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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
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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.
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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 9. Visit Xanthus, the former capital of
Lycia
with the most shocking and heroic history. View the Tomb of Harpies, the
Nereid Monument, the agora and the inscribed pillar. Continue on to Letoon,
the holy Lycian center with three temples dedicated to Leto, Apollo and
Artemis. Our last stop today is Patara, where according to mythology, the
son god, Apollo was born. History also reveals that this town was the
birthplace of St. Nicholas, our
beloved, Santa Claus. Overnigth in
Kas,
the lovely town of great shopping, restaurants and rock tombs. Diner at
the hotel.
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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.
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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
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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 in US$ Per Person Based on
# of people |
1 Passenger |
2-3
Passengers |
4-5
Passengers |
6-9
Passengers |
10-11
Passengers |
12-14
Passengers |
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Car |
Car |
Minibus |
Minibus |
Minibus |
Bus |
1Apr-30May'08
1Sep-31Oct'08 |
SGL 6125 |
DBL
3625
SGL 3950 |
DBL 2236
SGL 2563 |
DBL 1738
SGL 2063 |
DBL 1488
SGL 1813 |
DBL 1363
SGL 1688 |
| 1Jun-31Aug'08 |
SGL 6737 |
DBL 3863
SGL 4363 |
DBL 2988
SGL 3488 |
DBL 2363
SGL 2863 |
DBL 1863
SGL 2363 |
DBL 1738
SGL 2238 |
*Euro rate varies depending on exchange
rates
Reduction for 3rd person sharing a room : US$ 100 per person per
tour |
Price includes:
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Return transfers from and to airports
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private car or minibus transportation with air-conditioning
throughout the tour
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Archeologist guide throughout the tour
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3 nights in Bodrum with daily dinners
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1 night Marmaris with breakfast
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1 Night Dalyan with breakfast
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2 nights at Oludeniz (Dead Sea) with breakfast
and dinner
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1 night Kalkan with breakfast
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2 nights Kas with 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners at the
hotel
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2 nights at Kemer with breakfast and dinner
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1 (last night) in Kemer with full board,
breakfast, lunch and dinner
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Entrance fees to archeological parks and museums
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Boat trips in Cleopatra's Island, Kekova and
Dalyan
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Local taxes and service charges
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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
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