An Aegean Odyssey aboard the Star Flyer

ISTANBUL

Istanbul is a revelation: an exotic metropolis of huge contrasts and a centre of shifting civilisations for 2,500 years. Chosen by Emperor Constantine as the eastern capital of the Roman Empire, it then became the capital of the Ottoman Empire and probably nowhere in the world can you find such an array of diverse monuments and fascinating places to see. We visit the Blue Mosque, symbol of the city - you cannot fail to be impressed by its grace and harmony, but its real attraction is the interior lined with 20,000 blue Iznik tiles and Arabesque inscriptions. Its beauty is hardly surprising when you consider that many of the same craftsmen who built it also worked on the Taj Mahal!

We continue our tour at the Topkapi Palace, the glittering imperial residence of the Sultans for a thousand years. Today, it is a spectacular museum, but in its heyday, it was a city within a city, home to over 4,000 elite guards, eunuchs, courtiers and, of course, the ladies of the Harem. There is a superb display of arms from throughout history: crossbows, firearms inlaid with ivory and beautifully crafted armour from as far afield as Japan. The Treasury is breathtaking too, with an amazing array of jewellery including the world’s fifth largest diamond, emeralds, jewel-encrusted thrones and the famous Topkapi dagger – all displaying outstanding craftsmanship. One of the world’s most visited attractions with 4,000 shops, the Grand Bazaar dating back to the 13^th century, was home to merchants from all over the known world and as you browse the maze of stalls along its 61 streets, selling everything you could possibly imagine and more, from silk scarves and lamps, to hand-made carpets and leatherware, it’s like stepping back in time and an experience not to be missed!

ISTANBUL & BOARD THE STAR FLYER

This morning we enjoy further exploration of this mystical, alluring city, at the crossroads of Eastern and Western civilisations. Firstly, we visit the Hippodrome, the site of Byzantium’s political, sporting and social life for a thousand years! As you marvel at its obelisks and statues, imagine the chariot races and huge spectacles that once graced this spot. We continue to the breathtaking Haghia Sophia, conceived as a mirror of the heavens, arguably the greatest church ever built and quite simply one of the world’s greatest architectural achievements. Built in the 6th century it was the largest enclosed space in the world for 1,400 years! Gaze in awe at the amazing Byzantine mosaics with their vibrant golds, reds and yellows. And, just as you leave, you see a beautifully crafted massive bronze door dating from 300BC – the sheer skill of these ancient artisans will never cease to astound you.

Complete your morning’s visits with a fascinating browse around the Spice Bazaar. Wander amongst the fragrant stalls, laden with colourful spices of every hue, nuts and dried fruits, some familiar, some intriguingly exotic and soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant bustling market whilst haggling with the characterful vendors for the best price perhaps over a cup of sweet mint tea!

In the afternoon we leave for Istanbul port where the Star Flyer awaits! After time to settle in, we enjoy our first dinner on board, as our ship slips its moorings and heads out through the city’s twinkling lights towards our first port of call, Dikili.

DAY AT SEA ON STAR FLYER

Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or new to the scene, nothing quite beats life on the ocean waves and as we set sail into the blue, excitement mounts around what promises to be a maritime adventure of a lifetime. After a leisurely breakfast enjoying the views, head up on deck and soak in the coastal vistas and the bracing sea air – this is what holidays are all about! Find yourself a comfy chair or sink into a sun lounger and catch up on some reading before a refreshing dip in the saltwater pool perhaps. As we round the headland and commence our south westerly course, enthusiasts will enjoy the opportunity to swap notes with the ship’s captain during a visit to the bridge and thrill-seekers have the chance to climb up the crow’s nest – with harness of course! When lunch is served, return to the convivial ambience of the ship’s restaurant and then perhaps there’s chance for a snooze in the sunshine or to enjoy a quiet moment in the ship’s library. You’ll certainly be fully unwound by the time dinner is served after which enjoy your favourite digestif from the bar as the sun sets on the glistening water.

PERGAMON

This morning enjoy watching your first arrival into port as the Star Flyer glides into picturesque Dikili. From here our included guided tour explores the fascinating ancient Hellenistic city of Pergamon. Perched on a high rocky outcrop with stunning views, the city was famed for its library, which rivalled Alexandria’s. Knowledge then, as now, was power and so concerned were the Egyptians about this competition, they cut off supplies of papyrus, thus prompting the invention of parchment. We’ll see the remains of the Temple of Trajan, the altar of Zeus and the steepest ancient amphitheatre in the world. Pergamon was also renowned as a healing centre, so we visit the Asclepion sanctuary where the sick came to be cured by having their dreams analysed! We return to our ship in the afternoon to continue our journey across the legendary Aegean.

CHIOS

Chios is one of the richest and largest islands in the Aegean, yet it remains little known. The island has produced some of the most successful Greek shipping entrepreneurs, who still control around 50% of the Greek merchant marine. Its southern half has been known since ancient times for its cultivation of the mastic plant – a precursor to today’s chewing gum and highly prized. Our included tour will visit Pyrgi, a village unique in Greece, as all the houses are intricately decorated in a geometric ‘sgraffito’ style. Continue to the Mastic Museum where you can discover how this unique traditional product is produced, harvested and used. Our final stop will be the village of Mesta with its labyrinthine vaulted streets – an amazingly well-preserved living medieval village. This evening we sail on to our next port as we sit down for dinner amid the wood and polished brass splendour of our luxurious nautical home.

PATMOS

Today we anchor in Patmos - one of the smaller islands of the Dodecanese; however, what it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty and history. It’s been called the ‘Jerusalem of the Aegean’ for it was here that St. John the Theologian wrote the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament. Our included tour departs the pretty port of Skala for the Grotto of the Apocalypse, where St. John lived for two years. This small cave is now a beautiful little chapel and is still an active place of worship. Towering above the main town of Chora is the imposing 11th century fortified monastery of St. John, an architectural masterpiece, with eight chapels, courtyards, terraces and galleries with stunning 12th century frescoes. The Monastery’s Museum has manuscripts from the 5th century, jewelled chalices, crowns, crucifixes, and vestments, along with an early work of El Greco. We also visit the three-hundred-year-old mansion of the Simandiris family. This exceptional example of island architecture houses a fine collection of antiques, with gilded mirrors, silverware, paintings, chandeliers and exquisite furnishings. The rest of the day is free to wander around the meandering streets of whitewashed houses before setting sail in the late afternoon.

SANTORINI

Stand on deck this morning for one of the finest experiences Greece has to offer, sailing into the vast caldera of Santorini. Mere words struggle to describe the extraordinary magnitude of the panorama before us, multi-hued 1,000- foot cliffs rise above the dark-blue sea, their rim crowned by the blindingly white cubist architecture so typical of the Greek islands. If the views from below are amazing, the spectacular vista from the top is simply breathtaking! Back in the Bronze Age, most of the island was blown apart by one of the biggest volcanic explosions in history, destroying the sophisticated Minoan civilization in Crete, just 60 miles away. A small crater still bubbles away on an island in the middle of the bay and you can easily spot the pumice stones floating in the water. The main town of Fira perched high above the harbour is nowadays easily reached by cable car. Our included trip visits the highest point on the island, as well as some of the most interesting of the island’s small villages. We end our tour with free time in the stunning cliff-top village of Oia before we drive back to Fira. This evening, our ship does not set sail until later so head up on deck to watch dusk falling across this amazing and unique landscape.

MONEMVASIA

Take a stroll on deck before breakfast and savour the fresh sea breeze as the giant white sails silently propel the Star Flyer through the azure Aegean.

Known as the ‘Gibraltar of the East’, Monemvasia’s vast rocky bulk juts out of the mountainous coastline of the Peloponnese, linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway – a superb defensive position. It reached its zenith during the medieval period, supporting a population of 40,000, when it was known for its excellent wine (Richard III’s brother drowned in a vat of it!). It was a valuable prize and was besieged and attacked numerous times. During WWII a large number of New Zealanders were successfully evacuated to Crete from here.

Monemvasia has been sympathetically restored and is considered a wonderful time-capsule of a medieval Greek town. We have plenty of time to wander through the maze of narrow pedestrian streets and relax in one of the tavernas. The more energetic may try the steep path up to the ruins of the Upper Town – on a clear day you may catch a glimpse of the mountains of Crete!

ATHENS

This morning we disembark the Star Flyer and transfer to this extraordinary capital. Enjoy a walking tour of Athens, visiting the Acropolis, so fittingly one of the great wonders of the ancient world. Ascending the hill you soon experience the grandeur of the Parthenon – its blindingly white marble columns with their perfect symmetry and balance completely dominate the skyline.

We also visit the Acropolis Museum with its amazing glass floor displaying ancient houses and streets below. After a stroll through the Agora, the political, social and commercial heart of the ancient city, there’s some free time to have lunch and explore the picturesque old district of Plaka. Dating from the end of the 18th century when Athens had shrunk to little more than a village below the Acropolis, it’s utterly charming, crammed with neo-classical mansions, balconies overflowing with geranium pots and twisting cobbled lanes lined with homely tavernas. Later we check into the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day and evening at leisure.

RETURN FLIGHT

Transfer to Athens airport for your flight home.