Sacred Places of the Mediterranean

Day 1 Istanbul, Turkey | Embark

Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to Corinthian II.

Day 2 Chios, Greece

Awake this morning in Chios, the Greek island claiming to be Homer’s birthplace. The island’s volcanic rock formations and deep green valleys forge a landscape of stunning color oppositions and intricate appearances. Visit the 11th-century Monastery of Nea Moni, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important ecclesiastical monuments in Greece. The Monastery sits majestically in a wooded vale and is decorated throughout with exquisite frescoes and mosaics.

Day 3 Delos, Cycladic Islands | Kusadasi, Turkey

Pursued by the vengeful Hera, Zeus’s mistress Leto fled to Delos, the “wandering island” which drifted across the Aegean. Poseidon struck the island with his trident, and anchored it to the ocean floor. Here, Leto gave birth to Apollo and Artemis, in the shade of a date palm, and the island flowered with gold. Today, visit the extraordinary ruins of this sacred island, including the Sanctuary and Temple of Apollo, the Lions of the Sacred Lake, and the Sanctuary of Dionysus. Admire beautiful mosaics in the House of the Trident and other structures dating back as far as the 7th century B.C. In the afternoon, cruise to Kusadasi, Turkey, arriving in the evening

Day 4 Kusadasi | Ephesus or Priene and Didyma | Kusadasi

From Kusadasi, drive in the morning to the ancient city of Ephesus. Settled since the middle of the 2nd millennium B.C., the city was renowned for its great mother goddess, Cybele, later identified as Artemis, or Diana of the Ephesians. In the late 4th century, Ephesus entered a period of extraordinary prosperity and was for a time the most important commercial city in Asia Minor. The immense Hellenistic and Roman excavation site includes the ancient theater, the imposing library of Celsus, the hill houses with their fantastic mosaics and frescos, early Byzantine, and other remains. Alternatively, drive to Didyma, known in antiquity for its oracle and the immense Temple of Apollo. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Kusadasi or visit Priene, a 4th-century B.C. city founded in a spectacular setting.

Day 5 Heraklion | Knossos, Crete, Greece

The birthplace of Zeus, Crete also gave birth to Europe’s first civilization, the Minoan. The brilliance and refinement of the Minoans can be seen on a morning tour of the Palace of Knossos, a maze of chambers, staircases, corridors, and courtyards. Also, visit the Heraklion Museum, with its superb exhibits of finds from all over the island. In the afternoon, take a walking tour of Heraklion to discover its architectural heritage dating to the time when Crete was a Venetian possession (1204 – 1669). Alternatively, take a full-day excursion to the Diktaian Cave, an impressive cavern that commands a fantastic view of the plain below, where, according to legend, Zeus was born. The excursion will also give the opportunity to explore the spectacular countryside of Crete, including the traditional villages of Tzermiado and Aghios Georgios, and the 15th-century monastery of Kerá Kardiótissa.

Day 6 Rhodes | Lindos

Associated with the Sun God, Helios, since early antiquity, Rhodes saw the zenith of its prosperity during the 4th – 1st centuries B.C., when it was a powerful naval state, and a center of learning and the arts. The famed Colossus stood at the city’s harbor at that time. From the 14th – 16th centuries, the island was under the Knights Hospitallers of St. John, who left a strong mark, as we will see during our morning tour of the Old Town, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns. In the afternoon, drive to Lindos, whose acropolis on a huge rock is crowned by the Temple of Athena, and overlooks the sea and the white-washed village.

Day 7 Paphos

After a morning at sea, arrive in Cyprus, where, according to myth, Aphrodite rose from the sea. Land at Paphos and tour the city’s ancient remains, including the Roman houses with their spectacular mosaics. Notable is the House of Dionysos, probably the villa of a wealthy merchant, which is decorated with a series of superb mosaics. Also, visit the Tombs of the Kings, carved out of the rock, and the church of Aghia Kyriaki, built in the 11th century on an earlier foundation.

Day 8 At Sea

Days 9-10 Alexandria | Siwa Oasis, Egypt

From Egypt’s port of Alexandria, drive through the desert for an overnight excursion to the famed Siwa Oasis, site of the oracular Temple of Amun. Of ancient Egyptian origin, during the Hellenistic period, the Greeks identified Amun with the cult of Zeus. In 331 B.C., Alexander the Great made a pilgrimage to the temple. During our stay in this unique and seldom-visited place, we will explore the Temple of Amun, located in the old town of Aghurmi, and visit also a host of other fascinating archeological sites, including the mud-brick fortress Shali, the Temple of the Dead, the Temple of Umm Ubayd, and Cleopatra’s Bath. We will also enjoy an unforgettable drive by 4X4 vehicles into the sublime dunes of the Great Sand Sea – where the opportunity to swim in the tiny oasis of Bir Wahid will be offered, and tea will be served as the sun sets over rolling sands. Return in the afternoon of November 6 to Alexandria to reboard the ship for overnight aboard the Corinthian II.

Day 11 Alexandria | Disembark | Cairo

Disembark in Alexandria, one of the great cities of the ancient world, founded by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. Tour the city’s ancient remains as well as its spectacular new Library, and after lunch, drive to the Hotel Meridien Heliopolis, near Cairo’s airport, for an overnight stay.

Day 12 Cairo

Transfer to the airport of return flights.