Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul. Meet at the airport and transfer to hotel. Welcome drink and dinner.

Day 2: A day in the great metropolis of Istanbul, Turkey’s most dynamic city, gateway between east and west. An introduction to the tour in the archaeological museum beside the Alexander Sarcophagus, followed by some of the greatest sites of the city.

Day 3: Follow the Marmara Sea to the mighty Hellespont. When Alexander the Great crossed he sacrificed to Poseidon and poured libations of wine to the spirits of the sea. We visit Achilles’ tomb on the plain of Troy, where Alexander paid homage to the hero, running naked anointed with oil. At the legendary city itself, we explore the ruins swathed in myth. At the great temple of Athena, the fabled shield of Achilles was presented to Alexander - it would save his life during a siege in India.

Day 4: A visit to Çanakkale’s splendid little archaeological museum then east into the hills. On the banks of the river Granicus Alexander nearly died in his first victory over the Persians. We examine the most likely location of the battle.

Day 5: A morning visit to Sardis where the imposing city of Croesus and the Lydian kings is being excavated. After lunch we see Ephesus’s marvellous archaeology museum, close to the Temple of Artemis, which reportedly burned down the night Alexander was born. We reach monumental Ephesus as the tourist buses depart.

Day 6: A morning to relax in Kuşadasi, then we walk the stepped streets of Priene, virtually unchanged since Alexander the Great was here. To the south lay Miletus, which refused him entry. It became his first major siege and his first chance to try out a new weapon, the torsion catapult. The city was battered into submission.

Day 7: The temple of Apollo at Didyma remains one of the most spectacular of all monuments. It was here that Alexander’s ultimate victory over the Persians was prophesised. Beside the sea, we explore Iasus, one of the very prettiest sites in Turkey, where Alexander made a local boy, who swam with dolphins, priest of Poseidon.

Day 8: In Bodrum, birthplace of Herodotus, we visit the site of the celebrated Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, and the remains of the fortifications against which Alexander laid a desperate siege. We finish with a tour of the Castle of St. Peter.

Day 9: A day to just relax - sit back and read a book, have a drink in a cafe and watch the world go by, or go exploring or shopping.

Day 10: East to Xanthus, Lycia’s pre-eminent city, full of tombs, grand civic buildings and a vast church floored with mosaics. Some say Alexander sacked it as Brutus later did. Nearby we visit Letoön’s moody sanctuary, and at Kalkan transfer to our gulet.

Day 11: A chance to relax and swim aboard a traditional Turkish gulet, as we sail along Lycia’s turquoise coast. A perfect opportunity to reflect on Alexander’s navy, shipping in antiquity, and the ancient Mediterranean in general, while going ashore to see the remains of once grand cities.

Day 12: Beside soaring pine clad mountains we cruise to triple-harboured Phaselis: a city later renowned for possessing Achilles’ original spear, and for being a haunt for pirates. When Alexander arrived, they crowned him with golden wreaths. When he left he gambled on a short cut around the coast. Supposedly the sea parted in supplication, making way for his army.

Day 13: Visit Antalya’s archaeological museum housing one of the finest collections of ancient sculpture. Admire one of the world’s best preserved theatres at Aspendos and explore the acropolis where people shook at the very sight of Alexander the Great.

Day 14: Stroll the colonnaded streets of Perge, Alexander’s key regional base, with its marble baths, stadium and shops. Discover Termessos, perched high on a mountain, one of the few cities to say ‘no’ to Alexander and survive.

Day 15: Heading north we walk along an ancient stone road, once the main route to the central plateau. We visit Sagalassos where archaeological excavations are revealing a vast, impressive ancient city, captured by Alexander in a bloody siege.

Day 16: To Gordion, capital of ancient Phrygia, where we visit the tomb of King Midas. Here, Alexander cut the Gordion knot sparking a myth that foretold his rule over Asia. East to Ankara’s fabulous Museum of Anatolian Civilisations.

Day 17: South to Cappadocia, which Alexander put under the control of an Oriental, not wishing to waste time securing it. The area is a geological wonderland, full of fairy chimneys, rock-hewn churches, and underground cities.

Day 18: We retrace Alexander’s march south through the Taurus Mountains. Alexander hurried to seize Tarsus, rescuing it from burning by the Persians. Here he fell dangerously ill, spending several months in bed. All the while the Persian king mustered his forces nearby.

Day 19: As tension mounts we follow the build-up to the great Battle of Issus. We explore the area and sites, like Kinet Hüyük (ancient Issus) now being excavated, that once reverberated with the Macedonian war-cry, and witnessed Alexander the Great charging at the head of his cavalry.

Day 20: Transfer to the airport at Adana, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Fly to Istanbul.

More information from Peter Sommer Travels:

• Company profile, experience, and history
• View all of their trips