Istanbul to Athens

Eight-night cruise on the Ponant Le Dumont D’Urville, October 19–29, 2027

From the Byzantine mosaics of Hagia Sophia to the medieval streets of the Rhodes Old Town, experience over 2,500 years of history—spanning Ottoman, Byzantine, Roman, and ancient Greek civilizations. Cruise for eight nights from Istanbul, Turkey, to Athens, Greece, aboard the 92-cabin luxurious Ponant Le Dumont D’Urville, an exclusively chartered, deluxe small ship. Explore Turkey’s most significant—and less-often visited—archaeological sites, including ancient Troy; the world’s steepest ancient theater, dramatically positioned in Pergamon’s acropolis; and the fascinating Museum of Underwater Archaeology, housed in Bodrum’s medieval castle. Continue on to Greece, where you’ll stop at Rhodes, Naxos, Mykonos, and Athens, featuring ancient wonders such as the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis.

Trip Highlights

  • Experience historic Istanbul: See the iconic Hagia Sophia with its Byzantine mosaics and the sublime Blue Mosque.
  • Stand atop ancient Pergamon: Climb the steepest theater of the ancient world at the Acropolis.
  • Discover Bodrum’s treasures: Tour the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, housed in magnificent St. Peter’s Castle.
  • Take in Rhodes’ coastal beauty: Visit Lindos to admire its mosaics and ascend to the Acropolis overlooking the town and sparkling sea.
  • Enjoy time in Mykonos: Spend a free afternoon exploring the island at your own pace, where, according to Greek mythology, Hercules lured giants into battle.
  • Explore legendary Athens: Visit the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis.
  • Walk through myth on Delos: Discover the island known as the birthplace of Apollo.
  • Travel with an expert: Featured guest speaker, translator, and writer Ekin Oklap joins the journey.
  • Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites: Experience five remarkable sites across Turkey and Greece, from Istanbul and Troy to Rhodes and Delos.

View complete trip information and registration.

Get a Glimpse

Grand buildings in Istanbul
Buildings in Rhodes, Greece
White buildings in Mykonos overlooking teal blue water
Ancient statues in Delos

More Information

Itinerary at a Glance

Date

Travel Schedule

October 19

Depart home city

October 20

Arrive in Istanbul, Turkey

October 21

Istanbul, embark Le Dumont D’Urville

October 22

Çanakkale, Troy

October 23

Dikili, Pergamon

October 24

Bodrum

October 25

Rhodes, Greece

October 26

Naxos

October 27

Delos, Mykonos

October 28

Piraeus, Athens

October 29

Athens, disembark, return to home city

Trip Details

  • Duration: 11 days
  • Activity Level: Easy to moderate
  • Cabin Prices: Starting at $8,295 per person, based on double occupancy
  • Deposit: $2,000 main tour
  • Co-Sponsors: TBD

Registration

Complete your registration directly through Gohagan Travel.

Faculty Host

Daphne Lamothe

Provost and Dean of the Faculty

Daphne Lamothe is Smith’s chief academic officer, responsible for curriculum and for faculty teaching and research support. She plays a pivotal role in achieving Smith’s institutional goals through stewardship of the College’s academic mission. Academic and co-curricular units within the provost’s portfolio include all academic departments as well as the libraries; the museum of art; the botanic garden; Institutional Research; the Office of the Registrar; and the Office for the Arts. She also chairs the Committee on Academic Priorities and oversees the long-term composition of the faculty.

Lamothe has been at Smith since 2004 and is a professor of Africana studies. She has served as chair of the Department of Africana Studies, co-chair of the Admission Policy Study Group, and served on the Academic Priorities and Faculty Compensation and Development committees. In 2023, she received the Honored Professor Award for her achievements in teaching and scholarship and her contributions to the academic community. Lamothe holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Yale University and a doctorate in English from the University of California, Berkeley. At Smith, her courses move from the Harlem Renaissance to the “Post Soul” aesthetic and explore migration narratives from across the Black Atlantic world. The author of dozens of articles and reviews, she has published two books—Inventing the New Negro: Narrative, Culture, and Ethnography (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008) and Black Time and the Aesthetic Possibility of Objects (University of North Carolina Press, 2024)—and is currently at work on a critical memoir that interrogates form and identity.

Learn More About Daphne Lamothe