Magic of Asia Minor and the Holy Land - Egypt, Turkey & Israel Cruise

Istanbul bridges Europe and Asia, shaped by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans. This diversity infuses the city's architecture, cuisine, music and arts. Sites include the Hagia Sophia museum, a former church and mosque, the stunning Blue Mosque with six minarets, Topkapi Palace, the former residence of the Ottoman sultans, and the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world.

The Dardanelles strait, known as the Hellespont in antiquity, links the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean Sea. This strategic 60 km passage between Europe and Asia has been contested for millennia, controlling access to the Black Sea. Mythology recalls Helle's drowning and Leander's legendary swim, later repeated by a 22-year-old Lord Byron. Today, tourists explore Gallipoli on the northern shore, the WWI campaign site where the Anzac legend was born.

The culturally significant seaport of Çanakkale is the gateway to the Dardanelles, connecting the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean Sea. This historic city in northwestern Turkey, on the Asian side of the Dardanelles Strait, is renowned for its role in the poignant Gallipoli Campaign during World War I, commemorated at the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park. The ancient city of Troy, immortalised in Greek mythology, lies nearby.

Kusadasi is the gateway to 11th century BC Ephesus, a well-preserved ancient site. This UNESCO-listed treasure was a vital Roman capital and religious hub from 129 BC. It features marble streets, the Temple of Hadrian, mosaic-adorned Terrace Houses, the Library of Celsus and the amphitheatre where St. Paul spoke. Nearby stood the Temple of Artemis/Diana, once among the Seven Wonders. The Seljuk archaeological museum displays Ephesus artefacts.

Türkiye’s coastal crown jewel, the vibrant port town of Bodrum and its surrounding peninsula offer ancient ruins and natural beauty in equal measure. Bodrum is home to the ruins of the Tomb of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The tomb was destroyed by a series of earthquakes.Its stone was later used to build the UNESCO-listed Bodrum Castle built by the Knights of St. John in the 15th century in the bay.

Datcha is a port town in southwestern Turkey on the narrow Datcha Peninsula on the Aegean Sea. Eski Datcha, the town's old quarter, enchants with its stone houses, narrow streets, and bougainvillea-clad walls. At the Datcha Peninsula's western tip, the ancient ruins of Knidos invite visitors to explore a bygone era. Once a thriving Roman and Byzantine trading hub, Knidos boasts an amphitheatre, a temple to Aphrodite and a 4th-century BC sundial.

Dalyan, on Turkey's southwest coast, set along the turquoise Dalyan River, faces the ancient city of Kaunos with its famous amphitheatre and cliffside King Tombs resembling mini temples. Nearby is Iztuzu Beach, or Turtle Beach, a nesting site for loggerhead turtles. The area also features the natural Dalyan Mud Baths and hot springs of Sultaniye village on Lake Köycegiz, said to be a favorite of Cleopatra.

As part of Türkiye's Turquoise Coast, Fethiye is known for its aqua-coloured waters. The modern town is built over the Ancient Greek city of Telmessos, the largest Lycian city. Lycian rock tombs carved into a bluff overlooking the city. include the 350 B.C. Tomb of Amyntas. The 400-km Lycian Way Trail connects sites from here to Antalya. Nearby, Ölüdeniz's Belcekız Beach features the Blue Lagoon, while Butterfly Valley is a nature reserve.

On Türkiye's Mediterranean coast, Alanya is known for its old town, Kaleiçi, a maze of cobblestone streets with Ottoman villas and Turkish bazaars. Perched above is Alanya Castle, a medieval Seljuk-era fortress. Beneath the heart of town lies Damlataş Cave with stalagmites and stalactites. Alanya's beaches and clear waters are perfect for swimming and water sports, particularly Cleopatra Beach, supposedly where the Egyptian queen herself swam.

Mersin is a port city in southern Turkey, once a Roman and Byzantine trading area. Nearby, the Roman city Tarsus, associated with St. Paul's birthplace, features Cleopatra's Gate and witnessed the famous Antony-Cleopatra meeting. Excavations reveal a paved street. South of Mersin, ancient Olba-Diocaesarea, established in the 6th century BC, retains remnants of the Temple to Zeus, a colonnaded street, amphitheatre and aqueduct.

Built along the slopes of Mount Carmel, overlooking the Mediterranean, the scenic port city of Haifa is home to the Bahá'í Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the golden Shrine of the Báb. Nearby, are archaeological sites from Roman, early Christian, and Byzantine eras; some of the most famous are linked to Jesus, such as Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. The historic German Colony hosts charming cafes, restaurants and boutiques.

Established in 1859 during the opening of the Suez Canal, Port Said features the elegant Waterfront Quarter, with landmarks like the Suez Canal House and the Military Museum of Port Said. Serving as a gateway to Cairo, it provides access to some of the world's most iconic sites like the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, and the Egyptian Museum with its collection of over 120,000 artefacts, including Tutankhamun's treasures.

Itineraries are subject to change.