Day 18 Monday 22 September
Transcription
Day 18 Monday 22 September
Day 13 Wednesday 17 September VALLEY OF THE BUTTERFLIES Just a short distance from Rhodes Town is the Valley of the Butterflies. Take a peaceful walk through the shady, green valley with its charming little river and beautiful waterfalls. Although the main season for the Jersey Tiger butterflies is over you may still be able to glimpse a few amongst the greenery or camouflaged against the trees as you make your way up to the monastery at the top of the hill. Complete your trip with a visit to the Museum of Natural History housed in a beautifully restored Italian styled house. Return to Rhodes Town and some free time. Overnight Rhodes Town Breakfast Day 14 Thursday 18 September RHODES TOWN You have a completely free day to relax or continue exploring at your own pace. Overnight Rhodes Town Breakfast Day 15 Friday 19 September RHODES – MARMARIS Following breakfast you take a short early morning ferry crossing from Rhodes to the Turkish town of Marmaris. From here you head for Fethiye, stopping along the way at Kaunos and the Dalyan River. Kaunos is a large ruined Carian city said to have been built by the grandson of Apollo. Once situated right on the seafront but now, due to silting, is several kilometres from the coast. As the sea retreated the usefulness of the city as a port fell into decline and was finally abandoned altogether. Much of the ancient city has now been excavated and revealed city walls, the Acropolis, amphitheatre, Roman baths, a basilica, two Hellenistic and four Roman temples. On the outskirts of Kaunos lie the Lycian Tombs. Built between 2nd & 4th C into the cliff face high above the Dalyan River they provide fine displays of Lycian architecture. Used as burial chambers for kings and queens with a main chamber behind the impressive facades they housed gold and expensive items. Unfortunately you cannot enter the tombs but they make a wonderful visual impact. Take your bathers and if time allows you may get the opportunity indulge in the well-known mud baths, excellent for the skin. You continue on to Fethiye for an overnight stay. Overnight Fethiye Breakfast ● Dinner E&OE Day 16 Saturday 20 September XANTHOS – LETOON – PATARA – KAS Heading south you reach Letoon, the sacred cult centre of Lycia dedicated to Leto, Apollo and Artemis. Less than 10 kilometres away lies Xanthos, which along with Letoon, is often seen as a double-site as they were so closely linked. Xanthos-Letoon are often considered as one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the whole of Turkey. Now registered as a UNESCO Heritage Site it has been under excavation since the 1950’s. Discover tombs, temples, porticos, amphitheatre a basilica, and nympheaum. From here you continue on to Patara on the Lycia/ Mediterranean coast. Patara, once a flourishing coastal maritime city, was the birthplace of St Nicholas. Discover a wealth of wonderful ruins including; an amphitheatre, stadiums and temples situated along one of the best beaches in the world. Tonight you stay in Kas with the mountains forming a wonderful backdrop to a stunning coastal location. Overnight Kas Breakfast ● Dinner Day 17 Sunday 21 September KAS – ANTALYA Following breakfast you take a boat trip out to Kekova Island and the renowned ‘sunken city’ of Simena. Part of the city remains today and is dominated by a well preserved medieval castle. In the natural harbour can be seen half submerged ruins of the other part of Simena which slipped into the sea after a terrible earthquake in the 2nd century AD. You may get the opportunity to swim here and see the ruins under water. Moving on you arrive at Myra, the one-time capital of Lycia. First mentioned in literature in the 1st century BC, but believed to date back much further, Myra is well known for its rock-tombs. When first discovered in 1840 the tombs were found to have traces of bright red, yellow and blue paint still in place. This led archaeologists to believe the entire cliff face must once have been a riot of bright of colours and a wonderful sight to behold. You continue on to Antalya, your home for the next two nights. Overnight Antalya Breakfast ● Dinner Day 18 Monday 22 September ANTALYA Today you visit the remains of the ancient cities of Perge and Aspendos. Both of these cities contain a plethora of archaeological ruins, many dating back to 2000 BC. Explore the extensive remains of these once important cultural and commercial cities and discover theatres, marble reliefs, towers, gymnasiums, shops and a colonnaded road once paved with mosaics. This afternoon you visit the Antalya Museum and the Old City. Overnight Antalya Breakfast Day 19 Tuesday 23 September ANTALYA – ISTANBUL This morning you have an early flight to Istanbul. Located on the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul stands on the crossroads of both Asia and Europe. Overnight Istanbul Breakfast Day 20 Wednesday 24 September ISTANBUL Today you have a completely free day to explore Istanbul. Your Tour Leader will be on hand to help you with suggestions as to how to make the best of this day. Tonight you meet for a farewell dinner. Overnight Istanbul Breakfast ● End of Tour Dinner Day 21 Thursday 25 September ISTANBUL – DUBAI You departing for the airport just after midday. Your flight leaves Istanbul late afternoon, arriving into Dubai just before 10pm. Following a short lay-over you connect with your flight to Adelaide. Overnight in flight Breakfast ● Meals in flight Day 22 Friday 26 September DUBAI – ADELAIDE You arrive in Adelaide mid-evening. Meals in flight EDUCATIONAL and CULTURAL TOURS 223 Angas Street, Adelaide SA 5000 T (08) 8223 1272 ● F (08) 8232 3690 ● E tours@wea-sa.com.au Please remember that on WEA Tours you may be travelling to remote and less visited places so please have an open mind and embrace the differences. TTA 183 PHOTOGRAPHS: Flickr Commons/Wikimedia Commons: About-Larnaca; Dickelbers; Nathan10; hAl1927; Ali@ce; MiqsPix; Jebulon; Michel Osmenda; Steve Swyane; Clarence ; Simon Bunting; Rev Stan; burntime; David Spender; Pot Noodle; Anders B: desrunyan ...enriching lives through cultural exchange Larnaca ● Nicosia ● Paphos ● Athens ● Rhodes Town ● Lindos Kamiros ● Fetyiye ● Xanthos/Letoon ● Patara ● Antalya ● Istanbul C yprus, Greece and Turkey provide a magical combination of ancient and modern history, cultures and traditions. This is a truly unique tour which allows you to discover Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements, legacies of Roman, Byzantine, Genoese, Venetian, Mycenae, Venetian and Ottoman occupation and invasions as well as the modern day histories of these three distinct but inextricably linked destinations. Lapped by the turquoise Aegean Sea, Cyprus, Greece and Turkey will not fail to delight the senses. Mountains, valleys, rivers and beautiful coastlines come together to provide you with a patchwork of wonderful scenery and experiences. Walk in the footsteps of ancient warriors; imagine what it was like in the great amphitheatres – the tragedies and triumphs of nations and individuals. The timeless beauty of the Mediterranean never ceases to charm and inspire all who visit its shores. Join archaeologist Dr Robert Stone on this fabulous tour of discovery. Day 6 Wednesday 10 September TOUR LEADER Robert Stone Robert is an qualified and experienced archaeologist, having spent many years in the Middle East primarily in Jordan. Robert has led many tours for WEA Travel including; Egypt, Jordan & Syria, Israel, Asia, Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan. INCLUDED: Flights Adelaide to Adelaide ● Fully escorted Adelaide to Adelaide ● Local flights and ferries ● Local guides ● Hotel accommodation ● Meals as per itinerary ● Entrance fees ● Pre & Post tour meetings ● Comprehensive tour pack ●● Visa 22 days $7953 Based on twin share + airline taxes ($370 as of November 2013) Single supplement $1343 ● Balance due 26 June 2014 Day 1 Friday 5 September ADELAIDE - DUBAI You depart Adelaide late evening for your Emirates Airline flight to Larnaca, Cyprus via Dubai. Overnight in flight Meals in flight Day 2 Saturday 6 September DUBAI – LARNACA After a short layover you continue on your way to Cyprus, arriving into Larnaca around midday. After clearing customs you take a brief orientation tour of the oldest city on Cyprus before checking into your hotel. Tonight you meet for a traditional Cypriot dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Larnaca Meals in flight ● Welcome Dinner Day 3 Sunday 7 September LARNACA Today you have a full day’s sightseeing. This area has been inhabited for over six thousand years and evidence of this can be found in the many archaeological sites dotted in and around the city. Your visits today includes ancient Kition, which dates back to the 13th C BC. Here you discover the remains of tombs made from gold, ivory and bronze. Don’t miss the Phoenician Temple of Astarte and the remains of the once fine city walls. Next you make your way to the Salt Lakes, which were used in the Middle Ages as a salt mine. Overlooking the lake is the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque, tomb of Umm Haram the Prophet Mohammed’s ‘wet nurse’, it is a Muslim pilgrimage site and one of the holiest Islamic places in the world. Make your way back to Larnaca and some free time. Overnight Larnaca Breakfast Day 4 Monday 8 September NICOSIA Nicosia, in the Greek South, or Lefkosa as it is known as in Turkish North Cyprus, is the island’s capital city. Providing a border around the city the Venetian Walls form an odd ‘snowflake’ shape and encompass three gateways into the old town. Nicosia has the ‘accolade’ of being the last divided capital city in the world. See the Roccas Bastion, the only place where the Greeks and the Turkish could most important pre-historic sites in the eastern Mediterranean. Five dwellings have been reconstructed using the same materials and implements to show what life was like in Neolithic times. From here you make your way to Kolossi Castle. Built in the 15th C on the site of a 13th C fortress, the castle towers over 21 metres in height. Your next visit it to one of the most spectacular archaeological sites on the island. Kurion reveals an impressive Greco-Roman Theatre, which has been restored and used for musical performances. The site also contains the House of Eustolios with its complex of baths and superb 5th C mosaics, a Nympheaeum and a 2nd C stadium. Before arriving into Paphos you stop off at the famed Rock of Aphrodite. Set in a beautiful sweeping bay you can see the reason for its name. Overnight Paphos Breakfast ● Dinner see each other at close quarters over the ‘Green Line’. Enjoy a guided tour of this contrasting city while learning about its colourful history. Take time to wander around Ledra Street, the main shopping area which connects the north and south parts of the city. In the afternoon you drive into the northern part of Cyprus. You will see the difference between the way of life in this divided country, perhaps even passing through deserted towns and villages left just as they were on the day their inhabitants abandoned them. Maybe you will see a glimpse of an old ‘check-point’ used by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force, very eerie. Overnight Larnaca Breakfast Day 5 Tuesday 9 September LARNACA – PAPHOS After breakfast you board your coach and make travel along the picturesque south coast to Paphos, the largest city on the western side of the island. Along the way you stop off at the UNESCO site of Choirokoitia. It is an exceptionally well-preserved Neolithic site dating from 7th millennium BC and one of the PAPHOS A day of discovery awaits you in Paphos. Your first visit is to the Tombs of Kings in Kato Paphos. These monumental structures were actually tombs of high officials rather than kings, but due to their magnificence they were named ‘Tomb of Kings’. Your next stop is to the harbour and the impressive castle. Standing on an isthmus of land it guards the entrance to the town of Paphos. Originally built by the Byzantium’s it was later restructured by the Lusignans, the Venetians and the Ottomans. Take your camera as the view from the top will delight you. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, Paphos was the centre of the cult of Aphrodite and pre-Hellenic fertility. Just behind the pretty harbour lies the Paphos Archaeological Park a magnificent UNESCO recognised site overflowing with the remains of villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses and tombs. The mosaics of Nea Paphos are amongst the most beautiful in the world. Take your time to discover this vast site; there is so much to see. Paphos is an archaeologist’s delight with something to discover on every corner. Overnight Paphos Breakfast Day 7 Thursday 11 September PAPHOS You have a completely free day to relax or continue exploring at your own pace. Perhaps re-visit some of the archaeological sites or the Byzantine Museum, Paphos Ethnographic Museum or the Paphos District Museum. Of course just sitting in one of the many restaurants and café’s adorning the harbour side is also a very pleasant way to pass away a few hours. Overnight Paphos Breakfast Day 8 Friday 12 September Day 11 Monday 15 September TROODOS MOUNTAINS – KYKKOS Today you visit the beautiful Troodos Mountains. Rising almost 2000m above sea level. Stretching across the south western part of Cyprus, the Troodos Mountains offer some of the most beautiful scenery on the island. Exquisite churches and monasteries, many of them UNESCO World Heritage listed, are scattered around the mountain’s. Kykkos Monastery is one of the more notable ones due to its amazing carved icons covered in silver and gold leaf. It is still a working monastery and when not in prayer you will see many of the clergy around, eager to help you understand and discover the monastery’s secrets. One of the mountains treasures are the picturesque, traditional villages nestled amidst the pine trees or clinging to the side of a steep escarpment. Explore some of these villages as you make your way through the mountains. Perhaps you may even see a Mouflon, the national animal of Cyprus. It is thought to be one of the original ancestors to our modern day sheep. Overnight Paphos Breakfast ATHENS – RHODES A short flight brings you to the lovely Dodecanese island of Rhodes, one of the largest and most fertile of the Greek Islands. Rhodes offers a wonderful combination of glistening beaches and excellent archaeological remains, all easily reached from the medieval town of Rhodes. Upon your arrival you begin your exploration of Rhodes Old Town (Rhodos). With over 200 streets and lanes, many of them with no names, getting lost here is almost a certainty. Entering through the Eleftheria (Liberty) Gate you discover the delightful medieval town surrounded by its virtually intact fortified walls, gates and towers. In Platia Simi is the Temple of Venus, identified by the many votive offerings found here during excavations. Wander down Ippoton Street, often called the Street of the Knights; it is one of the best preserved medieval streets in the world. Long cobble paved streets lead you in a straight line down to the Acropolis of Rhodes and to the port beyond. Many of the houses were owned by the Knights Templar and used as eateries and residencies for visiting dignitaries. Tonight you meet for dinner. Overnight Rhodes Town Breakfast ● Dinner Day 9 Saturday 13 September CYPRUS - ATHENS Leaving Cyprus behind you take a flight to the Greek mainland and the capital city of Athens. Upon arrival you have an orientation tour of the main sites in Athens before checking into your hotel. Tonight you meet for dinner. Overnight Athens Breakfast ● Dinner Day 10 Sunday 14 September ATHENS Athens, surrounded by mountains to the north and east and the Saronic Gulf to the south and west, is one of the world’s oldest cities. With a history dating back over 3,400 years. It is said to be the birthplace of democracy and ‘modern’ civilisation. Today you explore some of Athens’ finest historical monuments and places of interest. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Acropolis, the ancient fortified ‘high town’ of Athens dedicated to the goddess Athena. Here you marvel at the Classical Greek structures of the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erectheion. Your next stop is the Temples of Hephaestus and Kerameikos before arriving at the famous Plaka district, one of the oldest areas of Athens. The Plaka is now mainly pedestrianized and here you will find many restaurants, café’s, gift shops, jewellers, art and craft and antique shops. Gold is a very good buy here and you will find street musicians and flower sellers along the streets. Overnight Athens Breakfast Day 12 Tuesday 16 September LINDOS – KAMIROS Today you travel to the beautiful coastal town of Lindos, a Mediaeval village situated on a promontory and crowned by its Acropolis. Almost completely vehicle free, the network of cobbled streets and alleys will delight you. Lindos is famed for its elaborately carved doorways, facades and widows and of course the well known ‘captain’s houses’, small whitewashed houses once owned by prosperous ships captains. A mixture or architectural styles can be seen here, Gothic, Byzantine and Arabic. The Acropolis is a wonderful fusion of 3rd C BC Greek citadel and a Crusader stronghold and offers astounding views over the bay. If you prefer not to take the steep walk to the top perhaps you might consider hiring a donkey? From Lindos you travel to Kamiros on the northwest shores of Rhodes. Kamiros was one of three large Doric cities in the 5th BC. It is often referred to as the ‘Greek Pompei’ as no one knows why it was buried and abandoned. Reminders of its wealth and importance can be seen in the remains; admire the Agora (city market), the Doric Temple and ancient arches, some of which date back to the 8th C BC. If you are lucky you may be able to observe the sun setting over the ocean before making your way back to Rhodes Town. Overnight Rhodes Town Breakfast