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 Byzantium all brought untold wealth to these rugged shores.
The most thrilling way to experience the bygone cities of Lycia and south-eastern Caria is as the ancients saw them: by sea. Our private voyage on board the Sunworld VIII, 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 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 cruise will be the opportunity to spot ruins beneath the clear waters of the eastern Mediterranean: the remains of Aperlae and the Byzantine town of Tersane, for example, are clearly visible to the naked eye.
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 matchless vistas.
The cruise across the Bay of Fethiye to the ancient hilltop 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’s celebrated Aphrodite, Knidos retains many original Hellenistic features and current excavations are unearthing more and more of this riveting twin-harboured settlement.
Our journey aboard the Sunworld VIII ends in ancient Halicarnassus, site of the famous mausoleum built in honour of King Mausolus circa 350 BC. At the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology we will view the displays of ancient shipwrecks found over the centuries in the Aegean Sea.
Sunworld VIII
The teak and mulberry Sunworld VIII is a private motor yacht with nearly 600 square yards of sail. Built to traditional specifications and entirely re-fitted in 2009, the Sunworld VIII is air-conditioned throughout and carries a maximum of 17 passengers in eight en suite cabins. We will drop anchor each evening in a quiet harbour or secluded bay and there will be frequent opportunities for swimming.
This cruise is unsuitable for those with mobility problems due to transfers from boat to shore on zodiac type vessels and narrow gangplanks.
This tour will be led by Andrew Wilson, BA, BD, FSAScot, specialist in archaeology and ancient history. Andrew 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 Sunworld VIII 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 westwards to pretty village of Kas (ancient Antipheloos): well-preserved Hellenistic theatre, temple, Lycian sarcophagus. Overnight at Kas (quiet inlet for swimming).
Day 4Sail via Uluburun (site of famous Bronze Age wreck) along coast and into bay of Kekova (underwater remains) to small Turkish village of Kaleköy (ancient Simena): dramatic citadel, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman remains, haunting Lycian necropolis. Overnight at Gokkaya Liman.
Day 5Sail to Myra (superb ancient theatre, rock tombs, fascinating Church of St Nicholas) then ancient town of Teimussa. Overnight off Kekova.
Day 6Cruise 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 7By minibus to ancient Pinara in Esençay Valley (acropolis, Hellenistic theatre, rock-cut tombs) and Tlos (imposing bath complex and citadel). Two nights in bay of Fethiye.
Day 8Ancient site of Telmessos: recently-excavated theatre, magnificent tomb of Amyntas.
Day 9Morning sail to Agalimani: walk through pine forest to remains of ancient Lydae (ruined mausolea). Overnight at Agalimani.
Day 10Morning cruise followed by transfer to small boat for ancient Caunos. Overnight in bay near Caunos.
Day 11Cruise along 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 13Cruise to Bay of Bodrum (explore 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 1130 departure via Istanbul for Heathrow, arriving 1635.
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 on request.
