The magnificent turquoise bays, peninsulas, offshore islands, and the landscapes along the western and southern shores of Anatolia (Asia Minor) were the setting for various ancient civilizations of natives and Greeks, who produced some of the more remarkable aspects of Western Civilization. Our tour will explore numerous ancient cities and sites in the lands of Lydia and Karia (also known as Ionia), Lycia, Pamphylia and Cilicia. This region was the birthplace of the most notable contributions of Greek civilization, namely philosophy and science. Coins were invented here as well as the first astronomical observatory in the Greek world. While enjoying modern Turkish delights, we will encounter these ancient peoples through the remains of their cities and remarkable architecture including three of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Thursday, September 27: Independent departures from our home cities.
Friday, September 28: IZMIR: Transfers will be provided to our Izmir hotel. This evening we will meet with Professor Stieglitz for an orientation lecture and dinner. Hilton Hotel.
Meals: Dinner

Saturday, September 29: KUSADASI: After visiting the fine Archaeological Museum in Izmir, our touring of ancient Lydia continues at the spectacular city of Ephesus. Included in our visit are the remains of the temple of Artemis, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the library, agora and theater, the newly excavated mosaic floors of private villas and the fine museum. Kismet Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Sunday, September 30: KUSADASI: A short ferry trip takes us across the shimmering Aegean Sea to the island of Samos. We will visit the archaeological remains at ancient Samos and at the Heraion we will see the 6th century BCE foundations of the enormous temple of Hera, which was twice the size of the Parthenon. After lunch we will visit the Archaeological Museum, which houses a renowned collection of archaic Greek art. Late in the afternoon we will return to Kusadasi.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Monday, October 1: BODRUM: A full day’s touring to the Ionian cities of Priene and Miletus and the great temple of Apollo at Didyma. Priene has a spectacular location perched on the hillside high above the Maeander Valley. Alexander the Great was so impressed with its temple of Athena that he helped to fund it in exchange for recognition as its founder. The site is no less impressive today. We continue to Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, the site of another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the tomb of King Mausolus. This marble temple was 132 feet high and topped by a pyramid. The tomb was built by Artemisia, the wife and sister of Mausolus. Marmara Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Tuesday, October 2: BODRUM: We take to the sea again for a day’s sail to Cnidus, renowned in antiquity for its statue of Aphrodite by Praxiteles, the greatest Greek sculptor, and for the scientist Eudoxos, a student of Plato. Eudoxos built the first astronomical observatory in the Greek world here, and together with Theaetetus is credited with the founding of Greek geometry. The ancient remains of the city are set in a beautiful location which is perfect for our picnic lunch.
Meals: Breakfast & picnic lunch

Wednesday, October 3: BODRUM: This morning we will visit the museum in the Castle of St. Peter and the remains of the Mausoleum. After lunch we continue to Heracleia under Latmos, perched above Lake Bafa’s beach and littered with ancient columns and sarcophagi.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Thursday, October 4: BODRUM: Again we ferry across the Aegean to the island of Kos, birthplace of Hippocrates. The sanctuary of Asklepios and the school of medicine made this island famous throughout the ancient world. Our day will be filled with Kos’s classical and Roman sites including the large site of the temple of Asklepios.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Friday, October 5: MARMARIS: Our drive today is via the Gokbel Pass about 1,000 feet above sea level and the ancient cities of Labranda and Alinda. These sites are particularly charming as they have never been excavated and their remains are scattered in local villages and fields. We will stop at Milas, capital of Caria in the 4th century, visiting the remains of its great past. Our day ends in the picturesque port of Marmaris. Marmaris Marti Resort.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Saturday, October 6: FETHIYE: Touring today begins with the grand temple tombs perched on a cliff above the sea at Caunos. We continue to Telmessos, which was the principal harbor of Lycia. We will explore its necropolis with its unique sarcophagi and rock-hewn tombs. Of particular interest is the Tomb of Amyntas, an Ionic temple façade carved into the rockface. Club Hotel Letoonia.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Sunday, October 7: KAS: Continuing along the Lycian shore, we arrive at Xanthos, the oldest Lycian city and capital of the region. Although we must visit the British Museum to see Xanthos’s fine reliefs, the site itself is fascinating as its remains span the city’s long history. At Letoon, the vestiges of three temples, a Roman nymphaion and a Byzantine church with a fine mosaic floor have been found. We will arrive at our hotel early so as to have time to explore this pretty seaside town. Club Hotel Barbarossa.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Monday, October 8: KAS: A full day’s sail aboard our private boat to the island of Kekova. After a barbecue on the beach, we will spend a relaxing afternoon swimming and exploring the partially submerged sites of Simena and Teimiussa.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Tuesday, October 9: ANTALYA: Our last day in Lycia brings us along the Gulf of Finike and into the wildest, most remote region of the Turkish coast. We will visit ancient Myra, a leading city of the Lycian Union. We will explore its partly excavated acropolis perched on a ridge above its theater. The rock-cut tombs of Myra’s fascinating necropolis were at one time brightly painted. Many of the tombs contain scenes portraying the daily life of the deceased carved in relief. We then continue to the ancient port city of Phaselis spread between two harbors, which in antiquity were used for the shipment of timber, rose oils and perfume. We will examine the remains of this prosperous city before continuing on to Antalya. This beautiful day ends with a visit to Antalya’s excellent Archaeological Museum. Hillside Su Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Wednesday, October 10: ANTALYA: This day takes us into Pamphylia, to the famous Hellenistic cities of Perge and Aspendos. At Aspendos, we will see the finest theater surviving from this period, while the colonnaded streets of the agora at Perge provide a good example of ancient city planning. The remainder of the day will be at leisure to explore the old town of Antalya or relax on the beach.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Thursday, October 11: ISTANBUL: Today we will fly to Istanbul and transfer to the Marmara Hotel, centrally located hotel on Taksim Square.
Meals: Breakfast

Friday, October 12: ISTANBUL: This morning’s touring begins at the Archaeological Museum, noted for its fine collection of sarcophagi. We then continue to the Hippodrome and the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. After lunch we continue touring to the Mosaic Museum and the ancient cisterns of the city.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Saturday, October 13: ISTANBUL: We complete our touring of the Turkish monuments of the city at the Süleymaniye Mosque and the Church of Kariye Camii, with its restored frescoes and mosaics. The remainder of the day will be at leisure before our farewell dinner at one of the city’s fine restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner

Sunday, October 14: ISTANBUL: This morning we return to the airport for our flights home.