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Emperors, Conquerors & Saints: Exploring Turkeys Cappadocia & Turquoise Coast
Exploring Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts and Cappadocia is undoubtedly one of the most gratifying travel experiences. Southeast Turkey boasts some of the most attractive coastal scenery in the Mediterranean and is also home to splendid ancient sites. Here, great cities rose and fell, leaving behind strong evidence of the many civilizations that coveted these ancient lands. Cappadocia features one of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth, with bizarre rock formations (created naturally) appearing like earthen icebergs, or Paleolithic skyscrapers. In this striking moonscape, ancient churches reveal the presence of the earliest saints. For two nights we will stay in the Cappadocian caves themselves at the utterly wonderful Anatolian Houses, a luxury hotel complex built out of the living rock. Our journey will end with two nights in Istanbul, the fabled 3,000-year-old city, with its breathtaking mosques and churches, and the legacy of Constantine, Justinian and Suleiman, the magnificent. This is Turkey, a land of Emperors, Conquerors and Saints: an unbelievably beautiful landscape and coastline with Greek, Roman, Christian and Ottoman relics spanning more than three millennia of human history.
Itinerary
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 • USA
Thursday, October 22 • ATHENS | PIRAEUS, Greece | EMBARK
Friday, October 23 • KUSADASI, Turkey
Saturday, October 24 • KUSADASI | EPHESUS | KUSADASI
Sunday, October 25 • EKINCIK BAY | CAUNOS | EKINCIK BAY
Monday, October 26 • FETHIYE | XANTHOS | FETHIYE, Turkey | KASTELLORIZO, Greece
Tuesday, October 27 • KEKOVA | MYRA | KEKOVA, Turkey
Wednesday, October 28 • ANTALYA | PERGE | ASPENDOS | SI DE | ANTALYA
Thursday, October 29 • ANAMUR LIMANI | ANAMURIUM | MAMURE KALESI | ANAMUR LIMANI
Friday, October 30 • MERSIN | DISEMBARK | NEVSEHIR | KAYMAKLI | NEVSEHIR
Saturday, October 31 • NEVSEHIR | THE VILLAGES OF CAPPADOCIA | NEVSEHIR
Sunday, November 1 • NEVSEHIR | KAYSERI | ISTANBUL
Monday, November 2 • ISTANBUL
Tuesday, November 3 • ISTANBUL | USA
View Detailed Itinerary
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
USA
Fly from the U.S. to Athens, Greece.
Thursday, October 22
ATHENS | PIRAEUS, Greece | EMBARK
Arrive in Athens and transfer to the port to board Callisto. Sail in the evening. (D)
Friday, October 23
KUSADASI, Turkey
After cruising in the Aegean, arrive in Kusadasi late in the afternoon. Overnight aboard docked in Kusadasi. (B, L, D)
Saturday, October 24
KUSADASI | EPHESUS | KUSADASI
Take an excursion to Ephesus, one of the world’s great archaeological sites and one of the most powerful cities in antiquity. The center of worship of the great mother goddess Cybele (Artemis), it is also where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians. Tour the site’s remarkable remains, including the façade of the Library of Celsus; temple of Hadrian; great amphitheater; and the newly excavated stunning Terrace Houses, with their exquisite frescoes. (B, L, D)
Sunday, October 25
EKINCIK BAY | CAUNOS | EKINCIK BAY
Arrive this morning at Ekincik, a secluded bay in Turkey’s south coast. Journey aboard a small craft up the Dalyan River to the ruins of ancient Caunos. Remains include several buildings from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Continuing upriver toward the small town of Dalyan, we see magnificent temple-tombs carved out of the cliff in the 4th century B.C. (B, L, D)
Monday, October 26
FETHIYE | XANTHOS | FETHIYE, Turkey | KASTELLORIZO, Greece
In the morning, Callisto glides through stunning clear waters to Fethiye. From here, travel to Xanthos, built on a great cliff overlooking the Xanthos River. Xanthos boasts significant ruins, including the ruins of the Nereid Monument, an Ionic building whose figured friezes are in the British Museum. Visit the acropolis, the theater, and the unusual pillar tombs. While enjoying lunch aboard ship, sail to the small island of Kastellorizo, one of the hidden gems of the Greek archipelago. Spend time at leisure ashore to explore on your own. (B, L, D)
Tuesday, October 27
KEKOVA | MYRA | KEKOVA, Turkey
Callisto cruises through the turquoise waters of Kekova Bay, where the narrow island of Kekova forms a series of beautiful bays and fjord-like waterways. The waters here contain half-submerged ruins from the ancient city of Simena. Later, travel to the Lycian city of Myra to see its impressive Roman theater and rockhewn tombs. (B, L, D)
Wednesday, October 28
ANTALYA | PERGE | ASPENDOS | SI DE | ANTALYA
From Antalya, visit three of Turkey’s most famous ancient sites. Perge’s Hellenistic ruins include its great stadium; colonnaded, marble main street; and theater. At Aspendos, tour the grand 20,000-seat theater commissioned by Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century A.D. Side was a leading port until the 7th century. The ruins that remain are 3rd- and 4th-century Roman and include an agora, temples, baths, and a theater. Reboard Callisto in Antalya. (B, L, D)
Thursday, October 29
ANAMUR LIMANI | ANAMURIUM | MAMURE KALESI | ANAMUR LIMANI
From Anamur Limani, an excursion leads to Anmamurium. Founded by Phoenicians, Anamurium thrived in the 3rd century A.D. and most of the ruins date from this era. Of special interest are the necropolis tombs, many with murals of mythological scenes. Continue to Mamure Kalesi, a coastal castle with crenellated walls and watch-towers. (B, L, D)
Friday, October 30
MERSIN | DISEMBARK | NEVSEHIR | KAYMAKLI | NEVSEHIR
Disembark Callisto in Mersin. Transfer by motor coach to Nevsehir, where we check in to the Anatolian Houses for a two-night stay in luxury suites created out of caves in this famed region of Cappadocia. The region was covered by volcanic ash that hardened into a porous stone called tufa (tuff) that was then slowly eroded by wind, water, and sand into elaborate shapes. Since the 6th century, Christians have carved hermitages, churches, and entire monastic complexes into the rock, making Cappadocia one of the main centers of Byzantine monasticism. This afternoon, tour the underground city of Kaymakli. (B, L, D)
Saturday, October 31
NEVSEHIR | THE VILLAGES OF CAPPADOCIA | NEVSEHIR
Visit the open-air museums at Goreme, whose churches house fascinating frescoes, and Cavusin, site of the Church of St. John the Baptist. Stroll through the villages of Urgup and Ushicar and see the renowned Fairy Chimneys, a fantastical landscape populated with conical formations of volcanic tufa. Continue to Zelve, spectacularly set at the head of two canyons and the site of a now deserted monastic retreat. (B, L)
Sunday, November 1
NEVSEHIR | KAYSERI | ISTANBUL
Check out of the hotel and drive to Kayseri for the flight to Istanbul. During our stay, explore the city’s main Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks. This afternoon, visit the Blue Mosque; the 6th-century Church of Hagia Sophia, known for its intricate mosaics; and the hippodrome. Transfer to the Hilton Hotel, our accommodations for the next two nights. (B)
Monday, November 2
ISTANBUL
Our sightseeing continues this morning with a visit to Topkapi Palace, the elaborate residence of the sultans, as well as the lively Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. (B)
Tuesday, November 3
ISTANBUL | USA
Transfer to the airport for return flights to the U.S. (B)
