Beyazit Mosque, Istanbul

To Ephesus

A day of sailing and swimming on the warm, blue waters of the Turquoise Coast or free time to explore the town and castle ruins on your own. We'll sail from Bodrum's port, a gathering point of yachts from around the world, onto scenic Gokova Bay and periodically stopping to dive into the warm water for swimming. Delicious seafood lunch and mezes onboard.

Afternoon free to stroll the busy boardwalk, cafes, sweet shops and the ruins of a waterfront crusader castle. As the sun sets, a delicious banquet of local dishes underneath the mosque.

For those with boundless energy, the boardwalk shops, cafes and discos stay open late into the night.

Morning transfer outside Marmaris' busy roads to a quiet country road. On our way, stopping at a Turkish tea house and natural hot spring waters, where Sultans had their baths nearly 500 years ago. After afternoon arrival, freeto relax or visit the ancient city Kaunos with the unique rock thumbs from the Lycian period. Dinner at the river with a view over the lighted rock tombs. The views of the ocean and surrounding mountains is wonderful. Most of our route is devoid of towns, broken up by small villages and occasional ruins and mosques. Nearby mud baths and hot springs are also close by which we will enjoy if time permits.

Short day riding towards the coast with one long climb, and beautiful pine forest mountain riding, skirting the large lagoon near Fethiye. Our hotel has a scenice view of the lake. After arrival, shower, change and drive to the eerie ghost town Kayakoy, abandoned by Greeks in the 1920s following the Greco-Turkish War and which to this day remains uninhabited.

Optional hike to the tomb of Amyntas which dates back to approximately 350 BC.

If you can make it up very early, we have an optional parasailing adventure for you which begins on the high mountain range near town. Today, a long, mostly flat ride with one long climb, we pass the ruins of several ancient cities, including Tlos, Pinara, and Xanthos.

The last twenty miles are spectacular cycling along the Lycian coast on the winding road and out of white-cliff bays overlooking the ocean (right). Kas is a small, beautiful harbor town nestled into a cove beneath the large, coastal mountain range.

Boat trip from Kas to the incredible sunken cities visible through the aqua blue waters around Kekova Island. Swimming over the ruins and lunch onboard. Stop at Kale, a small, picturesque fishing village beneath ruins of a medieval castle and covered with Lycian tombs (left) offering stunning views of the bays and islands. Afternoon and evening free to explore this intimate seaport.

Our winding route affords great views of the Mediterranean's turquiose waters and coves. The long climb out of Kas offers panoramic views of the coast as we head back into the hills, regrouping for an outdoor lunch in a beautiful high mountain valley. A long descent brings us back to the coast and past Kale, where the legend of St. Nicholas was born. After another long climb, we eventually descend into the magical setting of Olympus, located in a deep gorge on the banks of a small river on the coast. Our hotel is set beneath the mountain peaks.

Kaputas Beach

Morning ride through the thickly forested, rocky Beydaglari Mountains to Phaselis, a remarkably pristine Roman port. After an optional dip in the bay beneath the ruins, we will make a short drive to Antalya, one of the most beautiful cities on the Mediterranean coast. Antalya an important port in ancient and modern times. Although now a large, modern city, Antalya preserves much of its medieval old town.

Afternoon free to explore Antalya's sites. After dinner, an evening, one-hour flight to Istabul.