Turquoise Shores & Archaeological Wonders

Itinerary

Day 1 | Greece | Progressive Athens

Arrival Method: dock | Departure:18:00

Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility - housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t help but marvel at the archaeological wonders of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Stroll through vibrant streets and markets, dance at buzzing bouzoukia, sing along in tavernas. At night, head to the harbour, where dimly lit bars serve the local ice cold beer. And, as you inhale the salty air and watch Greek fishing boats peacefully depart for their catch, reflect on this ancient city's progressive attitude.

Day 2 | Türkiye | Immerse Yourself in Bodrum

Arrival Method: dock 

Arrival:09:00 | Departure:19:00

Imagine an old-world fishing town with high society appeal. Explore breathtaking sights on the sunlit Peninsula of the turquoise coast. Soak up the town’s buzzing energy; shop, eat, relax and explore. Pay respect to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, savour fresh fish and meze and sip coffee of toe-tingling strength. Delve into captivating landscapes bursting with nature; the Bafa Lake, olive groves, bougainvillea and hundreds of different bird species. Feel the wind in your hair on a private gullet as you voyage to crystal clear coves of the Aegean. Lasting memories abound.

Day 3 | Türkiye | Marmaris, Gateway to the Turquoise Coast

Arrival Method: tender

Arrival:08:00 | Departure:19:00

Mesmerising Marmaris, overlooked by the mighty castle of Suleiman the Magnificent, crowns Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. Founded by traders and warriors more than 3000 years ago, the city and her sheltered harbour are a gateway to ancient civilisations. Graceful Turkish gulets and sleek-sided superyachts arc through secluded coves, where pine-scented hillsides spill down to timeless beaches and crystal-clear water. Cast your eyes upon the sacred sands of fabled Cleopatra Island and listen for Apollo’s song in the hilltop ruins of fallen empires, or a day trip to Dalyan to delve into King Tombs, mud baths, reed-lined rivers, miles of sandy beach, and the infamous Caretta-Caretta sea turtles. Cleanse body and mind in traditional hammams and Turkish bathhouses, while an emporium of Ottoman arts awaits in the Grand Bazaar. 

Day 4 | At sea

Day 5 | Cyprus Wine Walks and Architectural Ruins of Southern Cyprus

Arrival Method: dock

Arrival:08:00 | Departure:18:00

Tall masts and sleek hulls stand shoulder-to-shoulder in Limassol’s gleaming marina, gateway to soul-stirring beaches, Greek and Roman archaeological sites and traditional wine-making in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains. Tread upon ancient footsteps in atmospheric Old Town, where a warren of cobbled streets leads to the medieval walls of Limassol Castle and timeless tavernas tempt with tantalising dishes. Tiptoe beside intricate tile mosaics amongst hillside villas and architectural ruins in nearby Kourion. Beyond the city limits, olive groves and citrus farms dot the lush landscape, which rises skyward to wine-tasting in the vineyards of Omodos and off-road pine forest adventures.

Day 6 | Türkiye | Enticing Antalya

Arrival Method: dock

Arrival:09:00 | Departure:20:00

Perched on a limestone plateau at the foot of the Taurus Mountains, Antalya lounges on a sweeping bay that ebbs between ancient civilisation and contemporary cool. Here the breathtaking marble archways of Hadrian’s Gate and vestiges of the Roman Empire meet lively cafes and boutiques in Ottoman-era townhouses, where coffee might fuel a meander of cobblestone streets in the harbour-front old town or bustling 15th-century covered bazaar. Beyond the city, ruins at Termessos, Perge and the sprawling ancient city of Aspendos beckon, as beguiling as this area’s waterfall, cedar and pine-filled national parks, Palaeolithic caves and sun-baked beaches of the Turkish Riviera.

Day 7 | At sea

Day 8 | Greece | Heraklion – Isle of Gods

Arrival:08:00 | Departure:20:00

Immerse in a capital town that bustles with life, classical culture, steep landscapes and seductive beaches. Visit Rethymnon’s impressive past and visit Chania’s glorious Venetian architecture. Be guided around the Palace of Knossos - a must for minotaur and labyrinth fans. Walk the Venetian walls that mark the medieval city limits to explore the main archaeological museum, the Loggia Building and the Agios Titos church for relics of St Tito. Scale the heights of Mount Ida, hike paths that span villages and battlefields, scuba dive and nip over to fêted neighbouring Greek isles. Explore the island through the ages at museums, sip raki and delight in local cuisine. Embrace this Isle of the Gods that teems with treasure.

Day 9 | Greece | The iconic Santorini 

Arrival Method: dock

Arrival:08:00 | Departure:20:00

Dreamily sail into Santorini when others leave. Romantic, exuberant and pure; roam one of the world’s most enchanting islands as you enjoy breathtaking scenery, rock-set whitewashed houses, paved paths, sugar white sand, black beaches and terracotta cliffs. Experience the many geological and architectural delights; blue-domed churches, an active volcano, excavate with experts and cover the caldera between cliff-hanging Oia and Fira. Glide through sapphire seas in a catamaran, taste local wine, eat freshly-caught seafood, break plates and shop elegant boutiques. Then settle in for a slow moonlit dinner high on a hilltop, just in time for the world-famous sunset.

Day 10 | Greece | Romantic Nafplio

Arrival:09:00 | Departure:19:00

Neat Nafplio, one of Greece’s most romantic cities, leads us to the UNESCO dotted Peloponnese Peninsula. Namesake of Poseidon’s son, this rakish retreat is a dream to discover with its medieval old town, castle ramparts, and cafés lining Syntagma Square. Further afield, we vault into vestiges belonging to Bronze Age kings: colossal Mycenae fortress with its 14m (46ft) wide walls; the perfectly acoustic Epidaurus amphitheatre; and wedge-like Corinth Canal which was 2,500 years in the making.

Day 11 | Greece | Progressive Athens

Arrival Method: dock

Arrival:07:00

Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility - housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t help but marvel at the archaeological wonders of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Stroll through vibrant streets and markets, dance at buzzing bouzoukia, sing along in tavernas. At night, head to the harbour, where dimly lit bars serve the local ice cold beer. And, as you inhale the salty air and watch Greek fishing boats peacefully depart for their catch, reflect on this ancient city's progressive attitude.