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 : $450

. 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...

• Turkish Visa Fee (, payable in cash upon arrival at the airport in Istanbul or from the nearest Turkish Consulate .
• Travel Insurance. To participate in this cruise-tour, we must require you to provide proof of medical and travel insurance. We will be happy to send you information on how to purchase these policies if you do not already have them. Please contact us for details.
• Gratuities to captain and crew (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/