There are a lot of things to do while you’re in Greece. Athens have some of the most famous sights like the Acropolis, the National Archaeological Museum and the Benaki Musem. You can also visit the Kallimarmaron stadium where the ancient Panathenaic Games were held.

During summer, the beaches should be on the top of the list. Beaches in Crete, Santorini and Mykonos offer the best beach parties in Greece and are one of the top places to be in Europe.

Aside from swimming and soaking during summer, there’s also the Hellenic Festival.  It celebrates the performance arts , theatre, musical and dance. Here, you get to experience the recreation of Greek tradegy in the heart of Athens.

Greek wine is steadily gaining popularity. On the island of Santorini, the volcanic-rich soil makes some of its wines a unique taste. On Crete, wine production can be traced back to the Minoan civilization.  There are tours conducted in wineries, these tours enable you to experience the mountains and beaches of Crete.

Aside from wine tours, Greek cuisine is something that tourists should not miss. There are restaurants and tavernas located in magnificent places. They offer traditional Greek food and the famous ouzo.

Greece has eleven wetland areas that are of international importance.  Aside from this, there are also 190 important areas for birds.  Several top places for birdwatch are the Nestos Deltas and Prespa Lakes.  Some of the birds that can be encountered are eagles, storks, pelicans and herons.  There are turtle doves, peregrine falcons, magpies, red-rumped swallows that can also be seen.

Most people don’t think that it’s possible to ski in Greece, but it is! The season for skiing starts in December and ends in April.  There are 14 ski areas of which Parnassos is the largest and most popular.

There are many options for tours in Greece. There are outdoor tours that can be arranged. Greece is a country with dramatic landscapes featuring soaring mountains and gorges. There can be bike tours on the island of Crete, rock climbing in Meteora or jeep tour in some of the unknown but magnificent gorges.

Taking part in sport events in Greece create special feeling since you are playing in a place where Olympics started. There are marathons where you can participate.  Or at least, try to run the route where Olympic athletes ran the last time they were in town.

Don’t forget to do a good deed, even if you’re on a vacation. There are a lot of volunteer causes that you can get involved with, an environmental organization.  For the young and funky spirits, there is a Rockwave Festival of music. Here, for three days, audiences can listen to heavy metal, rock and roll or good old fashioned dance music.

By balancing your time between educational and free-spirited activities that you can join, surely your Greece vacation would take a lifetime before you forget it.

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Greece consists of a mountainous peninsula mainland jutting out into the sea at the southern end of the Balkans, the Peloponnesus peninsula far from the canal of the Isthmus of Corinth, and numerous islands (1400, 227 of which are inhabited).  Four fifths of Greece consist of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in Europe. Western Greece contains a number of lakes and wetlands.

The range continues through the western Peloponnese, crosses the islands of Kythera and Antikythera and find its way into southwestern Aegean, in the island of Crete where it eventually ends. The islands of the Aegean are peaks of underwater mountains that once constituted an extension of the mainland.

Pindus is characterized by its high, steep peaks, often dissected by numerous canyons and a variety of other karstic landscapes. Most notably, the impressive Meteora formation consisting of high, steep boulders provides a breathtaking experience for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit the area each year.

In the early days of the summer of 2007 Greeks awoke to find their country burning with forest fires. Within a week or two they had also erupted with unparalleled fury across wide areas of the Peloponnese, Evia and even as far north as Epiros. Satellite pictures showed a pall of billowing smoke drifting skyward, ash covered many neighbourhoods of Athens, thousands lost their homes and 66 hapless souls their lives.

The culture of Greece has evolved over thousand of years. Greek cuisine which is a part of the Mediterranean diet is an example of a healthy diet. There are variety of dishes like moussake, stifado, Greek salad, spanakopita and the world famous Souvlaki.

Throughout Greece, small dishes such as meze, grilled octopus, small fish, feta cheese, dolmdes, olives and cheese are being enjoyed. Olive  oil is used in almost every dish.  Sweet dessert such as galaktoboureko and drinks like ouzo are also widely accepted and enjoyed even by non-Greeks.

Greek cuisine is always different. They change and vary depending on the location and what island they are from.

Greece is often called the birthplace of European civilization. Greece offers a heady mix of ancient archaeological sites. Greece offers a heady mix of ancient archaeological, chic design hotels, rustic lanterns, rustic tavernas and other family oriented sea side resorts.

Ancient Greece reached its zenith in the fifth century BC when Athens became the cultural and artistic centre of the Mediterranean, producing magnificent works of architecture, sculpture, drama and literature.

There is no denying that the historical and cultural heritage of Greece continues to resonate throughout the modern Western world — in its literature, art, philosophy and politics. In fact, many travellers come here specifically to explore Greece’s ancient wonders, from Athens’ Parthenon and Delphi’s Temple of Apollo, to the ruins of the Minsan city of Knossos on Crete.

Scattered throughout the calm blue waters of the Aegean and the Ionian are Greece’s 1,400 islands — each with its own special story. The serenity of islands like Kefalonia and Amorgos contrasts with the hedonistic party islands such as Mykonos and Paros. Those interested in architecture should visit the medieval fortified towns of Rhodes and Corfu (both UNESCO World Heritage sites), and the whitewashed cubic houses of Thira and Oia on Santorini, typical of the Cyclades.

Greece is a beautiful country and a dreamer paradise. To make your Greece vacation a worthy and educational experience, it pays to know something about where you are going.

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The capital of Greece, Athens is a place of cultural, political and touristic importance.  Athens offers a variety of top tourist attractions like Acropolis and the Parthenon, the Agora, National Archaeological Museum, Syntagma Square, the Plaka, Cape Souniou and the Temple of Poseidon.

Located about three hours from Athens by bus is Delphi.  Delphi is a seaside town with historic sites such as Temple of Apollo. Mykonos is the jewel of the Cycladic Islands that has a beautiful harbor with whitewashed houses and a steppingstone for day trips to Delos and Island steeped in mythological and cultural history

Aside from the sights in Athens, the monasteries of Meteora are also popular and one of the famous places that attracts visitors from all over the world.  Rhodes has always been an important port through history.  Crete presents visitor myths, legends and history with a beautiful landscape. Santorini is a romantic place that offers visitors beaches and breathtaking cliff top town named Fira.  Beautiful beaches run for many miles.

In summer, some of the most popular beaches can be found in Crete, Corfu, Amorgos, Ios, Milos, Paros, Serifos and Kithnos.

As reflection of Greece’s history, there are monuments and temples for the gods and goddesses.  Some of the temples that are worth seeing are the Temple of Apollo Epicurus at Bassae, Archaeological Site of Delphi, Mount Athos, Monasteries of Meteora, Mystras, Delos, Corfu, The Palace of Knossos, White Tower, Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Byzantine Museum, Ancient Thira, Ancient Akrotiri, The Museum of Prehistoric Thera and Acropolis of Lindos.

A visit to Greece can never be complete without shopping.  There are some wonderful Greek memorabilia that can be bought in the Plaka area in Athens.  Greek airports also have shops were last minute shopping can be done.

Greece is also a mountainous country.  Mount Olympus, known as the home of the Gods in Greek mythology, is the highest mountain in the country.  Hiking and climbing activities are available.

Here are some other archaeological finds, museums and monuments that are worth visiting:

Vrayrona Temple– a beautiful site in Attica, not far from the Athens International Airport.

Mycenae, Fortress of Time a Mycenaean fortress that still looms over the Peloponnesian planes.

Advanced American School of Classical Studies at Athens– involved in advanced archaeological studies and programs in Athens.

A visit to Greece would be a hollow experience if you did not get to see some of these places.  Greece has a unique mix of colour, style, history and beauty that covers all of the arts and should not be missed.

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The weather and sea state is always changeable in Greece.  Hours before whilst crossing from Patmos to Leros. Our rigging began to groan in rhythm with the sea; outside the shelter of the Islands a rolling sea had enveloped ‘Almira’. Although our sails held us steady our hull rocked back and forth, a motion that was not uncomfortable.

I’ve always hated ferries in a blow! they pivot all over the place! A yacht sail stops sideways motion and makes life on board more comfortable. Standing next to the wheel I’m told by our skipper “Yachts plain rock where motorboat rock & roll.” His gyrating hand motions depicting a motorboat soon convinced me, the merits of a sailing boat in a confused sea.

We’re heading for Lakki a town on the southwest coast of Leros, where its deep-water harbour was the strategic location for sheltering capital ships during World War Two.

Whilst on this sailing Archaeological tour of the Greek Island I found Henrich Hall (Our guide) a real source of additional information that far surpassed his archaeological subject.

For example…On 12 November 1943, after almost fifty days of air strikes, a German invasion fleet landed troops at Pandeli Bay, near to Leros town. This was called ‘The Battle of Leros’ and considered one of the last German invasion victories of World War Two. The Guns of Navarone by Alistair MacLean drew heavily on this historical event.

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The geographical location of many cities in Greece favor wide spread physical structures in those regions. People can find both mountains and seacoasts along side the main city region. This creates an exotic view for any traveler that they would long cherish even after their vacations. A trip to any city in Greece would prove the richness of ancient culture and architecture in this country. A walk around any city would reveal the magnificent historical remains and the museums throughout Greece carry the stories of rich cultural past.

Names such as those of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates and many more all have their roots in the city of Athens in Greece. One of the most popular places in Greece is Athens which is a must visit region for any traveler here. It offers numerous options for sight seeing, visiting the most world famous museums and also a great shopping spree. Being a center for tourist visit the area also has various choices of hotels and eateries. All provide excellent services and things as suited to individual requirements.

Greece presents an amazing mix of ancient and modern culture. The archeological sites and latest modern structures all co-exist on the streets of Greece. Also there are immense food options available here. The recipes are mouthwatering and the delicacies served are an excellent blend of traditional food adapted to the modern eating habits. Restaurants in Greece are world famous for providing fabulous traditional dishes and hence it is also a paradise for food lovers.

Numerous islands here are a perfect place for water enthusiasts and the hotels offering rooms with an ocean view only make the place more attractive. Most places in Greece require some movement on foot to enjoy the best experience in these islands. The streets are narrow and vehicular traffic could cause congestion at those places hence vehicles are best avoided. Also an added attraction of the region is the lively nightlife that spreads through the entire region. Nightlife here is rampant and high in sprits offering another option for fun loving people.

As if the ancient views, exotic eateries and other reasons were not enough, being a home to many of the mountains and water bodies Greece also offers numerous facilities for water games and mountain hikes. Sea beaches along the islands are perfect time pass for visitors who can spend the day strolling through the fantastic views of the seashore. Rowing, rafting and boating are also common in this area. Hiking on mountains is an adventurous activity possible in Greece. Whatever be the taste of any traveler Greece has a reason for everyone to visit the country.

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There are a lot of things to do while you are in Greece.  There are some historic sites to visit in Athens.  Athens have some of the most famous sights in Greece like Acropolis, National Archaeological Museum and the Benaki Musem.  You can also visit the Kallimarmaron stadium where the ancient Panathenaic Games were  held.

During summer, the beaches of Greece are on the top of the list.  Beaches in Crete, Santorini and Mykonos offer the best beaches during summer season.  The nightlife and beaches in Greece are one of the top places in Europe.

Aside from swimming and soaking during summer, there is also the Hellenic Festival which is among the most popular and most significant events in Greece.  It celebrates the performance arts , theatre, musical and dance.  Here, you get to experience the recreation of Greek tragedy in the heart of Athens.

Greek wine is steadily gaining popularity.  On the island of Santorini, the volcanic-rich soil makes some of the unique tasting wines.  On Crete, wine production can be traced back in history to the Minoans.  There are tours conducted in wineries, these tours enable you to experience the mountains and beaches of Crete.

Aside from wine tours, Greek cuisine is something that tourists should not miss. There are restaurants and tavernas located in magnificent places.  They offer traditional Greek food and the famous ouzo.

Greece has eleven wetland areas that are of international importance.  Aside from this, there are also 190 important areas for birds.  Several top places for birdwatch are the Nestos Deltas and Prespa Lakes.  Some of the birds that can be encountered are eagles, storks, pelicans and herons.  There are turtle doves, peregrine falcons, magpies, red-rumped swallows that can also be seen.

Most people don’t think that it’s possible to ski in Greece, but it is possible!   The season for skiing starts in December and ends in April.  There are 14 ski areas of which Parnassos is the largest and most popular.

There are many options for tours in Greece.  There are outdoor tours that can be arranged.  Greece is a country with dramatic landscapes feturing soaring mountains and gorges.  There can be bike tours on the island of Crete, rock climbing in Meteora or jeep tour in some of the unknown but magnificent gorges.

If you are not of the outdoorsy type, there is another tour that can be taken advantage of when you are in Greece.  Taking a helicopter tour in Athens wull take you to a breathtaking view of the different landscapes.

Taking part in sport events in Greece create special feeling since you are playing in a place where Olympics started.  There are marathons where you can participate.  Or at least, try to run the route where Olympic athletes ran the last time they were in town.

Donít forget to do a good deed, even if you are in a vacation.  There are a lot of volunteer causes that you can get involved wit, like environmental organization.  For the young and funky spirits, there is a Rockwave Festival of music.  Here, for three days, audiences can listen to heavy metal, rock and roll or good old fashioned dance music.

By balancing your time between educational and free-spirited activities that you can join, surely your Greece vacation would take a lifetime before you forget it.

When you think that you have already got your fill of the fantastic and beautiful sights in Greece, there are a lot of things that you can do.  Throughout the country, there are various sites to visit, beaches to swim, shops and museum to go to.  A Greece vacation is what you need whether youíre a sport bum or a museum enthusiast.

There are a lot of things to do while you are in Greece.  There are some historic sites to visit in Athens.  Athens have some of the most famous sights in Greece like Acropolis, National Archaeological Museum and the Benaki Musem.  You can also visit the Kallimarmaron stadium where the ancient Panathenaic Games were  held.

During summer, the beaches of Greece are on the top of the list.  Beaches in Crete, Santorini and Mykonos offer the best beaches during summer season.  The nightlife and beches in Greece are one of the top places in Europe.

Aside from swimming and soaking during summer, there is also the Hellenic Festival which is among the most popular and most significant events in Greece.  It celebrates the performance arts , theatre, musical and dance.  Here, you get to experience the recreation of Greek tradegy in the heart of Athens.

Greek wine is steadily gaining popularity.  On the island of Santorini, the volcanic-rich soil makes some of the unique tasting wines.  On Crete, wine production can be traced back in history to the Minoans.  There are tours conducted in wineries, these tours enable you to experience the mountains and beaches of Crete.

Aside from wine tours, Greek cuisine is something that tourists should not miss. There are restaurants and tavernas located in magnificent places.  They offer traditional Greek food and the famous ouzo.

Greece has eleven wetland areas that are of international importance.  Aside from this, there are also 190 important areas for birds.  Several top places for birdwatch are the Nestos Deltas and Prespa Lakes.  Some of the birds that can be encountered are eagles, storks, pelicans and herons.  There are turtle doves, peregrine falcons, magpies, red-rumped swallows that can also be seen.

Most people donít think that itís possible to ski in Greece, but it is possible!   The season for skiing starts in December and ends in April.  There are 14 ski areas of which Parnassos is the largest and most popular.

There are many options for tours in Greece.  There are outdoor tours that can be arranged.  Greece is a country with dramatic landscapes feturing soaring mountains and gorges.  There can be bike tours on the island of Crete, rock climbing in Meteora or jeep tour in some of the unknown but magnificent gorges.

If you are not of the outdoorsy type, there is another tour that can be taken advantage of when you are in Greece.  Taking a helicopter tour in Athens wull take you to a breathtaking view of the different landscapes.

Taking part in sport events in Greece create special feeling since you are playing in a place where Olympics started.  There are marathons where you can participate.  Or at least, try to run the route where Olympic athletes ran the last time they were in town.

Donít forget to do a good deed, even if you are in a vacation.  There are a lot of volunteer causes that you can get involved wit, like environmental organization.  For the young and funky spirits, there is a Rockwave Festival of music.  Here, for three days, audiences can listen to heavy metal, rock and roll or good old fashioned dance music.

By balancing your time between educational and free-spirited activities that you can join, surely your Greece vacation would take a lifetime before you forget it.

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In 95 AD during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian the Apostle John (the last living disciple of Christ) was exiled on this Island of Patmos. It was here that St John wrote the book of Revelation.

The Book of Revelations’ depicts St John’s vision of historical events yet to take place. His banishment to the Island was far from comfortable, believed to have been in his late 70’s at least.

He lived in a cave above the Islands capital of Skala as a hermit. Today this cave is one of the most revered locations for all Christians. Not only is it revered as a place where one of the Disciples lived in exile.  It’s also a place where God revealed himself to a human being. In theological terms it is an extremely blessed spot. According to our guide and Archaeologist ‘Heinrich Hall’

Just below the Monastery of St John founded by St Christodoulos in 1095 Ad is the Katholikon of the Monastery of the Apocalypse and the location of the Cave of St John. It’s here that the holy evangelist dictated to his disciple ‘Prochoros’ the Book of Revelations.

Listening to our guide a profound reverence is given in the description of the cave itself. “When entering” says our guide Heinrich Hall. “You’ll be struck on how small this cave is. According to belief there is a little niche in the wall where St John laid his head during the night. There’s also a little recess in the wall that was used as a handle when he got up in the morning after all he was a very old man and another hollow that looks like a pulpit where his disciple Prochoros sat taking St John’s dictation.”

The cave is extremely small, no bigger than an average size living room. The granite-like volcanic formation wraps from below our feet into the Cave and flows back above our head within reach of my fingers. Soot from candles long ago can still be seen in the crags in the walls and ceiling. Today a building’s wall doubles the size of the original cave. This is the ‘Katholikon Chapel’. Only a very faint smell of incense is in the air but the atmosphere, the reverence it inspires, is quite humbling. St John’s exile only lasted 2 years on the Island, in 96 AD after the assassination of the Emperor Domitian St John returned to Ephesus to life out the rest of his days.

Above the ‘Katholikon Chapel’ is: The Monastery of St John the Theologian, giving its full title. It  is a fortified Monastery founded by St Christodoulos in 1095 Ad at the beginning of the Crusades (1095 –1291). This is when the Byzantine Empire was under attack from the east and the west hence its fortifications. Over time a town developed outside the Monastery walls. Now called Chora mostly for protection its 16^th & 17^th century style buildings has a striking resemblance to hill towns in Tuscany. Narrow alleyways with the occasional parked scooter outside it’s owners door can be seen yet the similarity ends there, where in Italy the walls are clay brown in Chora brilliant whitewashed walls dazzle us in the sunlight. Cobbled squares in every shade of white with accents of green (vines) and red (bougainvillea) attract the eye.

Inside the Monastery the fresco paintings outside the Chapel of Panayia are a must see. Wall paintings in vivid colours portrays various miracles of St John can be seen with rare depictions of images of the anti-Christ on the walls outside. Inside the Chapel of Panayia (The Virgin) built in the 12th century and the oldest in the Monastery, ornate frescos undiminished over time are everywhere. Rich purples and gold depict the Madonna and child with the Archangels Michael & Gabriel wingless and dressed in military-imperial uniforms either side.

Listening to Heinrich’s revered enthusiasm is infectious “The Monastery has the best medieval library in Europe with 10s of thousands of documents showing the running of the Monastery and its property. Its archives are used to study the Mediterranean economy from the Middle Ages to the present.” says Heinrich Hall. Sadly access to the archive is by written permission however the Monastery Museum displays the most choice pieces in its collection.”

In a courtyard outside the Monastery we sit drinking frappes (cold Instant coffee) our glass-bottled water advertises ‘Water from Central Greece’ with a marine scene by Alison Reid. We are high amongst the gardens of Chora, our platform shaded by bamboo. To my right silver/green olive branches and eucalyptus trees drape over our balcony Carob trees planted century ago its fruits used for cattle hang within reach of my hands. Fig trees with fleshy leaves and cactus plants with their prickly pears are all around our garden in the trees.

Returning to our boat whilst walking through the port of Skala we are stopped by Heinrich. “This spot marks the location where St John baptised his followers” a small brass plaque purched on a ring of ornate iron fence protects the remains of the original quayside.

Getting there…
David Mutlow travelled with ‘Peter Sommer Travels’ on their North Dodecanese Archaeological tour for seven days visiting Patmos, Samos, Leros, Kos and Halicarnassus (Bodrum) the site of the Mausoleum. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

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The recce
It all starts with a ‘recce’, going out to make an on the ground reconnaissance of the sites in a proposed tour area. To me this is like a marvellous adventure, I’m like a child in a sweet shop trying to decide where and what I should start with, perhaps something Greek or maybe Byzantine, perhaps a small but untouched temple standing romantically lost in olive groves or a giant Roman city, like Ephesus, packed with tourists. I love the energy and buzz of visiting new sites, but on a recce I am preoccupied with all the practical things that need to be thought through, especially how to pick and then unite the most special of sites into a compelling and cohesive tour.

Know your way around
I remember the first time I ever led an archaeological tour back in the spring of 1996. I was asked by a UK travel company to step in as tour leader eight days before a trip exploring ancient Caria in Turkey. At first I declined because I hadn’t visited half the sites on the itinerary and wouldn’t dream of taking a group anywhere I hadn’t been. When they called the next day and asked me again, I agreed provided they fly me out the next day and hire me a jeep with driver so I could tear around the sites on a whirlwind recce. It was a baptism of fire, but one that has stood me in very good stead. One of the most important lessons I learned was it doesn’t matter how much you know of a site’s history if you don’t know your way around.

The best approach
In fact the first thing I do when I get to a site is let all the history disappear from my head. For me the first walk around a site is all about practicalities, not least where do I want to begin. More often than not I choose to avoid the specified main entrance and approach a site from a different angle — both physically and historically. I like to enter on an ancient road if possible, like the sacred way leading to the temple of Apollo at Didyma. I like to create a sense of drama, as at Stratonikeia, a Hellenistic foundation in Caria.

A mile away from the main entrance I take groups on a small path through trees, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, which suddenly caves away into a vast theatre with a breathtaking view. If the site is overgrown, and in rural Turkey one goat path looks pretty much like the others, sometimes it’s just a case of finding the best way around.

Round and round
Once I’ve figured out my route around the site, I rewalk the whole route again, and again. Navigation around a site is paramount. When I’m showing a group around I don’t want to be spending my time trying to find my way, and I certainly want my route pre-planned to the best historical and dramatic effect.

Research
After that it’s a case of scouring the libraries to pull out the latest excavation and survey reports. That’s where a top quality tour guide comes into their own, fresh knowledge and a lively perspective, rather than a spiel learned by rote, or material regurgitated from age old guide books.

The sense of journey
Back in the office maps are pulled out and it all comes down to matching up the sites, the story, and the logistics. Many of the tours I arrange are archaeological cruises in Turkey aboard handbuilt wooden gulets. They’re a marvellous way to step back in time, not only do you avoid the hotel changes, the roads, and traffic, but it’s often the best means of exploring ancient civilisations, like the Lycians, who were essentially maritime, geared to the sea.
Gulet cruising along Carian coast, Turkey
What finer way to visit a city like Knidos, where Praxiteles infamous naked statue of Aphrodite once stood, than to sail straight into its old commercial harbour and drop anchor beside its ancient mooring stones. Travel is a key element in the stories I tell, and whether a tour is based on roads or the sea I always try and make a virtue of the transport, by drawing on ancient parallels — be it shipwrecks, travel writing, or the classical tourists and pilgrims who visited the same sites and even bought tacky souvenirs.

A story unfolds
When creating the final tour itinerary, geography and logistics often carry the deciding vote, but if possible I love to start small and build. I think our Lycian cruise works that idea almost perfectly. The first few sites are in breathtaking locations, but in themselves the ruins are scant. They give everyone a chance to get their bearings, to settle into the landscape, and perhaps marvel at one broken tomb, a few inscribed stones, or the odd piece of sculpture lying on the ground. As the days go by, the sites get bigger and more impressive, one has a Byzantine church, the next has a theatre, another has a baths… so each location adds another layer of understanding, another facet of ancient architecture and city life. By the time we reach some of the greatest sites in the world — Aspendos, with one of the best preserved Roman theatres and aqueducts, Perge, a city with great boulevards and agoras lined with columns and baths swathed in marble — the group has already seen the basics and can revel in such size and magnificence.

Timing
Perhaps the other essential element in creating an archaeological tour is timing. Above all don’t cram in too much. I’d much rather give everyone a chance to sit in a theatre and savour the scene, nevermind the view, the birdsong, and the atmosphere, than cram in three sites a day on a whirlwind mission. Don’t travel in the hottest months, and even when it’s a cooler season, avoid the heat of the day, for a start the light is all the better early in the morning and later in the afternoon.

Always more to see
Whether it’s getting to a restaurant for lunch, making sure the drives aren’t too long, or something unique like swimming at Patara where St Nicholas was born, as the sun sinks like an orange orb into the sea, timing is paramount. If that means leaving some great sites out of a tour itinerary, that’s fine, I always think it’s a good rule of thumb to leave some places unexplored so there’s always something special to come back for.

“For further information visit Archaeological tours and cultural travel

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Here’s a few top tips when looking for an archaeological holiday.

Who’s the Guide?
They can make or break your trip so find out a bit about them. Some local guides are excellent but many have no real training and simply follow a dull repetitive spiel. Academics may be the leading light in their profession, but that doesn’t mean they are effective, enthusiastic, and passionate communicators. If the tour guide is all these things and knowledgeable to boot, you’re probably in for a marvellous trip.

Examine the itinerary
Some tours try to cover too much ground and can be quite exhausting. Is it a case of long drive, out of the coach, into the site, back on the coach…a veritable check list of ancient landmarks that customers can tick off? Is there time to pause, take in the scenery, and soak up the atmosphere? Look for an itinerary that has been carefully thought out and that doesn’t try and cram in too many sites and too much driving.

How big is the group?
Cheap might mean large group sizes where you’re just one in a large herd ferried around like cattle, barely able to hear the tour guide. If this is the case, it’s unlikely that the guide will have the time or energy to listen to you, talk to you personally, or make you feel special in any way. I think 16 maximum seems to work best.

Find out about the company
Make sure that they are reputable and that they comply with the Package Travel, Package Holidays, and Package Tours Regulations 1992, which ensures they offer protection for customers’ money. What’s the company’s history? Some of the bigger travel companies, used to dealing with large numbers, now run cheap ‘cultural’ tours. Compare what these trips have to offer with those run by smaller companies that may be more passionate about archaeology and experienced with escorted tours.

You pay for what you get
The old adage is often true, so it’s not necessarily best going for the cheapest option. Cheaper packages often use big faceless hotels and involve charter flights with departures in the middle of the night. Take the time to choose the right archaeological tour for you. Many travel companies offering archaeological tours are true specialists, so talk to them. Then sign up for what will almost certainly be a unique and exceptional holiday.

“For further information visit Peter Sommer Travels

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Alexander offered to defray all the costs that had been incurred in the rebuilding of the temple on the proviso that they would dedicate it in his name, but the citizens of Ephesus politely declined his attempt at PR and propaganda ‘because it did not befit one god to do honour to another’. Not far south, however, he found a far more willing recipient for his largesse. The town of Priene, always a poor cousin to Ephesus, was only too glad to take his cash and allow him to dedicate their new temple to Athena.

Today Priene stands like a veritable time capsule to the Hellenistic period following the death of Alexander the Great. Designed on a rigid Hippodamian grid square pattern, named after the architect from nearby Miletus, the stepped streets march up the steep hillside almost oblivious of the geography, to Athena’s temple.

Standing here, looking out on a breathtaking panorama high above the vast alluvial plain of the Maeander River, the passage of time is instantly obvious. 2,300 years ago, all the land below was sea. Islands which were once witness to great naval battles are now mere bumps in a seemingly endless flat. Yet strolling around Priene, almost always empty of tourists, it’s almost possible to hear the marching feet of Macedonian soldiers amongst the sound of cicadas.

Heading further south, Alexander reached Halicarnassus, the glistening capital of the Hecatomnid dynasty, built on a lavish scale by Mausolus, whose tomb, the ‘Mausoleum’, was ranked as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was also a key naval base occupied by the Persians, who manned the city’s 6.5kms of fortifications. These giant walls, bristling with towers, were a technological masterpiece and only a few decades old. They still snake their way over the hillsides above Bodrum. One can get a real sense of their majesty at the Myndos gate on the west, which stands well preserved and resolute not far from a newly built supermarket.

Halicarnassus’ walls were built to defend in a bygone age. For Alexander was equipped with a new type of weapon, the torsion catapult. Designed by engineers at the court of Philip, his father, it was powered by animal sinews that could unleash far more power than anything previously seen. Until then siege warfare had generally been a case of surrounding a town and starving it out. Now a new arms race had begun.

With these catapults Alexander could actually knock down walls, and literally smash any cities that stood in his way. One can almost imagine the look on the faces of the Persian generals, encamped in Mausolus’ old palace probably beneath the city’s Crusadar castle, as Alexander’s troops wheeled up siege towers several stories high, and let rip the first volley of stone boulders.

Three months into my expedition, I walked through the depths of central Anatolia, a never-ending patchwork of wheat fields, to the city of Gordium. Situated on the Persian Royal Road just west of Ankara, this was the capital of Phrygia, a kingdom founded by Gordius in the 8th century BC. It was expanded by his celebrated son, Midas, whose touch according to legend turned everything to gold.

It was here that one of the most celebrated moments in Alexander’s career occurred. Alexander was attracted by the story surrounding a ceremonial chariot that marked Gordius’ grave. The wagon’s yoke was attached by a knot no man had ever been able to undo. Not unlike the story of Arthur and the sword in the stone, people believed that whoever undid the knot would become Lord of all Asia. Surrounded by a crowd of onlookers Alexander struggled to loose the knot. Growing frustrated he drew his sword and slashed through it. Apparently Zeus himself approved of Alexander’s actions, for “there were thunderclaps and flashes of lightning that very night”.

In the baking heat of August, I headed southeast via Cappadocia, across the Taurus mountains, and on past Tarsus. Where the coast of Turkey turns south to the east of Adana, a great mound lies, excavated in recent times. This earthen ‘huyuk’, like many scattered around this part of the world, marks an ancient settlement, in this case, the town of Issus. It was here that Alexander left his sick and injured soldiers before moving south hot on the trail of the Persian Great King, Darius. Unbeknownst to Alexander, however, Darius’s army was actually wheeling around behind him. When Darius reached Issus, he cut off the hands of the Macedonian sick he found there.

Today the area is far removed from its ancient past, an industrial zone crammed with smoking factories. But it was here that one of the most significant battles in history was fought. On the banks of a small river, Alexander assembled his force. He had chosen the site carefully, a narrow plain hemmed between mountains and sea, to prevent the Persians from using their vastly greater numbers. I remember walking around the area, armed with the ancient writers who described the battle, trying to make sense of the landscape.

As was usual, Alexander himself led the charge at the head of his finest cavalry, a true leader who showed his men the way. He aimed right at the heart of the opposing army to Darius himself. The scene is immortalised in a mosaic found at Pompeii. Alexander gallops steely eyed straight for the Persian Great King, who turns tail and flees as fast as he can. One of the ancient authors, Diodorus Siculus, wrote:

“More than achieving victory over the Persians, Alexander wished to be the personal instrument of victory”

It is a telling insight into the nature and personality of this legendary figure.

My walk finished just a few miles south of the site of the battle at the city of Iskenderun, named after a city Alexander founded here in commemoration of the battle. Four and a half months and 2,000 miles after setting off on foot from Troy, I could not believe my journey had finished.

The myriad ancient cities I had seen were embedded in my memory, but what remains foremost in my mind is the sincere friendship of the Turkish people, extended constantly to a weary traveller far from home. Every single day I was welcomed into their homes and showered with kindness and hospitality. Though just a brief affair, it was passionate in the extreme, and left me madly in love with the land that is Turkey.

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