Day 1

Depart on your overnight flight to Istanbul.

Day 2

Independent arrival and check-in at our hotel. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before our welcome dinner and briefing.

Day 3

This morning we visit exquisite Dolmabahce Palace which reveals the opulent lifestyle of the last sultans of the Ottoman Empire. After lunch set out to explore the heart of Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visit the 17th-century Blue Mosque and continue to the beautiful Aya Sofya; this famed 6th-century symbol of the Byzantine Empire was for thousands of years the largest interior space in the world. Alternatively, visit the Byzantine Church of the Holy Savior of Chora, the beautiful Rustem Pasha Mosque, and the colorful Spice Bazaar. In the late afternoon we board the Clipper Odyssey and cruise toward the Black Sea up the scenic Bosporus, a strait which runs through the center of Istanbul and forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia.

Day 4

Today we dock in Bartin and drive to the harbor town of Amasra. Our tour on foot reveals panoramic views of the Black Sea coastline and rugged nearby islands. We walk the cobblestone streets, where local houses are interspersed with archaeological remnants of Byzantine churches and Genoese castles. Visit the local market or museum, or enjoy a hike to cliffs overlooking the Black Sea.

Day 5

From the port of Samsun we drive inland to Amasya, former capital of the kingdom of Pontus during its golden age in the third century B.C. The town of red-roofed dwellings and 19th-century Ottoman-era wooden houses is set along the dramatic Yesilirmak River Gorge. We explore photogenic winding alleyways, the ethnographic museum, and a medrese, or Islamic seminary. For lunch we enjoy a feast of regional Turkish cuisine in a local restaurant high on a mountainside with commanding views of the town and the Pontic Tombs.

Day 6

Ancient Greeks settled Trabzon along a branch of the Silk Road from Asia. A highlight of our visit is a morning drive in the countryside to see the 13th- and 14th-century Byzantine Sumela Monastery, perched precariously on a cliff face in the monastic tradition of Greek Orthodox architecture. Detailed frescoes, etched in brilliant blues, reds, and golds cover the interior. This stunning alpine setting is also a national park. This afternoon we explore the 13th-century Aya Sofya, a Byzantine church with exquisite frescoes, and spend some free time wandering through the modern city of Trabzon.

Day 7

We dock at the port of Poti in the republic of Georgia. Situated in the southern Caucasus Mountains region, the country possesses a scenic beauty that is legendary; snowcapped mountains sweep down to lush forests and pastoral vineyards and plains. Enjoy a full-day excursion inland to Kutaisi, a World Heritage Site. The city offers splendid monuments surrounded by sweeping mountain views. We visit the Gelati Monastery complex, one of Georgia’s most famed sites, founded by King David IV in the 12th century. During lunch we are entertained with a performance of energetic traditional dances. Afterwards, stroll the cobblestone streets to visit Bagrati Cathedral, an imposing 11th-century church overlooking the river.

Day 8

This Russian mineral-spring resort community with a subtropical climate is sometimes called the Russian Riviera. We spend the morning exploring the town with a special visit to Stalin’s dacha. Well hidden among trees on the outskirts of town, the imposing building became a favorite summer retreat for the infamous leader.

Day 9

Yalta is a seaside resort on the Crimean Peninsula, long a favored spot for Russian and Ukrainian elite who constructed palatial homes here. We visit the magnificent Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, with its intricate Byzantine adornment. A scenic coastal drive brings us to the elegant Renaissance-style Livadia Palace, summer home of Tsar Nicholas II and location of the 1945 Yalta Conference.

Day 10

This morning we disembark in the military port of Sevastopol for a tour of the submarine tunnels at Balaklava and to view a panoramic painting depicting a scene from the Crimean War. After lunch we visit the nearby World Heritage Site of ancient Chersonesus, once a splendid Greek seaside colony.

Day 11

Odessa’s European-Russian heritage is evident as we ascend the Potemkin Steps to explore cobblestone streets lined with shady plane trees. Explore the compact central district’s spectacular architecture, including monuments, statuary, parks, and ornate 19th-century gems such as the Opera House and Gagarin’s Palace. We also visit one of the country’s oldest archaeological museums; housing an extensive collection of Ukrainian artifacts ranging from the Paleolithic age to the medieval period. Among the exhibits are antiquities fashioned of precious metals, including Scythian jewelry and ancient coins.

Day 12

The Danube is Europe’s second longest river as well as a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. The delta is an intricate maze of waterways, lakes, and rivulets that fan out as the mighty river meets its alluvial saltwater terminus. From Crisan, we board a local day boat to wind our way through this wetland habitat of over 200 species of birds, including pygmy cormorants, purple herons, white-tailed eagles, and Dalmatian pelicans. On board, sample local vodka and snacks prepared by our Romanian chef. Later, we rejoin the Clipper Odyssey and sail downriver on the main Sulina channel.

Day 13

Histria was Romania’s earliest-founded city and flourished as an extraordinary trading city, later to be abandoned and swallowed by alluvial deposits and sand. The site has been under excavation since its rediscovery in 1914. We walk through fascinating seaside ruins, tour the new museum, and spot birds in this wetland environment. Next we explore Constanta where we tour the archaeological museum and view one of the largest Roman mosaic floors in Europe. In the late afternoon, we enjoy wine tasting and a performance on board.

Day 14

The modern port city of Varna was once the Greek seaside colony known as Odessos. We disembark in the morning and visit Varna’s archaeological museum that chronologically traces the progress of human society in the region over the course of millennia and includes the oldest worked gold in the world. We also explore the extensive remains of the 2nd-century Roman thermae, or public baths, which make up the largest Roman ruins in Bulgaria. We reboard the ship and sail toward Turkey in the afternoon.

Day 15

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for homeward flights.

Package price is per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies. International airfare is additional. Other restrictions may apply. Contact us for complete journey details.

Category 1

185 sq. ft. ocean-view cabin with sitting area, private bathroom, and two portholes.

Category 2

175 sq. ft. ocean-view cabin with sitting area, private bathroom, and a window.

Category 3

175 sq. ft. ocean-view cabin with sitting area, private bathroom, and a window.

Category 4

175 sq. ft. ocean-view cabin with sitting area, private bathroom, and a window.

Category 5

230 sq. ft. ocean-view cabin with sitting area, private bathroom, and a window.

Category 6

230 sq. ft. ocean-view cabin with sitting area, private bathroom, and private balcony.

Suite

310 sq. ft. ocean-view suite with one bedroom, living room, private bathroom, and private balcony.

Hector Williams

Professor of Classics and Classical Archaeology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Hector has been directing UBC’s two archaeological projects in Greece (Mytilene on Lesbos and Stymphalos in the NE Peloponnese) since 1982. He began digging in the Mediterranean in 1968 at the University of Chicago’s Kenchreai excavations and subsequently dug at Corinth and Samothrace before taking up his position at UBC in 1970.

Ron Suny

Ron is the Charles Tilly Collegiate Professor of Social and Political History and Director of the Eisenberg Institute of Historical Studies at the University of Michigan and Emeritus Professor of Political Science and History at the University of Chicago. The grandson of the composer and ethnomusicologist Grikor Mirzaian Suni and a graduate of Swarthmore College and Columbia University, he taught at Oberlin College (1968-1981), as visiting professor of history at the University of California, Irvine (1987), and Stanford University (1995-1996).

Lynda Murphy

A native of the Jersey Shore, Lynda's love of the outdoors led her to the Pacific Northwest where she lives with her husband Joe in Seattle. She came to work at Zegrahm Expeditions in 1994 as the third member of our Air Department. During her 15 years working in the office, Lynda has become well acquainted with adventure travel and has also taken on several roles in the field-scouting new destinations, air/land logistics coordinator, assistant cruise director, cruise director, and land based expedition leader.

Michael Moore

A Chicago native, Mike earned both his B.S. in biology and an M.S. degree in ecology, ethology, and evolution at the University of Illinois. Since then he has spent 10 years conducting research around the Pacific Rim, where he lived in the highlands of New Guinea, logged hundreds of hours beneath its waters working for conservation organizations, and taught field biology courses for the University of PNG.

Allan Langdale

Raised on Vancouver Island, Allan earned a doctorate degree in art history from the University of California at Santa Barbara and has taught in the University of California system, for more than 12 years. His specialties include Italian Renaissance art and architecture, medieval art, and Byzantine art. He is currently completing a picture book, illustrated with his photographs, of the historical architecture of northern Cyprus. He has also published a number of works of travel photography.

Lynne Greig

Lynne was born and raised in South Africa and after finishing her education spent several years teaching there. Her love for travel led her around the globe, and eventually turned into a career in the adventure travel industry as cruise director. Since 1995 she has traveled from Antarctica to the Arctic, through Africa and the Indian Ocean, Russia, the South Pacific, and Australia. Voyages have taken Lynne to every continent and across every ocean aboard expedition vessels ranging from Russian icebreakers to Australian catamarans. She has tried to settle down on numerous occasions; however, the lure of the sea is too strong, and she keeps going back out in the field, where her cheery personality, abundant energy, and industry knowledge serve her well in her positions as expedition leader and cruise director.

Kevin Clement

Although his specialty is subarctic ecology, Kevin’s work as a naturalist and adventure travel guide has taken him from his home in Alaska to all seven continents. He has worked in several national parks and has guided groups in whitewater rafts, sea kayaks, and on foot. Kevin is a director of Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions and he holds certifications in scuba diving, swiftwater rescue, and wilderness medicine, as well as a Coast Guard Master’s license.

Lia Oprea

Part Romanian, Lia gives credit to her Gypsy heritage for her peripatetic nature and love of exploration. This love led her to travel widely around the globe and, quite naturally, to a career in adventure travel, a trade she has plied for more than a dozen years. During this time she has worked in several capacities, including cruise director and expedition leader, and has traveled throughout much of the world with significant time spent in the Mediterranean, Central America, Eastern Europe, and the Indian Ocean.

Clipper Odyssey

The Clipper Odyssey is a 110-passenger luxury expedition vessel, ideally suited for expedition cruising. All cabins have an ocean view, safe, minibar, individually controlled heat/air conditioner, in-room music system, and sitting area with sofa. Passengers can track the progress of their voyage on the Global Positioning System broadcast in each cabin. Beds can be configured for twin or queen-size sleeping arrangements. All cabins have an en suite bathroom with shower. The Clipper Odyssey maintains a gourmet kitchen, providing American and international specialties. Facilities on board the Clipper Odyssey include a dining room, lounge, small library and gym, outdoor pool, massage room, and gift shop. An elevator services all passenger cabin decks. The Clipper Odyssey has an infirmary staffed by a registered physician, a fleet of Zodiacs, and a sophisticated telecommunications system permitting Internet access and telephone and fax communication with any location around the world. Ship registry: Bahamas.