Circumnavigation of the Black Sea from Sunstone Tours & Cruises

Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria—the countries ringing the Black Sea represent some of Eurasia’s most intriguing destinations. These lands possess centuries-spanning histories, the remnants of vanished civilizations, vibrant contemporary cultures, and beautiful landscapes. During our circumnavigation we’ll revel in the glories of each of these countries.

The Black Sea is a rich tapestry of myth and history. Here, the legendary Jason and his Argonauts searched for the Golden Fleece at the end of the known world. Invaders, conquerors, and settlers, including the ancient Greeks, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuk Turks, Ottomans, and Cossacks, left indelible marks on the region.

Archaeological masterpieces reflecting these peoples include the ancient Greek site of Chersonesus in Ukraine, cliffside monasteries in Turkey, the fabled ancient site of Histria, and magnificent Roman mosaics in Romania. Four of our destinations are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites—Istanbul’s historic district, Georgia’s medieval Kutaisi, Ukraine’s Chersonesus, and Romania’s winding Danube Delta.

Most striking is the contrast in the stunning examples of architecture. Domed Byzantine basilicas filled with gold mosaics stand nearly adjacent to gleaming tiled mosques of the Seljuk Turkish and Ottoman Empires. We view the quaint redroofed houses of Turkish fishing villages as donkeys graze placidly along the paths. In the grand city of Ukraine’s Odessa, we marvel at some of the most splendid examples of elegant 18th- and 19th-century architecture, rich with sculptural detailing and statuary.

The Black Sea region also provides us with fine opportunities to explore varied natural settings, whether by nature walks or local boats, including Romania’s fascinating Danube Delta, and the wetlands of ancient Histria. Some of these sites have a large variety of resident and migratory bird species.

On previous visits to the Black Sea, we were captivated by the striking landscapes, the stunning historical monuments, and particularly the friendly people whom we met everywhere. On our voyage we have a chance to dine with a local family in Georgia, wander bazaars where shopkeepers display jewelry and carpets, meet with local experts in fields from art history to ornithology, and sample local wines

Itinerary

Trip Extensions

Post-Voyage Extension: Turkey's Cappadocia

Turkey’s Cappadocia region is a land of striking volcanic terrain marked by thousands of pyramid-shaped rock spires. Cappadocia’s inhabitants often carved their homes and churches in these columns and in caves, creating warrens and chambers in the rock. Our extension highlights the most magnificent natural and cultural sites of this part of inland Turkey.

Ankara – Fly from Istanbul to Ankara, Turkey’s capital. After lunch we tour the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which houses a rich collection of Turkish artifacts from prehistoric peoples and Hittite, Phyrgian, Lydian, and Urartian cultures. Our excursion ends at the Mausoleum of Atatürk, a national shrine dedicated to the founder of modern Turkey. Overnight in Ankara.

Cappadocia – We depart Ankara by motorcoach for three nights in Cappadocia. En route we explore Hattusha and Yazlikaya. Hattusha, a World Heritage Site, was the capital of the Hittite civilization, which thrived from 2000 to 1200 B.C. “Yazlikaya” means “inscribed rock,” and this natural rock shrine was a place of worship for thousands of years.

We explore the underground city of Kaymakli, one of the most extraordinary sites in Cappadocia. To create a refuge, early Christians carved stables, kitchens, tunnels, and churches from the volcanic rock. We investigate other examples of Cappadocian rock architecture, including Pigeon Valley, where hundreds of small caves were used to house birds, and Uchisar Castle, a solid rock used as a watchtower, which dominates the entire region. After lunch we visit the open-air museum of Goreme with its beautiful frescoes.

Christian hermits gave the area known as Pashabagi its name, which translates into “the monks’ vineyard.” The three-headed pinnacles, or fairy chimneys, symbolized the Holy Trinity to these reserved monks and in this valley it is possible to see the various stages of formations of these unusual tufa towers. The vineyards planted by the monks are still cultivated by local residents. At Zelve we view the traditional rock village and cave homes that were inhabited until the 1960s. We also visit Mustafapasa with its impressive Greek and Ottoman architecture.

Konya – Departing Cappadocia we drive overland to Konya, once capital of the Seljuk Empire. Highlights of our day in Konya include the Mevlana Museum, which houses the tomb of the mystic philosopher who founded the dervish sect and reshaped Islamic thought; the Karatay Museum, once a theological school and now a repository of Seljuk art; and the 13th-century Medrese of the Slender Minaret, a museum of stone and wood carvings. In the evening we enjoy a sema, the central ritual of the whirling dervishes. Overnight in Konya.

Istanbul – Depart Konya on flight to Istanbul. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at our hotel.

Istanbul / Home – Transfer to airport for homeward flight or embark Le Levant.

Rates:
$2,980 per person, dbl occ;
$3,660 per person, sgl occ

DAY 2 — Istanbul, Turkey
Independent arrival and check-in. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before a welcome dinner at our hotel.

DAY 3 — Istanbul / Board Le Levant / Bosporus Cruising
After breakfast we explore opulent Topkapi Palace, which served as the chief residence of Ottoman sultans for nearly four hundred years. After lunch we visit the heart of Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet District. The historic areas of Istanbul are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visit the 17th-century Blue Mosque, which dazzles with its interior of azure ceramic tiles in intricate Islamic designs. Then continue to the hauntingly beautiful Aya Sofya; this famed 6th-century symbol of the Byzantine Empire with its massive dome 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 Le Levant and cruise up the scenic Bosporus, the boundary between the European and Asian continents. Watch for historic palaces and fascinating maritime traffic as we enter the Black Sea.

DAY 4 — Bartin / Amasra
Today we dock in Bartin and drive to the harbor town of Amasra. Amasra began as a small fishing village set dramatically on a peninsula jutting into the Black Sea but has evolved into a vacation destination for Turkish citizens and Europeans. At various points along our walking tour this morning you’ll be afforded a panoramic view of the Black Sea and coastline as well as rugged nearby islands. We walk the cobblestone streets, where local houses are interspersed with archaeological remnants of Byzantine churches and Genoese castles, including fortified walls, a tower-studded citadel, and the Fatih Mosque. We visit the local market or museum or enjoy a hike to cliffs overlooking the Black Sea.

DAY 5 — Samsun / Amasya
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk came here from Istanbul in 1919 to reorganize the defeated Ottoman armies and modernize the Ottoman sultanate into a secular republic. His name, Atatürk, translates as “Father of Turks.”

We drive inland to Amasya, former capital of the kingdom of Pontus during its golden age of 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 Turkish regional cuisine in a local restaurant high on a mountainside with commanding views of the town and the Pontic Tombs.

DAY 6 — Trabzon / Sumela Monastery
Ancient Greeks settled Trabzon along a branch of the fabled Silk Road from Asia. The city prospered by making alliances and today remains an intriguing center of trade near the former Soviet countries. 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 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 — Poti / Kutaisi, Georgia
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. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Georgia renewed its republic status.

Enjoy a full-day excursion inland to Kutaisi, a World Heritage Site. The city offers splendid monuments surrounded by an entrancing physical setting of mountain views. We visit the Gelati Monastery complex, one of Georgia’s most famed sites, founded by King David IV in the 12th century. After lunch stroll the cobblestone streets to visit Bagrati Cathedral, an imposing 11th-century church overlooking the river.

DAY 8 — Sochi, Russia
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. Hidden well in the trees on the outskirts of town the imposing building became a favorite summer retreat for the infamous leader.

DAY 9 — Yalta / Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine
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. Our coastal drive brings us to Livadia Palace, summer home of Tsar Nicholas II, built in 1911 in elegant Renaissance style. Livadia later hosted the 1945 Yalta Conference when Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt met at the end of WWII to reshape Europe. After lunch you may visit the World Heritage Site of ancient Chersonesus, once a splendid seaside Greek colony, or tour the submarine tunnels at Balaklava and view a panoramic painting of the Crimean War. We reboard the ship in the once closed military port of Sevastopol, just reopened in 1996.

DAY 10 — Odessa
Odessa’s European-Russian heritage is evident as we ascend the Potemkin Steps to explore cobblestone streets lined with shady plane trees. On our walking excursion of this city, a cultural lodestone that has attracted famed writers and artists, we explore its compact central district’s spectacular architecture, including monuments, statuary, parks, and ornate 19th-century gems such as the Opera House and the domed Ilinsky Cathedral. We also visit the archaeological museum. Founded in 1825, the museum, one of the oldest in the country, houses an extensive collection of Ukrainian artifacts ranging from the Paleolithic age to the medieval period. Also among the exhibits are antiquities fashioned of precious metals, including Scythian jewelry and ancient coins.

DAY 11 — Danube River Delta, Romania
The Danube is Europe’s second longest river after the Volga. The delta is one of nature’s marvels, an intricate maze of waterways, lakes, and rivulets that fans out as the mighty river meets its alluvial saltwater terminus. It is a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. From Crisan we board a comfortable local day boat to wind our way through the back inlets with their system of islets covered in tall reeds and overhanging willows. This is a wetland habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, with over 200 species of birds, including the pygmy cormorant and Dalmatian pelican. On board, enjoy excellent Romanian snacks prepared by our Romanian chef and taste local vodka. We rejoin the ship at an upriver port to sail downriver on the main Sulina channel.

DAY 12 — Histria / Constanta
Histria was Romania’s earliest-founded city and flourished under the Greeks and Romans as an extraordinary trading city from the 7th century B.C. to the 7th century A.D., 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 and tour the new museum. We also spot birds in this wetland environment. Next we explore Constanta, touring the archaeological museum and viewing one of the largest Roman floor mosaics in Europe. In the late afternoon we enjoy a wine tasting and performance on board.

DAY 13 — Varna, Bulgaria
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 over the course of millennia in the region, starting with early antiquity in Odessos. 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 14 — Istanbul, Turkey / Disembark / USA
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your mid-day flights homeward.

What's Included:

Accommodations in hotels and on board ship as outlined in the itinerary
All onboard meals
All group meals on land
Group transfers
Services of the expedition staff, including lectures, briefings, slide/film shows
All group activities and excursions
Landing and port fees
Wine with meals aboard Le Levant
All gratuities.
Post-voyage extension includes all of the above.

What's Not Included:

All air transportation
Excess baggage charges
Airport arrival and departure taxes
Transfers for independent arrivals and departures
Passport and/or visa fees
Travel insurance
Items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar charges, alcoholic beverages, e-mail/fax/ telephone charges

All rates are per person, double occupancy. Port charges, Government taxes and fees are additional. Limited availability and based on minimum fares for select departure dates. Other dates may be higher. These rates are for new, individual bookings only. Not responsible for last minute changes of price or itinerary by cruise line, or any errors or omissions in the content of this site. Some restrictions and cancellation penalties may apply.

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