Taste of Turkey

Enjoy a relaxing overnight flight to Istanbul.

You are greeted upon arrival and escorted to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure before meeting your tour director and travel companions for a welcome briefing.

Visit Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman sultans, the Hippodorome, used for chariot races, the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, a present-day museum built in 537 as the Byzantine Church's seat and the Grand Bazaar. Consider an optional dinner complete with belly-dancing. (B)

En route to Gallipoli, visit the Anzac Cove and the Lone Pine Cemetery. Cross the Dardanelles to Canakkale, your home for the night. (B,D)

Visit Troy's legendary walls and replica of the famous wooden horse used during the Trojan War. Tour ancient Pergamum, home of the Altar of Zeus. Continue to Kusadasi for an overnight stay. (B,D)

Tour the ruins of Ephesus, including the Virgin Mary's stone cottage, 2,000 year-old marble streets, a theater, the library of Celsius, a gymnasium and Hadrian’s Temple. Consider the optional afternoon tour of Sirince, a local village. (B,D)

Drive through lush valleys to Aphrodisias, Aphrodite's city. Continue to Pamukkale, which means "Cotton Castle," describing the while lime cascades formed by mineral springs. Visit the ruins of the Roman Health spa of Hierapolis. Enjoy a swim in your hotel's mineral spring pool. (B,D)

Morning depart to the resort city of Gocek to board a gulet yacht. (B,D)

Sail across beautiful bays along the Mediterranean coast surrounded by high-forested hills. (B,L,D)

Continue cruising the Mediterranean coast. Explore nearby Lycian ruins, swim or simply relax. (B,L,D)

End your cruise breakfast and disembarkation in Marmaris. (B)