day city tour, visiting Topkapi Palace, Sancta Sophia,the Suleymaniye great mosque and the Blue Mosque . Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we 'll explore the great city Grand Bazaar . In the evening, we'll have dinner and take in a folk show.

DAY 4 - BODRUM Saturday (BD)
A morning flight takes us to Bodrum, where we drive through rich agricultural country, past ancient cities, and board our yacht, a traditional Turkish gulet, moored beneath the Crusader castle. After meeting our captain and crew, we enjoy the first of many delicious dinners on board.

DAY 5 - BAY OF BITEZ Sunday (BLD)
We cruise out of Bodrum headed for the Bay of Bitez, where we drop anchor for an afternoon of swimming and water sports. Face masks and flippers, sailboards, canoes and fishing tackle are all available.

DAY 6 - CAUNUS & MERSINCIK Monday (BLD)
Weighing anchor at sunrise, we sail through Gökova Bay to 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 "Blue Voyage" to Mersincik, where we drop anchor for the night.

DAY 7 - SEVEN ISLANDS Tuesday (BLD)
After breakfast we set sail for the Seven Islands, where, if the captain approves, we picnic onshore, followed by a walk. We return to our yacht for swimming, sunning and snoozing.

DAY 8 - INGILIZ LIMANI Wednesday (BLD)
Headed for Ingiliz Limani (English Port), we look forward to a day ashore in Marmaris, only a 30-minute drive from our anchorage. "Green Marmaris," as it is called, is surrounded by pine forests. It has 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 on deck.

DAY 9 - CEDREAE & TUZLA Thursday (BLD)
Cleopatra met Mark Anthony for a lovers' tryst at Cedreae and received the shore as a gift. When she mentioned that it had no sand, Mark Anthony sent his fleet to Alexandria to get some. The Egyptian sand remains at Cedreae to this day, cooled by an ever-faithful breeze, and the spot is as romantic as it was 2000 years ago. From Cedreae we cruise to Tuzla, our anchorage for the night.

DAY 10 - ÇIFTLIK Friday (BLD) Back across Gökova Bay we make our way to the anchorage at Çiftlik on our last full day at sea, filled with the pleasures of sun and sea. Swimming, reading, relaxing, and enjoying lazy shipboard lunches could easily become a way of life.

DAY 11 - BODRUM - ISTANBUL Saturday (B) We cruise into the harbor of ancient Halicarnassus (now Bodrum), and tie up beneath the castle walls. Bidding farewell to our captain and crew, we visit the Museum and the Princess exhibit, then drive to Izmir for our flight to Istanbul and our hotel.

Day 12 - Cooking class then tour : "Imperial Constantinople in the Belle Epoque"
(late 19th century), the exotic romance of the "Paris of the East:" (BL) Sunday

This morning we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . .Cooking Alaturka: Half-day Turkish Cooking Classes and Restaurant Learn How to Cook Authentic Turkish Foods in Between Visiting Istanbul’s Many Sights . classes are generally held from 10:30 to 14:30 . We prepare 5 typical Turkish dishes in a group of 6-10 persons and then have them for lunch in our restaurant. We have aprons at your disposal and you will get the recipes to take with you. Private classes are held as well
. ( supplement applies ). For private groups, evening classes can be considered as well, starting at 16:30, with dinner served from 19:00 to 21:00: Cooking with Chef : Eveline Zoutendijk

Cooking Classes in Istanbul : Later in the day : walking tour : We start with our guide in Karaköy where the foreign bankers and shipping companies had their headquarters, then take the Tünel up to istiklal Caddesi; stop in the whirling dervish tekke, and walk past the various old embassy buildings (now consulates), and point out the architecture. Stop for tea (included) at the famous Pera Palace Hotel.
Walk at least as far as Galatasaray Square, and have lunch in the Çicek Pasaji (Flower Passage); then walk up to Taksim Square and be picked up for the afternoon tour. In the afternoon the tour visit Yildiz Palace Park and the Ihlamur Kasri, a mini-palace south of Yildiz, and finish up with a visit to the Military History Museum in Harbiye in time to hear the "Mehter," or Ottoman military band (mid-afternoon).

DAY 13 - DEPARTURE- Monday (B)
Our local rep. escorts you to the airport for your flight home.

Rates are based on 4 star gulets (non air conditioned cabins).
For upgrade to 5 star air conditioned cabin deluxe gulets please add $400 per person to any of the above rates.

Rates are per person and include :

• All transfers in Turkey.
• Air fare from JFK including tax
  If/when you wish to handle your own air fare , please deduct $500 from any of the listed rates
  We keep the right to use any of the air carriers such as : Turkish Airlines , Lufthansa Air France, British Airways.
  For West coast cities : SEA, PDX, SJS , SFO , SAN : air fare add - on $ 450
  For travel May - end of SEp , please : $250 air fare high season supplement
  
• Domestic air within Turkey, in economy class, tax included
  
• Four stars hotel accommodation in Istanbul .
  
• Private cabins on board the gulet, always with private facilities .
  
• Guided sightseeing in Istanbul as per itinerary, including all entrance fees.

What's not included ...

• Turkish Visa Fee payable in cash upon arrival at the airport in Istanbul, or contact any of the Turkish Consulates near you .
• Any shore excursion while cruising/sailing.
• Travel Insurance.
• Gratuities (at your discretion)

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/