You will start your tour by discovering Bodrum with your guide while your yacht is waiting for you in Gümüşlük. Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus is one of the best historical and important city of Mediterranean. Our archaeological adventure starts with exploring to Bodrum's most important parts. Bodrum Castle and MuseumOne of the world's finest museums of underwater archeology housed in a superb 15th century castle built by the Knights of St. John of Rhodes. The world's oldest known shipwreck exhibition is now open. This star attraction rates a 'must see' on everyone's list.The MausoleumThe Mausoleum of Halikarnassus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its site is on open-air museum visited with awe for the accomplishments of the ancients. Its monumental statuary is in the British Museum but some artifacts and replicas of its friezes can be seen on the site.AmphitheaterSeating about 13.000 spectators the theater dates to the region of Mausolus but with modifications added by the Romans. With rock tombs above, the site provides an unequalled view of the city.Myndos GateThis western city gate built by Mausolus in 364 B.C. has been recently restored. Composed of four towers it stood against Alexander the Great and his Macedonian troops. Surviving portions of the city wall are under restoration. After city tour, we will drive to Gümüşlük for embarkation.
Gumusluk used to be just a traditional fishing village in the South West of Turkey but times have changed with tourism. It is still fairly peaceful and one of its attractions is the ancient city of Myndos. The landscape is interesting and the flora is unique, two reasons why visitors will enjoy walking in this region. The beaches are very nice and nearby restaurants offer excellent fresh seafood. (Please let us know if do you prefer do have your first dinner at one of the very famous Gümüşlük Restaurant before your arrival.)
Ancient Iasos a Carian city that was once an island and prospered from its excellent harbour, rich fishing grounds and red-tinted marble quarried in the nearby hills. Today, the walled acropolis-fortress stands high above the fishing harbour. Across the isthmus linking the village with Iasos are the excellent remains of a bouleuterion, with four stairs dividing the seat rows, a huge agora, the scant remains of a theatre and, to the south, a Roman stoa from the 2nd century AD dedicated to Artemis Astias.
After a healthy breakfast on board, we will leave the yacht for a visit to The Templa of Zeus in Euromos. The most important, and also the best-preserved building in Euromos is the Temple of Zeus. It is believed that already in the 5th century BC, a temple dedicated to Zeus stood at the foot of the hill. Its erection could be a symbol of the Hellenization process of these areas of Asia Minor, and the replacement of local, mostly female Anatolian deities, with the gods of the Greek pantheon.In front of the temple, on the eastern side, the remains of an altar have been discovered. The inscription on it states that the sanctuary was dedicated to Zeus Lepsynos. The meaning of 'Lepsynos' nickname remains a mystery, but scholars believe that it is a word derived from the Carian language.On the western slope of the hill, there are the remains of a small theater. Only five rows of seats have been preserved. The theater can be seen to the west of the temple.Within the city agora, that was once surrounded on all sides by colonnaded porticoes, only several fragments of columns are visible.
After visiting Zeus Temple we will walk into the mountains to Labranda. Labraunda is an archaeological site worth visiting. The most ancient findings belong to the year 600 BC.The area that was used as holy area in the 6th and the 5th centuries and then as temple terrace consisted of a single, small, artificial terrace. The 4th century BC is the most important period for the temple. At the times of the satraps named Mausolos (377 - 352 BC) and Idrieus (351 - 344 BC), this place gained a new appearance. In 355, during the sacrifice festival in Labranda, Mausolos escaped from an assassination attempt on his life at the last moment. Buildings such as a series of artificial terraces, one or two entrance buildings, a small Dor building (probably a fountain building), monumental stairs, two large feast halls (androns), a shed building (called oikoi), Stoa and Zeus Temple surrounded with columns must have been constructed after this event. With the death of Idrieus in 344, such works have been stopped. Because of the big fire disaster that took place in the 4th century BC, the holy area has lost its feature of being a cult place. In the afternoon we will back to our yacht for having swim, fun and doing water sports. Dinner and overnight stay in close bay.
If it’s a relaxing day on the waves, but not on your yacht, then stop over at Altinkum, which means Golden Sands in Turkish. This lively place offers many attractions including all kinds of water sports, water equipment and facilities for all ages and family members. The locale sports many bars and restaurants and you will be able to try out a lot of local delicacies. Since the sea line is shallow for many meters, families with kids will enjoy playing here for a day, and the area is safe for non-swimmers too.
Dilek Peninsula National Park in Kusadasi is among the most important natural heritages of Turkey, with an area of 27.598 hectares. Dilek Peninsula has extraordinary beauty of Mediterranean flora with blue and emerald colored clean beaches.There are many beaches to choose from, the Kalamaki beaches count of several bays the most important ones being – Icmeler, Kavakli and Karapinar. All beaches of Dilek Peninsula National Park are worth seeing beauty.There are also some endangered species in the national park. Anadolu Pars is the most typical example of these species. There are not only many reptile, mammal and bird species in the park, but also almost all fish species and sea turtles of Mediterranean live and breed here. Monk seals protected in Mediterranean countries are also among habitants of the area. Guzelcamli village was used as the assembly place for the political and scientific centre of Ionia in the 9th and 8th centuries BC.
Didyma is famous throughout the ancient world as the place where a colossal temple of Apollo. The Didymaion was the third and largest temple that the Greeks built around the site of a natural spring, which they believed to be the source of the oracle’s prophetic power. In the ancient period, Didyma never had the distinction of being the biggest or the most important religious center. The Temple of Apollo located there was the second largest after the Artemision of Ephesus, and its oracle - the second most influential after Delphi. However, nowadays the visit to Didyma is much more exciting experience than looking at a single column that remained from the Artemision of Ephesus.
Kusadasi is a major port facing due west into the Aegean Sea. It is 90 kms south of Izmir and has become a major cruise ship port of call, due among other things to the proximity of such historical treasures as Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St. John in nearby Selcuk. From Kusadasi we drive to Selçuk for visiting Virgin Mary House and Ephesus.
The house of Virgin Mary is a typical Roman architectural example, entirely made of stones. In the 4th century AD, a church, combining her house and grave, has been built. The original two-stored house, which consisted of an anteroom (where today candles are proposed), bedroom and praying room (Christian church area) and a room with fireplace (chapel for Muslims). A front kitchen fell into ruins and has been restored in 1940's. Today, only the central part and a room on the right of the altar are open to visitors. From there one can understand that this building looks more like a church than a house. Another interesting place is the "Water of Mary", a source to be found at the exit of the church area and where a rather salt water, with curative properties, can be drunk by all.Paul VI was the first pope to visit this place in the 1960's. Later, in the 1980's, during his visit, Pope John-Paul II declared the Shrine of Virgin Mary has a pilgrimage place for Christians. It is also visited by Muslims who recognize Mary as the mother of one of their prophets. Every year, on August 15th a ceremony is organized to commemorate Mary's Assumption.
This enclosure for archaeological remains at Ephesus elegantly reconciles historic conservation with accessibility for visitors. The site of a succession of great ancient civilizations, Ephesus, on the south-west coast of modern Turkey, embodied a peculiarly fertile synthesis of architecture and culture. In 356BC the Greeks built the Artemesium (a colossal Ionic temple dedicated to Artemis the fertility goddess) which was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. During the 2nd century BC, Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the eastern Roman Empire, famous for its Artemesium, the Library of Celsus and its medical school. For more information please visit http://www.ephesus.us/ephesus/ephesus.htmWe will back to the yacht for dinner and overnight stay. You will notice a lot of visitors drop anchor nearby, Kusadasi has emerged as a major tourist attraction site with bars, cafes and restaurants.
The ancient city of Priene is famous for its dramatic setting on flat table land overlooking the broad expanse of the Meander River flood plain with the steep rock of Mount Mykale at its back. It's worth visting today for its situation, its well-preservedtheater and bouleuterion (council chamber), and the remains of its grand Temple of Athena, a work of Pythius of Halicarnassus, the architect of the famed Mausoleum. Founded by the legendary Aegyptus, Priene prospered around 550 BC, but was captured by Cyrus of Persia in 545 BC. It was a center for activities of the Ionian League around 300 BC. It later became a Roman city, then Byzantine, and was still active when captured by the Turks in the late 1200s.
Miletus is known for its gigantic 25,000-seat Hellenistic theater, located on the southern edge of the Meander River flood plain, 22 km (14 miles) south of Priene, Miletus was an important Ionian city for 1400 years, from about 700 BC to 700 AD. According to a legend, Miletus was founded by a hero named Miletos. The view from the top is excellent, revealing the theater itself, the flood plain, and the other remains of ancient Miletus including the Northern and Southern Agoras and traces of the city walls, bouleuterion, Baths of Faustina, stadium and other structures, all now badly ruined.
Didim gets its name from the ancient Didyma. Didim town centre is located between the Apollo Temple and Altinkum, which is the beach resort, and is 3.5km from the coastal area and 1.5km from the Temple of Apollo.
Nestled away in the Bodrum Peninsula is the amazing marina and town of Yalikavak. This site is famous for its sponge divers and sea sponges that were its main source of income until the tourist industry came to port. Close by on the Küdür Peninsula you find the Panormus rock caves, which are a great place for viewing the sunset. Another fine feature are the old stone windmills and the nearby small abandoned village of Sandıma.
Catalada (Fork Island) is a small island that sits around 3 miles of the Bodrum peninsula near Turgutreis. Originally known as Vollo, the name derives from the three conical hills found on the island, giving it the appearance of a “Fork”. This is a nice stop over, and you will notice many day time traveler coming from the mainland to enjoy the amazing scenery and scuba diving opportunities.
After an exceptional yacht charter, you come sail back to Bodrum and prepare for your flight home. This is a perfect time to visit this wonderful city and enjoy your last (but not final) taste of Turkey. Bodrum is a jewel surrounded golden sunsets and azure waters. You really should partake in all the local cuisine, cultural attractions and visit the waterfront outside the famous Bodrum Castle, built from the stones of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. It houses an amazing underwater archeology museum and is a must see when in Bodrum.
10 Guests
3 Crew
12 Guests
4 Crew
