Day 1 / Fly to Antalya

Special Category Boutique Hotel

Guests are met by the tour manager at the Istanbul Airport who takes you to the internal terminal for the Antalya flight and assists you to an easy check-in. Our guide meets you at the Antalya Airport who facilities the transfer to your hotel. Group participants meet the staff and their fellow travellers over a welcome drink and sit down dinner.

Dinner

Day 2 / Antalya

Traveling Distance: 70 km ~ 44 miles

This morning we visit the best-preserved ancient theatre in the world, located in the ancient city of Aspendos. Having thoroughly tested the near perfect acoustics, we circle the ancient acropolis to see some remarkably well preserved sections of the aqueduct that supplied the ancient citizens with their water. We continue our drive through the magnificent scenery to the ruins of Selge. We press on while deep gorges draped in cypress and cedar recede into the distance, graduated by deepening shade of blue. Olive, maple, carob and Judas trees crowd the road and only gradually give way to oaks as we climb higher.

Breakfast Picnic Lunch Dinner

Day 3 / Antalya

Traveling Distance: 30 km ~ 19 miles

After our breakfast we begin the day’s explorations. We travel the short distance to Perge, the city founded by Greek settlers following the Trojan War. Here we can explore the great theatre, stadium, enormous Hellenistic and Roman gates as well as a colonnaded street. We end the day at the Antalya Archaeological Museum and its Perge Hall. The museum was declared a European Museum of the Year in 1988. We spend our evening over a fine dinner at an exclusive restaurant. Enjoy the Turkish hamam before dinner!

Breakfast Dinner

Day 4 / Antalya

Traveling Distance: 120km ~ 75 miles

The next morning we breakfast and then begin our drive high up into the mountains of Pisidia until we come to the site of ancient Sagalassos. Far off the main tourist routes, Sagalassos has been extensively excavated in recent years by a team of Dutch archaeologists. Now visible are a library with mosaic flooring, temples, baths and the domestic houses of what was once the largest city in Pisidia. As impressive as the ruins are the breathtaking views at 5,000 feet. After a short drive we reach the town of Burdur by the Lake Burdur to visit the Burdur Museum. The artifacts and findings from Sagalassos are displayed beautifully. We return to Antalya.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 5 / Çıralı (Chimaera)

Olympos Lodge

Traveling Distance: 80km ~ 50 miles

We drive south; the sea road along the Turkish Riviera climbs the mountains before descending into the pine-shaded Phaselis where a triumphal arch built for Hadrian’s visit in AD 129 marks the start of a well-preserved street lined with statue bases of local notables, leading past Roman agora , a theatre and baths to an an aqueduct. A short drive into the emerald green valley that leads to the seaside village of Çıralı for our next home for a 2 night stay, Olympos Lodge located directly on the beach next-door to the ancient sites of Olympos and Porto of Genovese. Relax and get ready for a scenic drive to the remote city of Arykanda. This spectacular terraced site is the Turkish Delphi, but without the crowds. From its perch this truly magnificent city could control the ancient trade routes. Built of huge stone blocks, many of the monumental buildings still stand and contain remnants of intricate mosaic floors visible even today.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 6 / Çıralı (Chimaera)

Olympos Lodge

This morning we get to Myra, famous for its rock-cut tombs and Roman theatre, before other travelers arrive and visit the church dedicated to the 4^th century bishop, who through his good works became known as St.Nicholas- Santa Claus. Then, on to Andriake, to see the granaries, amongst the best preserved Roman buildings on Turkey’s southern shore. After dinner we invite our participants to take a walk (evening exercise) to “Yanartaş”, the Turks call it;”the burning stone” related to Chimeira riding the winged horse Pegasus, Bellerophon shot a hail of arrows and killed the monster Chimeira after it destroyed Lycia with its fiery breath. The young warrior then built an altar for his patron goddess Athena. Or you stay at the Olympos Lodge for a relax evening or walk on the beach, you may swim in the Mediterranean Sea under the stars.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 7 / On Board (Luxury Gulet)

This morning after breakfast we have a short drive to Çayagzı where our luxury gulet awaits. New friendships deepen with a welcome drink and exploration of our vessel. The boat’s chef will prepare all meals onboard. We begin our journey and explore this part of the coast contains some of Lycia’s more rugged scenery. Hundreds of tombs dot the hills and valleys, and castles guard the sea channels. Explore the island of Kekova, a national park, featuring submerged ruins still visible beneath the crystal-clear waters and view the nearby, tiny town of Simena, built on the side of a steep hill crowned by a crusader’s castle. The villagers’ homes stand on the foundations of the ancient fortress, and as we climb to the summit we walk among ancient tombs now used for storage and animal shelters. We explore Teimioussa, by the side of Üçağız, which has one of the finest of all Lycian burial grounds, before spending the night, weather permitting, at Snail Bay on Kekova Island, where the water is pure azure.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 8 / On Board

The harbor of the picturesque village of Kaş is full of colorful fishing boats. Founded on the ruins of the Lycian city, Antiphellus, today’s modern buildings are scattered among the ancient rock-cut tombs and sarcophagi. Today we will have time to visit the ancient theater, wander in the sleepy town square, or sit down to tea in one of the shore side gardens.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 9 / On Board

Our gulet takes us to the charming fishing village of Kalkan from where we travel by minibus to two important cities of the Lycian federation. In Xanthos, we view the fine theater, dominated by carved tombs. At the close of the 4^th century B.C. nearby Patara became the capital of the Lycian Federation. Over the years, however, its once-bustling port was completely silted in and during those long centuries of neglect magnificent buildings were covered and hidden. For the past several years, however, Turkish archaeologists have been excavating here and they are restoring the city to its former grandeur. Excavations so far show that the city was much more important than originally thought. The archaeologists have found a colonnaded street that is even wider than the one at Ephesus. Also uncovered are four Roman bath complexes, five Byzantine churches, incised stones with inscriptions telling of the distances to other Lycian cities, and a map created in stone. We gain an insider’s view of the work being done here as we have the opportunity to walk through the ruins with our lecturer.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 10 / On Board

Very early departure 05:30-06:00 AM from Yeşilköy to Ölüdeniz Lagoon. Breakfast and swim, and head for Mersin Limanı just across from Soguk Su (Cold water) Bay for lunch and swim. We head off to Gemiler Island, a small spindle-shaped island covered by a late antique settlement, a place with links to St Nicholas of Myra, an important trading port during the Byzantine period. The remains of the ancient city completely cover this small island and are visible beneath the water’s surface along the shore. A covered path leads us to the Byzantine basilica that once dominated the city.

If you wish, we can hike to the top of the island, about a 400-foot elevation gain, for a breathtaking view of the azure channel; we will pass the ruins of churches, small chapels, tombs and sarcophagi.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Note: If you like, we can hike up to Kayaköy via a rarely used trial that follows the side of a hill full of carob trees, thyme, and bay, with incredible vistas of inlets and lacy coastline. Anatolian Greeks once inhabited this city of about 600 houses. During the 1920s, the entire population was relocated to Greece in the aftermath of the Turkish War of Independence. It is an eerie and moving place, a tragic reminder of how politics can affect human lives. We walk first uphill, and the descend on a well-graded but sometimes rocky path to a cove at Soguk Su, where we meet our gulet.

Day 11 / On Board

In the morning we cruise to Ağa Limanı, or “Fisherman’s Net Cove. Those who wish to hike through forests, meadows, and spectacular coastal scenery to a little-known ancient site of Lydai to inspect the remains of two monumental tombs. Inscriptions tell us that one of the incumbents made it to the Roman Senate. We walk a pine-shaded trail amid the smells of wild herbs, and the music of goat bells, with spectacular vistas of the Gocek Lagoon and Bay of Fethiye. As we hike, our gulet sails around to meet us in a scenic cove which shelters the sunken baths of Cleopatra, built for her by Mark Antony. Legend says that Antony gave Cleopatra the entire Turquoise Coast as a wedding gift- a present fit for a queen. This is another excellent place to swim, if you feel so inclined. We head towards Gocek Marina. Our farewell dinner is on board.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 12 / Fly Home

After breakfast we fly to Istanbul and guests are transferred to the international terminal for their return flights.

Tour Dates & Prices

What’s Included in this Price?

What’s not Included?

AN ISTANBUL EXTENSION TOUR TO PRECEDE THIS TOUR IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST