SHIPWRECKS, TOMBS, & TEMPLES
With Professor George Bass
July 30-August 10, 2010
Dear Friends:
Fifty years ago, George Bass led an extraordinary expedition to Cape Gelidonya, Turkey to conduct the first complete scientific excavation of an ancient shipwreck . That 1960 expedition not only made history; it changed the history books as the discoveries at Gelidonya changed our view of ancient Bronze Age trade. I am inviting you to join George Bass for a very special 50th anniversary trip along the western coast of Turkey. We have designed the trip to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Gelidonya, where you can visit a team of archaeologists, including veterans of the original project from 50 years ago, as INA re-excavates and studies the site to learn more with tools and techniques not available a half century ago. You will also, traveling with George, get a personal and up close view and hear firsthand about his and INA's fifty years of work as amazing 
discoveries have been made at the bottom of the sea. We have included a number of special features in the trip. Our welcome will be in the gardens of the Bodrum headquarters of the Institute, where you will meet INA's team from past and present, and where you can visit the laboratories where ancient finds are preserved and analyzed. A special banquet will be held in the Castle of St. John which houses Bodrum's Museum of Underwater Archaeology, founded with assistance from INA and where the finds from 50 years of underwater excavations are displayed. Your guides will be the archaeologists who excavated these wrecks...a rare and unique opportunity. At Patara, we join a staff member of the archaeological project to gain an insider's view of the excavations and discoveries made there. You will then journey to Gelidonya, where INA's ship Virazon will be anchored over the site and the team will welcome you and share their work and finds. You will never have a better "over the shoulder" chance to experience archaeology on this coast. Initial interest has been extremely strong, so I urge you to send your reservation in now. Please join George Bass, the "father of underwater archaeology" as we explore the wonders of ancient Turkey and its shipwrecks, visit the site where underwater archaeology was born, and see first hand what the next generation of nautical archaeologists are doing to discover lost and submerged history. We look forward to sharing new discoveries and insights with you on our journey together!
James P. Delgado, PhD
President and CEO
Institute of Nautical Archaeology
Click here to request a printer friendly Shipwrecks, Tombs, and Temples brochure
(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
Day 1: Depart the United States for our archaeological tour with a final destination of Bodrum, Turkey
DAY 2: Arrive Bodrum. As a port with a rich history that spans thousands of years of continuous inhabitation, charming Bodrum has an incredibly rich past. In ancient times known as Halicarnassus, this town is the location of the Tomb of King Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today this vibrant town is home for Turkish artists and intellectuals, and a major boat building and yachting center. Gather for our gala welcome dinner in the garden of the Institute of Archaeology, hosted by the INA staff. Overnight in Bodrum’s five star Hotel Bodrium for two nights. (D)
DAY 3: Today begins in the 15th century Castle of Saint Peter, built by the Knights of Saint John as part of a network of fortresses to defend the southeastern Aegean. It now houses the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, the most visited archaeological museum in Turkey. Here, view the remains of six shipwrecks excavated by Dr. George Bass and his teams since 1960, including the oldest known seagoing vessel, a royal ship that sank off Uluburun at the time of King Tut! Lunch will be in one of the seaside villages scattered along the shores of Bodrum Peninsula. In the afternoon, go to the Turkish headquarters of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, noted for archaeological excavations around the world, to enjoy a specially arranged talk on underwater archaeology. This evening, enter the Castle of Saint Peter for a specially-arranged private dinner party hosted by the museum director and his staff. (B/L/D)
DAY 4: This morning we board our 16-cabin yacht and our cruise begins! The Datça peninsula is a thin strip of lush unpopulated land that is now a National Reserve. Well-known for its natural beauty, the forests contain wild goats and brown bear, and the area is an important habitat for the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal. This morning we motor-sail across the Gulf of Gökova. Make landfall at the tip of the Datça Peninsula, the location of ancient Knidos, a city founded in the 3rd century B.C. With fine harbors at both ends of Knidos, it became a trading center noted especially for wine. Among the remains here is the Temple of Aphrodite, dedicated to Aphrodite Euploia, the patroness of navigation. Discovered in 1969 by the aptly named archaeologist Iris Love, Aphrodite's shrine stands below the acropolis with views over both harbors and the sea beyond. There will be time for a swim before lunch onboard. Then it’s on to Datça, a sleepy village surrounded by four bays and lovely sand beaches. Enjoy dinner in one of the town’s typical restaurants. (B/L/D)
DAY 5: Towering over the clear waters of Bozuk Bay is Loryma with its impressive fortification wall crowning the summit of the mountain. The eight-foot-thick walls of finely-finished blocks hold nine watch towers. This military structure was sacred to Zeus Atabyrius, a deity peculiar to Rhodes. Those who do not wish to hike to the summit to explore this spectacular site may choose to swim in the lovely and secluded bay where the boat is anchored. In the afternoon, motor on to Serce Limani for dinner and overnight onboard in the bay where the Institute of Nautical Archaeology excavated the medieval “Glass Wreck” we saw in the Bodrum Museum. (B/L/D)
DAY 6: We meander south to Ekincek and climb aboard a small boat to putt-putt up the meandering Dalyan River. As we travel through the lovely reed-lined banks of the river, view magnificent royal temple tombs towering above in the cliff face. At the end of the short boat ride is Kaunos, an important Carian fishing center in ancient times. Although initially settled during the 9th century BC, the buildings standing today are Greco-Roman and include a recently-excavated Byzantine church. After lunch in the nearby village of Dalyan, drive to Fethiye to meet our boat. The Gulf of Fethiye is one of the most scenic areas in Turkey. Protected by the jutting peaks of the snow-capped Taurus Mountains, hundreds of secluded coves and bayslie along the shoreline and the emerald water is sprinkled with a multitude of tiny islands. Cruise for two hours to Gemiler Island, a Byzantine trading port dominated by a basilica. Remains of the city completely cover the small island and are visible beneath the water's surface along the shore. Those with a spirit of adventure will want to climb to the summit. During the walk, pass the ruins of churches, small chapels, tombs and sarcophagi, and an immense covered walkway which leads to the cathedral dominating the island. Here, observe exquisite, still intact mosaic floors. Dinner and overnight onboard. (B/L/D)
DAY 7: Motor further south this morning, and after lunch onboard, travel by minibus to two important cities of the Lykian federation. In Xanthos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the fine theater is dominated by monumental carved tombs. The lovely Nereid Monument in the British Museum comes from this site. Inspect a wealth of amazing items still in situ, including the Harpy Tomb and the 5th century BC Xanthian Obelisk, a tall pillar tomb covered on all four sides with Greek and the longest Lykian inscription known to exist. After the 4th century BC, nearby Patara was the capital of the Lykian Federation and its port. Today the harbor has completely silted in and the resulting five-mile-long beach is considered the most beautiful in southern Turkey. Over the centuries, the magnificent buildings have been covered by the blowing sand. Turkish archaeologists have been excavating here for more than a decade, and they are restoring the city to its former grandeur. We have made special arrangements to meet with a member of the archaeological staff for a private tour of the excavations and learn about the latest discoveries. Drive on to Kas where our vessel awaits. Ruins of the ancient town of Antiphellus are scattered through the modern buildings, and across the water the Greek island of Kastellorizo is visible. There will be time to explore the shops surrounding the sleepy town square. (B/L/D)
DAY 8: This part of the coast, heavily indented and full of isolated caves and islets, encompasses some of Lykia's most spectacular scenery. Hundreds of tombs dot the hillsides, many rising from the waters of the inlets. Today, we will motor over Uluburun, the place where the Institute of Nautical Archaeology raised the Bronze Age shipwreck that was viewed in the Bodrum Museum. Continue to Kekova, a national underwater park that features submerged ruins of an earlier civilization, still visible beneath the crystal-clear waters. The village of Kale is set on the ancient city of Simena. Our climb up the hillside takes us to both the Lykian citadel and a crusader's fortress, perched at the top of the mountain. As we climb down, stop to investigate a theater that is the smallest built in a Lykian city and take some time to explore the teahouses and shops dotting the fishing village below. Dinner this evening will be in one of the simple restaurants onshore. (B/L/D)
DAY 9: Along the northern shore of Kekova Island, earthquakes have disturbed the land causing some of the ancient houses to sink below the sea, creating a sunken city. Our vessel will motor along the island’s shore in order for us to see this city, before continuing to Gelidonya. Today will be spent at Cape Gelidonya where in 1960 the first ancient shipwreck was excavated in its entirety on the seabed, a wreck that rewrote much of Bronze Age history. Celebrate with George Bass the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of modern underwater archaeology while watching his former students conduct a new excavation at the site with modern equipment not available in 1960. Dinner and overnight onboard. (B/L/D)
DAY 10: Today you may either relax onboard or join optional tours. Travel to the rarely visited site of Arykanda, perched high in the Taurus Mountains. Its strategic location allowed it to control ancient trade routes, and the city’s remains are truly magnificent. Built of huge basaltic stone blocks, many of the monumental buildings still stand, including its odeon, theater, stadium and immense Roman bath. Enjoy an unforgettable lunch of freshly-caught fish, salad, and cold beer outside in the gardens of a traditional trout farm. Alternatively, travel to Limyra, located on the Limyrus River. This ancient city is thought to date back to the Hittite period, although archaeological excavations in the 1960's failed to prove this conclusively. Most of what is seen today is from the Lykian and Roman imperial eras, two periods which overlapped all over Lykia. (B/L/D)
DAY 11: We sadly leave our yacht this morning and drive along the lovely southern coast to Antalya, originally a Roman port, and today one of Turkey's loveliest cities. The principal resort on the Mediterranean, Antalya is magnificently situated atop 150 foot-tall cliffs overlooking the sea. Transfer to the Hotel Doğan, a beautifully restored 19th-century Ottoman home located within the Roman walls encircling the ancient section of town, and our home for tonight. In the afternoon, enjoy a walking exploration of the kaleiçi, the delightful old port section of the city. This picturesque quarter with its narrow winding streets and lovely Ottoman wooden houses has won several national and international architectural awards for its beautiful restoration. The charm of the ancient Roman and later Ottoman architectural styles has been maintained with outdoor cafes, restaurants, hotels, and shops housed in the old buildings along the twisting cobblestoned streets. Gather this evening for our festive final dinner party in one of Antalya’s finest restaurants. (B/L/D)
DAY 12: An early transfer to Antalya International Airport transfer for our flight back to the United States. (B)
NOTE: Additional days can be arranged for further explorations of Antalya, Cappadocia or Istanbul.
DAY 1: Depart the United States with a final destination of Izmir, Turkey.
DAY 2: Arrive Izmir. Upon arrival, transfer to Kusadası and the Hotel Kismet, our home for two nights. Dinner will be in the gardens with views across the Aegean Sea. (D)
DAY 3: Of all the cities of ancient Turkey, Ephesus is the most visited. Dedicated to the virgin goddess of the chase, the city is the site of the Temple of Diana (Artemis), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the Church of Saint John. We will walk through the church where St. John spoke, and visit the classic city of Ephesus with its beautiful 2nd century Library of Celsus, the burial place of Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, the governor of the province of Asia. Then it’s on to the nearby Selcuk Museum containing striking artifacts found in the nearby excavations. Dinner tonight will be in a local restaurant, renowned for its fresh seafood. (B/L/D)
DAY 4: During today’s drive, we explore three extraordinary ancient sites. Miletus was a powerful Greek force before the 5th century, and features a colossal theater crowned with a crusader's castle on top. The temple at Didyma housed the oracle who declared Alexander the Great to be the son of Zeus. Euromus contains a classically proportioned temple with columns still supporting the crossbeams. Continue to Bodrum. Today this charming town is home for Turkish artists and intellectuals, and a major boat building and yachting center. Join the group this afternoon for our gala welcome dinner in the garden of the Institute of Archaeology, hosted by the INA staff. (B/L/D)
George F. Bass, founder of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology based at Texas A&M University, where he is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus, has conducted shipwreck excavations and underwater surveys off the Turkish coast since 1960. He has been awarded the Archaeological Institute of America's Gold Medal for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement, an Explorers Club Lowell Thomas Award, a National Geographic Society La Gorce Gold Medal and the Society’s Centennial Award, the J.C. Harrington Medal from The Society for Historical Archaeology, and honorary doctorates by Boghaziçi University in Istanbul and the University of Liverpool. In 2002 President George W. Bush presented him with the National Medal of Science.
July 30 - August 10, 2010
Pre-Trip Extension: July 28- 31, 2010
$8,895.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes Professor George Bass as study leader; group accommodations based on double occupancy; meals as noted in the itinerary; airport transfers; entry fees to sites named in itinerary; airport transfers for the group flight into Bodrum and out of Antalya; all ground transportation; wine, beer, soft drinks, gin, vodka, and bottled water while onboard the vessel; gratuities to drivers and guides; gratuities to the yacht crew; emergency evacuation insurance for each participant; and luggage handling.
Cost Does Not Include: Flights from the USA to Bodrum, Turkey and from Antalya, Turkey to the USA; a separate tax-deductible check for $300.00 per person to ‘The Institute of Nautical Archaeology’; airport or departure fees; alcoholic drinks, beverages or food not included on regular menus; passport or visa fees; excess baggage charges; laundry; personal tips; email, telephone and fax charges; or other items of a personal nature.
Single Supplement: $2225.00. Far Horizons will attempt to find a roommate for participants requesting that we do so. However, if one is not available, the single supplement will be charged. NOTE: Only two single supplements are available onboard the yacht.
Pre-Trip Extension Price: $2395.00 (Based on a minimum of 6 participants, per person, double occupancy)
Pre-Trip Extension Cost Does Not Include: passport or visa fees; airport or departure taxes; beverages or food not included on regular menus; laundry; excess baggage charges; personal tips; gratuities to guides and drivers; alcoholic drinks; telephone and fax charges; or other items of a personal nature.
Single Supplement: $195.00. Far Horizons will attempt to find a roommate for participants requesting that we do so. However, if one is not available, the single supplement will be charged.
Fuel Surcharges: Far Horizons must pass on price increases when additional fuel charges are levied.
Donation Checks: The cost of the trip does not include the separate donation check for $300.00 (per person) to ‘The Institute of Nautical Archaeology’. As a tour company that benefits from the historical, cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to scholars, archaeological and cultural projects, and museums in each of our destinations. This has created a bond with the academic community that allows you to gain an ‘insider’s view’ of work being done in each country.
A deposit check for $1000.00 made out to ‘Far Horizons’ along with a separate check for $300.00 per person to ‘The Institute of Nautical Archaeology’ will confirm your reservation. Please mail both checks to Far Horizons, P.O. Box 2546, San Anselmo, CA 94960 with a letter noting your contact information and requesting a registration form. Final payment is due on May 1, 2010 (90 days before departure). If you have any questions regarding the itinerary, please contact Far Horizons, (800) 552-4575. .Click here to download our Registration Form.
Cancellations received in writing at least 90 days before departure (May 1, 2010) will receive a refund less a $300.00 administrative fee. There are no refunds after that date. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, neither the Institute of Nautical Archaeology nor Far Horizons will reimburse any fees. Upon registering for the trip the purchase of travel protection with both trip cancellation and emergency evacuation is strongly advised.
If you do not fly on the group flight, you are responsible for all flight arrangements and transportation (including airport transfers) to join the group. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased.
Changes in our itinerary, accommodations and transportation schedules may occur. A good book to read as well as a flexible attitude and a sense of humor are essential.
The private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be onsite when our groups arrive due to other commitments.
B-B YACHT
THIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOUR IS LIMITED TO 28 PARTICIPANTS
