DAY 1 – ATHENS, GREECE
Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility – housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t help but marvel at the archaeological wonders of the Acropolis and the Parthenon.
Stroll through vibrant streets and markets, dance at buzzing bouzoukia, sing along in tavernas.
At night, head to the harbour, where dimly lit bars serve the local ice cold beer. And, as you inhale the salty air and watch Greek fishing boats peacefully depart for their catch, reflect on this ancient city’s progressive attitude.
Athens
DAY 2 – MYKONOS
If you start early, you’ll have Mykonos to yourself. Stroll narrow streets famous for Cycladic architecture and getting lost; white-washed cubed buildings, alluring boutiques, orthodox churches and traditional windmills.
Join glitterati guests at elegant events on iconic beaches, sink into saltwater pools, tour vineyards and dance at bars where beats evolve in tempo (and volume). When the heat of the day dies down, drop into the sacred isle of Delos to explore remarkable ruins; amphitheatres, temples, public squares, marketplaces and shrines to Greek Gods.
Take a table in central Chora for perfectly-cooked, local dishes with generous views; mounds of flaky filo, Greek salads, halloumi and sea urchin, washed down with freddo. When the sun sets, head for a signature sundowner with views across the ocean.
After dark, follow the fun to legendary bars and clubs. Progressive and profoundly beautiful.
Mykonos
DAY 3 – RHODES
Rising from the sea like a jewel, the island of Rhodes was a gift from Zeus to Helios, the sun god. A sun-kissed home to Cicero and Caesar whose rhetoric and thinking still echo along stone-paved lanes and the UNESCO-listed Old Town.
Follow the footsteps of the Knights of St. John and their Turkish conquerors who both left fascinating monuments, fountains and shady squares. Soak up the buzzing energy and be gently tempted to step back in time.
Pay respect at the pinkish Suleiman Mosque with its tall minaret then seek serenity at the Byzantine Church or heavenly views where perfectly positioned white houses are dotted high into the hills.
Whilst you wander, lean into the legend of the 100-foot Colossus, a wonder of the world, replaced now with twin bronze deer that guard the Mandraki Harbour.
Rhodes
DAY 4 – MARMARIS
Mesmerising Marmaris, overlooked by the mighty castle of Suleiman the Magnificent, crowns Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. Founded by traders and warriors more than 3000 years ago, the city and her sheltered harbour are a gateway to ancient civilisations.
Graceful Turkish gulets and sleek-sided superyachts arc through secluded coves, where pine-scented hillsides spill down to timeless beaches and crystal-clear water.
Cast your eyes upon the sacred sands of fabled Cleopatra Island and listen for Apollo’s song in the hilltop ruins of fallen empires, or a day trip to Dalyan to delve into King Tombs, mud baths, reed-lined rivers, miles of sandy beach, and the infamous Caretta-Caretta sea turtles.
Cleanse body and mind in traditional hammams and Turkish bathhouses, while an emporium of Ottoman arts awaits in the Grand Bazaar.
Marmaris
DAY 5 – BODRUM
Imagine an old-world fishing town with high society appeal. Explore breathtaking sights on the sunlit Peninsula of the turquoise coast. Soak up the town’s buzzing energy; shop, eat, relax and explore.
Pay respect to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, savour fresh fish and meze and sip coffee of toe-tingling strength. Delve into captivating landscapes bursting with nature; the Bafa Lake, olive groves, bougainvillea and hundreds of different bird species.
Feel the wind in your hair on a private gullet as you voyage to crystal clear coves of the Aegean. Lasting memories abound.
DAY 6 – SAMOS
Considered a cosmopolitan locus of leisure in the Ancient World, Samos welcomed many of the greats to its sandy shores, including Herodotus, Aesop, Pythagoras and Cleopatra.
Hera is thought to have held her wedding to Zeus here, and we retrace her steps amidst the columns and coastal temple ruins. This far-flung Aegean island also boasts lush botanical beauty: hike through the hills to springs and waterfalls, seeking pretty mountain villages, churches and monasteries, and enjoy harvests of local fruit and vegetables, olives, honey, lavender, rosemary and acclaimed muscat wine.
Alongside a wealth of great beaches with sparkling azure waters, carve time for the archaeological museum in the pretty harbour town of Pythagorio and wander Kokkari, a fishing village known as Samos’s Little Venice.
DAY 7 – AT SEA
Istanbul dinner and dancing
DAY 8 – ISTANBUL
Embark on a European and Asian adventure packed with a wealth of charm and cultural diversity. Roam the ‘blue’ mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Grand Bazaar, opulent Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia or sink into a serene Turkish Bath experience.
Embrace the city’s vine-shaded homely district where ladies shop for butter-soaked baklava and freshly picked olives. Explore further to haggle for gold jewellery, linen and oriental antiques. Dine in the atmospheric old city or take a ferry to Asia for street-served food.
Feast over rich platters of meze, moist grilled bluefish and succulent kebabs. Heighten your senses even further in the spice bazaar with enticing aromas and vibrant, colourful displays. After such a sensorial feast, indulge in a restorative raki, whichever continent you’re in.
By night parties don’t start until late, but expect to dance till dawn. Join the late crowd spilling into the streets overlooking the Bosphorus. Sway at European rooftop bars, shimmer by ferry over to the Asian suburbs or remain ensconced in old-fashioned folk venues. An eclectic fusion of east and west, this city is conservative at heart with a truly modern soul.
Istanbul by night
