Budget & Quality Boat Cruises by Reputable Travel Agency of Turkey

BODRUM-SOUTH DODECANESE GREEK ISLANDS CRUISE

BODRUM – COS –GYALI– NISIROS – SYMI – RHODES - BODRUM

DAY 1 : BODRUM (TURKEY)

Departure Days:  Sundays only.
Early reservation is highly recommended to secure availability especially on this route !

Embarking: The boarding starts at 15:30. from the marina of Bodrum. Early-arriving guests can leave their luggage to the office of our local agent. The cruise boats stay in the marina of Bodrum on the first day of the cruise program, therefore the guests can check-in  to the boats until late evening, which gives you flexibility with arrival time of your flights or buses, especially useful if you are not staying in a hotel in Bodrum the previous night. Thus, you will also have a chance to discover lovely Bodrum town on the first day.  You can start your vacation by joining wild night-life of Bodrum before a week long relaxing cruise ahead of you.

Dinner on board and overnight in private en suite cabins at the cruise boat.

Arrival:  There are regular bus connection to Bodrum from all major cities and towns of Turkey. Bodrum-Milas airport is 35 km away from Bodrum and many flight companies operate scheduled and charter flights to Bodrum in Summer season. From the airport there are also Havas Shuttle services in accordance with each planes' arriving to the domestic lines of Bodrum Milas Airport. (approximately 10 Euro pp). Click here for the shuttle schedule of HAVAS for Bodrum airport. In high season, Bodrum is reached by the sea from Greek Islands of Cos and Rhodes. Daily ferryboat services from/to Cos and Rhodes to Bodrum are available during the summer season.

Click here for selected hotels in Bodrum, if you need accommodation before this cruise

Typical Bodrum houses	St Peters Castle in Bodrum	Bodrum marina is always busy

Bodrum: A town at the junction of the Aegean and the Mediterranean is Bodrum, occupying a small but beautiful peninsula. It is one of the prettiest holiday resorts of Turkey, popular and famous for its vivacious, friendly and bohemian atmosphere. Bodrum has also become the central hub for travel between Turkey and the Mediterranean Islands whether it be via sea, land or air. You can spend your days walking the streets of Bodrum, experiencing the sights and smells of the markets or walk the shopping malls searching for your top designer labels. Enjoy the picturesque views of Bodrum's harbor and St Peters Castle whilst tantalizing your taste buds over Turkish cuisine in variety of waterfront cafe's, restaurants and bars.
 

DAY 2 : KOS ISLAND (GREECE)

After breakfast, you will be informed about the cruise itinerary and the boat. After the customs formalities are completed, we will cruise to Kos Island. Asclepion, known to be the birth place of Hippocrates, who is 'the Father of Medical Sciences', is located here. All the people from the east Mediterranean with health problems were treated in Kos (İstankoy). Kos; the second largest island of the 12 islands (the Dodecanese Islands) has a very mild climate and very fertile lands. The island houses a 560-year-old tree, a 211-year-old fountain and a 290 km long beach. You may take a quick swim in Lambi Beach which is very close to Kos Harbour. Kos is one of the islands with the best night life. Nafklirou, a street full of bars, is always crowded, colourful, and full of life.
 

Kos is beautiful like most Greek Islands	A part of castle	Ruins of Asklepion (health center) in Kos

Kos (Cos/Istankoy); Greek Island Kos is the second largest of the 12 islands (the group of Greek islands also called Dodecanese) The island has a very soft climate and very fertile lands. Most notably, it hosts a 560 years old tree and a 211 years old fountain. It measures 40 km by 8 km, and is only 4 km far from the coast of Bodrum, Turkey. The island has both fertile plains and infertile highlands with a population of 30,947. The main port and residential centre on the island, also called Kos, is also a tourism and entertainment centre, famouus with whitewashed buildings, numerous hotels, restaurants and a small number of nightclubs forming the famous Kos town "bar street". The town has a 14th century fortress at the entrance to its harbor, erected in 1315 by The Knights of Saint John of Rhodes.

The ancient physician Hippocrates is thought to have been born on Kos, and at the town center there is "the tree of Hippocrates"; a the plane tree under which, according to the legend, Hippocrates of Kos taught his pupils the art of medicine. The limbs of the now elderly tree are supported by scaffolding. The small city is also home to the International Hippocratic Institute and the Hippocratic Museum dedicated to him. Near the Institute are the ruins of Asklepieion, where Herodicus taught Hippocrates medicine.
 

DAY 3: GYALI – NISIROS 

Early in the morning we will cruise to Gyali Island and will have a swimming break . There is no settlement and only pumice stone remains on this little volcanic island. Then we will cruise to Nisiros. The volcano on Nisiros Island erupted in 1422 and is still active. Nikea village located on the side of the crater is

constituted with white streets and a mosaic-style square. You can take an optional bus tour to the crater which is still active and you will see the gases coming from underground. Dinner and overnight stay will be on this little, peaceful island.

 

Nisyros means the "a place with pigs". The volcano of Nisyros Island which exploded in 1422 is still active. Nisyros situated between the islands of Kos and Tilos. Its shape is approximately round covering an area of about 40.000 km². According to Greek mythology, the island was formed when Poseidon who took off a part of Kos Island and threw it onto the giant Polyvotis to stop him from escaping. The ancient name of the Nisyros was Porphyris. Ancient walls, dating from the 5th century BC, part of the acropolis of the island, are located near Mandraki locality.
 

DAY 4 : SYMI ISLAND (GREECE)

After customs formalities are completed, we will set sail to Symi Island and anchor at a near bay to Symi Harbour for lunch and a swimming break. We will anchor at Symi Port early in the evening. You can see the shoreline with its neo-classical houses and the peripheral districts. You are going to adore Symi Island for its pine and oak forests and unique bays. You can hire a vehicle to go to the Monastery of Panormitis located in a well-protected bay at the southern part of Simi.
 

Symi (Simi) Island: Geographically, it is part of the Dodecanese island chain, located about 41 km north-northwest of Rhodes (and 425 km from Piraeus, the port of Athens), with 58.1 km² (22 sq mi) of mountainous terrain. Its nearest land neighbors are the Datca and Resadiye peninsulas in Turkey. Its interior land is dotted with small valleys, and its coastline has rocky cliffs, beaches, and isolated coves. Its main town, located on the northeast coast, is also named Symi, or Ano Symi, but locally referred to as Yialos. The other main inhabited localities on the island are Horio ("The Village"), Pedi, Nimborio, and Panormitis; which is the home of the island's famous monastery visited by many people from all over Greece every year for pilgrimage. The island has 2,500 inhabitants, mostly engaged in fishing, trade and tourism. In the tourism season which is roughly from May until October, tourists and day-trippers bring the number of people on the island up to as many as 6000.
 

DAY 5 : RHODES ISLAND (GREECE)

We will cruise to Rhodes early in the morning. Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands.
The island is quite a popular holiday destination as it has one of the best-preserved and the largest European Medieval city and has warm weather for 300 days of the year. Rhodes has been the cradle of many civilizations; starting with the knights of St. John in the Middle Ages, then Ottomans and Italians. Thus, the island has a unique historical harmony and beauty. The main port of Rhodes is Rhodes City which bears the same name as the island. The other very touristic areas of Rhodes island are; Lindos and Kamiros. The city, which is still surrounded by 12 metre thick city-walls, gives you the feeling of travelling back to Medieval times especially when you walk around its narrow, stone-paved roads. After dinner, our guests are highly recommended to enjoy a Rhodes night out.
 

A busy night in old city of Rhodos	Rhodos Castle	The beach near Lindos, Rhodos

Rhodes (Turkish Rodos) is the largest of the Dodecanese group of islands. The island is a very popular holiday place as it has one of the best-protected and the largest European Medieval city and has warm weather almost 300 days of a year. Rhodes has been a home for many civilizations; starting with the knights of St.John in the Medieval century, then Ottomans and Italians. Thus island has one of the unique historical harmony and the beauty of these three civilizations. The main port is the Rhodes City that has the same name with the island. Rhodes city is divided into two main areas: the new town and the old town. One of the most beautiful beaches of the island is in the new town. The city, still surrounded with 12 meters thick city-walls gives you the feeling of traveling back to Medieval century especially when you walk around its narrow stone roads. Historically, Rhodes was famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site.
 

DAY 6 : DATCA-KNIDOS (TURKEY)

We return to Turkey via Datça. While the captain completes the customs formalities, you may have a walk along Datca Harbour. After lunch, we will cruise to Palamutbükü for a swimming break. Today, our last stop will be Knidos (Cnidus) for dinner and overnight stay. Cnidus was a developed city in science, art and architecture. Eudoxos, a very popular astronomer and maths professor; Dr. Euryphon; Polygontos, a popular painter; Skopas and Bryaksis of Faros, the most famous sculptors of the era; Sostrates, the architect of Alexandrian light house -one of the seven wonders of the World- and Ktesias the doctor, who saved the life of a Persian king from a disaster, lived on this island. Dr. Euryphon and his students founded the second biggest medical science school in Cnidus. The island also hosts the largest sun clock of its time which was erected by Eudoksos. Knidos was the home for Aphrodite's monument and in those times the city was famous for brothels and became popular for sailors and Arabic tradesmen. You may also take a walk on the shore to see the ruins.
 

Datca Peninsula is a prized location for tourists visiting Turkey, especially by sea, because of the beauty of its many coves and spacious bays, which are favored stopover havens for those undertaking the celebrated Blue Cruises along Turkey's spectacular southwest coast. The city of Datca has been founded by the people who have immigrated from Aegean islands to the southern coasts of Ionia in the 7th century B.C. In the old city you can see the temples built on behalf of Apollo and Venus as well as impressive theatres, game and meeting halls. The island has no humidity at all and has a very fresh air. The historian Strabon has a saying about Datca's weather: 'God leaves his fellow ones whom he wants to have a long life on Datca island. 'According to a myth while the Spanish pirates were passing from Datca waters had disembarked the diseased people in Datca and these people got well with the help of the clean weather of Datca.

Knidos (Cnidus, or Tekir in Turkish)  It was situated at the tip of the long and narrow Datca peninsula, which forms the southern border of the Gulf of Gokova. It was built partly on the mainland and partly on the Island of Triopion (Cape Krio). The connection with this Island and the main land is formed by a narrow sandy isthmus. Eudoxos, popular astronomy and math professor; Dr. Euryphon, well known painter of ancient times; Polygnotos, the builder of the Alexander the Great's light house are a few of famous people of Knidos. Dr. Euryphon and his students had founded the second largest medical School of their times in Knidos. The island also had the largest sun clock of its time implemented by Eudoksos.
 

DAY 7 : KARAADA-BODRUM (TURKEY)

We will start to cruise early in the morning to Karaada (Black Island). Breakfast and a swimming break will be at Poyraz Bay which is located on the northern side of the island. This is such a nice bay with its turquoise-blue waters. We will be anchoring at Meteor Bay for lunch which is located on the southern side of the island. There is a meteor hole here and this is how the bay got its name. Here you may jump over the platform into the deep water. You may also take a walk through the underwater caves which are very near to Meteor Bay for a small local fee. We will dock in Bodrum Harbour for dinner and overnight stay.

PS. It is possible to check out from the boat in Bodrum this evening for those who need to depart earlier.
 

DAY 8 : END OF THE CRUISE IN BODRUM (TURKEY)

PRICE LIST

2011 Summer Prices (Full Board- Per Week)

Departure Days:  Sundays only.

Prices include:
* Services, custom & harbour fees, and yacht insurance*
* 5 o'clock tea break with, cookie, biscuits, cake offer *
* Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner during the cruise period*
* Basic snorkeling and fishing equipments and board games*
* 7 nights accommodation in private cabins with en-suite bath/WC*
* Towels and bed sheets, but still bring personal towels and swimming materials*

Prices do not include.
* Personal travel insurance.
* Airport and hotel transfers from/to boats.
* Optional excursion tours at the stopover places which may be recommended by boat staffs.
* Drinks are not included but available at the boat with very reasonable prices.
* Various surcharges in case of credit card payments (Visa and Master, and American Express)
* Personal port taxes on arrival and departure to/from Greece & Turkey
 

PAYMENT AND RESERVATION

Payment and reservation: Depending on season we will request 20-30% of the total tour price in advance for guaranteed reservations.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
This blue cruise starts regularly only on Sunday at mentioned dates. Private charter version of the same or similar route can be organized starting any day for private groups if requested. Private charter cruises can also be shorter or longer than 7 nights, if required.
This cruise is classified as cabin charter and the boats are standard quality. The cabins will have en suite bath/WC.
There may be small changes with the cruise route. This is the most common route for this destination but the captain can make some minor changes with the route due to wind/weather conditions.
What you should bring: Bed sheets and some towels are provided for guests. But still we recommend you to bring your own extra towels as well as swimming and sun bathing materials,  a couple of slippers and walking shoes, a pullover and may be a wind-breaker for windy nights.

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