Superior Stateroom Deck 3
10% Ponant Bonus
226 ft²
3
10th annual Piano Festival at Sea
Valletta - Antalya
Dates:
5/7/2025
to
5/17/2025
Other available dates
days
nights on board
In springtime, as the flowers pepper the landscapes with their bright colours and the sun illuminates the Mediterranean shores with its soft light, PONANT, in partnership with RADIO CLASSIQUE, welcomes its 10th Piano Festival at Sea. Experience an exquisite musical interlude in the Mediterranean during a unique 11-day journey punctuated by performances from virtuoso artists. From classical music to the blues, during nine exceptional evenings, the elite of the piano will follow each other aboard L’Austral, to delight you with the sound of recitals, all of which are invitations to be moved by the riches of the Mediterranean, a link between peoples and a crossroads of civilisations. This cruise has been specially designed for a French-speaking audience and lectures will be given in French only.*
Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, meet a famous puppeteer in his workshop in Syracuse, visit the Meteora monasteries from Volos or, from Kusadasi, one of the Mediterranean’s best preserved ancient Greco-Roman cities, admire the archaeological site of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab). The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).
Southern Italy promises suspended moments where the beauty of the shores combines with the beauty of its historical remnants, which remain fascinating. In Syracuse, the Sicilian soul unfolds across the island of Ortygia - the oldest part of the city -, a maze of small streets dotted with churches, palaces, ancient remnants, sheltering a majestic cathedral in its very heart. In Puglia, Gallipoli, meaning “beautiful town” in Greek, reveals its Hellenic origins and offers up its singular atmosphere, where life is good.
In the tranquillity of May, you will discover Greece as you have never seen it. From the mountainous island of Corfu, you will arrive in the small port of Itea from where it is possible to visit the mythical site of Delphi or even the Hosios Loukas monastery, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. After crossing the Corinth Canal, you will be welcomed by Athens and its famous acropolis, and the remains of the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion, for an unforgettable port of call. From Volos, Greece will never cease to surprise you: in Thessaly, the formation known as the Meteora hosts Eastern Orthodox monasteries that rub shoulders with the sky and are at one with the rock.
Kusadasi opens the gateway to Turkey and its treasures. The Ephesus archaeological site will tell you the great history of the Mediterranean, through this ancient city, among the oldest in the Magna Graecia of Asia Minor. From Alanya, you will explore two other majestic ancient sites, Perga and Aspendos, before arriving in Antalya, the end of your cruise.
*The land-based activities and excursions can be conducted in English with a translator if required.
Ref : AU070525
Your itinerary
In partnership with RADIO CLASSIQUE and with featured guest Alain Duault. A journey between Malta, Italy, Greece and Turkey, discovering some of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful antique sites in early...
View detailed itinerary
Your trip in detail
Our guests
Choose your stateroom
Choose your stateroom
Superior Stateroom Deck 3
(226 ft²)
From $10,010
per person
10% Ponant Bonus
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3
(193 ft²)
From $10,540
per person
10% Ponant Bonus
Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
(193 ft²)
From $11,090
per person
10% Ponant Bonus
Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
(193 ft²)
From $11,630
per person
10% Ponant Bonus
Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
(193 ft²)
From $12,290
per person
10% Ponant Bonus
Deluxe Suite Deck 6
(290 ft²)
Fully booked
10% Ponant Bonus
Prestige Suite Deck 5
(398 ft²)
From $21,910
per person
10% Ponant Bonus
Prestige Suite Deck 6
(398 ft²)
From $22,460
per person
10% Ponant Bonus
Owner's Suite Deck 6
(484 ft²)
From $30,890 per person
Complete your trip
Complete your trip
Additional services
For more peace of mind, PONANT selects stays and flights then takes care of your transfers for your trip as well as shore visits before and after the cruise.
You may also like...
You may also like...
- New
LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
3/6/2025 to the 3/21/2025
LE LYRIAL
3/3/2025 to the 3/21/2025
LE BORÉAL
L'AUSTRAL
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Discover all destinations
Services provided
- 24-hour room service
- Inclusive Wifi internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
- Individually-controlled air conditioning
- Dressing room with shelves and closet
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Dyptique Paris top-of-the-line bath products
- Minibar
- Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
- Electronic safe
- Direct line telephone
- Bose Bluetooth speaker
- Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- Three ADA staterooms
Select your stateroom category
Alain Duault
The novelist, poet, journalist, musicologist and radio and television presenter Alain Duault has been sharing his passion for and knowledge of classical music for more than 30 years. Considered to be one of the greatest opera specialists in France he is now President of the Prix Pelléas jury, and has been made an Officier de la Légion d’Honneur and Commandeur des Arts et Lettres.
Alain Duault studied literature, philosophy and psycho-analysis in Paris, then musicology and piano. His first TV appearance was as a guest of Bernard Pivot for his book of poems, Colorature. This led to a number of radio programmes dedicated to classical music, notably on RTL, the radio station where Alain Duault would be “Mr Classical Music” for 22 years, before joining Radio Classique with daily slots until 2018. A role that he also took on for the France 3 television channel, presenting a number of exceptional programmes (masterclasses with Ruggero Raimondi in the Salle Gaveau, Musiques en fête at the Chorégies d’Orange festival…).
In 1999, he conceived and presented Intégrale Chopin (225 works, 60 pianists), broadcast on France 3. Then in 2001, he wrote and performed an ambitious and very popular show, Verdi, une passion, un destin (with Jean Piat and 250 musicians). In the wake of this success, he wrote and performed two other shows: Victor Hugo, la légende d’un siècle in 2002 and Rencontre avec George Sand (with Marie-Christine Barrault) in 2004 and 2005.
Alain Duault also puts his writing skills to the service of classical music. The author of a number of books, including Dans la peau de Maria Callas, (Le Passeur Éditeur, 2014, pocket edition, 2017), Dictionnaire amoureux illustré de l’Opéra (Plon Gründ, 2016), Ce léger rien des choses qui ont fui, poetry (Gallimard, 2017), he also writes editorials for Classica.
Language spoken: French
Photo credit: Laurent Rouvrais @Radio Classique
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
- Polarized sunglasses
- Swimsuit (for the Spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
- Hat/cap
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT activities
Radio Classique
France's leading classical music radio station and a recognized reference for general, economic and cultural information. RADIO CLASSIQUE offers a unique musical experience: sharing the emotion of the finest works of the classical repertoire by the best performers in a friendly, peaceful atmosphere.
Subject to withdrawal in case of force majeure
Highlights
-
In partnership with RADIO CLASSIQUE and with featured guest Alain Duault.
- A journey between Malta, Italy, Greece and Turkey, discovering some of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful antique sites in early spring.
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Valletta, Syracuse and Noto, Corfu, the sanctuary of Delphi and the Hosios Loukas monastery, the Acropolis in Athens, the Meteora from Volos and the historical sites of Ephesus from Kusadasi
- Make the most of an excursion included* per person per port of call during your cruise thanks to the selection made by our destination experts.
- An port of call in Gallipoli to immerse yourself in the gentle way of life of the Puglia region and discover the ancient history of this former Greek city.
- Sicily with the call at Syracuse.
- Crossing the Corinth Canal.
*Pre-bookings open around two months before the start of the cruise; requests are processed on a first-come first-served basis, subject to availability.
Ports of Call & Excursions
May 7, 2025 - Valletta
Embarkation 5/7/2025 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Departure 5/7/2025 at 10:00 PM
The whole of the Maltese capital Valletta is UNESCO World Heritage listed and occupies a peninsula in the north-east of the island. From the fountain of Tritons to Saint-Elme fort, there are as many majestic streets as there are narrow staircase vennels to explore. The painted loggia and carved corbels on the tall houses will accompany you in your explorations, and you’ll rarely be bothered by traffic. You can visit the Grandmasters palace decorated with coats of arms and frescoes. Saint-John’s cathedral and the ramparts which have guarded the city since the 16th century are also among the most emblematic sites of the city. Arranged in terraces, the Barrakka Gardens will punctuate your promenade with a green and floral experience.
May 8, 2025 - Syracuse, Sicily
Arrival 5/8/2025 early morning
Departure 5/8/2025 early afternoon
Its undulating rocky coastline, the endless sandy beaches, the menacing form of Mount Etna which surveys its island like a patriarch, the flowery gardens on the hillside... Sicily lays out its varied landscapes like a shopkeeper displays his wares. Described by Cicero as “the most beautiful city in the world”, Syracuse was one of the most prestigious cities in Sicily and at her height was even a rival for Athens. A central city of Ancient Greece, it was home to a succession of civilisations, each of which has left their mark. The blend of Arabic, Roman, Norman, Byzantine and Spanish cultures makes Syracuse a town that is extraordinarily rich in fragrances, colours and flavours.
May 9, 2025 - Gallipoli
Arrival 5/9/2025 early morning
Departure 5/9/2025 late afternoon
Gallipoli, which comes from the Greek kalle polis, meaning beautiful town, is very aptly named. Located on the heel of the boot, the town known as “the pearl of Puglia” has many attractions. The whiteness of its façades recalls its Greek origins while its architecture echoes its multiple influences. Its old town, perched on a limestone island, concentrates the cultural heritage of this city with a thousand faces, alternately a Roman colony, then Byzantine, the property of the Popes, Norman, under the rule of Taranto… By itself, it tells the story of the different civilisations of the Mediterranean Sea.
May 10, 2025 - Corfu
Arrival 5/10/2025 early morning
Departure 5/10/2025 late afternoon
Named after the island, Corfu is the most famous city in the Ionian islands. Protected by citadel fortifications, its old city, designated UNESCO World Heritage, displays unusual Greco-Byzantine and Venetian architecture. Above the water stands Saint George’s church, looking uncannily like a classical temple. The picturesque Pontikonisi, a stone’s throw from the southern point of the town, is the legendary island where Odysseus landed.
May 11, 2025 - Itea
Arrival 5/11/2025 early morning
Departure 5/11/2025 early afternoon
Tucked away in the Gulf of Corinth, this little port is situated in continental Greece, north-west of Athens. Take an easy stroll along the old cobblestone quays, while gazing at the summits encircling the Bay of Itea. We wouldn’t be surprised if you are tempted by a visit to the Delphi Sanctuary. The sanctuary is located on a plateau on the slope of Mount Parnassus, just ten kilometres from Itea. A listed UNESCO World Heritage site, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience whose ancient ruins are surrounded by steep mountains.
May 11, 2025 - Crossing the Corinth Canal
Arrival 5/11/2025 evening
Departure 5/11/2025 evening
The Corinth Canal cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth, turning the Peloponnese into an island as it separates the region from the Greek mainland. Inaugurated in 1893, the canal is a little over six kilometres long and enables merchant vessels and passenger to avoid a long 400-km detour around the peninsula. The two sides of the canal reach a height of approximately fifty metres. From the exterior decks, don’t miss this unique opportunity to watch the ship as it navigates along the narrow strip of water encased between tall, ochre cliffs. What an experience!
May 12, 2025 - Lavrio (Athens)
Arrival 5/12/2025 early morning
Departure 5/12/2025 late afternoon
Near Athens, Lavrion is a peaceful port welcoming boats from around the world. The town has been known since ancient times for the silver-producing mines of Lavrion, which were major contributors to the wealth of Athens and to the Greek economy in the 20th century. Weather permitting, take a stroll through the town and discover the many vestiges of this industry that flourished until the 1980s: old Neoclassical-style constructions, industrial buildings, and worker houses. While at this port of call, also take the time to discover Athens and its acropolis, or Cape Sounion on which stands the magnificent temple of Poseidon.
May 13, 2025 - Volos
Arrival 5/13/2025 early morning
Departure 5/13/2025 late afternoon
Volos, one of the biggest port cities in Greece, is located at the foot of Mount Pelion. According to mythology, Mount Pelion was a place of celebration for gods and heroes, and the home of the centaurs. The beauty of the place and the magical atmosphere that reigns here can indeed only have been inspired by the gods: the clear water that flows from a multitude of sources bathes the plane trees, apple trees, oaks, beech trees, gardenias, camellias, and hydrangeas that thrive in the fertile soil of Thessaly. Do not miss your chance to visit picturesque village of Milies in the hills, and to discover its traditional architecture.
May 14, 2025 - Kusadasi
Arrival 5/14/2025 early afternoon
Departure 5/14/2025 late evening
The attractive seaside resort of Kusadasi is located in a gulf on the western coast of Turkey. You can bathe there in clear waters or stroll along the coastal walk, in the shade of palms. In the historical district, you can take a mosey down the narrow streets and explore the colourful shops in the bazaar. Close by, the Ephesus archaeological site in the hillsides provides an opportunity to discover the ruins of one of the most famous cities of Antiquity.
May 15, 2025 - At sea
Arrival 5/15/2025
Departure 5/15/2025
During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
May 16, 2025 - Alanya
Arrival 5/16/2025 early morning
Departure 5/16/2025 evening
On the Turkish Riviera, discover Alanya. This peninsula bordered by the Taurus Mountains enjoys a prime location in the Mediterranean Sea, which made it a strategic position for the rulers of the region during antiquity. Perched on rocky cliffs, its castle dating from the Seljuk period is an open-air museum overlooking the turquoise beaches. Also from the Ottoman period are the splendid, red-tiled villas and the octagonal Red Tower dating from 1226, the symbol of the city. Analya is now a popular seaside resort, and you can enjoy the beach where Cleopatra - the most famous Egyptian queen - is said to have bathed...
May 17, 2025 - Antalya
Arrival 5/17/2025 early morning
Disembarkation 5/17/2025 at 7:00 AM
On the Turkish Mediterranean coast, discover the seaside resort of Antalya. While the city sports magnificent fine sandy beaches, it is also known for its significant historical heritage. Many vestiges bear witness to the importance of this former Roman port, such as Hadrian's Gate, built in the year 130 in honour of the visiting emperor. In the old town, it is possible to admire magnificent Ottoman houses with flowery gardens, as well as the broken minaret, built on the ruins of a former Byzantine church. The city’s surroundings also provide an opportunity to discover major archaeological sites, such as that of the ancient city of Aspendos, renowned for its impressive Roman theatre.
Archaeological site & Ortygia
Depart the pier by coach and drive to the archaeological area, which you will reach after a short drive.
Visit the Roman Amphitheatre of Augustus, used for fights between gladiators and wild beasts, the Altar of Hieron, constructed in the 2nd century BC to celebrate the "Eleutherian Feast", the Latomie of Paradise, huge caverns once used as prisons, the Ear of Dionysius, an enormous grotto with extraordinary echo and the Greek Theatre, one of the largest in the Hellenic World, constructed in the 5th century BC and successively enlarged.
Upon completion of the visit, re-board your coach for the short drive to Ortygia, which you will visit on foot. On Ortygia Island discover the Piazza Pancali (the ruins of the Temple of Apollo of the 6th century BC), Corso Matteotti, Archimede's Place, Piazza Duomo. Visit the Cathedral in Baroque style, erected over the remains of the Doric Temple of Minerva: in the interiors, see the undamaged twelve Doric columns. Then visit the fountain of Arethusa, the nymph praised by Pindar and Virgilio in one of the most touching and fine myths. Several nobility palaces - majority of them originating in the 15th and 16th centuries - will be seen from outside during the walking tour.
Then, return to the port and your ship.
- This excursion involves approximately 3.1 miles (5 km) of walking over uneven terrain and cobble stones as well as steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered). This tour is not recommended for passengers with reduced mobility.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Walking tour of Gallipoli, pearl of the Ionian Sea
Fall under the spell of one of Puglia’s jewels, Gallipoli, listen to its history in the old town’s maze of narrow lanes and admire its historic and architectural heritage.
A visit through its enigmatic lanes is like a journey back in time, a living exploration of the cultural strata that make Gallipoli such a rare pearl. Time here sometimes seems to stand still. Near the port, where your guided tour will begin, the fisherman are hard at work. Some are gathering together the catch of the day, whereas others are repairing their nets. Off in the distance, the gates of the old town open onto a maze of narrow lanes edged withbright- and warm-coloured dwellings, where the shade of the buildings draws a mystical labyrinth. Each street corner tells its own story of this medieval city, with its multiple heritages and cultural influences. Take the time to listen to the stories told by your local guide, as you admire the surprising St. Agatha’s Cathedral, its columns and its stunning baroque frescoes.
The sun-drenched hills of Gallipoli, bathed by the blue waters of the Mediterranean, made it a regional stronghold in olive-oil production as of the 15th century. The exports of this “liquid gold” were so significant that its production was stored in the four corners of the city in underground cisterns dug out of the local limestone, called carparo. You will have the opportunity to discover the production techniques that were used in the past, as you visit one of the 35 recently renovated underground oil mills.
-
This excursion includes three hours of walking on uneven surfaces. This visit is not accessible for persons with reduced mobility or in a wheelchair. We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Lecce, a Baroque jewel
Stroll around Lecce, the "Baroque Florence", and discover the countless churches, palaces and monuments carved out of this soft and almost golden limestone that gives the city a glowing look, like the chubby cherubins that decorate its façades.
A veritable open-air museum, Lecce is a microcosm of Baroque splendours, located only one hour's drive from Gallipoli. The cherubins, gargoyles, plant patterns, columns and capitals, each more extravagant than the last, are legion here - to the extent that the city lays claim to its own style, the "Barocco Leccese"- since the sculptors and architects of the 16th and 17th centuries had a field day with the regional stone, a marvel of malleability and delicacy.
The Centro Storico historic centre is proof of this, with its cobbled streets and shady squares teeming with incredible rococo treasures, including the Basilica of Santa Croce - with a constellation of sublime ornaments - and the Governor's Palace.
Not far from there, on the Piazza Santa Oronzo, the palazzos, church and Roman amphitheatre dating from the 2nd century try to outdo each other with their beauty.
A few metres away, the Piazza del Duomo, in spectacular golden monochrome, proudly displays a cathedral, its bell tower and the archbishop's palace, making it one of Italy's most beautiful squares. Your exploration of the city centre will finish with a gourmet break in a café.
-
This excursion involves a coach journey to Lecce as well as walking 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) on uneven surfaces, with some steps to negotiate. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Appropriate clothing is recommended when visiting places of worship: trousers for men, and skirts covering the knees for women. The tasting is included in your excursion.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Corfu Town & Mon Repos Palace
From the pier, you will board your coach to Mon Repos Palace.
The Palace was built by the British Commissioner Sir Adam Maitland in 1828, as a gift to his beautiful Corfiot wife. It was used as the Summer Residence of the High Commissioners, while their official residence was the Palace of St. Michael and St. George located in the town of Corfu. Today Mon Repos belongs to the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Corfu. It houses a museum with mainly local finds from ancient Corfu.
Then, re-board your coach for a short transfer to Corfu city centre. Upon arrival, follow your guide through the narrow cobbled-stoned serpentine streets of the Old Town known as "kandounia" and charming little "piazzas" (squares) built by the Venetians in the 14th century. During your walking tour, you will pass by the arcades of "liston", the replica of the "Rue de Rivoli" of Paris and the Old Town Hall. You will also visit the Church of St. Spyridon, patron saint of Corfu.
At the end of the visit, you will return to the pier.
-
This tour involves two hours of walking and standing. There are some steps at the Mon Repos Palace. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees covered).
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Sacred site of Delphi
On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the Delphi site opens the doors to a sacred world, where each stone summons up the glorious past of Ancient Greece.
Take the Sacred Way, the route walked in the past by pilgrims and kings of Antiquity, and go on a timeless journey. Here, the history of Greece and its legends overflow from everything: the ruins and ancient monuments, but also from the surrounding nature, which is still stunning.
This will jump out at you as you stand before the Temple of Apollo. It was constructed around the 7th century BC by two legendary architects, Trophonios and Agamedes; today, only a few vestiges remain of this Doric monument, decorated at the time with shields captured from the Persians. However, the foundations and columns that are still present seem to find an echo of their grandeur in the surrounding mountains.
The same goes for the ruins of the Senate of Delphi, as well as the vestiges of the Oracle of Delphi, where thousands of pilgrims gathered to receive the oracle of Pythia, high priestess of Apollo. The ancient theatre is also worth visiting.
A stone’s throw away from the sanctuary of Apollo, you will also be able to discover the Delphi Museum’s exhibitions, which present objects found at the archaeological site over the past century or more. Vases, bronzes, sculptures, precious offerings made to Apollo by pilgrims, objects of gold and ivory found under the slabs of the Sacred Way... they all recount the history of one of the most emblematic sites in Antiquity.
-
This excursion involves walking around 1.7 kilometres (around a mile) on uneven ground, with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Hosios Loukas and charming Arachova
Marvel at the beauty of the Byzantine monastery of Hosios Loukas and take to the heights in the streets of Arachova, a small town perched 1,000 metres (3,000 feet) up on the illustrious Mount Parnassus.
The fortified monastery of Hosios Loukas, near Delphi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most characteristic monuments of the second golden age of Byzantine art. Founded at the start of the 10th century by the hermit Saint Luke, it includes a central-plan church decorated with superb marble decor and admirable mosaics on a gold background. The main shrine is none other than the tomb of Saint Luke, originally situated in the crypt.
Your excursion will continue with a visit of Arachova. Built on the side of the mountain, this small town of 3,300 inhabitants is famous for its traditional stone houses spread out over the northern slopes of Mount Parnassus, between 800 and 1,100 metres up. As you explore its small streets on your own, allow yourself to be charmed by the hospitality of the inhabitants, the local handicrafts and the gastronomy. Indeed, the town is well-known for its wine and cheese, as well as for its homemade carpets and blankets.
-
This excursion involves walking an hour on uneven surfaces and cobblestone streets with many staircases (approximately 50 steps to the Monastery). We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered).
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Acropolis and its museum
From the pier, you will board your coach and drive to the city centre of Athens. Your first stop will be the Acropolis, a symbol of the glory of ancient Greece, where you will climb its smooth marble steps as visitors have for centuries. History opens before you as you reach one of the masterpieces of classical architecture, the Propylaea, which serves as the entrance to the complex. See the Temple of Athena Nike, or Wingless Victory, and the Erechtheum with its classical Porch of Maidens, the Caryatids. Stand in awe of what is considered to be the most perfect example of classical architecture in the world, the Parthenon, designed as a shrine to Athena that, at one time, housed a massive gold and ivory statue of the warrior goddess.
Looking down from the Acropolis, see the two ancient theatres in its shadow - the Greek theatre of Dionysus, where the masterpieces of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes debuted to delighted audiences, and the grand Roman theatre of Herod Atticus, restored and used for concerts and classical plays during the summer Athens Festival.
You will then visit the splendid Acropolis Museum, which is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built in order to house every artifact found on the rock and nearby, covering a large period of time, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. The museum was founded in 2003, while the Organisation of the Museum was established in 2000. Finally, it opened to public on June 21, 2009. Nearly 4,000 objects are on exhibit, and the museum spans an impressive 14,000 square metres.
After the visit of the Museum, you will enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the Thesseion area.
You will then you board your coach again for the return drive to Lavrio port.
-
This tour involves extensive walk on uneven terrain with steps. This tour is not recommended for guests with mobility challenges. We recommend you wear light clothing, comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Pre-booking is required to participate in this tour.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Vravrona Archaeological Site & Cape Sounion
Sheltered from the indigo waves of the Bay of Brauron, the ancient village of Vravrona is nestled like an age-old pearl, a witness of times gone by. Its winding little streets, cobbled with sea pebbles polished by the tides, exude the bewitching fragrances of a mythical past. Discover a remarkable archaeological site, the Temple of Artemis Brauroni, the honoured goddess of vegetation and hunting, and veritable protector of women giving birth and infants.
As of your departure from the port of Lavrio, you will head north-east, to discover the coastal city of Brauron, where a rich human settlement prospered as far back as the Neolithic period. Among the site’s lost remarkable vestiges, you will be able to admire the majestic large Doric Stoa with a ? - shaped ground plan, built between 425 and 415 BC, and the Temple of Artemis, a Doric prostyle temple with a tripartite cella and a deep adyton, built on the ruins of an archaic temple dating back to the first half of the 5th century BC.
You will also have the opportunity to visit the modest yet no less remarkable museum attached to the site, which houses objects coming not only from Vravrona but also from other regions of Attica. Nonetheless, the main part of the exhibition is dedicated to the discoveries made at the Temple of Artemis in Vravrona, among which the sculptures of “sheep”, representing the young girls devoted to Artemis, stand out.
Leaving Vravrona, you will arrive on Cape Sounion where you will visit the Temple of Poseidon, dating back to the 5th century BC. Perched 60 metres above the waves, on the edge of a cliff, it is one of the most breathtaking and moving sites in all of Greece. This is the place where the ancient Greeks worshipped their mighty god of the seas, Poseidon. The 15 Doric columns still standing (out of 34 originally) belong to the temple constructed here during Pericles’ Golden Age of Athens, on the vestiges of an older building. The architect is unknown, but it is believed to be the same one who built the Theseion in Athens.
After your visit, you will have a little free time to immortalise the site with some superb photos or even enjoy a drink at the neighbouring café, before heading back to the port of Lavrio.
-
This excursion includes climbing some steps and walking on uneven terrain. We recommend you wear suitable shoes and clothes.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Spectacular Meteora monasteries
Meteora is one of the most imposing sights in mainland Greece: giant rocks in bizarre shapes, ranging in height from 100 to 150 metres.
After disembarking, you will board your coach for a two hours and a half drive, leaving the port of Volos to head Northwest crossing the agricultural plains of Thessaly. You will pass provincial towns such as Larissa and Trikala before reaching Kalambaka, a small town nestled at the footsteps of the Meteora rocks.A short restroom stop with refreshments will take place there before continuing to the "monasteries in the sky" of the Meteora.
Once a monastic community with 24 monasteries, Meteora now consists of only five active ones. They were first built in the 14th century by monks who searched for a place where they could stay isolated and pray undisturbed from the rest of the world. Until 1920 most of the Meteora monasteries could only be reached by getting into a net and hauled up by a rope. Fortunately, steps were cut afterwards to all of the monasteries.
You will visit two of the most beautiful and representative Monasteries of the valley, where you will admire icons, mosaics and frescoes, old manuscripts, domed roofs as well as breathtaking views of nearby monasteries and of the surrounding area.
After your visit to the monasteries, proceed to a local restaurant in Kalambaka for a Greek lunch.Then, via the same road passing Trikala and Larrisa, you will return to the port of Volos to join your ship, a 2h30 drive.
-
This excursion involves two hours of walking and standing with many steps. We recommend you to wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate clothing must be worn when visiting the religious buildings: trousers for men and skirts covering the knees for the ladies. The lunch and refreshment are included in your tour. This tour is limited to 150 participants.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Ephesus, an ancient wonder
Listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, the incredible site of Ephesus holds a concentration of some of the most beautiful and most impressive Roman vestiges at the heart of its abundant natural environment. Here, temples, villas and streets paved in sparkling marble immerse you into the daily life of those who once lived in this ancient city.
Also known as the Turkish Pompeii, Ephesus is a veritable open-air museum whose excavation, begun in 1869, brought to light some of the richest Roman vestiges in the Mediterranean. Built in two parts due to the geography of the land, the city boasts an administrative quarter on its heights, with the very beautiful ruins of the city hall, the civil basilica and the Odeon all lined up on the north side of the Agora.
Facing the harbour, the lower town is home to the religious and cultural buildings: the famous Celsus Library, the Roman villas, the Commercial Agora, the stadium, and the largest amphitheatre of the ancient world, able to hold some 24,000 spectators.
Between the two, discover the dwellings of the notables, grouped along the slopes of Mount Pion and Mount Coressos, along with Hercules Gate, the ancient Scholastica Baths, the stunning Marble Road, and the Temple of Hadrian.
-
This excursion involves 1.5 hours of walking over uneven ground with some stairs. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Ephesus & Roman Villas
The incredible site of Ephesus holds a concentration of some of the most beautiful and most impressive Roman vestiges. During a guided visit, this ancient city, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, will reveal its temples and its sparkling streets of marble, as well as the terrace houses where lived the rich inhabitants of this place also known as the Turkish Pompeii.
A veritable open-air museum whose excavation, begun in 1869, brought to light some of the richest Roman vestiges in the Mediterranean, Ephesus is spread over two parts, the upper and the lower, to adapt to the relief of the neighbouring mountains.
On the heights, discover the administrative quarter, with the very beautiful ruins of the city hall, the civil basilica and the Odeon, all lined up on the north side of the Agora.
As for the lower city, it houses the religious and cultural buildings that stood facing the ancient port. There, you will discover the famous Celsus Library – which you will have the opportunity to visit –, the Commercial Agora, the stadium, and the largest amphitheatre of the ancient world, able to hold some 24,000 spectators.
Next, head for the Terrace Houses, where recent excavations unearthed the houses of rich Ephesians. Built during the reign of Augustus, and located on the northern slope of Bülbüldag next to Curetes Street and opposite the Temple of Hadrian, these houses were constructed with a peristyle, a courtyard surrounded by Ionic columns, and they are finely decorated with mosaics and frescoes.
Finally, after a short walk, you will arrive at the Great Theatre, where Saint Paul preached to the Ephesians, imploring them to abandon the worship of Artemis and embrace the Christian faith.
-
This excursion involves walking for approximately 2.5 hours on uneven ground with steps. The ground may be slippery. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Alanya, a mix of archaeology and architecture
The resort city of Alanya, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, offers much more than pleasant fine-sand beaches. Its archaeological museum, its castle and its red tower will take you back to the times of ancient heroes and rebel pirates.
Opened in 1967, the Alanya Archaeological Museum houses a beautiful collection of objects, including some from the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. Amidst these antiques made of bronze, marble, china, glass and mosaics, between the ostotek (funerary urns) and the coins from the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, one piece captures all the attention: the bronze statue of Hercules, whose dramatic story dates back to the 2nd century CE.
Next, head for Alanya Castle. Perched 250 metres (820 ft) above sea level and surrounded by a perimeter wall six kilometres (3.7 miles) long, this site offers a breathtaking view. But its history is also worth the detour, because even though the origins of its creation are still unknown - it is first mentioned in the writings of the geographer Scylax in the 4th century BC -, we do know that it provided an ideal den for pirates and rebels in the 2nd century BC, then witnessed the succession of the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman civilisations.
Finally, discover the Red Tower, one of the most beautiful examples of 13th-century Mediterranean medieval defence structures. By order of Alaeddin Keyqubad I, the Seljuk sovereign, it was built by Ebu Ali Reha el Kettani, an architect from Aleppo, to protect Alanya's harbour, shipyard and castle against attacks by sea.
-
This excursion involves approximately 1.5 hours of walking on uneven surfaces, including cobblestones, and numerous steps at the castle and the Red Tower. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Side theatre and Damlatas cave
Stroll around Side, a charming ancient city on the southern coast of Turkey which once provided the backdrop for some of Mark Antony and Cleopatra's love story, then admire the emblematic Damlatas Cave, a geological gem on the west coast of the peninsula.
On the turquoise coast of Turkey, where the Mediterranean Sea caresses the ruins of ancient civilisations, the historic Side will appear before you. Prosperous between the 2nd and 4th centuries due to its close ties with the Roman Empire, this city is now home to a number of ancient ruins providing evidence of the Roman, Arab and Ottoman civilisations that succeeded one another here.
At the heart of the city, between the cobbled streets and historical landmarks, Side's colossal and emblematic ancient theatre from the 2nd century rises majestically, a testament to the greatness of the Roman Empire. Built in a semi-circle and hewn directly out of the hillside, this theatre could accommodate up to 15,000 spectators. After being converted into a huge open-air church in the 5th century, it now houses three temples - one dedicated to Dionysus, the god of wine, and the two others to Apollo and Artemis respectively. If you stand along the stone cavea, you can almost hear the murmurs of the spectators of old and their deafening claps.
Next, you will head to the Damlatas Cave, on the west coast of the peninsula. Discovered in 1948 during the construction of the new port, the enormous cavity is covered in stalactites and stalagmites that continue to grow. Due to its constant high temperatures and high humidity, the cave is said to have beneficial properties for treating certain respiratory ailments, including asthma.
-
This excursion includes 1.5 hours of walking on uneven ground and a large number of steps inside the theatre and the Damlatas Cave. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. The visit to the Damlatas Cave is not recommended for anyone with a heart condition.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
L'Austral
Innovative design, sleek shape and profile, refined interior decoration, friendly, intimate atmosphere: French designers and decorators have managed to give this ship a unique style and veritable signature of its own. Combinations of fine materials, colours and tones harmoniously livened up with touches of bright colour, elegant lines, discreet and subtle refinement… everything has been designed to create a unique atmosphere onboard, a veritable personality: the chic style and naturally relaxing ambiance of a veritable private yacht.
Decks
Music
Set sail on a musical journey! If you have a passion for classical instrumental music or opera, if you love Celtic melodies or jazz, treat yourself to a different and exclusive experience aboard a PONANT ship. On board or ashore, our guests of honour, including renowned artists, talented musicians and brilliant virtuosos, share their knowledge and their passion in an intimate and accessible manner during concerts or talks.
Guest Speaker
Aboard your ship, an English-speaking lecturer will enlighten you about the culture and history of your destination to deepen your knowledge of the origins of local traditions, the history of emblematic sites, and stories involving famous personalities and those of major historical significance. During on-board lectures or on your shore visits, this expert will be there to share their precious knowledge with you throughout your PONANT cruise.
Shore excursions, Pre/Post & Overlands
VISIT OF MDINA AND PALAZZO PARISIO
Travel with peace of mind as PONANT organises your daytime between airport and embarkation port.
Valletta
Meet at the airport in the Arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the flight selected by PONANT.
Then, proceed to Mdina - Malta’s Old Capital, one of the locations used by the film “Black Eagle” featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme, and by “Game of Thrones” series. Mdina is one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled city, with its extraordinary mix of medieval and Baroque architecture.
Continue with the visit of Palazzo Parisio, a unique 19th century palace in the heart of the Mediterranean. Palazzo Parisio is not only another palace of the legendary Knights of St. John, but the ultimate memorial of ambitions, aspirations and pretensions of a 19th century noble family. It houses two baroque walled gardens, including a lovely orangery – a miniature Versailles.
Enjoy a small snack in the Palace.
You will then be transferred to the pier to embark on your ship.
Your programme includes:
-
Transfers, and visits as mentioned in the programme.
-
Services of a local English-speaking guide.
Your programme does not include:
-
Tips for the driver and local guide.
-
Personal expenses and other services not mentioned in the programme.
Duration and price of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
In the event of schedule changes of PONANT’s selected flight, your programme will be adapted to ensure the most seamless and enriching experience. The content of your revised programme will be updated on the PONANT website, in My Ponant space and on the PONANT app. The final programme will also be sent to you along with your cruise documents.
Total : $260
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.VISIT OF MDINA, GOURMET LUNCH AND WINE TASTING (1 NIGHT)
Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.
Day 1 – Valletta
Meet and greet at the airport arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the PONANT selected flight or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).
You will be transferred to your hotel The Phoenica 5*.
Check-in in your room.
The end of the day and dinner are at leisure.
Day 2 – Valletta
Set off from your hotel with a local guide and start your day by visiting Mdina. Take a stroll through the Silent City’s narrow streets and visit the Mdina cathedral and fortifications. Mdina, Malta’s Old Capital, was used as a filming location for the movie Black Eagle, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, and for the Game of Thrones series. With its extraordinary mix of medieval and Baroque architecture, Mdina is one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled city.
You will then proceed to a local boutique winery, where wine is produced on an estate comprising four hectares of terraced vineyards. It was built with weathered limestone blocks that perfectly blend old-world charm with practical, modern architectural touches. About 15,000 vines are planted on this estate, along with around 200 olive trees plus fig trees, carob trees, and other indigenous Maltese flora. After the visit, you will have the opportunity to taste three fine wines.
This will be followed by a fine meal at a local gourmet restaurant.
You will then be transferred to the port in time for embarkation onboard your ship.
Your hotel:
The luxurious Phoenicia Hotel 5* dates back to 1935. Surrounded by seven acres of gardens, it is ideally located next to the Triton Fountain in Valletta's City Gate Square, just outside the ancient city walls. The rooms are spacious and elegant with modern furnishings. You have a choice of three restaurants, serving a range of Maltese and Mediterranean food. The pool bar and restaurant offer a resort-style setting overlooking Grand Harbour. The hotel is also equipped with a gym and spa. Wi-Fi is available to all guests, throughout the hotel.
Your programme includes:
-
1-night accommodation at the Phoenicia Hotel 5* (or similar) in Executive room, breakfast included.
-
Meals as mentioned in the programme.
-
Beverages package during meals (mineral water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer + 1 coffee or tea).
-
Transfers, visits and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.
-
Local English-speaking guide.
Your programme does not include:
-
Lunch and dinner of day 1.
-
Tips for the guide and the driver.
-
Personal expenses
-
Other services not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
-
It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.
Contact of your hotel:
Phoenicia Hotel
The Mall Floriana
FRN 1478, MALTA
Telephone number: +356 2122 5241
Duration of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Total : $890
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.Archaeological site & Ortygia
Depart the pier by coach and drive to the archaeological area, which you will reach after a short drive.
Visit the Roman Amphitheatre of Augustus, used for fights between gladiators and wild beasts, the Altar of Hieron, constructed in the 2nd century BC to celebrate the "Eleutherian Feast", the Latomie of Paradise, huge caverns once used as prisons, the Ear of Dionysius, an enormous grotto with extraordinary echo and the Greek Theatre, one of the largest in the Hellenic World, constructed in the 5th century BC and successively enlarged.
Upon completion of the visit, re-board your coach for the short drive to Ortygia, which you will visit on foot. On Ortygia Island discover the Piazza Pancali (the ruins of the Temple of Apollo of the 6th century BC), Corso Matteotti, Archimede's Place, Piazza Duomo. Visit the Cathedral in Baroque style, erected over the remains of the Doric Temple of Minerva: in the interiors, see the undamaged twelve Doric columns. Then visit the fountain of Arethusa, the nymph praised by Pindar and Virgilio in one of the most touching and fine myths. Several nobility palaces - majority of them originating in the 15th and 16th centuries - will be seen from outside during the walking tour.
Then, return to the port and your ship.
- This excursion involves approximately 3.1 miles (5 km) of walking over uneven terrain and cobble stones as well as steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered). This tour is not recommended for passengers with reduced mobility.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Walking tour of Gallipoli, pearl of the Ionian Sea
Fall under the spell of one of Puglia’s jewels, Gallipoli, listen to its history in the old town’s maze of narrow lanes and admire its historic and architectural heritage.
A visit through its enigmatic lanes is like a journey back in time, a living exploration of the cultural strata that make Gallipoli such a rare pearl. Time here sometimes seems to stand still. Near the port, where your guided tour will begin, the fisherman are hard at work. Some are gathering together the catch of the day, whereas others are repairing their nets. Off in the distance, the gates of the old town open onto a maze of narrow lanes edged withbright- and warm-coloured dwellings, where the shade of the buildings draws a mystical labyrinth. Each street corner tells its own story of this medieval city, with its multiple heritages and cultural influences. Take the time to listen to the stories told by your local guide, as you admire the surprising St. Agatha’s Cathedral, its columns and its stunning baroque frescoes.
The sun-drenched hills of Gallipoli, bathed by the blue waters of the Mediterranean, made it a regional stronghold in olive-oil production as of the 15th century. The exports of this “liquid gold” were so significant that its production was stored in the four corners of the city in underground cisterns dug out of the local limestone, called carparo. You will have the opportunity to discover the production techniques that were used in the past, as you visit one of the 35 recently renovated underground oil mills.
-
This excursion includes three hours of walking on uneven surfaces. This visit is not accessible for persons with reduced mobility or in a wheelchair. We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Lecce, a Baroque jewel
Stroll around Lecce, the "Baroque Florence", and discover the countless churches, palaces and monuments carved out of this soft and almost golden limestone that gives the city a glowing look, like the chubby cherubins that decorate its façades.
A veritable open-air museum, Lecce is a microcosm of Baroque splendours, located only one hour's drive from Gallipoli. The cherubins, gargoyles, plant patterns, columns and capitals, each more extravagant than the last, are legion here - to the extent that the city lays claim to its own style, the "Barocco Leccese"- since the sculptors and architects of the 16th and 17th centuries had a field day with the regional stone, a marvel of malleability and delicacy.
The Centro Storico historic centre is proof of this, with its cobbled streets and shady squares teeming with incredible rococo treasures, including the Basilica of Santa Croce - with a constellation of sublime ornaments - and the Governor's Palace.
Not far from there, on the Piazza Santa Oronzo, the palazzos, church and Roman amphitheatre dating from the 2nd century try to outdo each other with their beauty.
A few metres away, the Piazza del Duomo, in spectacular golden monochrome, proudly displays a cathedral, its bell tower and the archbishop's palace, making it one of Italy's most beautiful squares. Your exploration of the city centre will finish with a gourmet break in a café.
-
This excursion involves a coach journey to Lecce as well as walking 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) on uneven surfaces, with some steps to negotiate. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Appropriate clothing is recommended when visiting places of worship: trousers for men, and skirts covering the knees for women. The tasting is included in your excursion.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Corfu Town & Mon Repos Palace
From the pier, you will board your coach to Mon Repos Palace.
The Palace was built by the British Commissioner Sir Adam Maitland in 1828, as a gift to his beautiful Corfiot wife. It was used as the Summer Residence of the High Commissioners, while their official residence was the Palace of St. Michael and St. George located in the town of Corfu. Today Mon Repos belongs to the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Corfu. It houses a museum with mainly local finds from ancient Corfu.
Then, re-board your coach for a short transfer to Corfu city centre. Upon arrival, follow your guide through the narrow cobbled-stoned serpentine streets of the Old Town known as "kandounia" and charming little "piazzas" (squares) built by the Venetians in the 14th century. During your walking tour, you will pass by the arcades of "liston", the replica of the "Rue de Rivoli" of Paris and the Old Town Hall. You will also visit the Church of St. Spyridon, patron saint of Corfu.
At the end of the visit, you will return to the pier.
-
This tour involves two hours of walking and standing. There are some steps at the Mon Repos Palace. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees covered).
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Sacred site of Delphi
On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the Delphi site opens the doors to a sacred world, where each stone summons up the glorious past of Ancient Greece.
Take the Sacred Way, the route walked in the past by pilgrims and kings of Antiquity, and go on a timeless journey. Here, the history of Greece and its legends overflow from everything: the ruins and ancient monuments, but also from the surrounding nature, which is still stunning.
This will jump out at you as you stand before the Temple of Apollo. It was constructed around the 7th century BC by two legendary architects, Trophonios and Agamedes; today, only a few vestiges remain of this Doric monument, decorated at the time with shields captured from the Persians. However, the foundations and columns that are still present seem to find an echo of their grandeur in the surrounding mountains.
The same goes for the ruins of the Senate of Delphi, as well as the vestiges of the Oracle of Delphi, where thousands of pilgrims gathered to receive the oracle of Pythia, high priestess of Apollo. The ancient theatre is also worth visiting.
A stone’s throw away from the sanctuary of Apollo, you will also be able to discover the Delphi Museum’s exhibitions, which present objects found at the archaeological site over the past century or more. Vases, bronzes, sculptures, precious offerings made to Apollo by pilgrims, objects of gold and ivory found under the slabs of the Sacred Way... they all recount the history of one of the most emblematic sites in Antiquity.
-
This excursion involves walking around 1.7 kilometres (around a mile) on uneven ground, with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Hosios Loukas and charming Arachova
Marvel at the beauty of the Byzantine monastery of Hosios Loukas and take to the heights in the streets of Arachova, a small town perched 1,000 metres (3,000 feet) up on the illustrious Mount Parnassus.
The fortified monastery of Hosios Loukas, near Delphi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most characteristic monuments of the second golden age of Byzantine art. Founded at the start of the 10th century by the hermit Saint Luke, it includes a central-plan church decorated with superb marble decor and admirable mosaics on a gold background. The main shrine is none other than the tomb of Saint Luke, originally situated in the crypt.
Your excursion will continue with a visit of Arachova. Built on the side of the mountain, this small town of 3,300 inhabitants is famous for its traditional stone houses spread out over the northern slopes of Mount Parnassus, between 800 and 1,100 metres up. As you explore its small streets on your own, allow yourself to be charmed by the hospitality of the inhabitants, the local handicrafts and the gastronomy. Indeed, the town is well-known for its wine and cheese, as well as for its homemade carpets and blankets.
-
This excursion involves walking an hour on uneven surfaces and cobblestone streets with many staircases (approximately 50 steps to the Monastery). We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered).
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Acropolis and its museum
From the pier, you will board your coach and drive to the city centre of Athens. Your first stop will be the Acropolis, a symbol of the glory of ancient Greece, where you will climb its smooth marble steps as visitors have for centuries. History opens before you as you reach one of the masterpieces of classical architecture, the Propylaea, which serves as the entrance to the complex. See the Temple of Athena Nike, or Wingless Victory, and the Erechtheum with its classical Porch of Maidens, the Caryatids. Stand in awe of what is considered to be the most perfect example of classical architecture in the world, the Parthenon, designed as a shrine to Athena that, at one time, housed a massive gold and ivory statue of the warrior goddess.
Looking down from the Acropolis, see the two ancient theatres in its shadow - the Greek theatre of Dionysus, where the masterpieces of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes debuted to delighted audiences, and the grand Roman theatre of Herod Atticus, restored and used for concerts and classical plays during the summer Athens Festival.
You will then visit the splendid Acropolis Museum, which is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built in order to house every artifact found on the rock and nearby, covering a large period of time, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. The museum was founded in 2003, while the Organisation of the Museum was established in 2000. Finally, it opened to public on June 21, 2009. Nearly 4,000 objects are on exhibit, and the museum spans an impressive 14,000 square metres.
After the visit of the Museum, you will enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the Thesseion area.
You will then you board your coach again for the return drive to Lavrio port.
-
This tour involves extensive walk on uneven terrain with steps. This tour is not recommended for guests with mobility challenges. We recommend you wear light clothing, comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Pre-booking is required to participate in this tour.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Vravrona Archaeological Site & Cape Sounion
Sheltered from the indigo waves of the Bay of Brauron, the ancient village of Vravrona is nestled like an age-old pearl, a witness of times gone by. Its winding little streets, cobbled with sea pebbles polished by the tides, exude the bewitching fragrances of a mythical past. Discover a remarkable archaeological site, the Temple of Artemis Brauroni, the honoured goddess of vegetation and hunting, and veritable protector of women giving birth and infants.
As of your departure from the port of Lavrio, you will head north-east, to discover the coastal city of Brauron, where a rich human settlement prospered as far back as the Neolithic period. Among the site’s lost remarkable vestiges, you will be able to admire the majestic large Doric Stoa with a ? - shaped ground plan, built between 425 and 415 BC, and the Temple of Artemis, a Doric prostyle temple with a tripartite cella and a deep adyton, built on the ruins of an archaic temple dating back to the first half of the 5th century BC.
You will also have the opportunity to visit the modest yet no less remarkable museum attached to the site, which houses objects coming not only from Vravrona but also from other regions of Attica. Nonetheless, the main part of the exhibition is dedicated to the discoveries made at the Temple of Artemis in Vravrona, among which the sculptures of “sheep”, representing the young girls devoted to Artemis, stand out.
Leaving Vravrona, you will arrive on Cape Sounion where you will visit the Temple of Poseidon, dating back to the 5th century BC. Perched 60 metres above the waves, on the edge of a cliff, it is one of the most breathtaking and moving sites in all of Greece. This is the place where the ancient Greeks worshipped their mighty god of the seas, Poseidon. The 15 Doric columns still standing (out of 34 originally) belong to the temple constructed here during Pericles’ Golden Age of Athens, on the vestiges of an older building. The architect is unknown, but it is believed to be the same one who built the Theseion in Athens.
After your visit, you will have a little free time to immortalise the site with some superb photos or even enjoy a drink at the neighbouring café, before heading back to the port of Lavrio.
-
This excursion includes climbing some steps and walking on uneven terrain. We recommend you wear suitable shoes and clothes.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Spectacular Meteora monasteries
Meteora is one of the most imposing sights in mainland Greece: giant rocks in bizarre shapes, ranging in height from 100 to 150 metres.
After disembarking, you will board your coach for a two hours and a half drive, leaving the port of Volos to head Northwest crossing the agricultural plains of Thessaly. You will pass provincial towns such as Larissa and Trikala before reaching Kalambaka, a small town nestled at the footsteps of the Meteora rocks.A short restroom stop with refreshments will take place there before continuing to the "monasteries in the sky" of the Meteora.
Once a monastic community with 24 monasteries, Meteora now consists of only five active ones. They were first built in the 14th century by monks who searched for a place where they could stay isolated and pray undisturbed from the rest of the world. Until 1920 most of the Meteora monasteries could only be reached by getting into a net and hauled up by a rope. Fortunately, steps were cut afterwards to all of the monasteries.
You will visit two of the most beautiful and representative Monasteries of the valley, where you will admire icons, mosaics and frescoes, old manuscripts, domed roofs as well as breathtaking views of nearby monasteries and of the surrounding area.
After your visit to the monasteries, proceed to a local restaurant in Kalambaka for a Greek lunch.Then, via the same road passing Trikala and Larrisa, you will return to the port of Volos to join your ship, a 2h30 drive.
-
This excursion involves two hours of walking and standing with many steps. We recommend you to wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate clothing must be worn when visiting the religious buildings: trousers for men and skirts covering the knees for the ladies. The lunch and refreshment are included in your tour. This tour is limited to 150 participants.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Ephesus, an ancient wonder
Listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, the incredible site of Ephesus holds a concentration of some of the most beautiful and most impressive Roman vestiges at the heart of its abundant natural environment. Here, temples, villas and streets paved in sparkling marble immerse you into the daily life of those who once lived in this ancient city.
Also known as the Turkish Pompeii, Ephesus is a veritable open-air museum whose excavation, begun in 1869, brought to light some of the richest Roman vestiges in the Mediterranean. Built in two parts due to the geography of the land, the city boasts an administrative quarter on its heights, with the very beautiful ruins of the city hall, the civil basilica and the Odeon all lined up on the north side of the Agora.
Facing the harbour, the lower town is home to the religious and cultural buildings: the famous Celsus Library, the Roman villas, the Commercial Agora, the stadium, and the largest amphitheatre of the ancient world, able to hold some 24,000 spectators.
Between the two, discover the dwellings of the notables, grouped along the slopes of Mount Pion and Mount Coressos, along with Hercules Gate, the ancient Scholastica Baths, the stunning Marble Road, and the Temple of Hadrian.
-
This excursion involves 1.5 hours of walking over uneven ground with some stairs. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Ephesus & Roman Villas
The incredible site of Ephesus holds a concentration of some of the most beautiful and most impressive Roman vestiges. During a guided visit, this ancient city, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, will reveal its temples and its sparkling streets of marble, as well as the terrace houses where lived the rich inhabitants of this place also known as the Turkish Pompeii.
A veritable open-air museum whose excavation, begun in 1869, brought to light some of the richest Roman vestiges in the Mediterranean, Ephesus is spread over two parts, the upper and the lower, to adapt to the relief of the neighbouring mountains.
On the heights, discover the administrative quarter, with the very beautiful ruins of the city hall, the civil basilica and the Odeon, all lined up on the north side of the Agora.
As for the lower city, it houses the religious and cultural buildings that stood facing the ancient port. There, you will discover the famous Celsus Library – which you will have the opportunity to visit –, the Commercial Agora, the stadium, and the largest amphitheatre of the ancient world, able to hold some 24,000 spectators.
Next, head for the Terrace Houses, where recent excavations unearthed the houses of rich Ephesians. Built during the reign of Augustus, and located on the northern slope of Bülbüldag next to Curetes Street and opposite the Temple of Hadrian, these houses were constructed with a peristyle, a courtyard surrounded by Ionic columns, and they are finely decorated with mosaics and frescoes.
Finally, after a short walk, you will arrive at the Great Theatre, where Saint Paul preached to the Ephesians, imploring them to abandon the worship of Artemis and embrace the Christian faith.
-
This excursion involves walking for approximately 2.5 hours on uneven ground with steps. The ground may be slippery. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Alanya, a mix of archaeology and architecture
The resort city of Alanya, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, offers much more than pleasant fine-sand beaches. Its archaeological museum, its castle and its red tower will take you back to the times of ancient heroes and rebel pirates.
Opened in 1967, the Alanya Archaeological Museum houses a beautiful collection of objects, including some from the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. Amidst these antiques made of bronze, marble, china, glass and mosaics, between the ostotek (funerary urns) and the coins from the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, one piece captures all the attention: the bronze statue of Hercules, whose dramatic story dates back to the 2nd century CE.
Next, head for Alanya Castle. Perched 250 metres (820 ft) above sea level and surrounded by a perimeter wall six kilometres (3.7 miles) long, this site offers a breathtaking view. But its history is also worth the detour, because even though the origins of its creation are still unknown - it is first mentioned in the writings of the geographer Scylax in the 4th century BC -, we do know that it provided an ideal den for pirates and rebels in the 2nd century BC, then witnessed the succession of the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman civilisations.
Finally, discover the Red Tower, one of the most beautiful examples of 13th-century Mediterranean medieval defence structures. By order of Alaeddin Keyqubad I, the Seljuk sovereign, it was built by Ebu Ali Reha el Kettani, an architect from Aleppo, to protect Alanya's harbour, shipyard and castle against attacks by sea.
-
This excursion involves approximately 1.5 hours of walking on uneven surfaces, including cobblestones, and numerous steps at the castle and the Red Tower. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Side theatre and Damlatas cave
Stroll around Side, a charming ancient city on the southern coast of Turkey which once provided the backdrop for some of Mark Antony and Cleopatra's love story, then admire the emblematic Damlatas Cave, a geological gem on the west coast of the peninsula.
On the turquoise coast of Turkey, where the Mediterranean Sea caresses the ruins of ancient civilisations, the historic Side will appear before you. Prosperous between the 2nd and 4th centuries due to its close ties with the Roman Empire, this city is now home to a number of ancient ruins providing evidence of the Roman, Arab and Ottoman civilisations that succeeded one another here.
At the heart of the city, between the cobbled streets and historical landmarks, Side's colossal and emblematic ancient theatre from the 2nd century rises majestically, a testament to the greatness of the Roman Empire. Built in a semi-circle and hewn directly out of the hillside, this theatre could accommodate up to 15,000 spectators. After being converted into a huge open-air church in the 5th century, it now houses three temples - one dedicated to Dionysus, the god of wine, and the two others to Apollo and Artemis respectively. If you stand along the stone cavea, you can almost hear the murmurs of the spectators of old and their deafening claps.
Next, you will head to the Damlatas Cave, on the west coast of the peninsula. Discovered in 1948 during the construction of the new port, the enormous cavity is covered in stalactites and stalagmites that continue to grow. Due to its constant high temperatures and high humidity, the cave is said to have beneficial properties for treating certain respiratory ailments, including asthma.
-
This excursion includes 1.5 hours of walking on uneven ground and a large number of steps inside the theatre and the Damlatas Cave. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. The visit to the Damlatas Cave is not recommended for anyone with a heart condition.
Included
Subject to availability, rate per passenger.
Ponant/ Paul Gauguin cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 2 months up to 7 days prior to departure through your travel advisor or by calling your cruise specialist.
Smithsonian cruises: Excursions will be available to book approximately 4 months prior to departure through your Guest Services Specialist. Excursions are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis.
ANTALYA CITY TOUR AND AIRPORT TRANSFER
Travel with peace of mind as PONANT organises your transfer between your port of disembarkation and the airport.
Antalya
After disembarkation procedures are completed, you will be greeted at the port by our local English-speaking representative.
You will board your coach to the Antalya Archaeological Museum. This museum contains an amazing variety of collections including pottery, coins, mosaics, sculptures, costumes, sarcophagi, and artifacts found in the once-inhabited caves of coastal Turkey. The Hall of Emperors is one of the museum's most impressive wings. Here, the displays of classical art are magnificent, including statues of the Greek gods and of the emperors Hadrian and Septimus Serverus and their mistresses.
You will then reach the airport in time for check-in for the PONANT selected flight.
Your programme includes:
-
Transfer and visits as mentioned in the programme.
-
Services of a local English-speaking guide.
Your programme does not include:
-
Tips for the driver and local guide.
-
Personal expenses and other services not mentioned in the programme.
To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
In the event of schedule changes of PONANT’s selected flight, your programme will be adapted to ensure the most seamless and enriching experience. The content of your revised programme will be updated on the PONANT website, in My Ponant space and on the PONANT app. The final programme will also be sent to you along with your cruise documents.
Total : $90
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.MAGICAL CAPPADOCIA (4NIGHTS)
Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.
Enjoy a few days discovering Cappadocia’s unique scenery in the heart of Turkey. The exceptional landscapes, as beautiful as they are mystical, will fascinate you, as will the history of this striking region. From fairy chimney rock formations to cave dwellings and underground cities, embark on a journey where shimmering colours mingle with the aromas and magic of the Orient.
Day 1 – Antalya/Konya
After disembarkation procedures are completed, you will be greeted at pier by our local representative.
By road, you will immediately head for Konya, lying in Central Anatolia at an altitude of 1,000 metres (3,281 feet). From the Mediterranean region of Antalya, an approximately four-and-a-half-hour drive will take you to this holy city, the cradle of Sufism and the former capital of the Seljuk Empire. It is there that, in the 13th century, the mystic poet Jalal al-Din Rumi – also called “Mevlana”, meaning ‘erudite’ – founded the Mevlevi Order, also known as the “whirling dervishes”. Today, the city boasts prestigious religious monuments that attract a great many pilgrims, but it is also a significantly urbanised modern metropolis.
For lunch, you will enjoy traditional cuisine at a local restaurant in Konya.
You will then visit the Mevlana Museum, dedicated to the founding father of the whirling dervishes. This major pilgrimage site houses the former lodge of the Mevlevi Order and the mausoleum of the master, a masterpiece of Seljuk art built in 1274 after his death.
You will then be taken to the Dedeman Konya Convention Center 5*.
Check-in in your room.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 2 – Konya/Cappadocia
Breakfast and check-out.
After breakfast, once you have completed your hotel check-out, you will leave Konya and cross the arid planes of Anatolia towards Cappadocia.
On the way (approximately one-and-a-half hour drive), you will stop at the Sultan Han Caravanserai. This roadside inn built in the 13th century afforded caravaners a place to rest and recover from the day's journey. Caravanserais, or hans in Turkish, supported the flow of commerce across a network of trade routes connecting Asia, North Africa and South-Eastern Europe. The Sultanhani han is one of the most well-preserved along the Silk Road linking Konya to Persia.
You will travel on for another couple of hours to reach Mustafapasa (Sinasos). Located 5 km (3 miles) south of Urgup, it is one of the most beautiful villages in Cappadocia. The town is famous for its Greek architecture. Greeks and Karamanlides (Turkish-speaking Christians) make up the majority of the population. The rest are Muslim Turks. Its sculpted wooden doors and facade decorations are very typical.
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.
After lunch, you will head to Kaymakli to visit the UNESCO-listed, largest underground city in the region. Between the 6th and 10th centuries, the city was carved out of volcanic rock, up to a depth of more than 90 metres (295 feet). It is possible to go as deep as eight levels down through an intricate labyrinth of tunnels.
After another half-hour or so on the road, you will arrive at the 4* Argos In Cappadocia Hotel in the mid-afternoon.
Enjoy some free time to freshen up and rest.
Dinner will then be served in a local restaurant.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 3 – Cappadocia
Optional activity - Hot-air ballon in Cappadocia
Very early in the morning (weather permitting), you will set off for a hot-air balloon ride to the heart of unique landscapes. The sunrise will take on another dimension.
Dawn is the best time to enjoy this unique experience, as the cooler, calmer air ensures peaceful and stable flights, as well as soft landings. Another advantage is that the superb colours and contrasts at daybreak provide ideal conditions for taking beautiful photos.
The excellent flying conditions allow the hot air-balloons to gently drift over spectacular and surreal landscapes featuring fairy chimneys, dovecotes hewn into the unique rock formations, orchards and vineyards, and impressive valleys.
The flight time will be around 45 minutes (subject to weather conditions and approval from local authorities).
After your flight, you will return to your hotel to freshen up and breakfast.
You will visit Pasabag, boasting the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, crowned with double and sometimes even triple rock caps. Even for this region, these formations are truly unique! The locals call them mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys. As you wander around Pasabag, you will see many vineyards.
After lunch, your discovery tour will continue with the Zelve Open-Air Museum, south of Avanos. It encompasses three valleys home to a multitude of crumbling cave dwellings, painted and carved churches, wine-making rooms and wheat grinding mills. Right at the back of the third valley are the deepest and most intact cave dwellings, with many details indicating what life must have been like here a thousand years ago.
Next, in Avanos, the capital of Turkish pottery, a workshop will teach you more about this wonderful local handicraft inherited from the Hittite period.
To wrap up this day spent amid fairy chimneys and Byzantine vestiges, you will stop for a wine tasting at a local vineyard with some of the oldest perched vines in the world. There, you will be able to taste fruity wines made from local grapes.
Back to your hotel.
Dinner will be on your own.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 - Cappadocia
Your day will then be spent discovering this unique and colourful natural environment through some of the most well-known sites in the region (ten to twenty-minute transfer between each visit). On the road between Uchisar and Goreme, you will start by visiting Pigeon Valley. A short walk will enable you to discover the dovecote tradition in Cappadocia. The locals carve them out of the tuff formations called “fairy chimneys”. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. After a short transfer (approximately ten minutes), you will reach the Goreme Open-Air Museum, the most visited site of the monastic communities in Cappadocia, and one of the most famous sites in the centre of Turkey. It is a complex comprising more than 30 churches and chapels carved out of rock and containing superb frescoes dating from the 9th century to the 11th. While the exterior seems relatively unremarkable, the interiors are designed in a typical Byzantine style, with a central dome and a floor plan in the shape of a cross or a rectangle. The largest and most well-preserved church in Goreme is Tokali Kilise. Its interior walls are covered in some of the most beautiful frescoes in the region, depicting scenes from the New Testament. In the early evening, you will be attending a whirling dervish ceremony called “semah”. During this ritual dance, accompanied by Sufi music and symbolising a prayer and divine communion, the Mevlevi Order disciples spin around in a trance-like state. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Day 5 – Cappadocia/Kayseri
After breakfast and check-out, time at leisure depending on your flight schedule.
You will then be transferred to the Kayseri airport in time for check-in for the PONANT selected flight or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).
Your hotels:
The 5* Dedeman Konya Convention Center Hotel is a modern and comfortable establishment 5 km (3 miles) out of the centre of Konya. Its well-appointed rooms, its restaurant serving Turkish and international cuisine, and its indoor pool will provide a relaxing setting.
The 4* Argos In Cappadocia Hotel is a former monastery in the village of Uchisar, now turned boutique hotel. Its interior reflects the cave-dwelling tradition yet offers every modern-day comfort. The hotel has been beautifully renovated by integrating the new structures into the heart of the vestiges with the utmost respect for the environment. Guests come here to press pause and take a break from the frantic pace of the modern world. Each room is unique and offers a private space. They are carved right out of the rock, celebrating the region’s cave-dwelling tradition. Lush gardens and sun-drenched terraces reveal picturesque panoramic views.
Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.
Your programme includes:
-
1-night accommodation in Junior Suite at Dedeman Konya Convention Center 5*, (local standard) or similar, breakfast included.
-
3-night accommodation in Suite rooms at l’hôtel Argos In Cappadocia 4*, (local standard) or similar, breakfast included.
-
Meals as mentioned in the programme.
-
Beverage package during meals (bottled water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer or 1 glass of wine and 1 coffee or tea). Excepted for the Lunch in Konya, No alcoholic beverages available around the Mevlana Museum Complex.
-
Transfers, visits, and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.
-
The services of a local English-speaking guide and a local French-speaking guide during visits.
Your programme does not include:
-
Optional activity : 45-minutes hot air balloon flight (weather and local authorities permitting).
-
Personal expenses.
-
Dinner on Day 3, Lunch on day 5.
-
Visa if necessary.
-
Tips for the driver and local guide.
-
Other services not mentioned in the programme.
-
Early check-in and late check-out.
Please note:
-
It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.
-
Turkey’s unit is the Turkish Lira.
-
The distance between Cappadocia and Antalya is about 540 km (335 miles) and takes about 8 hours to cover by road. Since no domestic flights are possible on the itinerary dates, the package includes an overnight stay in Konya to make your trip more enjoyable.
-
Konya is a holy city and its region is one of the most conservative in Turkey. The traditional local restaurants, particularly those located near religious sites, do not sell alcoholic beverages. It is possible to order alcoholic beverages in the bars and restaurants of certain international hotels.
-
For the Mevlana Museum visit, clothing must cover the shoulders and legs. Women must cover their head, so a scarf is recommended.
-
Kaymakli Underground City: this visit is not recommended for anyone suffering from claustrophobia, respiratory problems, or who has difficulties walking. The passageways are very narrow and low, requiring visitors to hunch over (but not crawl). There is adequate light. Good walking shoes are recommended.
-
The hot-air balloon ride is subject to weather conditions. It may be postponed to the following day. In the event of a cancellation, the activity will be reimbursed.
-
The hot-air balloon ride requires the ability to stand in the basket for the duration of the flight (approximately 1 hour) and to crouch down with bended knees during the entire landing. The maximum weight for taking part in this activity is 90-100 kg. This activity is not recommended for anyone with respiratory problems.
-
Official in-room check-in time at 3:00 p.m.
-
Official time of check-out from the room at 12:00 p.m.
-
This programme is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Contact of your hotels:
Dedeman Konya Hotel & Convention Center
Esenler, Yeni Sille Cd. No: 1,
42080 Selçuklu/Konya, Turquie
Telephone number: (90) 332 221 66 00
Argos Cappadocia
Uchisar-Nevsehir
TURKEY
Telephone number: (90) 384 219 31 30.
Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Total : $1,860
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.