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From Athens to the Turquoise Coast

From Athens to the Turquoise Coast

From AUD $6,960

Description

Embark on a 9-day cruise aboard our three-master Le Ponant, to discover the most beautiful sites of the Aegean Sea and Turkey.

From Athens, you will head to Syros, a cosmopolitan island with a rich history. Today, Syros is the administrative centre of all the Cyclades.

Other pearls of the Cyclades now await you: the unique Santorini, unfurling the grandiose circle of its caldera, and Mykonos, with its paved small streets and blue-and-white houses.

Your voyage continues with sightseeing around Patmos. Also known as the ‘Jerusalem of the Aegean Sea’, this divine island features unique landscapes that blend long white beaches with rocky coves.

Le Ponant will then sail towards Kusadasi, gateway to the fabulous ancient site of Ephesus and its huge library, a real jewel of white marble.

Your ship will then take you to Rhodes, whose old medieval town, built by the Knights of St John, is surrounded by ramparts. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and, like Alexandria, it was once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: its famous Colossus.

Trip Name
From Athens to the Turquoise Coast
Days
8
Overview
Vessel Type: Motor Yacht Length: 88 metres Passenger Capacity: 64 Built: 1991 Experience the privilege of a relaxing cruise aboard Le Ponant, crafted to respect the tradition of famous sailing yachts. Following in the nautical tradition of three-masted sailing ships, Le Ponant will take you on a voyage of discovery.  The ship capacity is limited to 64 passengers, providing intimacy and convivial atmosphere to the cruise.  The refined life on board, the welcoming charm to your cabin, the lounges and the restaurants setting are as many invitations to relax. Under full sail, gliding over the sea with the wind, you will fall under Le Ponant's spell.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 ATHENS
The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. Don’t miss anything of the city’s cultural past. Pay a visit to the National Archaeological museum, or the Cycladic Art Museum.
Day 2 - Day 2 SYROS
Located to the west of Mykonos, Syros is an attractive island in the Cyclades. It has been inhabited since early antiquity, as you’ll discover by visiting the archaeological museum in Ermoupoli, its capital built in the shape of an amphitheatre and stretching out over two hills. Don’t miss the historical district, where the beautiful houses are evidence of the island’s strategic location for trade, between the East and the West. Admire the superb Agios Nikolaos Church or the Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary. Further on, in the medieval town of Ano Syros, succumb to the charms of its stairways and arched passageways, the small, white houses decorated with bougainvilleas, and the sweetness of the ambient air.
Day 3 - Day 3 SANTORINI
The spectacular volcanic island of Santorini stands out proud in the Cyclades. Its basalt cliffs offer particularly expansive views of the Aegean. To enjoy these views, you can head for the capital, Fira. Its floral belvederes of bougainvillea provide a bird’s-eye view of several thousand metres of coastline. Further away, the gorgeous village of Oia looks like a stairway of blue and white houses on the slopes of the volcano. In the south of the island, you will be able to visit the stunning ruins of Akrotiri, an ancient city destroyed by an eruption and covered with a thick layer of lava stone.
Day 4 - Day 4 MYKONOS
Nicknamed “little Venice”, Mykonos is famous for its Alefkandra district where houses are built right on the water’s edge. Their multi-coloured loggias are emblematic of this Cyclades island, as are the pelicans and windmills. You can get close up to the birds on the quaysides of the old port. Up on the hillside, you can see the windmill sails turning. In the cobbled streets of the pedestrian centre, bougainvillea bedeck immaculate facades. As you weave in and out of the little streets, snatches of coastline will undoubtedly call you to the island’s beaches, the quietest of which can be found on the northern coast.
Day 5 - Day 5 PATMOS
Patmos is one of the legendary must-see islands in the Dodecanese. This is where Saint John resided, presumed author of the last book in the Bible. The cave of the Apocalypse and the Saint-John-the-Theologian Monastery are dedicated to him. These sites, which are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage, are located at the top of a hillside planted with vines and orchards. On the shore, the crystalline coves of Kambos and Lampi offer absolutely gorgeous swimming areas. You’ll be drawn to the bustle in Skala harbour and its taverns, famous for their fish soup and tiropita, which is a type of pasty filled with fresh Patmos cheese.
Day 6 - Day 6 KUSADASI
The attractive seaside resort of Kusadasi is located in a gulf on the western coast of Turkey. You can bathe there in clear waters or stroll along the coastal walk, in the shade of palms. In the historical district, you can take a mosey down the narrow streets and explore the colourful shops in the bazaar. Close by, the Ephesus archaeological site in the hillsides provides an opportunity to discover the ruins of one of the most famous cities of Antiquity.
Day 7 - Day 7 RHODES & KEKOVA ISLAND
With its particularly agreeable climate, the island of Rhodes invites you to walk its pathways and discover its immaculate villages and sumptuous medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. At the centre of the island the mountains are covered in forest and on the western slopes we find vineyards and crops. Rhodes also owes much of its charm and its character to the Knights of St John who reigned over the island from 1310 to 1522 and built impressive defensive walls punctuated with majestic gateways. Do not miss this delightful island with its peaceful beaches, its large walkways and its lively nightlife, perpetuating the myth of the famous Colossus, the legendary statue that is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Day 8 - Day 8 ANTALYA
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Day 9 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
19-11-201926-11-2019AUD $6,960Marie Galante Cabin
19-11-201926-11-2019AUD $8,100Marie Galante Premium Cabin
19-11-201926-11-2019AUD $8,100Antigua Cabin

Inclusions

    • A cruise between Greece and Turkey, to see the most beautiful sites in the Aegean Sea.
    • The possibility of visiting Athens, cradle of the gods, before your cruise.
    • Numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Acropolis of Athens (embarkation port), the Monastery of Saint John and the Cave of the Apocalypse on Patmos, the site of Ephesus from Kusadasi, Rhodes.
    • Discovering the pearls of the Cyclades: Syros, Santorin, Mykonos.
    • The spectacular caldera of Santorini and its steep cliffs.
    • The castle and the Lycian tombs of Kekova.
    • After your cruise, you have the opportunity to discover the sublime region of Cappadocia with its “fairy chimneys”, its troglodyte homes and its rock-hewn sanctuaries.

Map