Bodrum, once a small fishing village, has been described as the St. Tropez of Turkey, thanks to its pristine beaches and stellar nightlife. Homer called this exquisite peninsula "the land of the eternal blue".

Looking for the ultimate in romance upon the sparkling turquoise waters of the Aegean? Our moonlight cruise on a private sailboat will take you deep into the eternal, romantic blue along the Bodrum coast, home to tranquil harbors and magical bays. As night falls, savor the richness of Turkish culture with a performance by local belly-dancers and delicious cocktails served with a twist of moonlit.

We travel by bus approximately two hours to the ancient city of Ephesus, passing many typical rural Turkish villages along the way.

Ephesus, one of the 12 cities of Ionia, is a stunning marvel in the hills above the Aegean coast. Founded by the ancient Greeks circa 2000 BC, it became the second-largest city in the Roman Empire, at one time home to a quarter-million people. It was the first and most significant city in the Roman province of Asia and one of its key ports. Millennia ago the Aegean receded west, stranding the city on its sun-seared hillsides. It is believed the Virgin Mary lived and died here, and that Paul wrote his Letter to the Ephesians here.

Ephesus is rivaled only by the Forum and the Acropolis as one of the most complete classical cities in Europe. Stroll between the marble colonnades of Curetes Street to visit Trajan’s Fountain, Hadrian’s Temple, the Scholastica Baths and the astonishing Terrace Houses, where many of the floor mosaics are still intact. Nearby, the spectacular Library of Celsus, which has been almost entirely reconstructed, towers above the famed Marble Road. The Great Theater of Ephesus, where St. Paul once preached, was carved into the side of Mt. Pion in the 4th century BC. It held up to 24,000 spectators and is still renowned for its outstanding acoustics.

There will be some free time to shop before returning to the ship.

Izmir, more than 12,000 square kilometers and home to more than three million people, is Turkey’s third-largest city. It presents itself as a modern, teeming metropolis, but as we tour Izmir its magnificent ancient past comes alive. The remains of the ancient agora, built by Marcus Aurelius in 178 BC, lie at the heart of the city. Our guides will also show you the only two-storey agora yet discovered – its first floor was dedicated to trade, manufacturing and storage, its second to civic meetings and retailing. Many of the artifacts recovered from this remarkable site are on display at Izmir’s New Archeological Museum, whose galleries are arranged to send you on an evocative journey through history.

From the port of Ios our bus rolls toward Skarkos, a prehistoric settlement that proves Ios has been inhabited since the early Cycladic period. Skarkos had a modern system for the disposal of rainwater and a sewer system. Its two-storey buildings included stone-built scales, domes, built-in door cases and stone-covered floors; inside these buildings archeologists have found metal, bone and stone utensils and tools, as well as earthen pots and containers, evidence of a very complex society. For its exceptional conservation efforts at Skarkos, Ios was one of six European locations awarded the EU Cultural Heritage prize in 2008.

We leave Skarkos for Chora, a typical Cycladic village, where you’ll enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the harbor. Chora is one of the most picturesque villages in the Cyclades – its bright white buildings line narrow streets and nestle beside twisting staircases. Inaccessible to vehicles, it’s a paradise for pedestrians, particularly its main thoroughfare, which is packed with unique boutiques, stylish bars, lively cafes and traditional tavernas.

From Chora we drive to magnificent Manganari Beach. The large bay at Manganari is one of the most famous in the Cyclades thanks to its exquisite beaches. Enchanting Manganari comprises one large and four smaller, idyllic beaches, all of them known for their soft, golden sand and transparent, aquamarine waters. Enjoy a snack in a lovely tavern, or challenge yourself with a variety of water sports, particularly windsurfing – the beaches at Manganari are also perfect for families with children. Welcome to paradise.

We start this excursion just outside Kos Town with a visit to the Asklepion, a health and healing center and a temple to Asklepios, son of Apollo and the god of healing – built in the 4th century BC, its Doric temple dates to the 2nd century BC. This is where Hippocrates, the father of medicine, developed and practiced many of the healing methods we still use today.

We depart from the Asklepion for the lovely mountain village of Zia, where a spectacular panoramic view of Kos and a number of traditional cafes and tavernas await you. Zia is fast becoming popular with local artists and craftspeople, and you’ll find unique, handmade art and crafts on sale throughout the village. This is also a great place to try the diverse local herbs grown near Zia and used in Greek gastronomy, and thyme honey! While strolling about the village, make sure to visit its picturesque cathedral.

We walk through Kos Town to its main square, where we will take a guided tour of the Archeological Museum. Its exhibition halls feature Hellenistic and Roman statuary, including a statue of Hippocrates. On our way back to port we make a final stop at the Plane (Platanos) tree of Hippocrates, near the Knights’ Castle on the harbor. It is said Hippocrates instructed his students under this very tree more than 2500 years ago.

Our "Taste of Tradition in Zia" tour is an excellent way to get to know the traditional side of Kos. We leave the harbor via air conditioned bus for our first stop, a family-run winery built on some of the island’s most fertile land, at the foot of Mt. Dikeos. You’ll have a chance to learn about winemaking and to sample some of the winery’s outstanding wines, which are made from some of the finest local and international varieties of green and red grapes. Our next stop is the village of Kefalos, the most south-western village on Kos. At Kefalos we’ll visit a family of beekeepers, where you’ll learn how Greek honey is produced. You’ll also have a chance to taste thyme honey, traditional “loukoumades” (mini honey donuts) and raki flavoured with honey.

After the beekeepers we climb to the lovely mountain village of Zia, where a spectacular panoramic view of Kos and a number of traditional cafes and tavernas await you. Zia is fast becoming popular with local artists and craftspeople, and you’ll find unique, handmade art and crafts on sale throughout the village. This is also a great place to try the diverse local herbs grown near Zia and used in Greek gastronomy. While strolling about the village, make sure to visit its picturesque cathedral.

This tour is an introduction to the splendour of the Golden Age of Athens and the modern 21st Century city. On arrival in Athens you visit the Acropolis on which stands the Parthenon, the symbol of classical architecture. The entrance to the top of the hill is through the Propylea, the ‘gates’ through which the Panathinea processions used to enter. Built totally of white marble covers an area of 50 m across the whole western face of the Acropolis. Next to them is the temple of Athena Niki also known as the 'Wingless Victory'.

The Parthenon is the main temple, built in honour of Goddess Athena. Her statue decorated the centre of the temple and it was made of ivory and gold. Next to the Parthenon is the smaller Temple of Erechthion with lovely sculptured young maidens supporting the roof of the porch. From the top of the Acropolis you can admire the ancient theatre of Herodes Atticus with its remarkable acoustics. Performances are still held here each summer being the highlight of cultural events in the Eastern Mediterranean. Leaving the Acropolis the tour takes you by the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the “evzones” dressed in their traditional costume, the Parliament and the Panathinaikon Stadium where the first Olympics of modern times were held in 1896.

The entire stadium is built of pure white marble. Your drive continues by the Library – the Academy – the University, three buildings representing 19th Century architecture blended with the classical influence. The tour then passes by Omonia Square, the commercial centre of the city and Syntagma Square, which is the business, and cultural centre. There will be time during the tour for you to browse and do a little shopping at the stores located at the base of the Acropolis.

On arriving in Athens, you start the city sightseeing driving past the Temple of Zeus, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the “evzones” dressed in their traditional costume, the Parliament and the Panathinaikon Stadium where the first Olympics of modern times were held in 1896. The whole stadium is built of pure white marble. The drive continues by the Library – the Academy – the University, three buildings representing 19th Century architecture blended with the classical influence.

The tour then passes by Omonia Square, the commercial centre of the city and Syntagma Square, which is the business and cultural centre. Your Athens’ city sightseeing ends at a leading café at the foot of the Acropolis, from where you can view all the majestic monuments of the amazing Acropolis while enjoying your refreshment. The tour continues to the old part of the city called Plaka where you can explore its mainly pedestrian streets with picturesque houses, shops and numerous cafés. After the free time in Plaka you will board your coach for the return journey to Piraeus port.

The new Acropolis Museum is housed in a state-of-the-art building designed by Swiss-born architect Bernard Tschumi. With an area of 226,000 square feet - 10 times larger than the old museum - the new building feels open and full of light. Its design has received mixed reviews from locals, but there is no doubt it is a striking and highly functional work of architecture.

The Acropolis Museum houses all of the portable objects removed from the Acropolis since 1834, with the exception of a few bronzes displayed in the National Archeological Museum and inscriptions in the Epigraphical Museum. The museum's artifacts are primarily religious in nature, including a fascinating collection of ancient statues used in religious ceremonies, and they provide a fascinating visual history of Greek religion.

First you head up to the monastery of Prophet Ilias, for a breath-taking view, deep inhalations of clean, pure, Cycladic air and memorial photos, so as to be the envy of all who didn't come along. The tour continues its passage towards the north.

To the east, in the background, you will have settlements like Kamari and Monolithos, while you will pass through Fira, the small traditional villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli with delicate architecture and beauties, to eventually arrive at the settlement of Oia. During the entire route, to the west you will have before your eyes the lace-like caldera, the little islands of Thirasia, Palea and Nea Kameni and an unsurpassable panoramic view. In Oia you will have plenty of time to stroll through the marble-paved alleys, to gaze at the adorably cute shops, to take pictures, to become acquainted with the characteristic buildings, carved into the rocks and the unusual captains’ manors, the settlement Ammoudi at the foot of the caldera… After your curiosity has been sated of the area which is characterized as being of "exceptional natural beauty", your return begins.

In prehistoric times, the people who inhabited what today is known as Santorini, called the island Strongyle ("round"). These people enjoyed a high standard of living; they built two-story houses, tilled the earth and were skilled artists, recognizing the beauty of color. Around 1650 B.C., a volcanic eruption caused the center of Strongyle to sink, leaving a caldera with high cliffs – one of the world's most dramatic geological sights. You will be transferred from the ship by local tender boat to Athinios port, where you will join the waiting motor coach. From here you will proceed towards the southern part of the island where you will visit the ruins of the famous windmill for a short photo stop. Here you will have the opportunity to enjoy the panoramic view and capture amazing photos.

Further along you will be dropped off in the village of Akrotiri to have a short visit and walk around the village. Leaving here you will proceed to visit the famous antiquities at Akrotiri. There you will be taken back in time when you see these amazing ruins leaving you to imagine what life was like before the village was destroyed around 1650 B.C., by the eruption of the volcano of Thira. The one question you might ask yourself here is why there were no people left in the village at the time of the eruption, as it was abandoned for unknown reasons. You will see buildings that were once two storied, city squares, shops and working areas. This appeared to have been a busy bustling area before the eruption. Some of the most famous Greek frescoes can be found in what is left of the once prominent and disposing homes.

Some of the frescoes are also on display at the Pre-historical Museum in Fira town. It is often said in a whimsical way that perhaps Akrotiri is really the lost city of Atlantis. Finally, you will be taken by coach up to the center of the island to Fira town where your tour will end after a short walk at the Metropolis Church. From there you may decide whether to stay in the town and do a bit of shopping or to make your way back to the ship directly by taking the cable car to the pier below.

The port of Ermopouli in Syros is the capital of the Cyclades and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our tour takes you south from Ermopouli to Anastasi Church, above Ermopouli, to visit this lovely domed church and to enjoy a breathtaking view of Tinos and Mykonos. From Anastasi we drive through the beach villages of Vari, Megas Gialos, Possidonia, Finikas, Galissas and Kini: the beach at Vari, a traditional fishing village, lies along a sheltered bay, while the beach at Megas Gialos stretches beneath the brightly-painted houses of the village; Possidonia is home to a number of ornate mansions and a picturesque blue church.

We drive one kilometer from Kini to the Agia Varvara (Santa Barbara) Monastery, which was founded in 1900 and exhibits icons from the life of Agia Varvara and many stunning embroideries. After Agia Varvara we stop at a traditional loukoumi factory to see how loukoumi, also known as Turkish delight, is made. After enjoying some samples, we return to Ermopouli.

On arriving in Ermopouli we disembark from the bus and continue on foot. We visit the Holy Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin to see El Greco’s The Dormition of the Virgin, which was painted before 1567. We then walk to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Metamorphosis, the first high school of modern Greece and now part of the Aegean University. Our tour continues on to the impressive Orthodox Cathedral of Agios Nikolaos, then up the hill to the Vaporia district, “Little Venice,” to see the neoclassical mansions built by the island’s bankers, merchants and ship owners.

We travel downhill from the Vaporia to the Apollon Theater, the first opera house in Greece and a copy of La Scala in Milan, then on to the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Archeological Museum, which includes a number of treasures unearthed on Syros, Paros and Amorgos. We conclude our tour of sublime Syros in the center of Ermopouli, at the town hall in magnificent Platia Miaouli, which is adjacent to interesting shops and atmospheric cafes.