dossier

Ancient and Classical Turkey

Day 1: Arrive in Turkey
We take you to the hotel (25 mins) in time for dinner by the bustling fish markets at Kumkapi.

Day 2/3: Exploring Istanbul
First stop is the Blue Mosque and 1,500 year old Haghia Sophia church.  After lunch by the Byzantine cistern, our guide leads us through the avenues of bales of silk , gold trinkets and colorful spices of the Grand Bazaar.  The nex day we visit Topkapi Palace - a real "Arabain Night's Dream" with its harem and fabulous treasury.  In the afternoon, we take a river cruise along the Bosphorous, lined with imposing 19C summer palaces.  Returning, we admire the late Byzantine frescoes at Kariye church, before our final dinner in Istanbul.

Day 4: Troy and the Gallipoli Peninsula  (8km/5mi/2hr)
By ferry boat across the Marmara Sea, and along to the Dardanelle strait (90 mins).  After lunch, we follow a rosemary-scented coastal path that overlooks the Gallipoli peninsula, site of the famous WWI battle.  Then on to Tory, immortalized by Homer for a more ancient battle.  After visitng the site, we move to Assos, our base for the next two nights, and dinner at our harbour front hotel.

Day 5: At Assos (9km/5.5mi/4hr)
Gently ascending through olive and pistachio trees we reach Assos's ancient citadel with its theatre, gymnasium and bathhouse.  Then an ancient paved way lined with sarcophagi affords stunning views over the watery remains of Assos's Greco-Roman harbor.  Afterwards maybe enjoy a long lunch watching the fisherman bring in their catch, or relax by the pool.

Day 6: Pergamon
A brief stroll, this morning, to the Altar of Zeus for grea Aegean coast views before arriving at Pergamon.  This ancient Greek city's library was second only to that of Alexandria.  Descending from the theatre we enjoy sweeping valley views as we reach the cobbled streets of the modern town where peope still travel by horse and cart.  Then on to Foca, where we spend one night.

Day 7: Sardis and Bozdag  (4km/3mi/2r)
Heading inland, we visit the imposing site of Sardis, legendary home of King Midas, where the first coins were minted.  Then a scenic drive to lunch in a mountain restaurant above Bozdag.  Afterwards, we descend along a panoramic forest trail bright with crosuses into the village itself.  We then move on to Nilgan's friendly hotel at Selcuk (modern town of Ephesus) where we spend the next two nights.

Day 8: Ephesus (4km/3mi/2hr)
We dedicate the morning to Ephesus, whose marbled streets reveal agorae, bathhouse, a theatre and the Library of Celsus.  After lunch in the whitewashed village of Sirince, our walk takes us through almond trees for incomparable views back over the village surrounded by olive studded hills.

Day 9:  Didyma and Lake Bafa  (8km/5mi/3hr)
Leaving Ephesus, we visit to Didyma's Temple of Apollo before arriving at Lake Bafa for lunch.  This afternoon's walk winds through the semi-ruined Greek city of Herakleia, built into ochre colored limestone boulders, then drops down to the lakeshore where flamingos and herons fish.  We reach coastal Bodrum, where we spend our final 2 nights, in time for dinner.

Day 10:  Exploring Bodum
We explore Bodrum's cobbled backstreets that reveal a Greek theatre, city gate and the famous Mauseoleum, and visit the Knights Templar castle.  After lunch by the marina, we take a gulet cruise around the islets and inlets of the beautiful peninsula.  Swim in the sea or the hotel's infinity pool before our farewell dinner.

Day 11:  Return home