Archaeological Tour in Istanbul

Reviewed by: Peter Sommer Travels Rating:

In the footsteps of Alexander the Great is the “flagship” tour of Peter Sommer Travels, a specialist tour operator offering scheduled, expert led cultural and archaeological tours in Turkey, Greece and Sicily. This tour is a great adventure spanning all the way from Istanbul to Antioch. Rated one of the world’s ‘Top Ten Learning Retreats’, and one of ‘The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life’ by National Geographic, it is a true voyage of discovery.  This archaeological tour retraces Alexander the Great’s route and his journey in Turkey, from Troy to the battlefield of Issus.  In 1994, British archaeologist, filmmaker, and tour guide, Peter Sommer, walked 2,000 miles across Turkey, retracing the route of Alexander the Great, and in the process fell in love with the country, its ancient civilizations, and the Turkish people.

Now you can join him on this extraordinary adventure spending time at the sites of once glorious but now ruined classical cities; immersed in the sights,sounds and people of Alexander’s ancient world.

During this archaeological tour, you’ll discover the history and architecture of the most important cities on his route, visiting Istanbul, Troy, and beautifully preserved Ephesus.

The Tour starts in Istanbul with a welcome drink and dinner and a full day visit of the city which includes the Archaeological Museum, home to the Alexander Sarcophagus, the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the beautifully eerie underground cisterns believed to have been built between the 3rd C and 5th C AD and constructed using columns taken from nearby ancient ruins.

Crossing the Marmara Sea at the Hellespont where Alexander made sacrifice to Poseidon, you’ll move on to the plain of Troy where, at Achilles’ tomb, Alexander ran naked, anointed with oil to pay homage to the hero. Exploring the ruins you’ll visit great temple of Athena where the fabled shield of Achilles was presented to Alexander.

At monumental Ephesus you’ll arrive just as the tourist buses depart allowing you time to roam its marbled paved streets and visit its villas, agoras and beautiful archaeological museum.  The tour moves on to Didyma and here you’ll visit the colossal oracular temple of Apollo, one of the most breath-taking monuments in the country.

In Bodrum there is a chance to relax and shop before visiting the site of the celebrated Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, the ruins of the fortifications of the ancient city and finally the Crusader Castle of St. Peter now home to the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

The tour heads east to Xanthus and then on to Kalkan where you’ll board a traditional Turkish gulet, and sail along the calm coasts of Lycia relaxing and swimming in the bays and harbours of its ancient coastal cities. Cruising into Phaselis, the city in which Alexander was crowned with golden wreaths on his arrival we visit the Antalya Museum and it’s collection of Roman Sculpture, Aspendos with its stunning theatre and Termessus

Our tour moves on from the colonnaded streets of Perge to Sagalassos, once a vast ancient city captured by Alexander; to Gordion, the capital of ancient Phrygia and then on to the fairy chimneys, rock-hewn churches, and underground cities of Cappadocia’s amazing geological landscape.

We finish our journey at the battlefield of Issus and then to the breath-taking displays of mosaics at the Antakya museum

Peter will escort you all the way, giving you the benefits of his great knowledge of Alexander the Great, as well as the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods. It truly is a once in a lifetime kind of trip.

Category: Tours

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