Crusader
Castles Yacht Cruise
Our
14 -day Turquoise Coast odyssey includes an eight-day yacht cruise beginning
beneath the walls of St Peter's Castle in Bodrum, and three days in
Istanbul
Compare with the 8 day , or 14
day edition . Add
Andalusia and Spain . Add
Greek Island Hopping !
Compare
with the Independent traveler
edition with no sightseeing
included
you design your own itinerary as you go !
DAY
1 - ISTANBUL - Thursday - Weekly -
March - Nov
Our staff meets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel. Have
your first look at Istanbul this afternoon!
DAY
2 - ISTANBUL Friday
(cBL)
In the morning we take a half-day city tour, visiting Topkapi
Palace, Sancta Sophia, and the Blue Mosque . Lunch in
a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we 'll explore the great city
Grand Bazaar .
DAY 3 - 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.
Add Ephesus
DAY
4 - 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
5 - MERSINCIK Monday (BLD)
Cruise
to Mersincik for our first stop and lunch. Dinner and overnight in Knidos,
at the mouth of Gokova Bay. Knidos is one of the most important ancient
cities on the west coast of Anatolia. Very famous with its statue of
Aphrodite. Birth place of Eudoxos, one of the most important astronomers
in history (5th century B.C.). Two ancient harbours still in use.
DAY
6 - 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 7 - Karacasogut Wednesday (BLD)
After breakfast, a short cruise of 1.5 hours brings us to Longoz Bay.
In the afternoon, after cruising another 1.5 hours, we arrive in Karacasogut.
It is only a 30-km drive from this small village to Marmaris, one of
the Aegean's largest resort town and great place for shopping. Overnight
in Longoz.
DAY
8 - 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
9 - 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 10 - 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 your hotel.
Day
11 - "Imperial Constantinople in the Belle Epoque"
(late 19th century), the exotic romance of the "Paris of the
East:" - Sunday (BL)
Morning 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
12 - ISTANBUL - Monday (B)
Istanbul is all yours, day at leisure, any way you like it.
Grab your Lonely Planet guidebook to Istanbul and stroll along the restored
19th-century thoroughfare of Istiklal Caddesi, once known as
the Grand Rue de Péra. Search for spices and folk remedies in the Egyptian
Bazaar. Admire the medieval mosaics in the city's many Byzantine
churches. Shop in the chic boutiques around Taksim Square. Climb
the Galata Tower, built by the Genoese six centuries ago, for
a panoramic view of Old Istanbul.
DAY
13 - DEPARTURE - Tuesday
(cB)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home. Gulgule -
Bon Voyage
RATES per
person in USD $
|
Apr - Sep
|
|
Double
|
US$
2225.00
|
|
Single
|
US$
3335.00
|
Rates
are based on 4 stars gulets (non air conditioned cabins).
For upgrade to 5 star air conditioned cabin deluxe gulets please
add $200 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 $400 from any of the listed rates), on Turkish
Airlines , Air France, Lufthansa , or British Airways. For most west
coast cities suggest Air France or British Airways , air fare add
- on $ 350.
- Domestic
air within Turkey in economy class , tax included.
- Four
stars hotel accommodation in Istanbul .
- Cabins
are always private basis with private facilities .
- Guided
sightseeing in Istanbul as per itinerary, including all entrance fees.
Not
Included :
Dodecanese
Cruise of the Greek Isles
Marmaris
– Rhodes – Symi – Kos – Datça – Loryma
– Marmaris
Southern Dodecanese Cruise
Marmaris - Rhodes - Symi - Datca - Hisaronu - Bozukkale
Northern Dodecanese Mediterranean
Gulet Cruise
Bodrum - Kos - Leros - Patmos - Kalymnos
Sultans
, Caliphs and Pharaohs
17-Day
: Nile Cruise Version
Istanbul
, Petra , Sinai and Cairo and even include a Deluxe Dahabiya Yacht Nile
Cruise on the Nile . Weekly Arrival .
Year Round : 17-Day Adventure in Turkey, Jordan and Egypt
|
