Blue Voyage on the Turquoise Coast of Turkey :

June 11-June 25, 2009: Marmaris – Datca –Marmaris

Fee: $1800 (One week boat trip and the Turkish Riviera tour-14 days)

A Gulet cruise will be the journey of a lifetime. This is the perfect way to enjoy the timeless beauty of Turkey 's Aegean coast with day after tranquil day sailing on a turquoise sea, anchoring to explore idyllic little islands and swim in the warm crystal-clear waters of secluded bays. Green dressed spectacular mountains…Dolphins... Breathtaking sunsets... Starry-balmy nights... These are just some of the wonderful memories you'll treasure long after you're back home.

BLUE VOYAGE

When you hear the name "Blue Voyage", you think of a voyage of incredible beauty which starts off from Bodrum and reaches out towards Datca, Marmaris, Fethiye, Kas and finally Antalya . This voyage, on the most beautiful and cleanest waters of the world, begins in one of the antique regions, Karia, and extends to Pamphylia passing through the Lycian region.

We know that navigation had existed in very ancient times in the whereabouts of Bodrum called Karia in antique ages, and the center of which was Bodrum, namely Halicarnassos. Artemisia I who ascended to the throne in the year 480 B.C., as the Queen of Halicarnassos, joined the Naval War of Salamis together with the Persian fleet, commanding her own fleet, and was so successful that the Persian King said "The men fought as if they were women in this war, and the women fought as if they were men". Even today, after hundreds of years, the people of Bodrum keep navigation at an enviable level in the region, both in respect to boat construction and captainship.

The region that starts from the Stream of Dalaman and extends to the whereabouts of Antalya , is called the Lycian Region. We know that the Lycians who were a tribe of seafarers just like the people of Karia, lived in this region in the year 2000 B.C. We learn from a letter written by the King of Cyprus to Amenophis III, the Pharaoh of Egypt asking for his help, that the Lycians went on sea campaigns against Cyprus in the year 1400 B.C. The King of Cyprus also writes in his letter that the Lycians were helpless against this tribe and that they invaded the seas and captured a city each year.

It is worth seeing how the blue waters and the green nature embrace each other during the Blue Voyage that goes on from Bodrum to Antalya . One can hardly ignore the existence of, and admire, among these natural beauties, the ancient cities such as Knidos, Caunos, Telmessos, Antiphellos, Myra , Olympos, Phaselis and the rock tombs in the Lycian cities.

If you choose to travel with us for the entire two week of our tour, after a week of the Blue Voyage on the sea, we'll take you down to Antalya thru one of the most spectacular sceneries of the entire Mediterranean Coast from Gibraltar to Lebanon .

The Route: Marmaris-Knidos-Marmaris

1st day: MARMARIS Arrival reception on board. Overnight in Marmaris, one of the leading resorts of Turkey . There are many wonderful surprises in Marmaris. Traditional stores along with colorful markets and bazaars. You can also visit the ancient castle just behind the harbor to taste the medieval air of the town. You'll be greeted and welcomed with a dinner on board. In the evening, you will be free to discover the lovely port and narrow streets of this wonderfully Mediterranean town.

MARMARIS:

Surrounded by pine-clad hills, Marmaris is located on the site of ancient Phykos of which nothing at all remains since the modern town sits atop the ruins. There are however numerous examples of Ottoman architecture from the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent since Marmaris was taken by him as part of his campaign against the island of Rhodes nearby. Among the buildings that may be seen are the castle built in 1521; a caravanserai built in 1545; Tashan, also built in the 16th century; and the Mosque of Ibrahim Agha, dated 1789. Marmaris is deservedly better known for its natural beauty: the lace like coastline is embellished with coves and inlets where one may go swimming, diving, or fishing. The sheltered bay is excellent for windsurfing. Accommodation, restaurants, and cafes are plentiful and tours are available to coves like Icmeler, Kumlubük, Turunç, and Kadirga. Nearby is a sea cavern called Fosforlu (Phosphorescent). The forests of fragrant storax trees around Marmaris offer tempting picnic spots. Marmaris is a calling place on the Blue Voyage and boats may be hired here to go to Bodrum and Fethiye. Boat tours are also available to the nearby ruins of ancient Caunos. Good highway connections make it easy to visit more distant places like Knidos, Pamukkale, Aphrodisias, and even Ephesos. The Marmaris marina is amply provided with everything a yachtsman might need

2nd day: ÇIFTLIK – BOZUKKALE Çiftlik Bay and Bozukkale. Loryma where the interesting ruins of an ancient harbour and castle awaits you.

3rd day: KOCA ISLAND – BENCIK BAY Koca Island and Bencik Bay where the red rock landscape mostly covered with pine forest presents a quite unusual picture when you are sailing.

4th day: KARGI BAY – DATÇA Kargi Bay and town of Datça . A small resort with many seafood restaurants and pubs.

DATCA:

Datça is a county seat and the name given to the entire peninsula. One may find whatever one needs here. Datça is the original site of the city of Knidos , which was relocated in 540 B.C. during the Persian invasions. Old Knidos is located 1.5 km north of modern Datça on a hill where there is an acropolis. On the southern side are the remains of an ancient harbor. After Datça we come to broad Çiftlik Harbor , which is located between the Adatepe peninsula and Çiftlik Island . Leaving Çiftlik Bay where there is a holiday village, we pass Adatepe Cape and arrive at Kuruca Cove. From here we pass Kuruca Island and Bozan Cape reaching Bencik, at the narrowest part of the peninsula. Bencik stretches inland 3 km, almost as if attempting to break through to the other side. It is a great pleasure to wander about these coves and inlets drinking in the loveliness of their blues and greens. The beauty of the scenery cannot be adequately told and must be experienced to be appreciated. At the entrance to this bay is Dislice Island . During the Persian invasions in 540 B.C., the Knidians sought to dig a canal between Bencik and Küçükçati on the other side as a defensive measure against the Persian armies and turn their city into an island. An oracle was consulted who reportedly said "If the gods had wanted, they would have made your city an island. Do not pierce the isthmus. "Whereupon they surrendered to the Persians-After leaving Bencik, we enter Hisarönü harbor where the ruins of Bybasos are to be found. On the southeastern side of the gulf is Keçibükü Bay , inside of which there is an island. Keçibükü is the best anchorage. On the island are the ruins of a fort. A bit inland from this bay is the village of Orhaniye and the ruins of Bybasos are located on a hill above the village. The ruins of city walls, some from medieval, some from Hellenistic times can be seen here and there within the forest on this steep and rocky hill. At a place called Pazarcik on Eren mountain south of the village of Hisarönü was the ancient city of Kastabos .

5th day: KNIDOS The ancient Carian city. Remains of an amphitheatre and statues. Palamut bay a small harbor. The green valley behind the harbor is a pleasant contrast to the bare rocky slopes.

KNIDOS:

Although Knidos was originally founded as a Spartan colony on the site of the present town of Datça in the 7th century B.C., its inhabitants relocated it at a later date to its present site at the tip of the Resadiye promontory, some 75 km from Marmaris over a very good highway that winds through pine forests. The inhabitants of ancient Knidos were excellent mariners with reputations that rivaled those of the Phoenicians in their seamanship. Threatened by a Persian invasion in 546 B.C., the Knidians sought to defend themselves by cutting a channel through the neck of the peninsula their city was located on, thus turning it into an island. Their plan was thwarted, it is said, by an oracle declaring that if the gods wanted Knidos to be an island they would make it one. (Or if they had so wanted they would have done.) The Knidians interpreted this as meaning the gods opposed their project and so they abandoned it, preferring to submit to Persian rule instead. Ancient Knidos was a city known for its artists, philosophers, and engineers and it grew wealthy through the wine trade. Praxiteles, one of the greatest Greek sculptors carved a statue of Aphrodite that was nude. (She was the first of a long line of naked marble ladies; until then, only males were carved in the buff.) The Knidians consented to allow the statue to be erected in their city after it had been rejected by a number of, other sites and it proved to be a good investment as visitors flocked from all over the ancient world to look at it. The statue has disappeared though Roman copies do exist. Eudoxos, one of the most famous ancient mathematicians and astronomers, was from Knidos as was Sostratos, the architect who designed the lighthouse of Alexandria , one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Never ones to pick a fight, the Knidians also surrendered to Alexander without a battle and later we see them part of the Kingdom of Pergamon and then, after 129 B.C., of Rome . During Byzantine times Knidos was an insignificant settlement and it was abandoned entirely some time during the 7th century A.D.

6th day: KIZIL ISLAND – BOZBURUN A little fishing village. After breakfast in Mersincik you will travel leisurely to Cati Lagoon for lunch. The afternoon is free for you to visit the beauties of this region. Dinner and overnight in Cati.

7th day: KADIRGA – KUMLUBÜK Amazing for swimming. Overnight in Marmaris.

8th day: MARMARIS- DALYAN-FETHIYE-KAS: We'll leave the boat after breakfast. We'll take our bus and travel toward Antalya . We'll travel thru the high mountains and arrive at the wonderful sleepy town of Dalyan . Here we'll take a small boat to visit Kaunos, the ancient city and see the rock tombs of the Lycians. After visiting the Lycian capital city of Xantos , we'll arrive at Kas, the most scenic small town in this region.

9th Day: KAS-KALKAN: You can either stroll up and down in the lovely streets of Kas admiring the Lycian tombs and the theater, or just sit and enjoy the life passing by in a very slow pace.

10th Day: SANTA CLAUS-OLYMPOS-PHASELIS TO ANTALYA : We'll visit Demre where Santa Claus served as a priest in 4 th century. His church and the ancient city of Myra are very worthwhile locations to spend some time. From there we'll pass thru the Olympos Mountains where Zeus lived and managed the affairs of his domain. Here we'll visit Olympos and Phaselis ancient towns and admire the beauties and planning of these cities. Then after a short drive we'll arrive at Antalya .

OLYMPOS:

Olympos is situated between the holiday resort of Kemer and the village of Adrasan . We follow a sign leading from Ulupinar to the ruins of Olympos, where we find not only the ruins of Olympos but volcanic terrain which has formed from constantly fuming geysers of natural hot gas. The ruins of the city are set along the banks of a small stream, and although small, it is a very interesting site, unforgettable in its striking position by the sea, and curious for its ever-burning light. The left bank of the stream is completely covered with undergrowth, and with great difficulty, one can make out the remains of a wall, and over it a door on certain ruins.

11th Day: ANTALYA-TERMESSOS-PAMUKKALE-HIERAPOLIS: In Antalya , we'll visit the old town as well as the impeccable ancient city of Termessos . Alexander the Great had to give up pursuing for Termessos during his Eastern campaign since this city proved to be un-conquerable. Then we'll pass thru some of the most spectacular mountains in Turkey and arrive at Pamukkale, famous for the Thermal Hot Springs. We'll spend the evening in Pamukkale and visit the ancient city of Hierapolis and Aphrodisias.

12th Day: APHRODISIAS AND EPHESUS: After visiting the original Eastern mother Goddess Aphridite's temple city we'll arrive in Selcuk. After making our base in Selcuk, we'll visit Ephesus, Virgin Mary's chapel, and Sirince wine making village close by.

13th Days: BACK TO ISTANBUL : We'll take an afternoon flight to Istanbul from the close-by Izmir airport. We'll spend our last night at a tavern if there is enough interest in this free evening.

14th Day: DEPARTURE: Transfer to the Istanbul airport and fly back to the States. Have a wonderful flight!

OUR BOAT: GULET

The boats used for the Blue Cruise are wooden boats, traditionally they are hand made by master craftsmen from Bodrum area of Turkey . That's why they are referred often as "Bodrum type" yachts or Gulettes.

This classic Gulet was once used by fisherman and sponge divers to transport their catch. T hey are now purpose-built for the charter market with fittings and equipment designed for guests' comfort , all of which come under the collective description of wooden Gulet.

A Gulet is typically built of pine wood and styled with a pointed fore and round aft. The major difference between the Turkish and a western boat is that the Turkish boats are designed to allow passengers more space on the deck. The Bodrum built boats take as much advantage as they can of the pleasant climate of the South. An aft deck for dining and lounging in the shade of a sun awning and a forward deck with numerous sunbeds. Large living areas, spacious cabins, WC, shower and a sun deck furnished lounge area are typical in Gulettes.

Most have double cabins with en-suite facilities. On deck there are sun lounges for sunbathing and relaxing as well as dining areas under sun awnings. Gulets range in size, accommodating from 4-16 people. The crew, a captain, cook and 1 or 2 deckhands are very experienced at handling the boat and catering to all your needs.

They might not all be experienced to sail, but when the wind gets strong enough they will, if the clients insist.

If snorkeling is one of your favorite pastimes, we suggest you pack your own set of gear, then you won't need to adjust the mask size every time you wish to explore the depths.

Our Gulet is a superb motor sailor designed for full charter and launched recently. It is a wooden boat construction built in the typical Aegean coast tradition. This type of gulet contains much more cabin space inside. This boat has 8 cabins for up to 16 guests. All cabins have bathrooms with toilets and shower-cabins. There are two master cabins and 6 cabins are with double beds.

This gulet comes fully equipped with radio, GSM telephone, stereo music system, canoe, fishing and snorkeling equipment, generator and continuous hot water.

The crew of our gulet consists of a captain, one sailor who are for your service all the time and a chef, that will bring to you all the delicious dishes, from the world famous Turkish cuisine.

Comfort/Recreation: Spacious sun deck area with sun mattresses and cushions, Sun awning, Cushioned aft deck with a large table, Deck chairs, spacious saloon with bar and dining table.

Here is the layout of our Gulet with 8 double rooms, accommodating 16 travelers. This Gulet is 23 meters in length. The cabins have built-in toilets & showers. (Hot & cold). There is a music set, VHF Radiotelephone and a dinghy on the Gulet. Crew consists of a captain, cook and a deckhand.

KNIDOS:

DATCA:

MARMARIS:

Please send an email to Latif Bolat at lbolat@aol.com
to get further information about the tour.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS $1800 FEE?

* This fee is on per person/double occupancy base. On the boat there are only 8 cabins. Therefore single supplement would be very difficult to accomodate. However during the second week of the tour, single supplement will be available since we'll be staying at hotels. Please let Latif Bolat know about your desire about single supplement.
* This is a land only tour and all arrangements start and   end at the airport in Istanbul.
* Latif Bolat or in some cases a certified professional Turkish tour guide will escort you on your tour.
* Breakfast and dinner every day throughout the tour, except for the dinner on the last day in Istanbul. (lunch is also included while on the boat)
* All hotel accommodations.
* All scheduled lectures, shows, performances. (traveler pays for extra shows etc)
* All scheduled entrance fees to museums, ancient sites etc, extra entrance fees not included.
* All baggage handling for check-ins, check-outs, in hotels and at airports.
* All hotel and local taxes are included.
* Bottled water during the tours on the bus.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED: Add-on International flights. All Lunches (except on the boat). Last night's dinner in Istanbul. Alcoholic and other beverages during the dinners, other than water. Tips for the guides (industry standard is $5 per person/per day). Tips for the bus driver (industry standard is $2 per person/per day). Airline insurance. Cost of Turkish Visa at the Istanbul airport, $ 20 (as of 2007). Luggage, personal and tour cancellation insurance. Room service, valet, laundry, telephone calls. Items of personal nature and other items not specifically mentioned above. Courtesy tips at restaurants and hotels. Performances like concerts and shows. Items of personal nature and other items not specifically mentioned above.

SINGLE ROOM/ROOMMATE POLICY:
Indicated tour fees are on Per Person/Double Occupancy base. Some single rooms per tour are available at $20 extra per night (at cost). The sooner you sign up for a tour, the better the chances are that we will be able to find a roommate for you. If you wish to share your room and we cannot find a roommate, the single supplement fee will be waived. Once the tour commences, if you degide you no longer want to share a room, you will have to pay double the original singgle supplement fee in order to compensate for your roommate's single room as well. On the boat there is no single accommodations.

INSURANCE:
Tour cancellation/protection, as well as luggage and accident insurance is highly recommended. Latif Bolat Tours do NOT sell such insurance so please contact your travel agent to purchase these insurances. Please note: Latif Bolat is not liable for loss, damage or theft of luggage or personal belongings, for personal injury, accident or illness. If you need any medical service during the tour, Latif Bolat tours will happily help you get a doctor or take you to a clinic. However the passenger will need to pay the expenses to the doctor or clinic after or before the medical service provided.

ITINERARY MODIFICATIONS:
We'll make every effort to carry out all tours as planned. However, itinerary contained in this brochure is subject to modifications and change in order to create a better and safer tour if it is considered by Latif Bolat Tours as necessary.

TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES CLAUSE:
The passage contract in use by airlines and other transportation companies whose services are used to arrive and depart from Turkey before and after the tour shall constitute the sole contract between the companies and the purchaser of a tour. Latif Bolat does not assume responsibility for cancellation fees of any special fares due to departure or itinerary changes.

HEALTH RESTRICTIONS:
Please realize that Turkey is not like the US in terms of smoking and other allergy related issues. Even though we try to provide the best alternatives for non-smoking hotels, restaurants and other public places, you might still encounter some smoking. Therefore if you are severely allergic to smoking, please consult with us. Also, even though there is no heavy hiking involved in this tour, certain level of walking on uneven terrain will be required since most of the historical sites are scattered in wide areas. Since this tour covers half of Turkey, there will be some bus traveling involved every day. Even though we try to make it as pleasant as possible, you should keep this in mind. as well.

TOUR BUS INFORMATION:
Transportation will be by private air-conditioned new Mercedes, Volkswagen or Isuzu deluxe buses. These buses are for either 15 or 30 passenger capacity depending on the number of the participants.

FREE AIRPORT TRANSFERS: Tour participants are entitled to airport tranesfers on scheduled tour arrival and departure days in Turkey between 7AM and 11PM. However if you are arriving early or departing later than the scheduled days you will need to take a taxi to/from the airport. Please provide your flight itinerary as soon as you have the necessary information. Latif Bolat Tours can also send you a shuttle van if you don't wish to deal with the taxies. In that case please pay the shuttle fee upon your arrival to your destination.

CANCELLATIONS:
Latif Bolat reserves the right to cancel any tours prior to departure for any reasons, including insufficient number of participants and safety issues. If there is such a cancellation, participants will receive a full refund.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
* A deposit of $500 per person by check is required upon registration. Any deposit that is sent towards booking a tour constitutes full knowledge, acceptance and agreement of the cancellation policy.
* Full payment is due 6o days prior to departure, upon receipt of invoice.
* Application received less than 65 days prior to departure will require full payment at time of registration.

REFUND POLICY :
The below policy will be strictly adhered to regardless of the reason for cancellation. A written cancellation is required for all refunds for the following schedule:
* Up to 60 days prior to departure: Obligatory service charge of $100 per person
* 59-45 days prior to departure: Forfeiture of full deposit ($500 per person).
* 44-10 days prior: Forfeiture of full deposit, plus 50% of land costs.
* 9 days to 72 hours prior: Forfeiture of full deposit, plus 75% of land costs.
* Less than 72 hours or during the tour: No refunds!