Itinerary

Day 1

Depart on your overnight flight to Istanbul.

Day 2

Independent arrival and check-in at our hotel. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before our welcome dinner and briefing.

Day 3

This morning we visit exquisite Dolmabahce Palace which reveals the opulent lifestyle of the last sultans of the Ottoman Empire. After lunch set out to explore the heart of Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visit the 17th-century Blue Mosque and continue to the beautiful Aya Sofya; this famed 6th-century symbol of the Byzantine Empire was for thousands of years the largest interior space in the world. Alternatively, visit the Byzantine Church of the Holy Savior of Chora, the beautiful Rustem Pasha Mosque, and the colorful Spice Bazaar. In the late afternoon we board the Clipper Odyssey and cruise toward the Black Sea up the scenic Bosporus, a strait which runs through the center of Istanbul and forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia.

Day 4

Today we dock in Bartin and drive to the harbor town of Amasra. Our tour on foot reveals panoramic views of the Black Sea coastline and rugged nearby islands. We walk the cobblestone streets, where local houses are interspersed with archaeological remnants of Byzantine churches and Genoese castles. Visit the local market or museum, or enjoy a hike to cliffs overlooking the Black Sea.

Day 5

From the port of Samsun we drive inland to Amasya, former capital of the kingdom of Pontus during its golden age in the third century B.C. The town of red-roofed dwellings and 19th-century Ottoman-era wooden houses is set along the dramatic Yesilirmak River Gorge. We explore photogenic winding alleyways, the ethnographic museum, and a medrese, or Islamic seminary. For lunch we enjoy a feast of regional Turkish cuisine in a local restaurant high on a mountainside with commanding views of the town and the Pontic Tombs.

Day 6

Ancient Greeks settled Trabzon along a branch of the Silk Road from Asia. A highlight of our visit is a morning drive in the countryside to see the 13th- and 14th-century Byzantine Sumela Monastery, perched precariously on a cliff face in the monastic tradition of Greek Orthodox architecture. Detailed frescoes, etched in brilliant blues, reds, and golds cover the interior. This stunning alpine setting is also a national park. This afternoon we explore the 13th-century Aya Sofya, a Byzantine church with exquisite frescoes, and spend some free time wandering through the modern city of Trabzon.

Day 7

We dock at the port of Poti in the republic of Georgia. Situated in the southern Caucasus Mountains region, the country possesses a scenic beauty that is legendary; snowcapped mountains sweep down to lush forests and pastoral vineyards and plains. Enjoy a full-day excursion inland to Kutaisi, a World Heritage Site. The city offers splendid monuments surrounded by sweeping mountain views. We visit the Gelati Monastery complex, one of Georgia’s most famed sites, founded by King David IV in the 12th century. During lunch we are entertained with a performance of energetic traditional dances. Afterwards, stroll the cobblestone streets to visit Bagrati Cathedral, an imposing 11th-century church overlooking the river.

Day 8

This Russian mineral-spring resort community with a subtropical climate is sometimes called the Russian Riviera. We spend the morning exploring the town with a special visit to Stalin’s dacha. Well hidden among trees on the outskirts of town, the imposing building became a favorite summer retreat for the infamous leader.

Day 9

Yalta is a seaside resort on the Crimean Peninsula, long a favored spot for Russian and Ukrainian elite who constructed palatial homes here. We visit the magnificent Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, with its intricate Byzantine adornment. A scenic coastal drive brings us to the elegant Renaissance-style Livadia Palace, summer home of Tsar Nicholas II and location of the 1945 Yalta Conference.

Day 10

This morning we disembark in the military port of Sevastopol for a tour of the submarine tunnels at Balaklava and to view a panoramic painting depicting a scene from the Crimean War. After lunch we visit the nearby World Heritage Site of ancient Chersonesus, once a splendid Greek seaside colony.

Day 11

Odessa’s European-Russian heritage is evident as we ascend the Potemkin Steps to explore cobblestone streets lined with shady plane trees. Explore the compact central district’s spectacular architecture, including monuments, statuary, parks, and ornate 19th-century gems such as the Opera House and Gagarin’s Palace. We also visit one of the country’s oldest archaeological museums; housing an extensive collection of Ukrainian artifacts ranging from the Paleolithic age to the medieval period. Among the exhibits are antiquities fashioned of precious metals, including Scythian jewelry and ancient coins.

Day 12

The Danube is Europe’s second longest river as well as a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. The delta is an intricate maze of waterways, lakes, and rivulets that fan out as the mighty river meets its alluvial saltwater terminus. From Crisan, we board a local day boat to wind our way through this wetland habitat of over 200 species of birds, including pygmy cormorants, purple herons, white-tailed eagles, and Dalmatian pelicans. On board, sample local vodka and snacks prepared by our Romanian chef. Later, we rejoin the Clipper Odyssey and sail downriver on the main Sulina channel.

Day 13

Histria was Romania’s earliest-founded city and flourished as an extraordinary trading city, later to be abandoned and swallowed by alluvial deposits and sand. The site has been under excavation since its rediscovery in 1914. We walk through fascinating seaside ruins, tour the new museum, and spot birds in this wetland environment. Next we explore Constanta where we tour the archaeological museum and view one of the largest Roman mosaic floors in Europe. In the late afternoon, we enjoy wine tasting and a performance on board.

Day 14

The modern port city of Varna was once the Greek seaside colony known as Odessos. We disembark in the morning and visit Varna’s archaeological museum that chronologically traces the progress of human society in the region over the course of millennia and includes the oldest worked gold in the world. We also explore the extensive remains of the 2nd-century Roman thermae, or public baths, which make up the largest Roman ruins in Bulgaria. We reboard the ship and sail toward Turkey in the afternoon.

Day 15

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for homeward flights.

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