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The
Sultan's Yacht
A Grand 11 Day Tour and Cruise
Private Touring and Private Mediterranean
Cruise
Escape to Istanbul, Bodrum in the Turkish Riviera
then join a Mediterranean Yacht cruise hugging the Turquoise coast.

We will provide the Captain! Isn't this the escape you really want?
You'll cruise for five days (four nights) aboard a comfortable, romantic
gulet, the traditional wooden sailing vessel used for centuries along
Turkey's pine-fringed Mediterranean coast. You'll also spend some time
in exotic Istanbul to see its imperial palaces, world-class museums,
chic restaurants, bazaars and boutiques. Your accommodations? An Ottoman-style
mansion inn. We'll even give you the award-winning Lonely Planet guidebook
to Turkey, and an audio cassette to help you learn useful Turkish words
and phrases.
Click here for the 12 day edition
.
Day
1 - ISTANBUL - BODRUM - Choose your own date : March - Oct
Our local rep. meets your international flight at Istanbul's Ataturk
Airport and escorts you to the domestic terminal for your onward flight
to Bodrum. Known in ancient times as Halicarnassus, Bodrum was once
the capital of King Mausolus, whose elaborate tomb, the Mausoleum, gave
its name to all grand tombs which followed. Our staff drives you to
your hotel, with remainder of the day at leisure . Please
click here , if you
prefer to start with Istanbul
tours then board your yacht
Day
2 - Yacht (Gulet) (BLD)
We drive to the waterside Castle of St. Peter, built by the Crusaders
in the early 1400s, where your yacht awaits you, moored beneath the
castle walls. Step aboard and enjoy a welcome cocktail as you meet your
captain and crew, after which they'll prepare the first of many delicious
shipboard dinners for you. Settle in and relax: you're a l-o-n-g way
from any cares or worries here!
Day
3 - KNIDOS & MERSINCIK (BLD) Weighing
anchor at sunrise, we sail south through Gokova Bay, passing close to
the Greek Island of Kos (Karaada) and around the Resadiye Peninsula
to Knidos, famous in ancient times for its superb statue of Aphrodite
sculpted by Praxiteles. We drop anchor in Knidos's ancient harbor and
go ashore for a tour of the ancient city. Sailing south and east around
the peninsula, we reach the mouth of the Dalyan River, where we board
a motor launch for a voyage upriver to the Roman ruins at Caunus. The
sheer rockface overlooking the river is pierced by Lycian rock-cut tombs
dating from 600 BC. We return to our yacht and continue our leisurely
"Blue Voyage" to Mersincik, where we drop anchor for the night.
Day
4 - ÇATI, YEDI ADALAR - INGILIZ LIMANI (BLD)
We continue our meandering route through these classical waters, stopping
at peaceful Çati cove, at Yedi Adalar (the Seven Islands) and at Sedir
(Sidera) Island. On Sidera we explore the Roman theater, ruined Byzantine
monasteries, and Cleopatra's Beach, a gift from Marc Anthony to the
Egyptian queen, with sand said to have been brought from Egypt. Onward,
we head for Marmaris, where Lord Nelson's fleet took shelter as it prepared
to attack Napoleon's forces at Abukir in 1798. For us, "Green Marmaris,"
as it is called because of its surrounding pine forests, is a welcome
shore excursion with a wonderful bustling bazaar, a long palm-shaded
waterfront promenade, and a fortress that's now a museum. We return
to our yacht for dinner, moored at Ingiliz Limani (English Port).
Day
5 - SEDIR - ORAKLAR (BLD)
Today is filled with the pleasures of sun and sea: swimming, reading,
relaxing, and enjoying a lazy shipboard lunch. Your yacht has everything
you need for water sports: facemasks and flippers, sailboard, canoe
and fishing tackle. We drop anchor at Oraklar for a calm night aboard,
gently rocking in the pellucid waters of the Mediterranean.
Day
6 - BODRUM (B)
Wonderfully refreshed by our voyage, we return to Bodrum harbor and
tie up beneath the castle walls. Bidding farewell to our captain and
crew, we drive to Kusadasi check in our hotel, for an opportunity to
explore the charming city on the Aegean Sea shores, on your own.
Day
7 - Kusadasi (BL)
In the morning light we drive to the ruins of the Temple of Artemis,
one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Basilica of St John
the Evangelist, who came here with the Virgin Mary. Said to be her last
home on earth. Lunch included at a local restaurant. In Kusadasi , for
boutique style hotel lovers we suggest Kismet Hotel
Day
8 - Ephesus - ISTANBUL (B)
Reach Ephesus, in the morning the most impressive ancient city on the
Mediterranean. We continue to the fine Ephesus Museum and the hilltop
House of the Virgin Mary, lunch in a local restaurant. Then fly back
to Istanbul. We escort you back to your hotel.
Day
9 -ISTANBUL -(BLD)
Let us show you the City of the Sultans! In the morning we tour the
top sights including Topkapi Palace, Sancta Sophia, the Blue Mosque
and the Byzantine Hippodrome. After lunch, come with us for a shopping
spree in the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, with its 4000 shops.
Then
on to tour the
Jewish Heritage in Istanbul : drive to Balat along the Golden Horn
where the Star of David appears on the facades of some buildings. See
Ahrida Synagogue, built in the 15th century. See the Jewish Cemetery,
where the martyrs of Neve Shalom are buried.
Continue to the centuries-old Jewish neighborhood, Galata, with its
tower built by the Genoese. From the panorama balcony. See the stunning
views of old constantinople, Bosphorus, Golden Horn and the Jewish quarters.
Enjoy refreshments in this historical atmosphere. Afterwards see Neve
Shalom Synagogue & Ashkenaz Synagogue, Afterwards drive to Ortaköy,
first disembark point of Sepharads, welcomed by the Ottoman Sultan,
and visit to Etz-Ahayim Synagogue.
Your last stop will be Zulfaris Synagogue, a 19th century synagogue
which houses a museum. Here learn about the Turkish Jews who were welcomed
by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century after Inquisition forced them
to flee Spain.
There is an opportunity for rich collection of history books and novels
about Turkish Jewry as well as CDs of Turkish Jewish folk music and
lithurgical music, selection of souvenirs including Mezuzahs, Hamsa
keyrings
Complimentary
Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals: This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors
ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Istanbul
l! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome
home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook,
aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as
you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about
your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening,
and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course
. You may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family
(T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town)

DAY
10 -- ISTANBUL (BL) Monday
ISTANBUL-
"Imperial Constantinople in the Belle Epoque"
(late 19th century), the exotic romance of the "Paris of the
East:"
Morning walking tour : We start with our guide in Karaköy where
the foreign bankers and shipping companies had their headquarters, then
take the Tünel up to istiklal Caddesi; stop in the whirling dervish
tekke, and walk past the various old embassy buildings (now consulates),
and point out the architecture. Stop for tea (included) at the
famous Pera Palace Hotel.
Walk at least as far as Galatasaray Square, and have lunch in
the Çicek Pasaji (Flower Passage); then walk up to Taksim Square and
be picked up for the afternoon tour.
In the afternoon the tour visit Yildiz Palace Park and the Ihlamur Kasri,
a mini-palace south of Yildiz, and finish up with a visit to the Military
History Museum in Harbiye in time to hear the "Mehter," or Ottoman military
band (mid-afternoon). Then go on a shopping spree at the labyrinth of
the Grand Bazaar.
Breakfast, Lunch.
Day
11 - RETURN HOME - Tuesday (B)
Our local rep. escorts you to the airport for your flight home, completely
refreshed, and with memories to last for years.
| Rate
per person in double |
Minimum
4 guests |
Minimum
2 guests |
First
Class - 4 stars hotels
And private first class gulet yacht cruise , sample : Barbaros or
similar |
$
5985 |
$
6,597 |
| Rate
per person in double |
Minimum
4 guests |
Minimum
2 guests |
Deluxe
hotels
And private deluxe gulet yacht cruise
Sample Gulet :
Myra or Xenos 2 |
$
9,859 |
$
10,109 |
Inclusions:
- Domestic
airfares in economy class , within Turkey, including all taxes.
- A private
cruise aboard a Turkish gulet, staffed by a licensed captain and crew.
- Hotel
accommodation as per itinerary, including tax & service charges .
- All
meals aboard the yacht, and other meals as listed (cB = continental
breakfast; B = Breakfast; L = set-menu lunch; D = set-menu dinner).
- All
transfers ( private basis) in Turkey (between airport, hotel, yacht,
etc.), including portage.
- Private
Guided sightseeing tours in Istanbul, Izmir, Ephesus as listed including
admission fees.
- Travel
Planet guidebook to Turkey.
More
choices:
Rate
doesn't include :
- International
air fare from/to your home country .
- Visa
Fee : in cash upon arrival ,
or from any of the Turkish Consulates
-
Trip/travel insurance

Click
here for info on
sailing the Mediterranean ( Blue Cruise)
The hotels we recommend for the deluxe category are:
- Bodrum:
The Marmara Bodrum Hotel www.themarmarabodrum.com
- Kusadasi:
Kismet Hotel www.kismet.com.tr
- Istanbul:
Conrad , Hyatt , Inter.Continental or similar
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