DAY 1

Fly London to Izmir via Istanbul. Evening arrival in Izmir Airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight Izmir

DAY 2

Morning visit ancient Smyrna, on the slopes of Mount Pagos. Afternoon visit to Izmir Archaeology Museum, with its excellent collection of classical sculptures. Overnight Izmir

DAY 3

Drive to Sardis, capital of the Lydian King Croesus, who obtained gold from the nearby river. The remains are well preserved, with a famous gigantic temple of Artemis. There is a superbly reconstructed bath house and synagogue. Continue to Pamukkale, noted for its hot springs and its great scenic beauty. Overnight Pamukkale

DAY 4

Day at leisure in Pamukkale. Half a day will be spent exploring the ruins of the Roman city of Heiropolis. The city was a spa town of the Roman era and has a magnificent theatre as well as some hauntingly beautiful remains, with spectacular views across the valley to the Taurus Mountains. Overnight Pamukkale

DAY 5

Visit the remarkable city of Aphrodisias. This lovely site, set among the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, was home in the Roman period to one of the finest sculptural schools in Asia. It has a complete stadium, with all the seats intact. The Temple of Aphrodite has been converted into a Byzantine church. Overnight at Pamukkale.

DAY 6

Full day excursion along the fertile Meander valley, home of the world’s fig growing region, visiting first the ancient city of Nyssa set on a shoulder above the valley. Continue to Çine to visit the two Hellenistic sites of Alabanda and Alinda, amid lovely scenery. One is Alinda, just above the village of Karpuzlu. It is a superbly fortified Hellenistic city with a truly imposing agora and theatre of that period. The other is Alabanda, where there are extensive Hellenistic and Roman remains. Returning to Cine, drive to Mugla and down onto the coastal plain to join our yachts at Karaçasügüt in the bay of Gökova.

DAY 7

A short morning cruise to Cleopatra’s Island where the finest white sand in Turkey is said to have been brought from Egypt by Mark Anthony for Cleopatra. Nearby are the remains of ancient Cedrai. After lunch, cruise to English Harbour, a forested inlet where British warships anchored during World War II. Overnight ON BOARD at English Harbour.

DAY 8

A leisurely day in the enchanting world of Yedi Adalar, the Seven Islands, where small islands and inlets form a water paradise. Plenty of time for swimming and relaxation. Overnight ON BOARD at Yedi Adalar.

DAY 9

Another highlight of the tour is a visit to ancient Knidos. Knidos was built in 360 BC and still retains many original Hellenistic features. Afternoon visit through the site, visiting the temple of Apollo, the temple of Aphrodite Euploia, the Doric portico, a number of early Byzantine churches, and the harbour theatre. Overnight ON BOARD in the harbour of Knidos.

DAY 10

After breakfast, cruise through the Greek islands, stopping for lunch and swimming. Afternoon sailing regatta to the beautiful wooded inlet of Selimiyeh. In this typically village settlement we shall see how local agriculture provides for all the needs of the inhabitants. Its main exports are thyme-honey and village-made traditional carpets. Demonstration of carpet weaving at the village co-operative. Overnight ON BOARD.

DAY 11

After breakfast, cruise to across the quiet bay to the ancient harbour of Loryma. Afternoon walk to visit the magnificent Rhodian shore fort guarding the Loryma harbour, and consider the whole development of the Rhodian Peraea and the mainland demes of Rhodes in the Fourth Century. The fort preserves some of the finest Hellenistic masonry in the Mediterranean. Overnight ON BOARD in the ancient harbour of Loryma.

DAY 12

After breakfast we shall cruise along the mountainous shores of eastern Caria across the Bay of Marmaris to the cove of Ekincik. From here we shall take a river-boat into the reed-fringed marshes of the Dalyan river and visit the Roman city of Caunos. Walking from the landing stage, we see the well-preserved theatre, Hellenistic in origin and rebuilt in Roman times, the ancient harbour installations with statue bases and quayside Stoa, Byzantine churches and a vast Roman bath complex. Afterwards we continue up-river to view the spectacular 4th century rock-cut temple tombs of the Carian kings hewn out of the dramatic cliff-face, before returning to the vessel at Ekincik for the night. Overnight ON BOARD.

MAY 13

After breakfast we cruise eastwards to the cove of Agaliman and visit the romantic ruins of Lydae. Walking up a Hellenistic packway we reach the crest of a hill where lies the Agora of ancient Lydae, with a number of fine late Roman mausolea overlooking the bay of Fethiye. For those that wish to, a walk of a further hour brings us to the haunting remains of Arymaxa, once a Roman latefundia, the country estate of the Diaphantes family whose mausoleum dominates the landscape. The views over the coast of ancient Lycia are truly outstanding. The boats will have been relocated to the beautiful inlet of Camlikoy for lunch. Overnight ON BOARD.

DAY 14

Cruise to the town of Fethiye, ancient Telmessos, stopping for lunch and swimming en route. Afternoon visit to Cadyanda, a classical city dramatically situated in the mountains behind Fethiye. The site has numerous tombs and a pine-clad stadium. Overnight Fethiye Marina

DAY 15