Large Yachts - Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Destinations

Ancient and mysterious... crusader architecture... aqua blue seas... windmills and deserted churches... thriving ports... spectacular bays... emples, altars and shrines... labyrinthine, winding streets and dazzling white buildings... priceless icons and manuscripts... tavernas and divine restaurants.

 Astipalai
Lying like an almost forgotten part of the Dodecanese Island chain, it consists of two mountain ranges joined by a long slender isthmus. During the I 3th century the venetian family Quirini ruled the island. From the Quirini Castle there is a magnificent view of the aqua blue sea shimmering across the island.

 Bodrum Turkey
Known in ancient times as Halicarrnassus, this was the birthplace of Heredotus and the site of King Mausolu's Tomb (4th century B.C.), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the harbour, Bodrum Castle, or the medieval castle of St. Peter, is a fine example of 15th century crusader architecture, and has been converted into a Museum of Underwater Archaeology, with remains dating as far back as the Bronze Age.

 Cesme Turkey
This pleasant seaside town is located on the coast of Turkey, west of Izmir. Cesme's Genoese fortress has a museum containing archeological finds from the area relating to its maritime history. In the evening the locals observe the old Mediterranean custom of "piyasa vakti" (plaza time); where they dress up and go to the main square for a stroll, a glass of tea, a bit of conversation and some people-watching.

 Delos Greece
You cannot escape the feeling on Delos that the Greek gods are hovering just out of sight, or that Apollo might step out of some ruin at any moment, casting his radiance once again over ancient Delos. Delos is the hub of the "wheel" for which the Cyclades are named. The sacred heart of the Cyclades is so revered that no one has lived here (except archaeologists) since the 2nd century AD. Delos' Sacred Way, bordered by temples, altars and shrines dedicated to Greek, Roman and Egyptian deities, attests to the religious importance in ancient times. 

 Kusadasi, Turkey 
Kusadasi is a popular Turkish port of call for cruise ships, as not only is it a bustling resort town full of shops, bars and restaurants, but it is also the main access point for the famous archeological site at Ephesus, where extensive excavations have revealed an ancient city through which visitors can now wander and observe the wonders of a bygone civilisation.

 Lindos, Rhodes, Greece
The beautiful island of Rhodes (Island of Roses) has a rich and varied history The beach at Lindos is amongst the best on the island, whose capital, Rhodes Town is a bustling mecca for both sightseers and shoppers alike. This thriving port provides access to the many beautiful sights on this popular island. On the Eastern coast of Rhodes, poised high above two spectacular bays is the Acropolis of Lindos below which one can find a labyrinth of winding streets and dazzling white buildings. Lindos was once the principal city of the island before the founding of Rhodes Town in 408 BC.

 Mykonos Greece
One of the most cosmopolitan of all the Greek Islands and quite justifiably attracting visitors from all over the world, Mykonos is a contrast of rocky hills and beautiful beaches. Hora, the capital, spreads around a colourful harbour in which fishing boats nestle side by side with luxury yachts. The brilliant white cubic houses with white-washed balconies built close together with little shops and tiny churches, make up the backstreets of the town. The harbour is overlooked by a variety of tavernas,and is a popular meeting place as the sun goes down turning the brilliant whites to beautiful shades of pinks and reds.

 Dalyhn River Turkey
At first glance, this is a picture one hardly expects to see in Turkey A lovely, unspoiled lake teeming with fish, a lush marshy delta, verdant farmlands, a lazy, reed-fringed river meandering into the sea. And a lonely, deserted beach where sea turtles lay their eggs. But the sea is an incredibly clear blue, and on the bottom are ruins of an ancient civilisation. On shore, you can see ruins of the Lycian city of Caunos, with its basilica and fortifications looming over the green marsh where endangered Caretta loggerhead turtles hatch in the spring. 

 Paros, Greece Paros is a busy little island with many boats and ferries coming and going from the mainland and other islands. The capital, Parikia, is a white-washed puzzle of tiny tavernas, shops, bars and pensions, and cafes boasting some of the best seafood in Greece. A magnificent 6th century Byzantine cloister offers peaceful contemplation in its quiet courtyard. The island is also famous for petaloudes butterflies, found in the valley of the Butterflies, where thousands of brown and white butterflies congregate in clouds.

 Patmos, Greece
This serene island is known as the site of the apocalyptic Revelations of St. John the Divine, written here during his exile from the Roman Empire. The cave where he is said to have lived is now the site of the Monastery of the Apocalypse. in the II th century, the Abbot Christodoulos founded the Monastery of St. John on one of the island's highest points. It houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its Treasury.

 Serifos, Greece
Far from the usual tourist routes, Serifos is a strange, mysterious island that looks as if it stepped out of a Greek myth. Legend has it that Perseus showed the severed head of Medusa to King Polidectus and his followers, turning them into the rocks that are the striking feature of this strange, barren island. Windmills turn slowly in the wind and tiny deserted churches top the hillside. From the port of Livadia, you can see the silent capital of Chora high above, draped like a white ghost on the mountaintop.

 Santorini, Greece
The island of Santorini is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. Around 1500 B.C., a volcanic eruption destroyed the centre of the island, leaving a crescent shaped rim of cliffs around a harbour formed in the volcano's caldera.