With four days to explore glorious Istanbul and another eight to discover what lies beyond the Golden Horn, you don’t need an oracle to tell you this is one auspicious voyage. Everywhere you look in Istanbul you’ll find some fascinating remnant of days gone by – places where chariots raced, sultans ruled, and architects’ greatest aspirations were realized. After you’ve oohed and aahed over the world-renowned mosques, palaces, and bazaars, board your yacht to see more jewels of the Aegean. Islands glowing with whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches; origin stories of gods, oracles, and Atlantis; a canal so narrow you’ll only share it with small mail boats, private yachts, and paddleboarders. Plus, enjoy a complimentary Destination Discovery Event – dinner and a concert in the moonlight in ancient Ephesus.

Arrive in Istanbul, a city that has enchanted visitors for thousands of years. As your guide whisks you from the airport to your hotel, get a sense of this City of Seven Hills that spans two continents. Spend the rest of the day on your own exploring the neighborhoods surrounding your hotel, or, just explore your hotel. Built in 1892 to host guests on the Orient Express, it’s loaded with history, from the room where Agatha Christie supposedly penned Murder on the Orient Express to the Ataturk Museum in room 101 – a favorite spot for the founder of Turkey’s republic. Even Mata Hari stayed here.
 
(Includes overnight at Pera Palace Hotel.)
 

Begin your discovery of Istanbul with the historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site crowded with centuries-old gems. See the remains of the Hippodrome, the site of chariot races and the social center of the city back when it was known as Byzantium. Decide for yourself which is more spectacular, Ayasofya, built as a Christian basilica nearly 1500 years ago, or the Blue Mosque, commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I to outshine Ayasofya. Visit the newly restored Serefiye Cistern, one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. After a traditional Turkish lunch, wrap up the day at Topkapi Palace, home to Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries.
 
(Includes overnight at Pera Palace Hotel.)
 

You’ll be surprised to discover just how advanced architecture was in the 16^th century when you visit Suleymaniye Mosque, one of the best (and largest) examples of Ottoman Islamic architecture in Istanbul. Perfectly placed windows provide natural lighting, superb acoustics were achieved by positioning empty pots under the domes, and there’s even a soot room designed to prevent damage to the mosque from candles and oil lamps. The soot was later collected and recycled into ink. From here, it’s off to the Grand Bazaar to try your hand at haggling, or at least window shopping. (Without the windows.) Later, take in Istanbul’s unparalleled skyline during a motor yacht cruise along the Bosphorus.
 
Overnight at Pera Palace Hotel.
 

Approaching the lovely Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus with its rococo/Baroque exterior you might think you’ve been transported to early Europe. Sumptuous details include a 4.5-ton crystal chandelier, a gift from Queen Victoria, and handmade silk Hareke carpets. Contrast that with the classic Ottoman architecture of the intimate Rustem Pasa Mosque. The Spice Bazaar is next, an explosion of colors and aromas. Pick up some Turkish delight, dried figs, fresh-ground coffee or nuts for later. After these visits, make your way to the port and your waiting yacht.

Ah, Constantinople, Queen of Cities and the Door to Happiness. Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents—Europe and Asia—and its appeal is truly universal. The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans all ruled their empires from here, leaving behind some of their finest monuments and a fascinating blend of cultures. Visit the harem at Topkapi Palace, where the clatter of silver soles once warned concubines of the approaching sultan. Admire the Iznik tiles and stained glass windows of the Blue Mosque, and the mystical light bathing the nave of Hagia Sofia. Shop the Grand Bazaar for a coffee cezve, magic lamp, embroidered slippers, or hand-woven kilim. Temper a tiny cup of potent Turkish coffee with bites of sweet lokum (Turkish delight). 

Lemnos is a delightful, off the beaten path island with wild mountainous geology and large, uncrowded, sandy beaches all along the coastline. Windsurfing is becoming increasingly popular here. Sites to see here include the Medieval Castle of Myrina, Ancient Poliochni, Ancient Kavirio and the legendary cave of Philocetes.

Wake this morning to the postcard-like scene of Mykonos, the classic Greek isle dotted with hundreds of whitewashed churches and thatch-roofed windmills, in a harbor bobbing with fishing boats and luxurious private yachts. An optional  tour including a scenic ferry ride takes you back to the 6th   century B.C. to the tiny island of Delos, a UNESCO site and the mythical birthplace of Apollo.

Few places offer such a rich combination of history and scenic beauty. In Ephesus, one of the greatest outdoor museums in the world, you’ll explore legendary sites steeped in history. Also visit the houses of Bulbul Mountain, where the roof of one forms the terrace of the next. This evening we present our Destination Discovery Event -- dinner in the moonlight and a concert near the  Celsus Library or on Harbour Street in ancient Ephesus. 

 

The 15th century Castle of St. Peter, built by the Crusaders, presides over the city’s dual harbors. Colorful peacocks strut their stuff trying to claim your attention, but they have nothing on the white sugar cube houses, palm-lined boulevards, and shockingly blue Aegean below. For a picture-perfect seaside playground, Bodrum offers a surprisingly rich history, or maybe it’s the other way around. Visit the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Surrender to the captivating magic of bathtub-warm waters and the Marina. Shop the bazaar for Milas cloth scarves and silver jewelry. Stroll the marina to see the other private yachts in port. (None as grand as yours, of course.)

As our yacht approaches the spectacular cliffs rising from the deep azure sea, you’ll understand the magic of this area, where some say the ruins of Atlantis remain hidden. Visit the village of Oia and see the iconic Santorini blue domes or take a guided tour of Bronze Age excavations at the UNESCO site of Akrotiri. Toast the day with a crisp, cold glass of local Assyrtiko wine and appreciate the magic accessible to small ships like ours.

You’ll want to be on deck today as we transit the narrow Corinth Canal with other private yachts and Greek mail steamers. It’s a shortcut reserved for petite ships like ours, and as we cruise between the narrow limestone walls we are the envy of all the ancient Romans who once portaged their ships along this very route before there was a canal.
 
Canal transit time and duration is subject to change based on traffic and canal authorities.

With 3,000 years of history, you can’t turn around in Athens without encountering the past. The Acropolis, a UNESCO site, the Plaka, and the Acropolis Museum are must-sees. But leave time if you can to climb Pnyx Hill for photos of the Parthenon at sunset, to buy your own set of Greek komboloi (worry beads), and to explore the metro stations that serve as mini-museums for the relics that are constantly being unearthed.