The Sultan's Yacht - 11 Days
with a shorter 4 -day Cruise

Private Touring & Private Mediterranean Cruise

Escape to Istanbul, Bodrum in the Turkish Riviera then join a Mediterranean Yacht cruise hugging the Turquoise coast. Compare with the self drive rent a car version. . Extend to Cappadocia

Click here for the 14 day edition with a stay at a seaside resort

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 version

Day 1 - ISTANBUL - Tuesday
Our staff meets your international flight at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport and escorts you to your hotel. For Ottoman style hotel lovers , we suggest : Sultanahmet , Arena or Avicenna hotel.

If you prefer to connect immediately to board your cruise, please click here , or if your prefer a shorter 4 day cruise, please click here

Day 2 -ISTANBUL (BL) Wednesday
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.

DAY 3- ISTANBUL (BL)Thursday - 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 4 - ISTANBUL (B) Friday
Full day at leisure to explore this Imperial city with your guide book at hand.

Day 5 - Yacht (Gulet) (BLD) Saturday
We fly to Bodrum & 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 6 - KNIDOS (BLD) Sunday
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 rock face overlooking the river is pierced by Lycian rock-cut tombs dating from 600 BC , Return to the Gulet for dinner , in Knidos we drop anchor for the night.

Day 7 - Mersincik , Orak Island (BLD) Monday
We continue our leisurely "Blue Voyage" to Mersincik, after lunch on board , we continue our meandering route through these classical waters, stopping at Orak Island . 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 for a calm night aboard, gently rocking in the pellucid waters of the Mediterranean.

Day 8- BODRUM (BD) Tuesday
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. Dinner included at the hotel for boutique style hotel lovers we suggest Kismet Hotel

Day 9 - Kusadasi (BL) Wednesday
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.

Day 10 - Kusadasi / Ephesus / ISTANBUL(BL) Thursday
We Reach Ephesus,we tour the most impressive ancient city on the Mediterranean. After lunch continue to the fine Ephesus Museum and the hilltop House of the Virgin Mary. Then fly back to Istanbul. We escort you back to your hotel.

Day 11 - RETURN HOME - Friday (B)
Our staff 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
Deluxe hotels & air conditioned gulet yacht	$ 8158.00	$ 10,405.00

Inclusions: Your rate & Yacht Escape Includes :

• Domestic airfares within Turkey, including all taxes A
• 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.
• The Lonely Planet guidebook to Turkey

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

Most popular Yachting package : A Week's Escape on a Mediterranean Yacht
8- Day : Including a Mediterranean Gulet Cruise

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