LYCIAN CRUISE
Many of the most striking cities in the Greek and Roman world are to be found along the coast of south-west Turkey, where the towering limestone cliffs and lofty mountain ranges have changed little since Classical times. The armies of Alexander, the emperors of Rome and the traders of high Byzantium all brought great wealth to these rugged shores.
The most thrilling way to experience the by-gone cities of Lycia and south-eastern Caria is as the ancients saw them: by sea. Our private voyage on board the Sultan, an old-fashioned Turkish gulet, will begin with a cruise to Gemiler, where the vestiges of the once-thriving monastic community conjure up the majesty of high Byzantium at the time of Justinian.
After a relaxing day’s sailing we will be ready to devour the cities of the Xanthos valley – Xanthos itself, Letoön and the sand-blown port of Patara. One of the most fascinating aspects of our travels will be the ruins visible to the naked eye beneath the clear waters of the eastern Mediterranean – the remains of Aperlae, for example, and the predominantly Byzantine town of Tersane.
The prosperity of Pinara is evident both in the tombs cut into the rock face and in the town’s superb Hellenistic theatre, whilst the Lycian city of Tlos, re-discovered by Charles Fellows in the 19th century, presents breathtaking vistas.
The cruise across the Bay of Fethiye to the ancient hill-top settlement of Lydae is always inspiring. At the extreme end of the Marmaris Peninsula we will drop anchor at Knidos, one of Asia Minor’s most dramatically sited cities. Once home to Praxiteles’ celebrated Aphrodite, Knidos retains many original Hellenistic features and current excavations are unearthing more and more of this riveting twin-harboured settlement.
Our cruise ends at Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, guarded by the Crusader castle and the site of the famous mausoleum, built in honour of King Mausolus around 350 BC.
The teak and mulberry Sultan, built to traditional specifications in the Icmeler boatyard in Bodrum, is a private motor yacht with 570 square yards of sail. Air-conditioned throughout, the Sultan carries a maximum of 17 passengers. Each evening we will drop anchor in a quiet harbour and there will be frequent opportunities for swimming.
This tour will be led by Andrew Wilson BA, BD, FSAScot a specialist in archaeology and ancient history. He studied archaeology and theology before working overseas as an archaeologist with a particular interest in Roman frontier systems and Byzantine mosaics.
Itinerary
Day 1Depart Heathrow 1125 on Turkish Airlines via Istanbul for Dalaman, arriving 2050. Transfer to Sultan for fourteen nights. Overnight at Göcek.
Day 2Morning cruise to island of Gemiler (former Byzantine monastic community): ruined churches, vaulted processional way, large ecclesiastical complex. Overnight at Gemiler.
Day 3Cruise along mountainous shores of Lycian coast to tiny harbour of Kalkan, then by minibus to Letoön (temples to Leto, Apollo and Artemis), Xanthos (Roman theatre and Byzantine citadel, Nereid monument, large Byzantine church). Overnight at Kalkan (quiet inlet for swimming and snorkelling).
Day 4Sail via Uluburun (site of famous Bronze Age wreck) into bay of Kekova for two nights.
Day 5Cruise along shores of Kekova (underwater remains) then to small Turkish village of Kaleköy (ancient Simena): dramatic citadel, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman remains, haunting Lycian necropolis.
Day 6In and around Kekova with visit to ancient town of Teimussa. Overnight near Kaleköy.
Day 7Cruise westwards to pretty village of Kas (ancient Antipheloos): well-preserved Hellenistic theatre, temple, Lycian sarcophagus. Overnight at Kas (quiet inlet for swimming and relaxing).
Day 8Travel inland to ancient Pinara in Esençay Valley (acropolis, Hellenistic theatre, rock-cut tombs) and Tlos (imposing bath complex and citadel). Overnight in bay of Fethiye.
Day 9Berth in Fethiye harbour for visit to ancient site of Telmessos: recently excavated theatre, magnificent tomb of Amyntas. Overnight at Fethiye.
Day 10Morning sail to Agalimani: walk through pine forest to remains of ancient Lydae (ruined mausolea). Overnight at Agalimani.
Day 11Cruise down Loryma Peninsula to Loryma: Hellenistic fort (one of finest in ancient world). Overnight in Loryma.
Day 12Cruise to Knidos: temple of Apollo Karnaios, tholos temple of Aphrodite Euploia (once housed famous statue by Praxiteles), Doric portico, early Byzantine churches, harbour theatre. Overnight in ancient harbour of Knidos.
Day 13Further visits in Knidos, then cruise to Bay of Bodrum, exploring bays and inlets. Overnight in Bay of Bodrum.
Day 14Sail to Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus): Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Bodrum Museum (underwater collections excavated from wrecks around the coast of Asia Minor), 14th century Crusader castle of St Peter. Overnight at Bodrum.
Day 15Transfer to Bodrum airport for 1020 departure via Istanbul for Heathrow, arriving 1515.
Cost includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded cabin, full-board, crew gratuities, excursions & admissions.
Not included: visa, travel insurance, single cabin supplement £300.
