Lycian Cruise

TURKEY

April 19 – May 3, 2021 from £3345 per person | with Andrew Wilson

Antiphellos

• Explore ancient cities containing fascinating classical remains on a voyage around the coast of southwest Turkey • Journey inland to discover further ancient sites, including the beautifully located town of Pinara with tombs cut into the rock face • Cruise down the Loryma Peninsula, where mountain tops are guarded by impressive fortresses of the

Hellenistic age

Many of the most striking cities in the Greek and Roman world are found along the coast of south-west Turkey, where the towering limestone clifs and lofty mountain ranges have changed little since classical times. Te armies of Alexander, the emperors of Rome and the traders of Byzantium all brought untold wealth to these rugged shores. One of the most thrilling ways to experience the bygone cities of Lycia and south-eastern Caria is as the ancients saw them: by sea. Our private voyage on board MS Lycian Queen, a traditional Turkish gulet, will begin with a cruise to Gemiler, where the vestiges of the oncethriving monastic community conjure up the majesty of high Byzantium at the time of Justinian.

After a relaxing day’s sailing we will reach the cities of the Xanthos valley – Xanthos itself, for its Roman theatre and Byzantine citadel, and Letoon. One of the most fascinating aspects of our cruise will be the opportunity to spot ruins This cruise will be led by Andrew Wilson, BA, BD, FSAScot, a specialist in archaeology and ancient history with a particular interest in Roman frontier systems and Byzantine mosaics. Andrew studied archaeology then theology before working overseas as an archaeologist.

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.

Te cruise along the Bay of Fethiye to the ancient hilltop settlement of Lydae is always inspiring. At the extreme end of the Datça 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 twinharboured settlement. Our journey ends in ancient Halicarnassus, site of the famous mausoleum built in honour of King Mausolus c 350 BC.

The deluxe air-conditioned MS Lycian Queen, launched in 2015, has a saloon, a spacious deck, and eight cabins including two masters, all with en-suite facilities. It is a ketch Turkish gulet, a two-masted wooden vessel typically seen along the coastline of Turkey.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: Participants on this tour should have a good overall level of ftness. Many of the archaeological sites visited will involve short but steep ascents, often on broken paths, with the longest taking about 30 minutes to complete. All ascents are, however, optional and the degree of diffculty will be advised at each site. On occasion participants should be comfortable climbing in and out of a small dinghy via a stepladder. Day 1 Flight from London to Dalaman. Transfer to MS Lycian Queen for 14 nights. Overnight at Göcek. Day 2 Morning cruise to island of Gemiler: ruined churches, vaulted processional way, large ecclesiastical complex. Overnight at Gemiler. Day 3 Cruise westwards to pretty village of Kas (ancient Antiphellos): well-preserved Hellenistic theatre, tombs. Overnight at Kas. Day 4 Sail via Uluburun along coast and into bay of Kekova to small Turkish village of Kaleköy (ancient Simena): dramatic citadel with Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman remains, haunting Lycian necropolis. Overnight at Gokkaya Liman. Day 5 Sail to Myra. Overnight in Kekova area. Day 6 Cruise along mountainous shores of Lycian coast to tiny harbour of Kalkan then by minibus to Letoon and Xanthos. Overnight at Kalkan. Day 7 Travel inland to ancient Pinara in Esençay Valley and Tlos. Two nights in bay of Fethiye. Day 8 Ancient site of Telmessos, including magnifcent tomb of Amyntas. Day 9 Morning sail to Agalimani: walk through pine forest to remains of ancient Lydae. Overnight at Agalimani. Day 10 Morning cruise followed by transfer to small boat for visit to site of ancient Caunos. Overnight in bay near Caunos. Day 11 Cruise along peninsula to Loryma: Hellenistic fort. Overnight in Loryma. Day 12 Cruise to Knidos: temple of Apollo Karneios, temple of Aphrodite Euploia, Doric portico, early Byzantine churches, harbour theatre. Overnight in ancient harbour of Knidos. Day 13 Cruise to Bay of Bodrum. Overnight in Bay of Bodrum. Day 14 Sail to Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) and visit the remains of the Mausoleum. Overnight at Bodrum. Day 15 Flight from Bodrum to London.

Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change. Opening times in Turkey can change at short notice and so some visits may be adjusted nearer the time. The itinerary is fuid and weather conditions can affect the order and nature of visits, so participants should be prepared to be fexible.

Cost of £3345 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded cabin, full board (except lunch on day 8) with water, tea & coffee, shore excursions & admissions, crew gratuities. Not included: visa, travel insurance, cabin for single use supplement £1285. Master suite cabin supplement on request. TOUR CODE: LYC121

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