The stunning Dodecanese Islands of Greece dotting the azure waters of the Aegean Sea hug the southwest shoreline of Türkiye. They offer the traveler a glimpse into the intriguing and varied civilizations that have existed in this region for millennia.
The unsurpassed means to see and fully appreciate this region and its unique history is by sea. To travel aboard a charming Turkish wooden gulet (traditional yacht) with only eight other participants offers a truly memorable 9-day experience.
This Dodecanese islands tour begins and ends in Türkiye. Cruise through the azure waters of the Aegean to explore Kos, Nisyros, Tilos, Symi, and Rhodes, and along the way, learn that even the smallest island boasts stunning ancient temples, striking Byzantine churches, and medieval castles built when the islands were controlled by the Knights of Rhodes.
This little-explored and remote part of Greece has a long history quite separate from that of mainland Greece.
Highlights will be many and include the medieval city of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site still surrounded by formidable fortification walls; and Bodrum Castle in Türkiye, on UNESCO’s tentative list. Won’t you join us?
Picture yourself sitting on the teak deck of a 90-foot yacht surrounded by breathtaking vistas, and azure seas with an indigo sky above, one of only eight others onboard.
Imagine watching a glorious crimson sunset and then the canopy of stars as it slowly appears overhead. Dream of a smiling crewman handing you a frosty drink and then serving you delectable cuisine created by your personal chef.
See yourself standing next to the captain as he steers the craft into a silent bay, once an ancient port. Our craft, a Turkish gulet, is an all-wooden handcrafted motor sailer (YES! It sails!) that has been carefully chosen for its comfort and service.
Continue reading to learn more about this Far Horizons adventure. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Arrive in Istanbul and connect on a flight to Bodrum, one of the loveliest towns on the western coast of Türkiye. Late this afternoon, we board our yacht and begin our cruise to Karaada, a small Turkish island at the entrance of the harbor of Bodrum in the Aegean Sea. Gather on deck this evening for cocktails and our welcome dinner under the stars. (B/L/D)
As a place where people have lived continuously for thousands of years, Bodrum has an incredibly rich past. Dominating the harbor is the Castle of St. Peter, begun in 1402 by the Knights Hospitallers of St. John as part of a network of fortresses to defend the southeastern Aegean.
After clearing customs, we will cruise past the beautiful islands of Leposo and Leros to Kos. The Knights of St. John, who were established on Rhodes, took control of Kos in 1315 AD. A century later, they built the superb fortress that stands today at the entrance of Kos harbor.
The afternoon and dinner are on our own to explore the town and its restaurants before returning to the yacht. (B/L)
In antiquity, Kos was renowned for its healing Temple of Asklepios, which functioned as a hospital for about a thousand years before finally falling into disrepair. We will take the Blue Train to visit this site in the morning.
In the afternoon, we pull the anchor and motor to Nisyros. According to Greek mythology, this island was formed during the battle between the Giants and the Gods. Our walk takes us along winding lanes to the Monastery of the Madonna of the Caves (Panagia Spiliani), the patroness of the island. Built in 1600, it is linked with many traditions and has a lovely 18th-century iconostasis.
Then it’s on to the island’s highlight, the still-active volcanic crater that formed this land mass.
Dinner is on our own to search for a local restaurant in the old part of Nisyros town. Overnight onboard in Nisyros. (B/L)
Move on to Tilos, which, according to legend, was named after the youngest son of Helios and the sea nymph Alia. It is an unspoiled Aegean Island with nineteen beaches, twelve mountains, seven medieval castles, a Byzantine monastery and two hundred churches, a cave full of natural discoveries, a village that is declared a cultural monument, one hundred bird species, hundreds of wildflowers and herbs, and five hundred residents.
We will have time to explore the island, including St. Panteleimonas Monastery, originally built in 1470. The sanctuary’s zenith was reached during the 18th and 19th centuries when it printed bank notes used on the island, owned vast tracts of land with animal herds, and served as a key economic as well as spiritual center. We pass through a walled courtyard leading to the church, whose inspiring, centuries-old frescoes have been restored after the removal of the plaster covering created during the Turkish occupation.
In Megalo Chorio, view the Fortress of Misaria, a medieval building founded by the Knights of Saint John. Elephants lived on the island from 45,000 years ago and disappeared in the second millennium BC. Learn about this curiosity in the Dwarf Elephant Museum.
Dinner will be onboard. (B/L/D)
This morning, we will explore the rocky, mountainous island of Symi, northwest of Rhodes, and one of the most beautiful of the Dodecanese chain. It was part of the Roman Empire, then the Byzantine Empire, and was then conquered by the Knights of St. John in 1373. The deep harbor is like a theater, with elegant, multi-colored two- and three-story 19th-century Neo-Classical homes of the former sponge trading merchants climbing up the steep hillsides. The high hill overlooking the harbor is Kastro, with the original settlement of Chorá and dominated by the Church of Megali Panagia, containing beautiful frescoes and the ruins of the Byzantine castle that was expanded by the Knights of St. John.
The afternoon is free to explore the town with dinner on our own. (B/L)
This evening’s dinner is free to search out one of Pothia’s seaside tavernas. (B/L)
After breakfast, we will motor to Rhodes. The island has always been important strategically, and its position on the vital trade routes in the eastern Mediterranean has greatly influenced the course of its history. Protected by impregnable 14th-century walls, the medieval city is renowned for its archaeological treasures and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Knights of the Order of St. John occupied Rhodes from 1309 to 1523 and set about transforming it into a stronghold.
Our exploration today takes us to many impressive sites in the Old City, a living museum. With the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Great Hospital, and the Street of the Knights, the Upper Town is inspired by the conservative and monastic character of the holy order. The result is one of the most beautiful urban centers of the Gothic period. We will walk through several other parts of the town to view the Mosque of Suleiman, the Jewish Quarter, the Hospice of St. Catherine, and the Archaeological Museum, containing a large collection including the tombstones of many of the Crusader Knights of St. John who once made this island their own.
Dinner is on our own this evening to enjoy a meal in one of the town’s many exceptional restaurants. (B/L)
This morning we drive to Lindos, home to a clifftop acropolis that features monumental 4th-century gates and reliefs from about 280 BC. The Temple of Athena Lindia sits above an earlier temple, and on the site’s lower level sits the 14th-century Castle of the Knights of St. John. After our visits, we can enjoy some free time exploring the village and have lunch on our own.
In the afternoon, we return to Rhodes to walk the almost four miles of still-standing, formidable city walls and see the 11 entry gates and towers incorporated within the ramparts.
Dinner will be onboard. (B/ /D)
This morning, we journey across the Aegean Sea to Marmaris, located on Türkiye’s western coast, where we say goodbye to our lovely yacht and the crew who took such good care of us for the past seven days.
In the afternoon, walk to the castle, reputed to have been built by the Ionians in 1044 BC and later repaired during the era of Alexander the Great. The Castle was rebuilt and widened by Suleyman the Magnificent during his campaign for the Greek island of Rhodes in 1522, and it now houses an archaeology museum.
Drive north to Bodrum and overnight for two nights at the lovely Bodrium Hotel & Spa.
Dinner will be in one of Bodrum’s fabulous dining spots. (B/L/D)
Return to the Castle of St. Peter and spend the morning exploring the Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum, containing a wide range of fascinating underwater findings displayed throughout the Castle in a myriad of atmospheric halls and galleries.
In ancient times, Bodrum was known as Halicarnassus and was the location of the Tomb of King Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. After visiting the tomb and the 4th-century theater, sitting above the old town, the afternoon is free to relax and explore Bodrum on our own.
Gather this evening for our final dinner party in one of Bodrum’s fine restaurants. (B/L/D)
Our morning flight departs for Istanbul and our flights home, or continue on the post-trip extension to Istanbul. (B)
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the historic area of the city. After a light lunch, visit Aya Sofya, among the first churches of Christianity, begun in the 4th century AD by Constantine the Great. One of the great buildings in the world, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople and was the center of the Byzantine Empire for almost a thousand years.
Walk to the Hippodrome, the scene of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory celebrations, and executions. Nearby, enter the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. Housed within a 16th-century palace built by the brother-in-law of Sultan Suleyman, the museum contains the world’s richest collection of 13th-20th-century hand-knotted Turkish carpets and an ethnographic section depicting objects used in everyday Turkish life.
We end today at the Basilica Cistern, the largest and most magnificently covered cistern in Istanbul. Built in the 6th century in the reign of Justinian, it supplied water to the Byzantine Great Palace nearby.
Overnight for the next four nights at the Levni Hotel, ideally located within walking distance of the important sites within the Old City. Enjoy a rooftop welcome dinner with views of the historic quarter. (L/D)
This morning, we begin at the Dolmabahçe Palace, an impressive and elaborate landmark sitting on the European side of the city. Home to the last six sultans of the Ottoman Empire, this palace complex has 365 rooms and 22 salons, all lavishly adorned with a collection of European antiquities, furniture, and one 4.5-ton chandelier.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, it became fashionable for high-ranking people of Istanbul to own a summer home on the Bosphorus, the sinuous straits separating Europe from Asia.
This afternoon, we travel by chartered boat to view these lovely wooden villas and elegant marble palaces along the shore. Afterward, we leave our vessel to dine at one of the excellent seafood restaurants nearby. (B/L/D)
Today, we enjoy a culinary walking tour of Istanbul’s historic Old City that will transport our taste buds back in time! With the iconic Grand Bazaar as our starting point, we embark on a journey to discover the best eateries that still utilize generations-old recipes in their creations.
As we dine where locals do, we will immerse ourselves in their culture and habits to truly understand why Turkish cuisine is one of the world’s most famous.
After our extensive exploration, we return to the hotel with a free afternoon and dinner on our own. (B/L)
Begin today by exploring Topkapı Sarayı, built in 1468 as a summer palace for Mehmet the Conqueror. Within the estate are exquisite gardens, the council chambers of government, and the harem, the home of the sultan’s family.
After a delicious lunch, we will visit the Panorama 1453 Historical Museum, housing a panorama painting of the conquest of Constantinople.
Our farewell dinner will be at one of Istanbul’s fine local restaurants. (B/L/D)
Transfer to the airport for our flights home. (B)
