Music Cruises

 Lycia and  Caria
Turkey
Tour

Turkey Historical tours

Private tours in Turkey  

Coastal Cultures 13Nights/14 Days With private Guide    2008
Ancient archeological sites are scattered around the serene pristine coast lines of Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean shores where scenic roads splash inward to reveal magical ruins and hidden necropolises. The sea also serves as the Riviera of antiquity inspiring and uplifting travelers with their hidden beauties. Come and explore with us these timeless mementos of legendary ancient civilizations bridled in the mist of history. 

Day 1. Arrival in Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, capital of Caria. Transfer to the hotel.  Afternoon visit the charming town of chalk-white houses with a lively and colorful waterfront embraced by mountain pearls. Guided tour of the Medieval Crusaders’ castle including the museums as well as the remains of the famous Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.  Rest of the evening free. Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Bodrum

Day 2.  Full day tour with your archeologist guide to visit some of the famous Ionian cities and sanctuaries. Guided tour of  Priene, a leading city of the Ionian League founded by Athenians. The ancient city is perched on a hilltop overlooking the wide Maeander river valley. Continue on to Miletos, the cradle of Western Philosophy,  an intellectual centre of Ionia and of the ancient world. The philosopher of nature, Thales, who was also a mathematician and engineer; the historians Anaximander and Aneximenes, the geographer Hecataeus and Kadmos, all lived in Miletos. Continue on to Didyma to marvel the monumental sanctuary, the Temple of Apollo with its colossal colonnade and relieves. On the way back to Bodrum stop at Iasus, the city of the musician, the boy and the dolphin mentioned in Strabo’s  work. Return to Bodrum, dinner and overnight at the hotel. 

Day 3. This day is dedicated to ancient Carian sites. The Carians were Anatolian indigenous people who later became Hellenized. Guided tour of Labranda, an important Carian religious center linked with the nearby city by a Sacred Way. From the pristine site of sacred plane-trees you’ll have an uplifting view of the surrounding mountain chains. Walk through the imposing entrance to the temenos, the Doric House and the bath complex. Continue on to the hilltop city of Alinda,  fortified stronghold of the Carian  Queen Ada, the sister of Mausoleus of Halicarnassus and adopted mother of Alexander the Great. Visit the Necropolis of Carian graves cut from horizontal rocks and sheltered  by knotted stooping olive trees. Visit the market building with its line of shops, the agora and the aqueduct. Lunch (on your own) under the huge plane tree of the nearby village café. Continue on to Latmos Heraclia at pristine Lake Bafa. Walk to the steep promontory overlooking the lake and a small island with the remains of  a Byzantine castle, visit the sanctuary of Endymion  where according to the legend, Selene, the moon goddess seduced  the sleeping Endymion, a handsome sheppard. Return to Bodrum. Dinner and overnight in Bodrum. 

Day 4. Morning departure to Milas. Visit the Mausoleum, a small replica of the famous one destroyed in Bodrum, then drive to Stratoniceia and Idyma. Continue to Gokova. Bay. Lunch at one of the typical reed restaurants. Visit the resort village of Akyaka with its typical Turkish houses, then take a boat ride to Cleopatra’s Island. for relaxation or possible swimming in the turquoise  waters of its secluded cove. Drive to Marmaris, overnight in Marmaris. Dinner on your own in this popular resort town of vibrant nightlife intimately embraced by enchanting mountains. There are many restaurants to choose from. 

Day 5.  Full-day boat excursion to the Dalyan Delta, a wildlife sanctuary of connecting lakes and channels with spectacular ancient Lycian temple tombs decorating the steep rocks above. Visit the ruins of the ancient harbor city of Caunos and the long sandy beach, a refuge of sea turtles and blue crabs. Your delta excursion culminates in a visit to the mud springs where, if you wish, you can dip into the thick curative mud, a real fun. Overnight at Dalyan.  Dinner on your own at one of the local restaurants decorated by colorful oleander and bougainvillea shrubs.

Day 6. Drive to Lydae then to Telmessus, visit the rock tombs and the museum of Fethiye with its important possession of the Letoon Trilingual stale with inscriptions in ancient Lycian, Greek and Aramaic languages. Continue on to Cadyanda and the Greek ghost town of Kayakoj.  Overnigth at Oludeniz. (Dead Sea) Dinner at the hotel. Day 7. A day of relaxation at Oludeniz with breakfast and dinner at your first class hotel, where you will have the opportunity to visit the stunning Blue Lagoon. Overnight at Oludeniz.

Day 8. Tour of Pinara, one of the most bucolic sites of our tour. See the Royal Tomb with depiction of  fortified Lycian cities carved on its porch and the ruins of the Temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of  love, in the most charming surroundings. Drive to Saklikent Kanyon  and Tlos. Lunch at the Tlos Yakapark restaurant (on their own) built on the soothing waters of  abundant springs and small waterfalls. Overnight in Kalkan. Dinner on your own in this charming town of white houses facing an azure bay.   

Day 10. Morning drive to Udagiz village to take the boat to Kekova Island of sunken Byzantine ruins in turquoise water. We’ll also anchor at Simena, a colorful town built  around sunken ruins and among scattered Lycian tombs. From the castle above the town you will have an excellent view of the bays, inlets, islands and colorful sailboats gliding on the azure sea. Afternoon drive to Myra to visit the basilica and the sarcophagus of Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) as well as the ancient necropolis of temple tombs. Overnigth in Kas with dinner.

Day 11. Drive to the Lycian city of Arycanda set high on the high mountain overlooking a beautiful valley. The extensive ruins include the Heroon of Naltepe, the theater, stadium, bouleterion, water system, gymnasium and bath. Continue on to Limyra to see the sanctuary of Apollo and the marble road underneath the spring water. Our last stop today is Olympos shaded by oleander and laurel bushes. The temple gate and the theater remain from antiquity, the outer walls and towers around the bay date back to the Middle Ages. Overnigth at  seaside resort at Kemer. Dinner at the hotel. 

Day 12. Today we visit Phaselis, once a major commercial center. The ruins of aqueducts, agoras, Hadrian’s Gate and the acropolis, bath and theater are all revealing the city’s historical importance. At  Yanartas (burning stone) we climb up to the mountains to a very unique place where gas seeping out of the cover of the earth burns brightly with flames flickering in a gray, rocky area. According to mythology, the Lycian hero, Bellerophon, mounted on his winged horse, Pegasus slew the fire-eating monster, Chimaera. Rest of the day free at the resort in Kemer.  Dinner at the hotel in Kemer

Day 13. All day at leisure at the popular resort in Kemer shaded buy beautiful mountains At your first class resort you will have the chance to recover from the trip’s tiring but exciting program and reflect on the wonders of your experiences. 

Day 14. Transfer to Antalya airport. End of services. 

Extensions and alterations to the program can be arranged.

Prices are in US$ or Euros* based on the number of people in your party

Price includes:

• Return transfers from and to airports

• private car or minibus transportation with air-conditioning throughout the tour

• Archeologist guide throughout the tour

• 3 nights in Bodrum with daily dinners

• 1 night Marmaris with breakfast

• 1 Night Dalyan with breakfast

• 2 nights at Oludeniz (Dead Sea) with breakfast and dinner

• 1 night Kalkan with breakfast

• 2 nights Kas with 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners at the hotel

• 2 nights at Kemer with breakfast and dinner

• 1 (last night) in Kemer with full board, breakfast, lunch and dinner

• Entrance fees to archeological parks and museums

• Boat trips in Cleopatra's Island, Kekova and Dalyan

• Local taxes and service charges

• Porterage at the hotels
  
  Excludes:
   All personal expenses
   Tip to the guide and driver
   All other items not specifically mentioned as included
  
  Hotels to be used (or similar):
  * Bodrum Marina Vista
  * Marmaris Anemon
  * Dalyan Binlik
  * Oludeniz Oludeniz Resort
  * Kalkan Harpy Hotel
  * Kas Aqua Princess Hotel
  * Kemer Fame Beach Hotel