A glorious 1-week version of our From Halicarnassus to Ephesus tour. Beginning in Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, this tour heads north to Ephesus one of the best preserved Roman cities in the Mediterranean. En route we visit some of the most interesting and prettiest sites in Turkey.
This tour is led by Dr. Alan Greaves, an archaeologist who has spent many years digging at Miletos and in the surrounding area, and who personally escorted Bill Clinton around Ephesus.
The highlights are plentiful: from the small harbour of Myndos, where Cassius harboured after murdering Julius Caesar, to Iasos, a wealthy ancient port, celebrated for its fish market and red marble. Today one can easily glimpse Iasos’ past vitality in the splendid ruins that litter the site - from the colonnaded agora to the Roman villa decked with mosaics.
Inland we’ll see two soaring temples, the elegant shrine to Zeus at Euromus, and the gargantuan oracular temple at Didyma. While at sea there are pretty rocky coves perfect for swimming, relaxing, and fine dining.
Our final destination is Ephesus, capital of Roman Asia. One of the very first cities in the world to have street lighting, the site is magnificent - marble streets, agoras, villas, a theatre for 28,000 and an extraordinary library.
Day 1: Our boat is about 40 minutes from Bodrum airport, in the city’s amphitheatre style harbour. Welcome drink and dinner aboard.
Day 2: A gentle cruise to the pretty coastal village of Gümüslük, ancient Myndos; where excavations have recently started. The scant ruins offer a glimpse of this once bustling fortified harbour.
Day 3: We sail north east to moor in the pretty harbour of ancient Iasos, where archaeological excavations are revealing a vital and beautiful classical city.
Day 4: We head inland to the temple of Zeus at Euromus, one of the best preserved in Asia Minor, and located amidst a beautiful olive grove. Then on into the mountains to Labraunda, Caria’s most sacred sanctuary, site of the great oracular shrine to Zeus Labraundus.
Day 5: A morning to relax and sail. In the late afternoon we head inland from Altinkum’s golden beach to visit Miletus, one of the most significant Ionian sites, with its vast theatre, baths, and brooding atmosphere, and its most important sanctuary, the colossal and awe-inspiring oracular temple of Apollo at Didyma.
Day 6: Heading inland we walk the ancient roads of Priene, an almost perfectly preserved Hellenistic (4th century BC) city.
Day 7: East of Kusadasi lies one of the most celebrated ancient sites in the world: Ephesus. After seeing its glorious museum we have ample time to explore the spectacular remains.
Day 8: Transfer from our gulet to Izmir airport, about 1 hour away.
