The Aegean Legacy tour

The tour starts at the hotel in Istanbul today. Airport transfers are not included but can be arranged on request if required. There will be a welcome meeting at 7pm in the hotel reception where you can meet your guide and the rest of the group. Extra nights in the hotel in Istanbul are available before the tour starts if you would like to spend some more time in this fascinating city.

Our trip begins this morning with a fully guided tour of the old city of Istanbul. Lying across two continents this historically important city played an integral role in the development of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. We visit the 17th century Blue Mosque, the Aya Sofya museum and explore the former residence of the Ottoman Sultans at Topkapi Palace before ending at the famous Hippodrome.In the afternoon there is an optional cruise on the Bosphorous, the stretch of water that divides the city, connecting the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and separating Europe from Asia.

We depart Istanbul this morning for the drive to the Gallopoli peninsular where we will receive a fully guided tour of this important World War I battlefield site. Although home to some of the fiercest fighting during the War, today the site is full of poignant memorials set against a subdued wooded landscape. Our tour will include the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials, ANZAC Cove, Johnston Jolly, The Nek and will will provide a chance to see the original trenches and tunnels used during the war. We'll spend the night in nearby Canakkale.

This morning we make the short drive to the ancient city of Troy. Lying undiscoverd until midway through the 19th Century the excavations here brought the legend of the Trojan horse and the poems of Homer back to life. We then continue our drive south to the impressive acropolis of Pergamum. Here we enjoy a full tour of the site including the Temple of Trajan and the famous library which is believed to have rivalled the library of Alexandria and helped shape Pergamum into a renowned cultural and political centre.We'll then continue south along the Mediterranean coastline to the town of Kusadasi with its popular beaches and marina.

After breakfast we drive to the Roman site of Ephesus. The city at one time housed 250,000 people and is regarded as one of the best preserved ancient cities in the whole Mediterranean region. We visit the Temple of Artemis, and explore the ancient marble streets of this ruined Roman city. This afternoon we visit the fruit wine growing village of Sirince and learn about the history of carpet weaving in Turkey.
This evening we'll visit a local vineyard and learn about how wines have been produced in this region over the centuries. You can taste 3 iwnes from the local region in the vineyard garden before we return to our hotel in Kusadasi.

We drive further south this morning and the port town of Fethiye. Here we'll board our Gulet in Fethiye Harbour at around 3pm. After introductions on board as we set sail, you'll have time to enjoy some swimming or snorkeling in Turunc Bay or Tarzan Bay. The boat will cruise on past several small islands through the Gulf of Fethiye towards Tersane Island (Dockyard Island). Here you should be able to explore the ruins of an old Greek town and naval shipyard. We'll spend the night on board the boat in one of the sheltered bays.
Fully staffed and housed with individual en-suite double cabins these vessels offer us the perfect chance to unwind and enjoy the sunshine. Twin bedded cabins are not generally available, but most people tend to spend the nights sleeping under the stars on matresses on the deck of the boat.

You can take an early swim before breakfast if you wish today, after which we will sail on around the coastline to Hamam Bay. This large bay is surrounded by pine trees and is famous for the ruins of Cleopatra’s Baths which was possibly destroyed by an earthquake in the region. Legend has it that Marc Anthony built the bathhouse here as a wedding gift for Cleopatra, even having golden sands imported from Egypt. The site was chosen because a hot water spring was found above the bay, supplied by the thermal waters of a crater lake in the mountains north of the bay. Stories tell of the couple visiting here on what would have been their honeymoon.
We'll then continue our cruise to Sarsala Bay from which a pleasant 45 minute hike brings you to an ancient Lycian town which has several walls with inscriptions dating from the 3rd century BC. Our day's cruising then finishes at Bedri Rahmi Bay, named after the famous Turkish writer and painter, Bedri Rahmi Eyuboglu. On one of his cruises in 1973 he painted a fish on a rock in the bay and it has since been renamed after him. The bay is protected and surrounded by pine trees, olive trees and oleander flowers. You can find several Lycian rock tombs hidden in the trees and some historians believe this is the location of the ancient Lycian town of Crya. We'll overnight here.

We'll sail on through the Gulf today, passing Gocek and Yassica Islands. One of these islands, Saytanli Ada, is said to be the place the devil chose to live when he was denied entry to heaven. Some of the islands are very close together and can be swum between. There are several ruins on the island and in the waters between them, suggesting they used to be connected. The area is not under protection and there are safe anchorages and secluded sandy beaches making them a great place to swim, soak up the sun, or take your snorkelling gear and swim over the ruins. We have one final stop today at Red Island (or Kizilada in Turkish). The island is known for the red colouration of its rocks and hillside which become even more pronounced as the sun sets. The island is popular for both swimming and walking, with the hilltop protecting the beaches and bays from the wind. Finally we'll return back to Fethiye harbour for our last night on board.

We will see a display of locally handcrafted leather goods this morning before heading inland to Pamukkale, site of the well known white calcium terraces known as Travertines. Pamukkale translates as 'cotton castles' and the naturally occurring geology here has created cloud like formations unlike anywhere else. We also tour the ancient city of Hierapolis twhere and you can can enjoy a dip in the hot thermal pools lodged amongst ancient columns left by the Romans who used the pools for their therapeutic powers.

We'll follow the route of the ancient Silk Road today as we head into central Turkey and our next destination, Cappadocia. Along the way we will stop to visit the Sultanhani Caravansary, and also the Mevlana museum in Konya. This evening there is an optional traditional Turkish folklore evening which is always a lot of fun.

Today we set out to explore the beautiful and surreal landscape of Cappadocia. Unlike anywhere else on earth, this bizarre setting is full of improbable rock formations and underground villages. Often described as the jewel of Turkey we have a full tour here to visit Goreme Valley and the aptly named 'fairy chimneys' of Pasbag before hearing underground to explore the subterrenean churches and fortresses used by Christians to avoid persecution over a thousand years ago.
In the evening, there is an optional Turkish folklore experience, belly dancers included- a chance to end off the day in a memorable way.

We leave Cappadocia early this morning and drive to Turkey's capital Ankara to visit Anitkabir, mausoleum of the Mustafa Kemal Ataturk the country's famous leader during the Turkish war of independence and the founder of the modern Turkish republic. The mausoleum is one of Turkey's best examples of modern architecture and sits on a hill overlooking the city. From here we continue back to Istanbul for the final night of the tour. An optional morning flight to Istanbul is available from Kayseri in Cappadocia to avoid the long drive today (please contact us for current flight times and prices).

The tour ends in Istanbul today. Airport transfers and extra nights in the hotel in Istanbul may be added on request.