Aegean & Mediterranean coast explorer

Itinerary

• DAY 1

  Arrival Antalya

  Meet at the Antalya airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to the hotel located in the old city centre, known as Kaleici. It is uncertain when the site of the current city was first inhabited. Attalos II, king of Pergamon, was believed to have founded the city around 150 BC, but excavations have uncovered remains dating to the 3^rd century BC, suggesting that the city was founded earlier than previously supposed. The city grew and prospered during the ancient roman period and today includes sites with traces of Lycian, Pamphylian, Hellenistic -but mainly Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman-architecture and cultures.                  

  Transfer time: 20 min.; transfer distance: 15 km (Antalya airport - Antalya Kaleici)

  ON: in Antalya city centre at the hotel

  Meals: - / - / D

• DAY 2

  Antalya to Kas via ancient Phaselis & Myra

  Today we leave Antalya and drive to Kas, on the way we visit Phaselis first, an ancient Greek and roman city with three harbours. Through the middle of the city runs a 24m wide ancient street. The 'Hadrian waterway gate' is on the southern part of the street with ruins of shops and stores on the sides and near these are ruins of public places such as roman baths, agora and theatres. On our way to Kas we also visit Myra; according to Strabo one of the largest towns of the Lycian alliance; the ancient city consist an impressive necropolis including tombs of rulers and family members and a large Roman amphitheatre. In the afternoon we arrive in Kas, a small fishing, yachting and tourist town; a quiet pleasant place with its blue sea and narrow streets scented with jasmine flowers and with plenty of little quiet cafes to relax.

  Transfer time: 3 h; transfer distance: 190 km (Antalya – Kas via Myra & Phaselis)

  ON: in Kas at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 3

  Kas to Fethiye via ancient Patara, Kayakoy (Karmilassos) & Oludeniz lagoon

  We leave Kas in the morning and drive to Fethiye; visit ancient Patara on our way, a flourishing maritime and commercial city on the south-west coast of Lycia on the Mediterranean coast. Possessing a natural harbour, Patara was said to have been founded by Patarus, a son of Apollo. Ancient writers mentioned Patara as one of the principal cities of Lycia; it was Lycia's primary seaport and a leading city of the Lycian league. Over a cobbled road we also walk to the sandy beach of Patara. With its gorgeous landscape, unspoilt Patara is one of Turkey’s longest beaches. As part of a national park, it is a key biodiversity area, rich in birdlife and the breeding ground of the endangered loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta). In the early afternoon we arrive in Kayakoy, originally named “Karmilassos”; described by the UNESCO as a world friendship and peace village. Here we start our first walk and climb up to the ruins of the old Greek village given up at the end of the World War I. Today this timeless place, set in a lush valley surrounded by forests and with some vineyards nearby, is known as a kind of ghost town. We will walk through its empty streets, along its ruined stone houses and take time to visit one of its admirable churches, whilst enjoying the village’s air of mystery and surreal atmosphere. For those who want it is possible to go on a trek following a forest path which offers a splendid panorama on the limpid turquoise water splits and leads directly down to the Oludeniz lagoon

  Walking time: 2 - 3 h; walking distance: 6 km; ascent: 200m; descent: 300m

  Oludeniz lagoon is one of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean. The amazing lagoon with its secluded sandy bay is a national nature reserve and building is strictly prohibited. Famous for its shades of turquoise and aquamarine, Oludeniz is an official blue flag beach and frequently rated among the top five beaches in the world by travellers and tourism journals alike. In the late afternoon, after spending some time at leisure at the beach, we drive to our overnight accommodation in Fethiye.

  Transfer time: 2 h; transfer distance: 110 km; (Kas – Fethiye)

  ON: in Fethiye at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 4

  Gulf of Fethiye boat tour to Kizilada (Red Island) & Yassica Islands

  In the morning we leave the harbour of Fethiye and visit the Kızilada (red island), a well-known and popular destination for sailing boats. You can take time to swim and to relax next to the Kızilada and its turquoise waters or make yourself comfortable with a cool drink on the yacht. Afterwards we continue to the bays of Gocek, better known as Yassica islands, where it is possible to explore the area with its turquoise blue bays and sandy beaches. The islands are a magnificent place to rest and to enjoy the panoramic view along the Mediterranean area. In the late afternoon we return to Fethiye harbour, where it is possible to explore the marina area with its charming cafés and the old town with its beautiful shops with a variety of unique Turkish goods and souvenirs.

  Gulf of Fethiye boat tour: approximately 4 h                          

  ON: in Fethiye at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 5

  Fethiye to Akyaka via Kaunos & Iztuzu beach

  Today we drive to Akyaka, on our way we take time to visit the ancient site of Kaunos, where we explore the rock tombs and the ruins. The Lycian/Carian city of Caunos (Kaunos) was a separate state, then it became a part of Caria and later still of Lycia. According to mythology Caunos was founded by king Caunos, son of the Carian king Miletus and Kyane, and grandson of Apollo. Caunos is a site which is both interesting for its archaeological and ecological importance. The main sights are the Acropolis (Persikon), the theatre, the palaestra with its Roman baths, the port agora, two Hellenistic and four of Roman temples. Afterwards we make a boat tour to Iztuzu beach; a narrow spit of land, which forms a natural barrier between the fresh water delta of the Dalyan River and the Mediterranean. It is also one of the main breeding grounds for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). In the late afternoon we return to Dalyan where we spend our final night. In the late afternoon we arrive Akyaka, hides itself at the foot of the pine-cloaked slopes of the Kiran Mountains. This town is characterized by two floor houses with ornate wooden balconies and pan tile roofs that reflect a very pleasant atmosphere. We spend the night in Akyaka at the hotel.

  Transfer Time: 2 - 3 h; transfer distance: 180 km; (Fethiye to Akyaka via Kaunos & Iztuzu beach)

  ON: in Akyaka at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 6

  Akyaka to Datca peninsula & ancient Knidos – Bodrum, the mausoleum Halicarnassus & Bodrum castle

  After breakfast we drive to Datca peninsula, a landscape you may never want to leave, covered with olive trees, pine forests in sheltered hollows and stunning blue water. With thousands of years of history, a wonderful climate and friendly locals, abundant flora, fauna and carefully preserved nature, Datca peninsula is a secret paradise.

  Here we take time to visit ancient Knidos, an ancient Greek city of Caria, part of the Dorian Hexapolis. Knidos was the centre of Dorian civilisation and one of the most important cities in the region. The ancient site features several temples, sacred altars, theatres, splendid buildings and numerous works of art, a temple of Dionysus, a temple of the muses and a great number of minor buildings. In the afternoon we head towards Bodrum, called Halicarnassus of Caria in ancient times and was part of the Persian Empire until captured by Alexander the great. We take time to visit the mausoleum at Halicarnassus built between 353 and 350 BC. Today the site retains much of its great wall, remnants of the gymnasium, a late colonnade, a temple platform and rock-cut tombs. We also visit Bodrum castle with its underwater archaeology museum. The construction of the castle began in 1404 under the German knight & architect Heinrich Schlegelholt. The first walls were completed in 1437, the chapel was among the first completed inner structures. The museum of underwater archaeology includes a collection of amphora’s, ancient glass, bronze, clay and iron items. It is the biggest of its kind devoted to underwater archaeology and the collection of ancient glass objects is one of the four biggest collections in the world.

  Transfer time: 3 h; transfer distance: 220 km; (Datca peninsula to Bodrum)

  ON: in Bodrum at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 7

  Via Didim (Didyma) & the temple of Apollo to ancient Priene and Selcuk

  Today we drive towards Selcuk, take a stop at Didim, home of the antique city of Didyma with its ruined temple of Apollo and its columns pointing up into the sky, a popular sanctuary and one of the most famous oracles in the world. The original temple and home of an oracle was destroyed during the Persian wars and the one we see today was rebuilt following the victory over the Persians of Alexander the great. Afterwards continue towards Priene, an ancient Greek city of Ionia and member of the Ionian league. Priene possessed a great deal of famous Hellenistic art and architecture. The city was arranged into four districts, firstly the political district which consisted of the bouleuterion and the prytaneion, the cultural district containing a theatre, the commercial where the agora was located and finally the religious district which contained sanctuaries dedicated to Zeus and Demeter and most importantly the temple of Athena. In the late afternoon we arrive in Selcuk where we spend the night at the hotel.

  Transfer time: 3 h; transfer distance: 220 km; (Bodrum to Selcuk via Didyma & Priene)

  ON: in Selcuk at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 8

  House of Virgin Mary & ancient Ephesus

  After breakfast we first visit the house of Virgin Mary. The Roman Catholic Church has never pronounced on the authenticity of the house for lack of acceptable evidence, but nevertheless maintains a steady flow of pilgrimage since its discovery. Catholic pilgrims visit the house based on the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken to this stone house by Saint John and lived there until her Assumption. Afterwards we drive to nearby ancient city of Ephesus, one of the former twelve cities of the Ionian league during the classical Greek era and home to one of the seven churches of Asia that are cited in the book of revelation. In the Roman period it was for many years the second largest city of the Roman Empire, ranking behind Rome. Ephesus contains the largest collection of roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean. Only an estimated 15 % has been excavated. The ruins that are visible give some idea of the city's original splendour and the names associated with the ruins are evocative of its former life. During our visit we also head over to Ephesus terrace houses, located on the hill opposite the Hadrian temple. Also called as "the houses of rich", these houses, with amazing mosaics and frescos, are covered with protective roofing which resembles Roman mansions. In the late afternoon it is possible to have a short walk to the old city centre, famous for its traditional Turkish culture and lifestyle. The old quarter of the town, known as Ayasoluk hill, dominates the surrounding area with several historical buildings on its slopes, including the Isa Bey mosque, the grand fortress and the 6th century Basilica of St. John the Apostle, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. We conclude the day with a traditional cup of Turkish coffee before we return to our hotel.

  ON: in Selcuk at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 9

  Via Selcuk to ancient Bergama (Pergamon), Cunda Island & Ayvalik

  We leave Selcuk and drive to Pergamon (Bergama), an ancient Greek city and the capital of the kingdom of Pergamon during the Hellenistic period, once the northernmost of the seven churches of Asia cited in the New Testament book of revelation. Notable structures still in existence on the upper part of the Acropolis (a remodelled version of the Acropolis in Athens) include a Hellenistic theatre with a seating capacity of 10.000 (steepest seating of any known theatres in the ancient world), the library (the ancient library of Pergamum, the second best in the ancient Greek civilization), royal palaces, the temple of Dionysus, the upper Agora and the Roman baths complex. In Bergama we also take time to visit the red basilica, a monumental ruined temple built by the Roman Empire, probably in the time of Hadrian and possibly on his orders. It is one of the largest Roman structures still surviving in the ancient Greek world. In the afternoon we arrive at Cunda Island & Ayvali, a seaside oasis, once predominantly Greek and some Greek is still spoken here. The Taksiyarhis church is one of the most important ancient buildings, it is the largest church on Cunda Island and is treasured for its interior marble design, portraits of saints and ancient reliefs picturing the life of Jesus Christ. We will have a walk through Cundas picturesque alleys and streets, take time to taste a cup of traditional tea, known as cay, whilst sitting close to the centre, with its masterwork of Greek architecture on one side and the fascinating coast to the other side.

  Transfer time: 3 - 4 h; transfer distance: 240 km; (Selcuk to Ayvalik & Cunda Island via Pergamon)

  ON: in Ayvalik (Cunda) at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 10

  Via Adatepe olive oil museum to Behramkale, ancient Assos, ancient ruins of Troy and Canakkale

  Our first visit today takes us to Adatepe olive oil museum; displaying impressive objects such as huge granite stone mills, antique olive presses belonging to different periods of history, numerous tools for pruning, olive picking as well as carrying baskets and earthenware jars for olive oil storage, amphora’s from sunken ships of early trades throughout the Mediterranean, the huge oven and the bowl for soap making, knives and stamps for handmade pure olive oil soaps, olive oil lambs and various labels of the local producers. Text, maps and pictures in the museum display the adventure of olive oil, the spread of olives from the Middle East to Europe throughout history. Afterwards we continue to ancient Behram, better known as Assos, founded from 1000 to 900 BC by Aeolian colonists from Lesbos. The settlers built a Doric temple to Athena on top of the crag. After leaving the platonic academy in Athens, Aristotle went to Assos, where he was welcomed by king Hermias and opened an academy in this city, also St. Paul visited the city during his third missionary journey through Asia Minor on his way to Lesbos. Close to Canakkale we also visit ancient Troy, best known for being the focus of the Trojan War described in the Greek epic cycle and especially in the Iliad, one of the two epic poems attributed to Homer. Troy was added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 1998. Alexander the great visited the site in 334 BC and made sacrifices at tombs there associated with the Homeric heroes Achilles and Patroclus. In the late afternoon we arrive in Canakkale, a small seaport on the southern (Asian) coast of the Dardanelles at their narrowest point. The city is located amidst a historical and mythological rich area, homeland of many widely known legends. Canakkale itself is a pleasant town with a nice harbour and nice cafes around.

  Transfer time: 3 h; transfer distance: 210 km; (Ayvalik & Cunda to Canakkale via Assos & Troy)

  ON: in Canakkale at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 11

  Canakkale to Istanbul via Gallipoli peninsula; north cemeteries & memorials

  After breakfast we cross over to Gallipoli peninsula again and take time to walk through north cemeteries & memorials. We first visit Kabatepe (Gallipoli) museum located within the Gallipoli historic national park and commemorates the Gallipoli campaign, now considered a defining moment in the modern history of not only Turkey, but of Australia and New Zealand as well. The museum hosts numerous relics from the campaign, including weapons, sniper shields, ammunition, uniforms, photographs, letters written by the soldiers to their families, and private belongings such as shaving tools, cocoa cases, leather flasks, dress buttons, belt buckles are on display in the museum. Afterwards we take time to walk through the national park housing many relics of the naval and land battles that took place in 1915 during world war one and to visit the landing points of the western allies, known as ANZAC cove, became the main base for the Australian and New Zealand troops for the eight months of the battle of Gallipoli. We visit beach cemetery; shrapnel valley cemetery; plugge’s plateau cemetery; shell green cemetery & lone pine cemetery, the largest graveyard-cum-memorial to those buried unmarked or at sea. Afterwards we continue towards chunuk bair cemetery via johnston’s jolly cemetery; quinn's post cemetery; 57th regiment memorial & cemetery; walker's ridge cemetery; the nek cemetery; Sgt mehmet’s monument (Mehmet Cavus Aniti) & baby 700 cemetery. In the late afternoon/or early evening we arrive in Istanbul where we spend the night at the hotel.

  Transfer time: 4 h; transfer distance: 320 km (Canakkale to Istanbul via Kilitbahir & Gallipoli)

  ON: in Istanbul at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / -

• DAY 12

  Istanbul sightseeing historical peninsula

  After breakfast we head out for a fantastic tour through Istanbul, we start the day with a walk through the historical peninsula area where we visit Topkapi palace, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome square and blue mosque. The Topkapi palace was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years of their 624 year reign. As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. The palace is among the monuments contained within the "historic areas of Istanbul", which became a UNESCO world heritage site in 1985. Next to Topkapi palace we head over to famous Hagia Sophia, considered to be one of the world’s most important monuments, a masterpiece and example of great architectural beauty. The marvel complex anchors the old city of Istanbul and has served for centuries as an Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later as a mosque and as museum. On our way we also pass through Hippodrome square, once a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. The surviving monuments of the Spina (the middle barrier of the racecourse), the two obelisks (Obelisk of Thutmose III & Walled Obelisk) and the Serpentine Column, now sit in holes in a landscaped garden. Our final visit takes us to blue mosque (Sultan Ahmed mosque), built between 1609 and 1616. The design is the culmination of two centuries of both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church development. It incorporates some Byzantine elements of the neighbouring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period. We conclude the day with a traditional cup of Turkish tee, known as cay and afterwards return to our hotel.

  ON: in Istanbul at the hotel

  Meals: B / - / -

• DAY 13

  Istanbul Bosphorus tour by boat & sightseeing historical peninsula

  Today we continue our exploration through Istanbul, we start the day with a Bosphorus tour by boat, right through the heart of modern Istanbul. The most impressive sights along the shores of the Bosphorus are the Topkapi palace, the Bosphorus Maiden's Tower (Kiz Kulesi) and Dolmabahce palace, several Ottoman palaces, fortresses, forested hills and shore villages with Ottoman architecture.

  Our next visit takes us to amazing Basilica cistern, the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul. Ancient texts indicated that the basilica contained gardens, surrounded by a colonnade and facing the Hagia Sophia, Historical texts claim that 7,000 slaves were involved in the construction of the cistern. Our last stop takes us to famous covered bazaar (Kapali Carsi), one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. We conclude the day with a traditional cup of Turkish coffee and afterwards return to our hotel.

  Bosphorus tour by boat (public): approx. 3 h

  ON: in Istanbul at the hotel

  Meals: B / - / -

• DAY 14

  Trip concludes at Istanbul airport

  After breakfast; transfer to Istanbul airport where the trip concludes.

  Transfer time: 1 h; transfer distance: 45 - 50 km (Hotel in Sultanahmet/Sirkeci to Istanbul Int. airport)

  Meals: B / - / -