Walk in the footsteps of the Crusaders, ancient Persians and Carians on a full-day tour of Bodrum. Visit the remains of the Mausoleum, one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Go to the last surviving pre-Hellenistic theaters in Asia Minor, and more.

What You'll Do

• Follow in the footsteps of ancient Greeks, Persians and Crusaders on a tour of Bodrum city
• Discover the remains of the ancient city of Halicarnassus
• Go to the Mausoleum of King Mausolus, the first mausoleum of elaborate design and dimensions ever built
• Visit one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
• Explore the Crusader Castle of St. Peter
• See relics from the Bronze Age, Mycenaean, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods at the castle museum

What to Expect

Explore the ancient history of Bodrum on the Gulf of Gökova, and discover its origins as the former Greek city of Halicarnassus. The 5.5-hour tour takes in all the major historical attractions, including one of the few surviving pre-Hellenistic theaters in Asia Minor, and the remains of the Mausoleum, one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World.

An English-speaking guide will be on hand at all times to explain the story of Bodrum, from its first recorded settlers, through its colonization by Dorian Greeks and Persians. You will visit the Castle of St. Peter, Bodrum’s beloved symbol, built by the Crusader Knights of St. John between 1402 and 1409 after their defeat in Smyrna. Today the castle is used as a museum, with Bronze Age, Mycenaean, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine relics, as well as the largest underwater archaeological museum in Turkey.

Continue to the remains of the Mausoleum, built for King Mausolus in 353 BC, and the original funerary monument of great dimension and sumptuous architecture ever constucted. It was so beautiful that it became one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, and stood for 1,700 years before succumbing to an earthquake.

Finally, go to the ancient theater of Halicarnassus. Constructed at the time of Mausolus, it is one of the few surviving pre-Hellenistic theaters in Asia Minor, and offers glorious views over the town from its hillside location.

What's Included

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
• Transportation in a fully air-conditioned coach

English-speaking