The Turquoise Coast & Cappadocia

Itinerary at a glance

We begin in Istanbul (1 night) where our guided visits include the Blue Mosque, lunch at Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sofia, one of the architectural wonders of the world. After a short plane ride to Dalaman, we settle into our teakwood yacht to cruise the Mediterranean coastline (4 nights).

Staying close to shore on calm waters provides us unparalleled access to a number of people and places that are almost impossible to reach by land. With our captain, chef and crew looking after us, we'll thread our way through beautiful islands, anchor in remote bays, and snorkel in a cobalt blue lagoon. One day, we meander up a reed-filled estuary to spot endangered sea turtles and visit Caunos to see its Ottoman fortress. We'll also end a walk along the coast at a natural harbor with ruins of sunken Roman baths and relax over lunch with a village family.

Waving farewell to our yacht, we explore the classical ruins of Ephesus, regarded as the world's finest, and overnight in Kusadasi (1 night) on the cliffs above the sea. From Marmaris, a short morning flight leads to Cappadocia (2 nights). Walks lead us through vineyard-filled valleys, along ancient caravan routes, and finally to a nearly unimaginable underground city dating to the 7th century. After visiting a potter-friend in Avanos, we leave time for shopping before we return to Istanbul on an afternoon flight.