2020 GeoEx Catalog

One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.

Istanbul and the Aegean Coast

henry miller

HISTORY AND NATURE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

TOURING · SAILING · DAY HIKING | 13 DAYS · CUSTOM

A lone and tremendous,” Sacheverell Sitwell called Istanbul. “No water city can compare . . . it must be the most wonderful site for a great capital there has ever been.” Our couple of days in Turkey’s most important and spellbinding city will be busy—we’ll have ample time to relax on the Aegean portion of the trip. We visit the lyrically gargantuan Aya Sofya, one of humanity’s archi- tectural triumphs, and cruise the incredibly eventful Bos- phorus, seeing intimately why Sitwell was so enchanted. (You may be wondering about Sitwell’s calling Istanbul Turkey’s capital, which has been Ankara since 1923. Sitwell knew this, of course; he was being historically minded. After all, Istanbul was the most important city in the world far longer than any other city has been the most important city in the world.) We fly south, to Izmir and the evocative ruins of Ephesus, probably the Mediterranean’s most beautifully preserved classic city. We board our gulet in Bodrum and

commence a five-day, six-night Aegean cruise, stopping to snorkel, wander in seaside forests, poke about in small, vivacious markets, meet with local chefs and families, dine under piercingly bright stars, and hike to almost hidden ruins. We have been plying these waters for many years, and we know the best boats, the best places to find soli- tude or vital company, and what Lord Byron was getting at when he wrote in a letter to a friend, “I still sigh for the Aegean. Shall you not always love its bluest of waves and brightest of skies?”

offered year-round from $11,780 adult; from $7835 child (11 and younger)

Day 1  arrive in Istanbul ✦  2 & 3  Istanbul exploring ✦  4  fly to Izmir, visit Ephesus ✦  5  discover Didyma, Miletus, and Dog˘anbey park ✦  6  drive to Bodrum, board gulet ✦  7  Orak Island and Cleopatra Bay ✦  8  Knidos swimming and kayaking ✦  9  Bozburun village stroll, hike to Loryma fortress ✦  10  Ekincik, Dalyan River excursion to Kaunos

Turkey

✦  11  Aga Limani Bay hiking and coves ✦ 12  disembark in Göcek, fly to Istanbul, Bosphorus River cruise ✦  13  depart.

BELOW  View of Süleymaniye Mosque (or Blue Mosque), Istanbul’s most dignified building, representing the glory of the Ottoman Empire.

JON ARNOLD / DANITADELIMONT.COM