Turkey, the Greek Islands & the Dalmatian Coast - 2015 Cultural Tours Private Charters Classical Tours

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Turkey, the Greek Islands & the Dalmatian Coast - 2015 Cultural Tours Private Charters Classical Tours
Turkey, the Greek Islands
& the Dalmatian Coast
Cultural Tours • Private Charters • Classical Tours

2015
Turkey, the Greek Islands & the Dalmatian Coast - 2015 Cultural Tours Private Charters Classical Tours
Welcome to our 2015 season
Spring Tours
6-19 April             The Aegean in Bloom                                        8
                       with Martyn Rix and James McKay
24 May-5 June          The Allure of Lycia: People and Places in South West Turkey 7
                       with John Weston
26 May-6 June          Illyrian Spring: Montenegro, Bosnia & the Croatian Coast26
                       with John Shorter
30 May-13 Jun          Cruising the Cyclades on the Aegean Clipper10
                       with Eve MacDonald
30 May-7 Jun           Moments in the History of Western Art: the Islands of the 12
                       Northern Dodecanese with Amal Asfour
5–14 June              Cities of Aphrodite: Caria by Land and Sea13
                       with Richard Stoneman
Autumn Tours
29 August-             A Passage to Troy: Aegean Turkey & the Greek Islands14
12 September           with Richard Seaford and Jeremy Barnett
12-26 September        Caria & Lycia through Writers’ Eyes16
                       with Jeremy Seal
12-19 September        Pearls of the Dalmatian Coast28
                       with John Shorter
13-25 September        Cities and Coasts: From Troy to Ephesos along the Ionian Shore18
                       with Eve MacDonald
21 September-          Hittites & Carians: Golden Days with Midas & Mausolus19
3 October              with Richard Stoneman and Pınar Uşşaklı
26 September-          Cruising the Dalmatian Coast: Split to Dubrovnik29
5 October              with John Osborne
3-10 October           Islands and Peninsulas: An Autumn Cruise through 20
                       the Southern Dodecanese with Jeremy Seal
3-17 October           The Last Rays of Summer: the Best of Lycia & Caria            22
                       with James McKay
10-24 October          Cruising and Walking in Caria with John Weston               24
24-31 October          Fiery Monsters: Dragons, Snakes, Volcanoes and other 21
                       Unusual Island Beasts with Amal Asfour

                                                                                           Curetes Street, Ephesos
2 | Westminster Classic Tours 2012
                               2015
Turkey, the Greek Islands & the Dalmatian Coast - 2015 Cultural Tours Private Charters Classical Tours
Dear Guests
For more than twenty years we have been taking small groups of people to Turkey,
Greece and the Croatian coast. As a modestly sized company with a very loyal
following we are always looking to create new journeys that will appeal to those who
are regular guests as well as those who are travelling with us for the first time.

We make an early start to the cruising season with a visit to the Aegean in April when
the ancient sites are carpeted with spring flowers. To lecture on this new tour of ‘The
Aegean in Bloom’ we are delighted to welcome Martyn Rix, eminent botanist, expert
on the flora of Greece and Turkey, plant collector and editor of Curtis’s Botanical
Magazine. James McKay, classist and poet will join Martyn in making this trip a
special experience.

Also for the first time, as part of our Adriatic tours, we will be visiting Montenegro.
Before a relaxing week’s cruise along the Dalmatian coast, guests on John Shorter’s
‘Illyrian Spring’ trip will set out from the beautiful city of Dubrovnik in Croatia to
spend two days exploring Risan, Kotor and Budva in Montenegro.

For those of you who love to walk, John Weston has scouted out a wonderful Autumn
tour, much of it hiking along the recently opened Carian Trail, an 800 km path which
encompasses magnificent archaeological sites, stunning scenery and crystal clear waters.

Not least in terms of new opportunities, Richard Stoneman will be lecturing on our
inaugural tour of the fascinating lands of the ancient Hittite kingdom.

We are always thrilled when a new idea becomes an old favourite and so we are really
pleased to be offering you another chance to join our very popular cruise to the
Cycladic Islands. Add to this our well-loved tours to Turkey and some of the greatest
monuments of Classical culture and we hope you will agree that this year’s programme
has something for everyone!

We look forward to hearing from you.

Mandy Cunningham

          BIAA     Brıtısh Institute
                   at Ankara                                                               www.westminsterclassictours.com | 3
Turkey, the Greek Islands & the Dalmatian Coast - 2015 Cultural Tours Private Charters Classical Tours
Life on Board
Built in Turkey to traditional designs, the graceful, 26-metre wooden motor yachts in
which we cruise are known as 'gulets'. These two-masted sailing boats are fully equipped
to take advantage of favourable winds but also powered by modern diesel engines that
ensure we remain on schedule. Boats accommodate about 12 people in comfortable twin
or double cabins, each with its own bathroom. There is plenty of room for relaxation in the
saloon or on the decks and the atmosphere is pleasantly informal.
The captain of each boat has a crew of two or three under his command. With long
experience of sailing the warm and predominantly calm waters off the coasts of western
Turkey and Dalmatia, our captains have unrivalled knowledge of the Aegean, the
Mediterranean and the Adriatic. Safety is, of course, of paramount importance. Regularly
monitored by the Turkish and Croatian coastguards, our boats operate to the highest
possible standards, while the professionalism of our crews is second to none. As a general
rule, captains and crews have been working closely with us for many years and, as well as
being utterly dependable and unfailingly obliging, they are also old friends.
The food on board the gulets is superb. Many people consider it to be one of the highlights
of their holiday with us! Meals are typically Mediterranean, prepared with care and
expertise by a dedicated cook using fresh, seasonal local produce, beautifully presented.
Breakfast usually consists of eggs, cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches, melon or
other seasonal fruit, jams, yoghurt and honey. Lunch is usually a vegetable-based dish with
rice and salads. This may be a tray of aubergines, courgettes and tomatoes baked in the
oven, stuffed peppers, or green beans stewed in tomatoes and olive oil. At dinner grilled
meat, chicken or fish is accompanied by a varied and copious selection of delicious mezzes
and there is always deliciously ripe fruit after meals, according to the season. Excellent local
wines are served and we have a good choice of soft drinks, beer and spirits.

Typical 8 Cabin Plan
A Double cabins B Twin cabin C Saloon

                                       A          B
                                A
                                                                C                           A

                                                                                            A
                                A      A                      Bar
                                                  B

Cabins are about 2 x 2 metres and double beds are usually about 1.4 x 2 metres.

4 | Westminster Classic Tours 2015
Turkey, the Greek Islands & the Dalmatian Coast - 2015 Cultural Tours Private Charters Classical Tours
A normal day's sailing begins in the morning when we set out for our next port of call, a journey of
two or three hours. We usually start after breakfast, though occasionally the boat is already underway
before we get up. There is often time for a swim before lunch and in the afternoon we visit a site.
Depending on locations, from time to time we go ashore in the morning and take a private bus to
our destination. On these occasions we either take a picnic prepared by our cook or have lunch in a
local restaurant. We will generally be back on the boat in time for a swim and shower before drinks
and supper. Early evening is also a good time for the lecturer or tour leader to give a short talk and
to confirm the plan for the following day. The talks are very informal, a chance to enjoy the sunset, a
drink and a handful of nuts while listening to an informative and entertaining speaker, an expert in
his or her field of studies and a genial fellow traveller.
The WCT experience is a really special one. Invigorating and restful at the same time, the sense of
freedom and discovery engendered by the combination of looking at beautiful places and being on
the sea is incomparable. Bring books, bring watercolours, bring a friend or come as you are for ‘there
is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.’

     T. +44 (0) 208 785 3191 | E. info@westminsterclassictours.com | www.westminsterclassictours.com | 5
Turkey, the Greek Islands & the Dalmatian Coast - 2015 Cultural Tours Private Charters Classical Tours
Lecturers & Tour Leaders
Our lecturers and tour leaders are chosen for their knowledge, for their affability as travelling companions, and for their ability to communicate in a relaxed and stimulating way. Our tour leaders
know the area and sites intimately and ensure that all aspects of the tours run smoothly.

               Amal Asfour has a D.Phil in the History of Art from                James McKay read Classics at Oxford, graduating in 1996,           Jeremy Seal is a travel writer, author, teacher and TV
               Oxford. She lectured at the University of Vienna for               and subsequently did graduate work at Newcastle. He has            presenter. His most recent book Meander: East to West along a
               many years and has published extensively on 18th century           taught Classics at both school and university. He has wide         Turkish River tells the story of his journey down the original
               British Painting. She has a special interest in Archaic Greek      experience of participatory arts projects and has worked in        winding river. He is also the author of A Fez of the Heart:
               temples in their landscape settings.                               urban regeneration. He is also an experienced tour leader          Travels around Turkey in Search of a Hat which was short-listed
                                                                                  and is fluent in several languages, including modern Greek.        for the Daily Telegraph/Thomas Cook Travel Book Award.

               Jeremy Barnett is a former Director of the British Council         Matthew Nicholls is a Senior Lecturer in Classics at               John Shorter worked for the British Council for many
               in Turkey, where he lived for eight years. He read Arabic          Reading University. His interests include Roman                    years both in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. One of
               at St Andrews and Turkish Politics and Economics at the            architecture, literary culture and ancient public libraries.       his early postings was to Zagreb and he frequently returns
               School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He has           He has appeared on a number of radio broadcasts and is             to Croatia, a country in which he feels very much at home.
               a keen interest in the politics and economics of the Balkans       currently working on programmes for BBC television.                He is an expert linguist and counts German, French,
               (including Greece), Turkey and the Middle East.                    Matthew is a Director of WCT.                                      Polish and Serbo-Croat among his languages.

               Shane Brennan received his PhD from Exeter and teaches             John Osborne graduated in Classics at Cambridge                    Richard Stoneman is an Honorary Visiting Professor at
               ancient history at Mardin Artuklu University in Turkey.            University and taught classical subjects for over thirty years     Exeter University and a former President of the Classical
               He has travelled extensively in eastern Turkey and is the          at Marlborough College. He also worked for the British             Association. He is an expert on Alexander the Great and the
               author of In the Tracks of the Ten Thousand: A Journey on          Council in Turkey and Iran, which gave him a now long-             author of numerous books on Greece and Turkey including
               Foot Through Turkey, Syria and Iraq.                               standing interest in Islamic culture. He is a NADFAS-              The Ancient Oracles: making the gods speak. Richard is also
                                                                                  accredited lecturer.                                               the Chairman of WCT.
               John Gaskin was Professor of Naturalistic Philosophy at            John Penney has retired as University Lecturer in Classical        Michael Tooley is Professor of Geography at St. Andrews
               Trinity College Dublin. His publications include works             Philology at Oxford University, but he remains an Emeritus         and Emeritus Professor at Kingston University. He
               on the Epicureans, Hume, Hobbes and the philosophy of              Fellow of Wolfson College. He is a Classicist with a special       lectures on environmental change, Mediterranean plants,
               religion. His latest book The Traveller’s Guide to Classical       interest in ancient languages (including Greek and Latin           earthquakes and tsunamis. He has written books on
               Philosophy is published by Thames and Hudson.                      but also Hittite, Lycian and Carian) and their associated          Thomas Wright, William Andrews Nesfield and Gertrude
                                                                                  cultures. He has travelled widely in Greece and Turkey.            Jekyll. He also lectures for NADFAS.
               Peter Jones worked for many years in the Classics
               department in Newcastle University. He writes extensively          Martyn Rix is a botanist and plant collector who has served
                                                                                                                                                     Pınar Uşşaklı has taught English in many institutions in
               on the ancient world in academic publications and in the           as botanist to The Royal Horticultural Society. He studied
                                                                                                                                                     Ankara. For several years she managed the British Council’s
               press (including an Ancient & Modern column in The                 botany at Trinity College, Dublin, and did a PhD on Greek
                                                                                                                                                     literature work in Turkey and in this capacity she travelled
               Spectator), helps to run Friends of Classics and is involved       and Turkish Fritillaria at Cambridge, contributing to the
                                                                                                                                                     extensively throughout the country.
               in fund-raising for the charity Classics for All.                  Flora of Turkey. He is now the editor of Curtis’s Botanical
                                                                                  Magazine, published by The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

               Eve MacDonald is an archaeologist who has lectured in              Richard Seaford is Professor of Ancient Greek at the               John Weston lives most of the year in Kaş, in Mediterranean
               Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology in the UK and                  University of Exeter, and has been Honorary President of           South West Turkey. He retired to Turkey after a long career
               Canada. She is the author of an upcoming biography                 the Classical Association. He has written numerous books           with the British Council which included three years as
               of Hannibal. She has a keen interest in the history and            and papers on ancient Greek literature, religion, and              Director of the Istanbul office. John has a Master's degree
               archaeology of the Eastern Mediterranean especially the            history. He knows the Aegean well, and speaks modern               in Classical Studies from the Open University with a
               shifting influence and prosperity of islands and regions           Greek fluently.                                                    specialism in Classical Lycia.
               from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity.

6 | Westminster Classic Tours 2012
                               2015
Turkey, the Greek Islands & the Dalmatian Coast - 2015 Cultural Tours Private Charters Classical Tours
The Allure of Lycia: People and                                                                              LYCIA
                                                                      Göcek
Places in South West Turkey                                   Lydai
                                                                                 Fethiye
With John Weston
                                                                               Gemiler
24 May – 5 June
                                                                                                                  Arykanda
                                                                                             Xanthos                            Olympos
                                                                              Patara                                 Myra                  Porto Genovese
                                                                                                        Simena               Finike
                                                                                            Kalkan Teimioussa
                                                                                                 Kaş
Lycia boasts spectacular scenery and some of the most
impressive classical sites in Turkey. The azure waters                                 Kastellorizo    Aperlae

that line its coast offer fine swimming and diving.                                                              KEKOVA

This tour is ideal for keen walkers who will enjoy the
opportunity for longer walks on the chosen sites.                             TURKEY

The native Lycians had a distinct culture considerably
                                                                                                                                                            Ruins at Gemiler
influenced by their Persian rulers, and yet the ancient
Greeks and Romans who settled here felt at home in
this landscape. The lovely little island of Kastellorizo,       Day 1 Our boat is waiting for us at Göcek, 30                         Day 6 Set off for Myra (A) to visit the rock         ancient Simena, we explore the Ottoman castle
the most easterly of the Dodecanese group, still raises         minutes from Dalaman airport.                                         tombs and the Roman theatre, as well as the          (B). Later in the day we visit the necropolis
the Greek flag daily.                                                                                                                 Church of St Nicholas. We continue with a look       at Teimioussa (B). Overnight is at one of the
                                                                Day 2 We cross to Gemiler (B/C), a small island
                                                                with a late antique settlement. We moor in a                          at the Roman granaries and the newly excavated       wooden jetties or at anchor in the lagoon.
The ancient Greeks approached Lycia from the sea                                                                                      Roman harbour at Andriake (A).
and this is still the best way to reach many of its cities.     sound between the island and the mainland,                                                                                 Day 10 We cruise to the pretty village of Kalkan
Our tour takes us to several of them, including Kaş             with dramatic views of Baba Dağı, Father                              Day 7 We sail to Finike and take taxis to the        and take a minibus to Xanthos (A), capital of
(ancient Antiphellos), Kekova and its idyllic lagoon,           Mountain, rising to the east.                                         spectacular site of Arykanda (A/B/C) in the          ancient Lycia, and the nearby port of Patara (A)
as well as Olympos where the nearby mountain                    Day 3 An early start for Kaş, ancient Antiphellos                     Taurus mountains. Often referred to as the           where we try to identify the location of the famous
was the home of the ancient fire-breathing monster              (A), an overgrown village of whitewashed houses                       Turkish Delphi, its terraces support tombs,          temple of Apollo which is yet to be found.
                                                                                                                                      temples, an agora, a theatre and a stadium. After
Chimaera. We also visit Myra, which has one of the              covered with bougainvillea. We spend a leisurely                                                                           Day 11 A full day excursion to remote and little-
                                                                                                                                      lunch at a local trout restaurant, we visit Limyra
finest ancient theatres in Turkey.                              day looking at Lycian tombs and a theatre with                                                                             visited Sidyma and Pınara (C), set stunningly
                                                                fine views to Kastellorizo.                                           (A), the scene of a Lycian rebellion against the     high in the Taurus mountains. Both these
John, your tour leader, has a passion for all aspects                                                                                 Persians. Overnight is in the marina at Finike.      Lycian cities combine significant archaeological
                                                                Day 4 We exit Turkey and make the short
of Lycian culture. He is a thoroughgoing specialist             crossing to Kastellorizo where we explore the                         Day 8 Rounding Cape Gelidonya, the scenery           remains with a charmingly bucolic atmosphere.
in Lycian history and he has a talent for making his            small museums, the castle and cemeteries. If                          consisting of cliffs topped with pines and           We rejoin our gulet in Fethiye where we stay
subject enjoyable and entertaining. He feels that this          time and weather conditions permit, we visit the                      seductive little bays is breathtaking. We anchor     the night.
trip is the perfect combination of site visits, lovely          famous blue grotto. Overnight is in the harbour.                      in the natural harbour at Porto Genovese and set     Day 12 We cross the Bay of Fethiye to the
natural landscapes and complete relaxation.                                                                                           out for Ancient Olympos where, amidst the lush       beautiful inlet of Ağlimanı and walk to the
                                                                Day 5 We return to Turkey and, after clearing                         foliage, we discover ancient buildings, tombs and
                                                                customs in Kaş, we leave for Kekova. A short                                                                               lonely site of Lydai (B), past a ridge crowned
                                                                                                                                      inscriptions. We walk up to the Chimaera where       with two mausolea. Overnight in the inlet.
                                                                walk across an isthmus abundant in the murex                          a supply of underground natural gas feeds flames
                                                                shells from which the famous purple dye was                                                                                Day 13 We go back to Göcek and Dalaman
   Tour cost £2,700                                             made, we come to the unexcavated and little
                                                                                                                                      that cover the mountainside.
                                                                                                                                                                                           airport.
                                                                                                                                      Day 9 A relaxed cruise back to Kekova along the
   Single Supplement £600                                       visited site of Aperlae. We explore what we can
                                                                                                                                      coast studded with islets and inlets. At Kaleköy,
                                                                and enjoy the setting.

                                                                                                                                                     A: Easy terrain | B: Some steep or rough terrain | C: Steep and rough terrain | 7
Turkey, the Greek Islands & the Dalmatian Coast - 2015 Cultural Tours Private Charters Classical Tours
The Aegean in Bloom
With Martyn Rix and James McKay
6-19 April

In April the wild flowers on the Aegean coast of
Turkey and on the Greek islands are truly magnificent.
Many of the sites we visit on this special tour will
be covered in carpets of colourful blooms. As well
as admiring some of Europe’s best-known Classical
and Byzantine monuments, we will wander well off
the beaten track and visit unspoiled islands where the
flora has been undisturbed by modern agricultural
methods and nature can be appreciated in all its
springtime glory.
The first few days on land give us the opportunity
to explore Ephesos and the area to its south. Lake
Bafa, with its particular microclimate, is home to a
variety of wildlife and, in the mountains above it,
is beautiful Labranda with its sweeping views, its
clear air and fresh green terraces watered by ancient
springs. After this we will enjoy ten days on board
the Aegean Clipper, exploring the landscape and flora
on some the loveliest islands of the Aegean.
Martyn is the editor of Curtis’s Botanical Magazine,
the world’s longest-running botanical journal,
published by Kew Gardens. He is a frequent visitor
to the Aegean coast of Turkey. James is a classicist,
poet and highly experienced tour leader. Together
they will ensure that this unique trip will be full of
interest with lots of enjoyment along the way.

   Tour cost £2,495
   Single Supplement £650

                                                         Fritillaria Pelinaia
8 | Westminster Classic Tours 2012
                               2015
Turkey, the Greek Islands & the Dalmatian Coast - 2015 Cultural Tours Private Charters Classical Tours
Chios
                                    Izmir
              Çeşme

                                            Selçuk
                                            Ephesos
                      Samos

                                                Heracleia
         Patmos                                  Euromos
                                                    Labranda

                                Bodrum

         TURKEY
                              Kos

                                      Kindos
                                                               Monastery of St John, Patmos

Day 1 Arrive at İzmir Airport. Our hotel in                    flower site at Gündoğan and a stand of the rare      Treasury we see a very fine display of early     see the magnificent mansions and estates
Selçuk is 45 minutes from the airport by                       palm Phoenix theoprasti.                             Christian literature. We then walk down to the   belonging to Greek shipping magnates. An
private bus.                                                   Day 5 Sail across the mouth of the Gulf of           boat on the old donkey path, stopping to see     evening stroll to the Kastrou or fortified village
Day 2 In the morning we make an extended                       Keramos to the magnificent site of Knidos            the cave where St John the Divine wrote the      is recommended. We spend overnight on the
tour of the site of Ephesos which includes a                   for a day full of visits to ancient temples          Revelations which form the final book of the     quayside in Chios town.
special visit to the famed houses with mosaics                 and theatres, Byzantine churches and                 New Testament. We aim to cross to the tiny       Day 12 We bus up to the fine Byzantine
and frescoes. In the early afternoon we go to                  other picturesque ruins. The remoteness of           island of Arki for an evening walk.              Monastery of Nea Moni. In the hills above, we
the Museum of Ephesos, recently reopened                       Knidos makes it a wonderful site for botanic         Day 9 We move on to Pythagoreio on the           will see anemones as well as Fritillaria pelinaia.
after extensive renovation. We hope to follow                  exploration and many rare plants with Cretan         island of Samos and anchor on the ancient        If time allows, we stop at the abandoned village
this with a walk in the wooded hills above the                 affinities, including the Tulipa saxatilis and the   Mole constructed by the tyrant Polycrates.       of Anavatos, where in 1822, the inhabitants
delightful Ottoman village of Şirince.                         Arum creticum thrive here.                           In the afternoon, some may wish to visit the     hurled themselves off the cliff rather than
Day 3 We spend much of the day in and                          Day 6 We sail back to Bodrum, from where             excellent Archaeological Museum and walk         submit to the Turks. After lunch in the village
around the charming village of Kapıkırı                        we exit Turkey and make the short crossing           round the remains of the town of ancient         square at Avgonyma, we head north and rejoin
(ancient Heracleia) wedged between Lake                        to the Greek island of Kos. After visiting the       Samos; others may prefer to bus up into the      our boat at Langada.
Bafa and the extraordinary rock formations of                  ancient Asklepieion, set amidst fragrant pines       mountains and explore the plant life.            Day 13 A full day of botanic exploration
Beşparmakdağı – the five-fingered mountain.                    and cypress trees, we take a short drive into the    Day 10 Another full day on Samos. We             on the northeast of the island, including the
The Hellenistic ruins are scattered all over the               hills to see and smell the famous scent of the       start with the beautiful site of the Heraion     picturesque valley of Kardamyla. We hope to
landscape and we can expect to find ourselves                  Muscari macrocarpum.                                 or Sanctuary of Hera. We then cross the          climb on Mount Pelinaion to see snowdrops,
walking through countryside full of wild                       Day 7 A long, leisurely sail past Kalymnos           island to the town of Vathy to see the main      orchids and many other wild flowers.
flowers.                                                       and Leros to Patmos and the famous fortified         Archaeological Museum which houses an            Day 14 We return early to Chios town, exit
Day 4 We visit the well-preserved temple of                    Monastery of St John the Theologian. We              excellent collection of ceramics and sculpture   Greece and make the short crossing to Çeşme
Euromos in a beautiful sylvan setting and                      take taxis up to Chora to see the ‘Cretan’           including the famous colossal Kouros.            in Turkey. The motorway takes us swiftly to
then picnic at ancient Labranda, high in the                   architecture of this dazzlingly white village and    Day 11 A long sail to bustling Chios, an         Izmir and a late afternoon flight to London via
mountains. We continue to Bodrum where our                     examine the battlements of the Monastery.            island which owes much of its wealth to the      Istanbul.
boat will be waiting for us in the harbour. If                 Day 8 An early visit to the Monastery in             production of gum mastic. Those who wish         (Please note – wine and spirits are not included
time allows, there may be an optional visit to a               order to try and have it to ourselves. In the        to do so may take taxis out to Kampos to         during the land portion of this tour.)

                                                                                                                                  A: Easy terrain | B: Some steep or rough terrain | C: Steep and rough terrain | 9
Turkey, the Greek Islands & the Dalmatian Coast - 2015 Cultural Tours Private Charters Classical Tours
Cruising the Cyclades on the
Aegean Clipper
With Eve MacDonald
30 May-13 June

This idyllic tour presents a special opportunity
to experience the incomparably rich and varied
history of the Cycladic islands. Come and see some
spectacular landscapes dotted with dazzling white
villages, windmills and blue-domed chapels, wonder
at the intriguing simplicity of Bronze Age Cycladic
art with its distinctive figurines, and explore the
extensive archaeological remains on these islands.
We will visit the sacred island of Delos, birthplace of
the twins Apollo and Artemis; Naxos, where Theseus
cruelly abandoned Ariadne; and Santorini (ancient
Thera), where a devastating volcanic eruption 3600
years ago had enormous consequences for ancient
civilisation across the Aegean. The tour includes a
number of less-visited islands, among them solitary
Astypalaia, and beautiful Amorgos, where the
Chozoviotissa Monastery clings vertiginously to the
cliff-face. There is something for everyone on this
tour ranging from art and architecture to geology
and springtime sunshine – little wonder that this is
one of the most popular trips we offer.
As an archaeologist who knows these islands well,
Eve is the ideal person to accompany you on this
trip. She will take you round the sites, sometimes
with specialist local guides, and is sure to inspire you
with talks about the history, the art and the broader
cultural importance of the Cyclades from the Bronze
Age to the Byzantine era.

   Tour cost £3,580
   Single Supplement £650

                                                           Chozoviotissa Monastery, Amorgos
10 | Westminster Classic Tours 2012
                                2015
Mykonos
                          Delos

                       Paros     Naxos

                                                                     Kalymnos    Bodrum
                                                       Levitha
                                             Amorgos
                           Ios
                                                                           Kos

                                                        Astypalaia
                                 Santorini

                                   TURKEY

                                                                                             Chora, Kalymnos

                       Day 1 The beautiful Aegean Clipper awaits                 on the other side of the island (B/C), set at      can walk to the famous Portara, a monolithic        Chora, followed by the archaeological site of
                       us in Bodrum harbour, 40 minutes from the                 the top of a limestone cliff high above the sea.   6th century BC doorway and explore the              Apollo Dalios (A/B). Here, we also see the
                       airport.                                                  After lunch at a seaside restaurant, we head for   Venetian quarter. Overnight in the harbour.         remains of the early Christian basilica of Christ
                       Day 2 We aim to arrive in Kos by midday                   Akrotiri where, with the help of an expert local   Day 10 To Amorgos, perhaps the most                 in Jerusalem. Our final stop on the island is
                       and go directly to the ancient healing centre             guide, we visit the unique ash-covered houses.     beautiful island in the Aegean, where we            the marvellous Archaeological Museum. At
                       of the Asklepieion (A). We then leave for                 Another night at anchor in the caldera.            head first for Katapola and then, late in the       midday, we leave for Bodrum.
                       Kephalos Bay at the other end of the island.              Day 6 We cross to the neighbouring island of       afternoon, we drive up to Minoa (B/C), one of       Day 15 The airport is some 40 minutes from
                       If time allows, we may make a short visit to              Ios with its beautifully preserved Chora where     the island’s three ancient cities. A night in the   Bodrum harbour.
                       the ruins of the 5th century basilica of Aghios           we can wander among the chapels, taking in         harbour or nearby.                                  (Early June provides the best chance for favourable
                       Stephanos, perched on rocks close to the shore.           the stunning views and enjoying some of the        Day 11 We set off early for the unforgettable       weather conditions to cruise the Cyclades. While
                       Overnight in the bay of Kephalos.                         lovely nearby beaches.                             Chozoviotissa Monastery (B), looking in on          we will do our utmost to ensure that the itinerary
                       Day 3 We leave for Astypalaia, the most                   Day 7 Our destination is Parikia, built over       Amorgos’s picturesque former capital at Chora.      goes to plan, please bear in mind that the weather
                       westerly island of the Dodecanese. The                    ancient Paros. We visit the Ekatontapyliani,       Our gulet then moves on to Aigiali at the other     is changeable and that alterations may have to be
                       shimmering white houses of the main town                  the oldest church in the Aegean and the            end of the island. This is some of the most         made according to the whims of Zeus!)
                       climb up from the quayside to the huge 15th               small Archaeological Museum with its fine          dramatic scenery of the tour. A quiet bay for
                       century Venetian castle which once had over               sculptures. Overnight in the harbour or nearby.    the night.
                       one thousand residents. We spend the night at             Day 8 An early start for Delos (A) and an in-      Day 12 We leave for tiny Levitha, an island
                       the quiet quayside or in a bay nearby.                    depth tour of this magnificent site. We spend      farmed by a single family. There is an excellent
                       Day 4 A long sail to Santorini (Thera) where              the night in a quiet bay after a full day of       walk up to the Hellenistic fort (C).
                       we spend the night at anchor just off the town            exploration.                                       Day 13 A leisurely day spent crossing to
                       of Fira positioned dramatically on the rim of             Day 9 We leave for Naxos and take a bus            Kalymnos and a quiet bay surrounded by steep
                       the crater.                                               tour that includes the Sanctuary of Apollo at      cliffs overlooking the islet of Telendos.
                       Day 5 We take the cable car to the Museum                 Yria, the Temple of Demeter at Sangri and the      Day 14 Off to Pothia, Kalymnos’s bustling
                       of Prehistoric Thera and then move on to the              unfinished Kouros at Flerio (all A). Lunch is at   capital, for an early breakfast. We take taxis
                       site of ancient Thera, the Dorian settlement              a village taverna. Back in the town of Naxos, we   to visit the Church of the Gentle Virgin at

11 | Westminster Classic Tours 2012                                                                                                               A: Easy terrain | B: Some steep or rough terrain | C: Steep and rough terrain | 11
TURKEY
Moments in the History of
Western Art: the Islands of the
Northern Dodecanese
With Amal Asfour                                                                Samos

30 May – 7 June
                                                               Patmos           Arki
This is a journey of contrasts; of beginnings and
endings, words and images, ancient and modern,                          Leros
sacred and secular, pagan and Christian, bustling                       Kalymnos
                                                                                          Bodrum

harbours and still bays. Our first stop is Kos, where                        Pserimos
                                                                                        Kos
the perfectly proportioned marble temple to the god
Asklepios once presided over a sweep of Aegean land
and sea, its columns and pediment the very epitome
                                                                                                                   Kalymnos
of the Classical Greek temple. But the story of the
Greek temple begins in Samos, our next port of
call. A few hundred years earlier in the history of      Day 1 Arrive in Bodrum airport. A minibus will        Pythagoreio, hometown of the great Pythagoras       exiled from his native Ephesos to Patmos by
architecture, the Temple of Hera was the first sacred    take us to the harbour where our gulet and crew       whose statue presides over the entrance to the      the Romans, took refuge in a cave that we can
building ever to be surrounded by a stone colonnade.     are waiting to welcome us on board.                   port. There is time for a walk to the Logothetis    see on the walk back down to the harbour (B).
We will also see some wonderful sculpture, gleaming      Day 2 We complete Turkish exit formalities            Castle (A).                                         After lunch we move on to Leros and the port
Byzantine icons and striking, modernist architecture.    and set out for Kos and a morning visit to the        Day 4 We start the day with a visit to the          of Lakki built in the 1930s. A walk through the
                                                         Asklepieion. This is a beautiful, terraced site (A)   sanctuary of Hera (A), where the temple             streets of the town in the fading light of evening
Put all this together and you have an unusually                                                                                                                    is an evocative experience.
varied excursion through the history of Western          dedicated to Asclepios, the ancient Greek god of      dedicated to the goddess was the first of the
                                                         healing and medicine. The afternoon is free for       great Archaic temples, rivalled in size only by     Day 7 A minibus will take us around the island
Art, diverse and yet beautifully held together by the
                                                         a walk around the town of Kos and the array of        the Temple of Artemis at Ephesos. We go on          of Leros for visits to the castle at Platanos (A),
idea of ancient Greece. Just as importantly, in early
                                                         Classical ruins which meet the eye at every turn.     the Archaeological Museum in Vathy and then         the Commonwealth war cemetery and an
June the days are long, the heat still gentle and the
                                                         We move to a bay on the island of Pserimos for        to the Eupalinos tunnel, a spectacular feat of      interesting museum explaining the importance
evenings draw themselves out into fresh starry nights,   the night.                                            ancient engineering (B/C). Later in the day we      of the Battle of Leros during the Second World
the perfect setting for enjoying the superb cuisine on                                                         head for the quiet island of Arki where there       War. At the end of the day we head for a quiet
board our gulet.                                         Day 3 A long cruise northward to the island
                                                         of Samos. We moor in the ancient harbour of           should be time for a swim and a sunset walk.        bay on the island of Kalymnos.
Amal is an art historian with a fondness for the art                                                           Day 5 A leisurely morning making the most           Day 8 We sail into Pothia, the bustling capital
and architecture of early Greek civilisation. These                                                            of the blue waters of Arki before setting off for   of Kalymnos and take taxis to see the most
are her favourite islands for being so easy-going,                                                             Patmos and the harbour of Skala. We take taxis      interesting sights including the Sanctuary of
so attractive in terms of natural landscape and for                                                            uphill to Chora, where the view to the sea over     Delian Apollo and the excellent Archaeological
offering so much to see.                                                                                       the cascade of whitewashed houses and bright        Museum (A). After lunch we move on towards
                                                                                                               blue domes is marvellous. We will have a first      Bodrum stopping for a last swim on the way.
                                                                                                               look at the fortifications of the monastery and     Day 9 We say goodbye to our gulet and crew
   Tour cost £1,980                                                                                            pause for a drink in the square (A).                and head for the airport, 40 minutes from
                                                                                                               Day 6 An early visit to the Monastery and its       Bodrum harbour.
   Single Supplement £450                                                                                      treasures. Founded in honour of St John who,

12 | Westminster Classic Tours 2012
                                2015
Izmir
                                                                                                       TURKEY
Cities of Aphrodite:
Caria by Land and Sea
                                                                               Aydın
With Richard Stoneman                                                                           Nysa

5 – 14 June
                                                                                                           Aphrodisias
                                                                                 Alında

This inspiring tour takes us to three ancient                                      Labranda

cities associated with the goddess of love. First is              Bodrum
Aphrodisias, where the Anatolian deity became
the presiding spirit of a flourishing Roman city,
renowned for the quality of its marble statuary and for               Kindos
                                                                               Datça              Kaunos
                                                                                                              Göcek
its beautifully preserved buildings and monuments.                               Symi            Dalaman
                                                                                                           Lydai
Next is Knidos, the home of Praxiteles’ famous statue
                                                                                       Loryma                                 Tetrapylon Gate, Aphrodisias
of Aphrodite, the first female nude in Western art.
We also visit the extensive site of Kaunos by the
Dalyan river, where a belvedere overlooking the city      Day 1 Arrive in İzmir and transfer to the hotel                Day 5 To Datça where we exit Turkey. After        a pleasant walk up to ancient Lydai (B). This
was probably another temple of Aphrodite.                 in Aydın – a little over an hour. We stay here                 lunch we cross to Symi and those who wish to      unexcavated site in a hidden valley is a rural idyll.
                                                          for two nights.                                                can walk up the main stepped street to Chora      Day 9 A long and lazy morning after which
Our tour also includes the enchanting Greek island                                                                       for a glorious view of the town’s many churches
                                                          Day 2 We visit Aphrodisias (A), one of the                                                                       we move slowly over to the charming port of
of Symi, its harbour now dominated by the elegant                                                                        and double harbour (B/C).
                                                          most beautiful and memorable sites in Turkey.                                                                    Göcek.
houses and mansions of the prosperous mariners and        On to Nysa (A/B), situated on a ravine with its                Day 6 We re-enter Turkey and spend the night      Day 10 We set off early for Dalaman airport,
merchants of the 18th and 19th centuries. And yet,        theatre, stadium and library in which Strabo the               at anchor in the fjord at Loryma (C) overlooked
some 500 years ago the Turkish admiral Piri Reis                                                                                                                           about half an hour away, for our flight home.
                                                          geographer may well have studied in the last                   by its massive fortress walls.
described the magnificent deep harbour as being           decades BC.                                                                                                      (Please note – wine and spirits are not included
lined with vineyards, an apt reminder that wine was                                                                      Day 7 We move on to Ekincik and moor in a         during the land portion of this tour.)
always a friend to Aphrodite!                             Day 3 We leave our hotel and board a minibus                   bay underneath the umbrella pines. A local boat
                                                          which will take us by way of a scenic road and                 takes us up the Dalyan
Richard is your lecturer on this delightful and           some lovely sites to join our boat at Bodrum                   River and past the famous
relaxed tour. He is a prolific author and experienced     in the evening. First is the village of Karpuzlu               rock tombs, high above
Classicist with extensive knowledge of the history        and the site of Alında (B). A short walk upwards               us in the cliff face. We
and civilizations of Turkey and Greece. Always            takes us to the hellenistic market-building and                continue to Kaunos (B)
interesting and informative, he is also a most genial     the breathtakingly beautiful theatre. We then                  and explore the site before
and forthcoming travelling companion.                     cross a range of mountains to Labranda (B), an                 returning to our gulet as
                                                          ancient site of religious pilgrimage dedicated to              the sun is setting across
                                                          Zeus. Overnight on board the gulet in Bodrum                   the sea.
                                                          or a quiet bay nearby.                                         Day 8 We sail on, stopping
                                                          Day 4 We go to the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos                  for breakfast at ‘Unknown
  Tour cost £2,450                                        and/or the Knights’ Castle in Bodrum before                    Tooth Bay’ where the
                                                          heading for Knidos. Late in the afternoon we                   waters are the deepest
  Single Supplement £500                                  visit the main monuments of the ancient city                   aquamarine. Then on to
                                                          (A/B/C) and stay the night in the idyllic harbour.             ‘Fisherman’s Net Bay’ and

                                                                                                                                       A: Easy terrain | B: Some steep or rough terrain | C: Steep and rough terrain | 13
A Passage to Troy: Aegean Turkey
and the Greek Islands
With Richard Seaford and Jeremy Barnett
29 August – 12 September

This unique tour heads north from Bodrum, taking
in some of the high points in the architectural and
artistic legacy of an area exceptionally rich in cultural
heritage from the Classical to the Byzantine, Genoese,
Venetian and Ottoman. The trip ends in more recent
times with the battlefields and memorials of Gallipoli.
The journey along the Aegean coast of Turkey and
to the neighbouring Greek Islands highlights the
physical, historical and cultural links between
the mainland and the islands, a reminder of the
importance of ancient trade routes from the Levant to
the Black Sea. In this context, Kos, Samos and Chios
were once immensely prosperous islands and we visit
several of their most impressive monuments. Troy
and Pergamon are amongst the most notable Classical
sites worldwide. But we explore less familiar locations
on the Turkish coast for example Erythrae, the temple
of Apollo Smintheus and Alexandria Troas.
Richard is looking forward to sharing with you his
lifelong interest in the history of Ionia from Homer
to the present day, and to showing you some of
the beautiful places where the ‘Greek Miracle’ in
philosophy, art and architecture took place.
Jeremy has a taste for the unusual and has enjoyed
putting together this route tracing an interesting
path between Turkey and Greece, with the mainland
and the islands always within sight.

  Tour cost £3,450
  Single Supplement £650

                                                            Temple of Trajan, Pergamon
14 | Westminster Classic Tours 2015
Gallipoli Çanakkale

                            Troy
              Tenedos
                        Alexandria Troas
                       Smintheion
             Baba Kale        Assos
                                     Ayvalık
                                                  Pergamon

                           Bademli               Aigai

                                     Phokaia

             Chios           Erythrae          Izmir
                            ÇeŞme

                            Samos

      TURKEY

                          Pserimos             Bodrum
                                                              Temple of Athena, Assos                                                                              Chios
                                           Kos

Day 1 Arrive in Bodrum harbour, 40 minutes                   Day 6 An entire day spent touring the island      (B/C), an ancient hilltop city with interesting         We tie up in harbour and take a tour of the
from the airport, and board our gulet.                       of Chios. We visit the monastery of Nea Moni      architectural remains. In the early afternoon           island, stopping to swim and sample the local
Day 2 We leave Turkey and enter Greece at                    (A), founded in 1042 and now a UNESCO             we rejoin the boat in the tranquil setting of the       wines.
Kos. We visit the Hellenistic healing centre                 World Heritage Site; the medieval village         lagoon at Bademli, a perfect place to relax.            Day 13 Our boat drops us off on the mainland
of the Asklepieion (A) in its terraced setting               of Avgonyma with its gorgeous views; the          Day 10 An exhilarating day during which we              at Odun İskelesi from where our minibus takes
surrounded by pine trees. We move to a bay off               extraordinary abandoned cliff-top village of      visit spectacular Pergamon. We start with the           us to Alexandria Troas (B). We look at selected
the tiny island of Pserimos for the night.                   Anavatos; and the once fortified villages of      Acropolis (B) and go on the Library, the Altar          parts of this enormous site before moving on
                                                             Pirgi and Mesta.                                  of Zeus and the astonishingly steep theatre. We         to legendary Troy (A). Here, our excellent local
Day 3 To the port of Pythagoreio on Samos in
time for an evening stroll to the Church of the              Day 7 Leaving Greece, we make the 45 minute       also see the Lower City (B) and, after lunch,           guide will explain the site. We rejoin our gulet
Metamorphosis and the Logothetis Castle (A).                 crossing to Çeşme to re-enter Turkey. We then     the Asklepieion (A). We rejoin our boat at              at Çanakkale.
                                                             head north to the forgotten site of Erythrae      Ayvalık and stay the night at the quayside or at        Day 14 We cross the Dardanelles to visit
Day 4 We visit the main sites of Samos:                      set all around the pleasant fishing village of    anchor in the Hekatonisi – the Hundred Isles.
the temple of Hera (A), the Archaeological                                                                                                                             the battlefields, cemeteries and memorials
                                                             lldır. The view towards the islands from the      Day 11 We cross to the thriving fishing port            of Gallipoli (A), a most evocative place with
Museum in Vathy and the Eupalinos tunnel                     acropolis (B) is unequalled. We moor for the
(B/C). A visit to the excellent new                                                                            of Baba Kale and take our minibus to Assos              the events in the campaign of 1915 very well
                                                             night near the gendarmerie.                       (B), a wonderful site with great views over to          presented. Overnight is in the harbour at
Archaeological Museum in Pythagoreio is also
possible.                                                    Day 8 A leisurely morning cruising to the         the island of Lesvos. We wind our way around            Çanakkale.
                                                             charming seaside town of Eski Foça, ancient       the site by way of the modern village and the           Day 15 Our minibus takes us to Istanbul
Day 5 The day begins with a leisurely sail to                Phokaia. We also take a short drive to visit an   necropolis. We also visit the temple of Apollo
Chios where we berth in the harbour for two                                                                                                                            airport for early afternoon flights. The drive
                                                             elaborate rock tomb with possible Persian and     Smintheus (A).                                          of about about 5 hours takes us through the
nights. The rest of the day is spent getting                 Lycian influences. Overnight in the harbour.
acquainted with this vibrant town.                                                                             Day 12 A five hour sail brings us to the vine-          pleasant countryside of Eastern Thrace.
                                                             Day 9 Our dedicated bus takes us to Aigai         covered island of Bozcaada, ancient Tenedos.

                                                                                                                             A: Easy terrain | B: Some steep or rough terrain | C: Steep and rough terrain | 15
Caria and Lycia through
Writers’ Eyes
With Jeremy Seal
12 – 26 September

The writings of those who have been there before
inform and enhance the best journeys, and nowhere
is the literary store more rewardingly varied than
along the coast of southwest Turkey. For the shores
of Caria and Lycia are not only astonishingly
beautiful and scattered with picturesque ruins; they
are also home to an inspirational tangle of evocative
names and narratives beginning with Herodotus
of Halicarnassus, the very first historian and travel
writer and a native of the port of Bodrum where our
own journey kicks off.
We travel in the tracks of a varied band of antiquaries
and archaeologists, for example Charles Fellows, who
‘discovered’ Xanthos in the early 19th century. But
we are also in the company of some distinguished
modern travel writers and novelists among them
Freya Stark and Louis de Berniere, whose novel Birds
Without Wings is set in Kayaköy, one of the villages
we visit.
Jeremy, your tour leader, is a renowned travel writer
and seasoned gulet hand who has made Turkey his
patch. His Santa: A Life tells the story of the Byzantine
bishop St Nicholas of Myra, who would be remade
posthumously into Santa Claus and whose tale you
will hear on this literary adventure. This promises to
be an exceptionally illuminating and entertaining
journey.

  Tour cost £2,995
  Single Supplement £600

                                                            Theatre and ruins, Xanthos
16 | Westminster Classic Tours 2015
CARIA
           Bodrum

Kos
                                              Dalyan
                                           Kaunos    Dalaman
          Knidos                Selimiye             Göcek
                                                               Kadyanda
                            Loryma           Lydai        Fethiye
                                                         Gemiler               LYCIA
                                                                  Pinava
                       Rhodes                            Sidyma Xanthos
                                                                            Dereağzi Sura
                                                             Patara
                                                                     Kalkan          Myra
                                                                              Simena
                                                                          KaŞ
             TURKEY                                                                   KEKOVA

                                                                                               Theatre and harbour, Kindos

      Day 1 Arrive at Bodrum airport and transfer         Day 7 We continue to the island of Gemiler in           (A/B). We rejoin the gulet at Kaş where we         to the rock tombs and theatre at Pınara (A/B),
      to our gulet in the harbour about 40 minutes        the bay of Fethiye. From here we take a short           spend the night.                                   one of the most beautifully sited of all Turkey’s
      away.                                               minibus ride to see the ruins of Kayaköy, a             Day 12 We make our way along the coves and         ancient cities. We rejoin the gulet at Fethiye
      Day 2 We cross the Gulf of Gökova to Knidos         Greek speaking Christian village, abandoned             inlets of the coast between Kaş and Kalkan.        for the night.
      where we moor in the magnificent harbour. In        in 1923. We have lunch in a village restaurant.         There is free time in the afternoon for shopping   Day 14 A morning visit to lovely Kadyanda
      the late afternoon we visit the site (A/B/C) and    In the early evening, we visit the Byzantine            in Kalkan where we stay the night.                 (A/B) in the hills overlooking Fethiye. After
      learn of the 1858 British excavations and the       monastic settlement on Gemiler itself.                                                                     lunch we cross to Göcek stopping on the way
                                                                                                                  Day 13 A minibus takes us for a day trip to
      contentious removal to the British Museum of        Day 8 We sail to Kalkan. We visit Xanthos (A),          the lesser-known sites of the mountainous          for a last swim.
      the city’s magnificent stone lion.                  the capital of ancient Lycia, and the port city         hinterland. We see Pydnai (A), an ancient          Day 15 We leave for Dalaman airport, about
      Day 3 A leisurely day spent working our way         of Patara (A), site of one of the world’s oldest        shore fortress, before heading to remote           half an hour’s drive from Göcek.
      along the Datça Peninsula. We stop in the bay       extant lighthouses. Overnight in Kalkan.                Sidyma (A). In the afternoon there is a visit
      of Bencik and in the lovely bay of Selimiye         Day 9 We set off for the ancient port of Aperlae
      where we stay the night.                            where we stop for lunch before continuing
      Day 4 We make for Loryma where, in the              to Kekova. We make an evening visit to the
      cool of the late afternoon, we visit the ancient    delightful waterside village of Kaleköy, ancient
      fortifications (B).                                 Simena, and walk up to its citadel (B).

      Day 5 An early start for Ekincik where a            Day 10 We head for Andriake to visit the
      local boat ferries us up the Dalyan River past      splendid theatre at Myra (A) and the impressive
      dramatic rock tombs to visit the extensive ruins    remains of Hadrian’s imperial granaries (A).
      at Kaunos (A/B). Overnight at Ekincik.              Overnight off Kekova Island.

      Day 6 A long sail to Ağlimanı. In the afternoon     Day 11 We put ashore in Üçağız for an inland
      we walk up a Roman path (B) to the ridge of a       trip, stopping off for views of the renowned
      hill crowned with the remains of the mausolea       fish oracle at Sura on the way to the dramatic
      of a wealthy local family. The unexcavated site     road up the Demre Canyon and the ruins of
      of Lydai lies in the valley below.                  the remarkable Byzantine basilica at Dereağzı

                                                                                                                               A: Easy terrain | B: Some steep or rough terrain | C: Steep and rough terrain | 17
Gallipoli

Cities and Coasts: From Troy to                                                             Çanakkale

Ephesos along the Ionian Shore                                         Tenedos
                                                                                         Troy

                                                                                    Alexandria Troas
With Eve MacDonald                                                                 Smintheion
                                                                     Baba Kale            Assos
13 – 25 September
                                                                               Lesvos             Ayvalık
                                                                                                               Pergamon

                                                                                        Bademli               Aigai
This journey begins at the Dardanelles, the narrow                                                Phokaia
strait that links the Aegean Sea to the Sea of
Marmara. Strategically positioned, these waters                        Chios             Erythrae           Izmir
                                                                                    ÇeŞme
have been fought over throughout history. Here,                                         Sığacık
near the western entrance to the strait, Homer's             TURKEY
                                                                                                Teos
                                                                                                                    SelÇuk
Troy faces the monuments that commemorate the
                                                                                                KuŞadası            Ephesos
battles at Gallipoli during the First World War. Our
                                                                                                                              Temple of Hadrian, Ephesos
exploration of the Gallipoli Peninsula is a thought-
provoking and moving experience. This wide-
ranging tour also takes us to two of Turkey's most       Day 1 We arrive at Istanbul airport, about 5                     necropolis. We return to the boat making a stop         take a short drive to visit an elaborate rock tomb
magnificent Classical sites: Pergamon and Ephesos.       hours by minibus from our gulet in Çanakkale.                    to visit the Temple of Apollo Smintheion (A),           with Persian and Lycian influences.
But we also explore sites well off the beaten track,     Day 2 We cross the Dardanelles by ferry to                       the mouse-god.                                          Day 10 Today’s journey takes us along the
discovering the array of cities and settlements that     visit the battlefields, cemeteries and memorials                 Day 6 A leisurely morning cruising through              beautifully bare coast of the Karaburun
populated this stretch of coast during antiquity. To     of Gallipoli (A). This is an especially evocative                the archipelago of the Hekatonisi, the Hundred          peninsula. We walk up to the site of Erythrai
facilitate our excursions we will have the luxury of     place and the events of the 1915 campaign are                    Isles, where we swim in a secluded bay before           (B). From the Temple of Athena Polias there are
our own minibus following our route as we sail along     well presented.                                                  crossing to Ayvalık which, until the 1920s, was         fine views over to the Greek Island of Chios.
the Ionian coast. There is an excellent balance here     Day 3 We visit the Çanakkale Museum and                          largely populated by Greeks.                            Day 11 We cruise through the straits between
between an exciting schedule of visits and time to       continue by minibus to Alexandria Troas (B)                      Day 7 We visit the fabulous site of Pergamon            Çeşme and Chios and then head for Sığacık,
unwind and reflect on what we see. The swimming,         to see the harbour and selected parts of this                    (B), a drive of about an hour. We start with            a walled town with a fishing harbour and
whether in the clear waters off Tenedos or in the        enormous site. Late in the afternoon, we visit                   the Acropolis (B) and go on to the library, the         marina. Our bus takes us to the nearby site of
lagoon at Bademli, is excellent.                         Troy (A) with an excellent local guide.                          remains of the Altar of Zeus and the steep theatre      Teos (B) to see the harbour, odeion, theatre and
                                                                                                                          with its sweeping views. We also visit the Lower        temple of Dionysos. It is a large but charming,
Eve is an experienced archaeologist and enthusiastic     Day 4 An early start for the splendid transit
                                                         through the Dardanelles to the Island of                         City (B) before lunch at a local restaurant. Next       unfrequented site.
traveller with a keen interest in this part of Turkey,                                                                    we visit the Asklepieion (A) before rejoining our
both ancient and modern. She is looking forward to       Tenedos, modern Bozcaada. We anchor in a                                                                                 Day 12 We move on to Kuşadası. Our bus
                                                         bay to which the Greeks are reputed to have                      gulet at the lagoon of Bademli.                         takes us to the museum of Ephesos in Selçuk
arriving at these sites the way the ancients did, by
boat, and sharing with you the new perspective that      withdrawn their ships during the siege of Troy.                  Day 8 Another day spent in this delightful              and then to the Temple of Artemis. We visit the
this gives the landscape.                                We tour this vine-covered island, stopping for                   anchorage. Those with energy enough to tackle           site itself (A/B), walking down the street of the
                                                         a swim on one of the many pristine beaches,                      a slightly more difficult but glorious site can visit   Curetes, past the library and then to the theatre
                                                         ending the day with a visit to a local winery.                   Aigai (B/C), a drive of about 75 minutes. If not,       where St Paul was denounced. We also see the
                                                         Day 5 We move on to Baba Kale, a thriving                        there is the opportunity to stay on board, swim         famous houses with their mosaics and frescoes.
  Tour cost £2,990                                       fishing port, where our minibus takes us to                      in the lagoon or stroll through the olive groves.       Overnight in the marina or nearby.

  Single Supplement £600                                 Assos (B). We visit the Temple of Athena and                     Day 9 A leisurely day cruising to Eski Foça,            Day 13 The transfer to the airport at İzmir takes
                                                         then inspect the mighty defence walls and the                    ancient Phokaia, a lovely seaside town. We also         just under an hour.

18 | Westminster Classic Tours 2015
Hittites and Carians: Golden Days
with Midas and Mausolus
With Richard Stoneman and Pınar Uşşaklı
                                                                                                                    Çorum
21 September – 3 October                                                                                     Ankara
                                                                                                          Gordion

This year, for the very first time, WCT is offering
                                                                              Denizli
a really special tour to the lands of the ancient              Aphrodisias

Hittite Kingdom. The Hittites ruled central Anatolia             Bodrum           Dalaman Airport
for much of the second millennium BC and have                   Selimiye Kaunos
                                                                                GÖcek
                                                            Knidos
recently been the subject of a fascinating television              Loryma     Lydai
documentary. In preparation for the site visits that                                                       TURKEY

we make on this tour, we start off in Ankara with
                                                                                                                              Sphinx Gate, Alaca Höyük
the superb Museum of Anatolian Civilisations,
arguably the finest museum in Turkey. We visit
the Hittite capital, Hattuşa, with its temples and              Day 1 We arrive in Ankara and check into our          comfortable hotel in Denizli.                          up the Dalyan River to visit the site of Kaunos
sculptures and learn about a people whose history               hotel, approximately an hour from the airport.        Day 6 We visit Aphrodisias, one of the most            where the ancient inhabitants, half Carian and
was unknown until their language was deciphered                 Day 2 A full morning visiting the Citadel and         beautiful sites in Turkey where excavations are        half Lycian, worshipped Zeus in the form of a
just a century ago.                                             the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. In the         ongoing. The recently updated museum houses            meteorite (A/B). Overnight in Ekincik.
                                                                afternoon we see the Anıt Kabir, the Mausoleum        an unparalleled collection of sculpture. In the late   Day 11 Our gulet takes us to the bay of
We then cross the vast, dramatic landscape of                   of Kemal Atatürk (A). A symbol of the birth of        afternoon we arrive in Bodrum and we spend the         Ağlimanı where the swimming is marvellous
the Anatolian plateau to the greener lands of the               the Turkish Republic, this impressive complex         night in a bay just outside the harbour.               and there is a good walk along a Roman way to
Phrygian kingdom, once ruled by Midas of the                    with its gardens and museum is a moving                                                                      the bucolic valley in which lies the site of Lydai,
golden touch, and on through Caria to Bodrum,                                                                         Day 7 A leisurely morning visiting Bodrum
                                                                experience, essential to understanding what           Castle and the remains of the Mausoleum                as yet unexcavated.
ancient Halikarnassos. Along the way we meet the                drives modern Turkey. A second night in our
goddess of love at ancient Aphrodisias.                                                                               of King Mausolus, one of the Seven Ancient             Day 12 We proceed to the pretty harbour town
                                                                hotel in Ankara.                                      Wonders of the World (A). In the afternoon we          of Göcek for our last night.
Richard, your lecturer and chairman of WCT, is an               Day 3 An early start for a tour of the major          sail to Knidos and begin our exploration of the        Day 13 Transfer to Dalaman airport, about half
expert on the ancient history of Turkey and loves to            Hittite sites, the capital at Hattusa and the         site. We stay the night in the beautiful harbour       an hour from Göcek, for the flight to London.
communicate his enthusiasm for the country. Pınar,              mysterious rock carvings of Hittite gods and          where it is always a pleasure to swim.
                                                                kings at Yazılıkaya (A). We spend the night at                                                               (Please note – wine and spirits are not included
your tour leader, is from Ankara and is your link to                                                                  Day 8 We further investigate Knidos and the            during the land portion of this tour.)
modern Turkey, a gracious and dependable organiser              the excellent Hotel Anitta in Çorum.                  location of the Temple of Aphrodite which
of all practical aspects of the tour. Together, they look       Day 4 After enjoying the lovely, small collection     sheltered the world’s first female nude statue
forward to making your trip work like a dream!                  in Çorum Museum, we visit the Hittite site of         (B). Later in the day we move on to charming
                                                                Alaca Höyük (A). We return to our hotel in            village of Selimiye where we spend the night.
                                                                Ankara for the night.                                 Day 9 On to the bay of Loryma to swim and to
                                                                Day 5 An exhilarating drive over the Anatolian        climb to the spectacular fortress with its views of
  Tour cost £2,800                                              plateau and through the rolling hills of Phrygia      the island of Rhodes (C).
  Single Supplement £600                                        to Denizli. On the way we visit Gordion (A),          Day 10 We continue to Ekincik and transfer
                                                                once King Midas’s capital. Overnight is in a          by flat-bottomed boat through the reed beds

                                                                                                                                     A: Easy terrain | B: Some steep or rough terrain | C: Steep and rough terrain | 19
Islands and Peninsulas: An
Autumn Cruise through the                                                        Bodrum

Southern Dodecanese                                                      Kos

With Jeremy Seal                                                               Knidos   Datça
3 October – 10 October                                         Nisyros
                                                                                          Symi

The crowds thin long before the warmth dissipates                                                                 Rhodes
in the southern Dodecanese. Now’s the time to visit
a lovely region that boasts two of the ancient world’s                                           Skala Kameiros
Seven Wonders, many of the Mediterranean’s most
                                                                                                Rhodes
enchanting harbours and some truly exceptional
                                                               TURKEY
swim spots.
This is a tour that celebrates the long and varied                                                                         Medieval City Walls, Rhodes Town
history of this area, taking in the classical site of the
Asklepieion on Kos, the remote Hellenistic port of          Day 1 The transfer from Bodrum Airport to the              in Rhodes town where the Colossus, one of the       its Underwater Archaeology Museum. The
Knidos on Turkey’s Datça Peninsula, the medieval            harbour takes about 40 minutes.                            Seven Wonders, once dominated the view. In          fruit and vegetable market and the streets of
walled city of Rhodes as well as the colourful beauty                                                                  the afternoon we stroll through the medieval        Bodrum brimming with artisan-made leather
                                                            Day 2 We cruise to nearby Kos for a visit to
of Symi’s neoclassical harbour. This is also a journey                                                                 town with its massive walls and labyrinthine        sandals, olive oil soap, cotton hamam towels
                                                            the ancient healing centre of the Asklepieion,
that glories in stunning natural landscapes, not least                                                                 streets leaving time to admire the Italian          and ‘geniune fake’ bags are always a temptation!
                                                            a splendid site which provides a wealth of
of which is the dramatic, active volcanic caldera on        insights into the origins of modern medicine               rationalist architecture in the new part of town.   Day 8 An early departure for the airport.
Nisyros, all the while leaving plenty of time for the       (A). After lunch we sail for Nisyros and venture           Day 5 We visit the Archaeological Museum, the
still-warm waters of deserted clear, blue bays.             into the other-worldly volcanic caldera, with its          synagogue and the Jewish Museum. After lunch
                                                            fumaroles and bubbling mud pools (A/B). We                 we sail for Symi, stopping to swim in St George’s
Your guide is Jeremy Seal, a renowned and good-
                                                            enjoy an early evening drink in the village of             Bay. There is an optional climb (C) up the broad
humoured travel writer who has been exploring these
                                                            Nikia high above the crater.                               stairways lined by handsome neoclassical houses
compelling regions for thirty years. Jeremy, especially
                                                                                                                       to the church-topped heights above the harbour.
at home on gulets, is richly versed in the literature,      Day 3 A walk through the town of Nisyros
history and lore of an area defined by its location         brings us to the delightful shaded Plaka                   Day 6 We enter Turkey at Datça, stopping for
on the faultline between East and West. He will             Ilikiomenis (Square of the Elderly). Those                 swimming and lunch at İnci Burnu. At the
be delighted to share his stories and experiences           who reject such a title may push on uphill to              uninhabited extremity of the Datça Peninsula
with you.                                                   the massive walls of the acropolis (B/C). We               we enter the ancient harbour at Knidos,
                                                            then sail south stopping for a swim and lunch              where a magnificent theatre spills down to the
                                                            off Tilos before moving on to the twin islets              water’s edge. After walking this extensive and
                                                            of Halki and Alimia where we anchor for the                evocative site, once home to the lion statue now
                                                            night.                                                     prominently displayed in the Atrium of the
                                                            Day 4 An early start brings us to the fishing              British Museum, we spend a peaceful night in
  Tour cost £1,850                                          port of Skala Kameiros on Rhodes where a bus               the harbour.
                                                            delivers us to the ancient town of Kameiros (A).           Day 7 We leave for Bodrum where the afternoon
  Single Supplement £450                                    After a visit to the castle of Knights of St John          is free for visits to the great mausoleum, one
                                                            at Kritinia, we rejoin our gulet at the harbour            of the Seven Wonders, or to the castle with

20 | Westminster Classic Tours 2015
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