History, beaches, diverse cultures, and incredible landscapes are all on tap as you cruise the coastlines of Turkey and Greek isles, going ashore for an extra helping of Turkish treasure in Cappadocia and Istanbul. Take in broad beach boulevards, mountain-framed resort towns, princely palaces and historic cities. And experience cultures that don’t look, sound, taste, or act like anyplace else on earth.  There are also Istanbul’s treasures to unpack and the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia, waiting to enchant you with rose petal sunrises and ultramarine frescoes.

Arrive in the city of many names – Istanbul, Constantinople, Byzantium. Meet your guide at the airport and take in the sights on your way to the Pera Palace Hotel, a 5-star historic hotel originally built to host passengers on the Orient Express. (It’s said that Agatha Christie wrote Murder on the Orient Express in Room 411 during one of her visits.) Spend the rest of the day as you wish. Browse the shops and cafes on pedestrian-only Istiklal Street near your hotel or choose an optional tour before dinner on your own. We suggest the elegant Mikla Restaurant on the roof of the Marmara Pera hotel just across the street, which has been on The Worlds 50 Best Restaurant list since 2015.

(Includes overnight at Pera Palace Hotel)
 

Istanbul’s historic center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman wonders keep your head on a swivel. Visit landmarks from chariot grounds to the Blue Mosque, Ayasofya (formerly Hagia Sophia) Mosque and the Grand Bazaar before heading to the airport. A short flight finds you in Kayseri and soon you’re relaxing at the Argos in Cappadocia hotel, your home for the next two nights. Enjoy dinner on your own then rest up for a busy tomorrow.

(Includes breakfast, flight and overnight at Argos in Cappadocia Hotel)

Breakfast at the hotel the meet your guide for a transfer to Kaymakli Underground City.  Early Christians carved some amazing living quarters out of this soft limestone as you’ll see at Kaymakli Underground City, a complex of living quarters and stables five levels below ground. The Goreme Valley is known as the valley of the churches, with some dating back to the 6^th century. And not just any churches – these are rock-cut churches complete with beautiful wall frescoes. You’ll see several at the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meet pottery artisans in the pretty town of Avanos on your way to the Devrent and Pasabag Valleys with their thrilling otherworldly landscapes, then return to the hotel for dinner on your own.

(Includes breakfast, lunch and overnight at Argos in Cappadocia Hotel)

After an early breakfast, fly back to Istanbul for a sense-swirling experience at the Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar. Built in 1663, it’s the second largest covered bazaar in Turkey and the best place to buy Turkish delight, dried fruit, exotic herbs, and all the spices of the East including cardamom, turmeric, saffron, rose water, and much more. The colors of the spices and sounds of the merchants are as intoxicating as the aromas. At the end of the visit, transfer to the port and embark on your waiting yacht.

(Includes breakfast, flight to Istanbul and transfer to the 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). 

Steeped in antiquity and fascinating intrigue, the region and its famous Trojan War were long considered legend because of the fact that no one could find them. After approximately 4,000 years, the treasured antiquities from the legendary city have been uncovered. Enjoy the beauty of this strategically located city on the shores of both the Marmara and Aegean Seas.

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 Harbor 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.)

This gracious oasis, known as the “Island of Roses,” was home to the legendary Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today it is a yachting paradise, whose shores are lined with sparkling beaches and lush green mountainsides. A scenic drive leads you through quaint villages and lemon groves to the ancient Acropolis of Lindos, standing guard over the picturesque town or to the Old City of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This gracious oasis, known as the “Island of Roses,” was home to the legendary Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today it is a yachting paradise, whose shores are lined with sparkling beaches and lush green mountainsides. A scenic drive leads you through quaint villages and lemon groves to the ancient Acropolis of Lindos, standing guard over the picturesque town or to the Old City of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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.

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).