The Turquoise Coast of Turkey
Highlights: Six days of yachting along the beautiful Turquoise Coast; visits to the archeological sites of Perge, Xanthos, Didyma, and Ephesus; a tour of Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet District.
2008 Dates
September 17 - 28 (2 spaces left)
September 25 - October 6
Itinerary - 12 Days
Every time we think about Turkey we get huge grins
on our faces. The trip incorporated every ingredient necessary
for a fabulous vacation: exotic, interesting, fun, active, restful, delicious,
collegial.
- M. Learner, Hollis, NH
Day 1 – Leave United States
Day
2 – Arrive Istanbul, Welcome Dinner
Spend the night in the Sultanahmet District. Welcome dinner. Night
at the hotel. D
Day 3 – Tour Istanbul
We tour the main sites in Istanbul, including the Aya Sofya, built by
the Roman Emperor Justinian in the 6th Century AD and the largest building
in the world for at least a thousand years; The Blue Mosque, built in
the 17th Century and still one of the largest and most beautiful mosques
in the world; the Hippodrome, where Romans raced chariots, and Topkapi
Palace, the fabulous home of the Sultans and their harems. Night
at hotel. (B,L,D)
Day
4 – Fly to Izmir, Drive to Kusadasi, Tour Ephesus
We take a morning flight to the coastal city of Izmir, and drive to Ephesus,
one of the most famous and extensive archeological sites in the Mediterranean. After
Istanbul Ephesus is the most visited place in Turkey. The site
was continuously inhabited since around 3000 BC, when it was the center
for the worship of the goddess Cybele, later called Artemis. It
then became Ionian, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine as each succeeding
civilization enjoyed its fine harbor. Its Library of Celsus is
one of the most photographed buildings in the world. Ephesus slowly
faded as the Little Meander River silted in this harbor in the 5th century
AD. St. Paul and St. John preached here, and we still have Paul’s “Letter
to the Ephesians.” Mary is said to have followed John here, and
we might visit a house many feel was the site of her home.
After visiting Ephesus we drive to the town of Selcuk to visit the Basilica of St. John, where the Saint is buried, and the Ephesus Museum, with its wonderful statues of Artemis. Then we return to our hotel to relax before dinner. Night at hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 5 – Drive to Marmaris, Board Yacht (Gulet)
We
drive southeast to Didyma. Didyma was home to an oracle similar to that
found at Delphi. The huge temple to Apollo, commissioned by Alexander,
was a work-in-progress for over five centuries but never completed, probably
because it became so huge that it surpassed the engineering of the day. Even
today it is an amazing ruin, because of both its huge size and the intricacy
of the stonework.
Then we continue driving to Marmaris, where we board our yacht. We may spend the evening berthed in Marmaris, and walk about this busy resort city, or we may leave and anchor in a remote cove. Night on the yacht. (B,L,D)
The whole trip was a continuous high point.
The majesty and grandeur of the Lycean - Greek - Roman civilizations
were a personal favorite.
- L. Learner, Hollis, NH
Day 6 – Ekincik Bay, Daylan River, Caunos
We sail to sheltered Ekincik Bay, where we board a smaller boat and ride
up the meandering Dalyon River to the ruins of Caunos, another Lycean
city with wonderful rock tombs and an incredibly high acropolis. After
lunch in the town of Dalyon we head back to our yacht, and spend the
night in Ekincik cove. Night on the yacht. (B,L,D)
Day
7 – Agalimani, Kayakoy, Gemiler Island
In the morning we sail to the beautiful cove of Agalimani, which means “harbor
of the respected elders.” We will anchor here for breakfast. Those
who wish may enjoy swimming, kayaking, wind surfing and relaxing before
we head to the beautiful beach at Oludeniz, one of the prettiest -
and most photographed - in Turkey. Those who wish can hire local
boats for water skiing or parasailing.
We will anchor here for lunch and in the afternoon we drive to the ghost town of Kayakoy. Once a thriving Greek village, the town has been deserted since 1924 when the villagers, along with more than a million other Greeks, were expelled to Greece. The town has sat empty since then. Only in the past few years have Turks --mainly artists-- begun to move in. From Kayakoy we have a choice of walking (1to 2 hours downhill) or driving to Soguk Bay to meet the yacht. Night on the yacht. (B,L,D)
Day 8 – Kalkan, Lunch with Villagers, Xanthos, Kas
In the morning we sail to Kalkan, then drive high into the mountains
to visit the village of Yayla, where we have lunch in the home of some
villagers. Then we drive to Xanthos, ancient capital of Lycia whose citizens
were legendary for their fierce independence. Twice in history they committed
mass suicide rather than surrender: First in 540 BC, to avoid capture
by the Persian general Harpagus, and again in 42 BC when under siege
by the Romans under Brutus. Appropriately, the site still has a large
necropolis, with many sarcophagi. Much of Xanthos was carried off to
the British Museum in the 1840’s, but there is plenty to give us
a feel for the place and time.
Then we drive to Kas to meet our yacht. Kas was a Greek fishing village named Andifli until the population exchange of 1924, when its inhabitants were expelled to Greece. It is now a bustling resort town, but much of the Greek architecture remains. We will spend the evening in the Kas harbor, and according to the choise of our group we may spend the night at a more silent bay or at the Kas marina to have time to sample its nightlife. Night on the yacht. (B,L,D)
Day 9 – Kas, Aperlae, Kekova
This morning we will finish our exploration of Kas and sail to Aperlae,
where we can swim over sunken ruins and old sarcophagi, and perhaps walk
across a peninsula to meet the yacht. We will sail on to Kekova
Island, here we can again swim and float over sunken ruins. Night
on the yacht. (B,L,D)
Day 10 – Demre, Mrya, Finike
We sail to Kale and drive inland to Demre, where St. Nicholas (yes, Santa
Claus) was Bishop in the 4th Century. While the church there is not the
original one, it is perhaps the oldest church in Asia Minor. Our drive
then takes us to Myra, to visit its rock tombs and Roman theater. We
return to the yacht and sail to Finike, and spend our last night on the
yacht in Finike’s harbor. Night on the yacht. (B,L,D)
Day 11 – Depart Yacht, Drive to Antalya, Archeology Museum,
Perge
We say goodbye to the crew and yacht and drive to Antalya, where we
will visit the excellent Antalya Archeology Museum, then continue to
Perge. Built around 1000 BC, Perge boasts a beautiful theater and the
largest stadium in all Asia Minor. Alexander spent time here,
as did the mathematician Appolonius. The city was by turns Pamphilian,
Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Selcuk. We arrive at our hotel
in Antalya in the early evening. Night at the hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 12 – Continue on Cappadocia Extension or Morning Flight
to Istanbul
Those who are not joining the Cappadocia
Extension will catch
an early flight to Istanbul, where you can connect with your flight
home or extend your stay in Istanbul. The trip ends upon arrival at
the Istanbul airport. ECHO can arrange additional nights in Istanbul.
(B)