Grand Mediterranean Voyage: Malta to Türkiye

Sunday, April 11, 2027: Depart home

Monday, April 12: VALLETTA, Malta | ST. JULIAN’S
Arrive at Malta International Airport (MLA), where you will be met and transferred to the elegant Hilton Malta (or similar), located in St. Julian’s, on a peninsula to the north of Valletta. A local representative will be at our hospitality desk to welcome you and answer any questions you may have. Relax and unwind at the hotel, or explore some of the nearby sites. The evening is at your leisure and dinner is independent. Overnight at the 5-star Hilton Malta (or similar).

Tuesday, April 13: VALLETTA | TARXIEN | ĦAĠAR QIM | EMBARK
Following breakfast, gather with your fellow travelers for an orientation meeting with your tour guide and lecturer before setting off to discover some of Malta’s most important monuments and landmarks. At St. John’s Co-Cathedral, one of the most elegant Baroque churches in Europe, see Caravaggio’s St. Jerome and The Beheading of St. John the Baptist. Explore the remarkable Tarxien Temples, which date to 2800 B.C., and then visit Ħaġar Qim, an even older temple that stands atop a hill on the southern edge of the island. Lunch at a local restaurant is followed by an afternoon transfer to the pier to embark Le Dumont d’Urville. Enjoy dinner aboard while we cruise toward Sicily. Ten nights aboard Le Dumont d’Urville. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, April 14: SYRACUSE, Sicily, Italy | CAPTAIN’S WELCOME GALA
Colonized by Greeks in the 8^th century B.C., Syracuse became one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world, rivaling even Athens and Carthage, until it was defeated during the Second Punic War. Begin your discovery of the city on the mainland, at Syracuse’s extensive archaeological park, where we visit the Roman amphitheater of Augustus, the Ear of Dionysius, and other Roman monuments, ending at Syracuse’s 15,000-seat Greek theater, one of the largest in the Hellenic world. Continue to the tiny island of Ortygia, the original center of the ancient city, where a walking tour reveals the remains of the Temple of Apollo, the oldest Doric temple in Sicily; the Fountain of Arethusa; and the Cathedral, which incorporates a 5^th-century B.C. Temple to Athena. This evening, join your fellow passengers for the Captain’s welcome gala. (B,L,D)

Thursday, April 15: GALLIPOLI | LECCE | GALLIPOLI
This morning we travel to Lecce, the “Florence of the South” and one of the towns in Puglia that rightfully boast of their dazzling Baroque architecture. Visit the Piazza del Duomo and Cathedral, the richly adorned Basilica of Santa Croce, and the Roman amphitheater in Piazza Sant’Oronzo. Return to Gallipoli for lunch aboard ship followed by a tour of this charming town, reminiscent of Aegean fishing villages with labyrinthine streets and colorful houses. Visit the Baroque cathedral and step into one of the many ancient underground olive oil factories that evoke the period when Gallipoli exported huge amounts of olive oil used to light street lamps across Europe. (B,L,D)

Friday, April 16: CORFU, Greece | PALEOKASTRITSA | CORFU TOWN
Begin the day with a scenic drive across the island of Corfu to Paleokastritsa and the hilltop Monastery of the Holy Virgin. Visit the monastery and its museum and enjoy marvelous views of the coastline and sea from its terraces. Legend has it that this is the spot where Odysseus was shipwrecked, washed ashore, and ultimately supplied with the ship that took him home to Ithaca. Leaving the monastery, stop at the famous viewpoint of Bella Vista in the village of Lakones for breathtaking panoramas of the Ionian coastline and the coves of Paleokastritsa. The day’s journey comes to an end back in Corfu Town with a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Corfu and a short stroll through lively Spianada Square before returning to the pier. (B,L,D)

Saturday, April 17: ITEA | DELPHI | CORINTH CANAL
Begin this morning’s excursion with a drive through spectacular scenery to the hillside site of Delphi. Famous in antiquity as the home of the oracle of Apollo, even in ruins Delphi casts its spell as you follow in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims along the Sacred Way, past ancient treasuries and monuments, to the Temple of Apollo, theater, and stadium. See the Tholos of Athena Pronaia, with its three iconic columns, and the Kastalian Spring, where seekers of wisdom purified themselves before consulting the oracle. Tour the excellent on-site museum with superbly done exhibits explaining the history of this sacred place, followed by some time at leisure in Delphi before returning to the ship in time for lunch. We will make our way towards the Corinth Canal, travelling through around 7:40 this evening. (B,L,D)

Sunday, April 18: LAVRION | BRAURON | CAPE SOUNION | LAVRION
From the port of Lavrion, travel north along the Attic coast to the archaeological site at Brauron, an important religious center dedicated to Artemis, protector of wildlife and young girls. Explore the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, the stoa where pilgrims once gathered, and the sacred spring that fed the sanctuary. Then head south to Cape Sounion and the stunning 5^th-century B.C. temple where ancient Greeks came to worship Poseidon. Fifteen of the original 34 columns of the temple are still standing and create one of the most deeply moving sights in all of Greece. Return to Lavrion for a visit to its Archaeological Museum before reboarding our ship. (B,L,D)

Monday, April 19: VOLOS | METEORA
Our full-day excursion begins early in the morning and involves a two-hour drive. It may seem like a lot to ask, but a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meteora—“monasteries in the air”—a complex of monasteries built atop natural pillars of stone, is well worth the effort. It is, in fact, one of the most extraordinary sights in all of Europe. On arrival, we will tour two of the site’s original 24 monasteries. Admire the meticulously crafted icons, mosaics, and frescoes that adorn the walls, and enjoy views of the domed roofs of the surrounding monasteries as your guide explains the reasons the monks chose this region for their retreats. After our visit, sit down to a traditional Greek lunch in the nearby town of Kalambaka before the return drive to Volos and our ship. (B,L,D)

Tuesday, April 20: KUşADASI, Türkiye | EPHESUS
Kuşadasi, on Türkiye’s Aegean coast, is our gateway to the World Heritage Site of Ephesus, one of the world’s best preserved ancient cities, spanning centuries—from the Hellenistic through the early Christian eras. The immense excavation here includes temples dedicated to several Roman emperors, the iconic Library of Celsus, a working theater known for its excellent acoustics, and terraced hill houses decorated with splendid mosaics and frescoes and equipped with running water and heating systems. You will also visit the Ephesus Museum in nearby Selçuk, exhibiting artifacts spanning prehistory to the 3^rd century A.D. and ranging from colossal statues of Artemis to household objects from the terrace houses. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, April 21: AT SEA
Enjoy a day at sea, attending lectures, relaxing on deck, and making use of Le Dumont d’Urville’s many amenities. (B,L,D)

Thursday, April 22: ALANYA | SIDE | ALANYA
From the resort town of Alanya, travel to one of Türkiye’s most famous ancient sites—Side. Situated on a narrow peninsula, Side was a leading eastern Mediterranean port until the 7^th century A.D., when it came under Arab control. Walk along colonnaded streets to its iconic Temple of Apollo and visit the extensive and well-preserved Roman baths, which today house the marvelous collections of the Side Museum. Return to Alanya for a traditional Turkish lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the city’s 13^th-century hilltop castle with panoramic views over the harbor and city below as well as the emblematic Red Tower, an octagonal defense tower built by the Seljuk Turks that once guarded a busy shipyard and remains a symbol of Alanya’s grand maritime heritage. (B,L,D)

Friday, April 23: ANTALYA | DISEMBARK | PERGE | ASPENDOS | ANTALYA | FAREWELL LUNCH | PM AT LEISURE
After breakfast, disembark and proceed with your guide from Antalya, the largest seaside resort on the Turkish Riviera, to travel inland to visit two of the most significant Greco-Roman cities in Asia Minor—Perge and Aspendos. The splendid remains at Perge, which was once among the most prosperous cities of the Hellenistic world, include its great stadium; a colonnaded, marble main street; a theater; and baths. At Aspendos, we will see the grand 20,000-seat theater commissioned by Marcus Aurelius in the 2^nd century A.D. It is the best-preserved ancient theater in the world, and serves as the site of an international opera and ballet festival every year. Returning to Antalya, enjoy a festive farewell lunch at a local restaurant before checking in to the Akra V Hotel (or similar). The balance of the day is at your leisure and dinner is independent. Overnight at the 4-star Akra V Hotel (or similar). (B,L)

Saturday, April 24: FLY HOME
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Antalya Airport (AYT) for flights homeward. (B)