Budget & Quality Boat Cruises by Reputable Travel Agency of Turkey

BLUE CRUISE #6  - BODRUM-SOUTH DODECANESE GREEK ISLANDS CRUISE

Departure Days:  Sundays only.
Turkey & Greek Islands Gullet Cruise with standard - or deluxe (air-conditioned) yachts

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.
 

CRUISE PROGRAM

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

Day 1: BODRUM
Boarding starts at 15:30 from Bodrum Harbour. On the first day, our boat will remain anchored in Bodrum Port for dinner and an overnight stay. Bodrum has a history that goes back to the 12th century B.C. The city was called 'Halicarnassus' and it was the birthplace of Herodotus; the 'Father of History' who lived in the 5th century B.C. The 'Mausoleum' of King Mausolus (350 B.C.), one of the Seven Wonders of the World is in this city. The only structure that survived from the Classical Era is the Amphitheatre. It is one of the oldest theatres in Anatolia with a capacity of 13.000 guests and it is still hosting many shows and concerts for the art-lovers of Bodrum. Another place that you should visit when you arrive in Bodrum is the landmark of the city, the 'Castle of Saint Peter'. It is one of the best preserved pieces of architecture with a history dating back to the Middle Ages. 'Myndos Gate' through which Alexander the Great entered Halicarnassus is another place that you should not miss.

Day 2: CNIDUS – INCEBURUN - KARGI
We will depart after the breakfast for Cnidus. Cnidus was a developed city in science, art and architecture. Eudoxos, a very popular astronomer and maths professor; Dr. Euryphon; Polygontos, a popular artist; 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. A nice swimming break will be available here.
Lunch will be served at the bay of Cnidus. Then we will cruise to Inceburun. Here the water is superb and you again will have the opportunity to swim in these crystal waters. Today, our last stop will be at Kargi.

Day 3: DIRSEKBUKU - KIZIL ADA - BOZBURUN
The breakfast will be served at Dirsekbuku, we will cruise and anchor at Kizil Ada for lunch and a swimming break. Today, our last stop will be at Bozburun. Bozburun is a small fishing town. This area was popular and suitable for sponge-diving but nowadays the people of the island are no longer interested in sponge-diving as it is not financially beneficial and is dangerous. In the recent years sponge-diving has been replaced by gulet tourism.

Day 4: RHODES
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 cities 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. Here you can join our optional old city tour. The main port of Rhodes is Rhodes City which bears the same name as the island. The other touristical areas of Rhodes island are; Lindos and Kamiros. Here there will be another optional excursion; Lindos Tour. This city, which is still surrounded by a 12 meter thick city-wall which gives you the feeling of travelling back to Medieval times especially when you walk around its narrow, stone-paved roads. After dinner, we highly recommend you to enjoy in Rhodes Town night out.

Day 5: SYMI
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 late in the afternoon. 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.

Day 6: NISYROS – COS (KOS)
Early in the morning we will cruise to Nisyros Island and will have a swimming break. The volcano on Nisyros Island erupted in 1422 and is still active. Nikea village is 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 (volcano) which is still active and you will see the gases coming from underground. Then 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 eastern Mediterranean with health problems were treated in Kos. Kos is the second largest island of the 12 islands (Dodecanese islands) and 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.

Day 7: BLACK ISLAND (POYRAZ HARBOUR - METEOR BAY) – BODRUM
We will cruise to Bodrum for the customs formalities. Afterwards swimming break will take place and lunch will be served at Poyraz Bay which is located on the northern side of Karaada (Black Island). This is such a nice bay with its turquoise-blue waters. We will be anchoring at Meteor Bay for tea time 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 an overnight stay.

Day 8: BODRUM
The guests will leave the boat with precious memories by 10:30 after breakfast.

Nikia Village, Nisyros	A part of castle	Datca (Knidos) seafront

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

PRICE LIST

2013 Summer Prices (Full Board- Per Week)

1) STANDARD CRUISE

Embarking Days:  Sundays only.

2) DELUXE CRUISE (air conditioned yachts)

Embarking 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

GENERAL INFORMATION

A general view from Bodrum	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.

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.

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.

 

The harbor of Symi Island

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.

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.

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.