Monday, June 4
Depart for Lisbon, Portugal on an overnight flight aboard a commercial airline.
Tuesday, June 5
You are met at the airport and transferred by private car to your hotel where your Tour Managers are waiting to meet you. You are then at leisure to rest or relax, before meeting fellow travellers at a welcome drinks party, followed by a light dinner.
Lapa Palace D
Wednesday, June 6
Though outside the strict compass of our Mediterranean odyssey, Lisbon is too perfect an example of the "New Europe" to miss. Its recent development as a world capital is one of the most exciting stories of the early 21st Century.
This morning's sightseeing tour includes visits to the magnificent Jerdnimos Monastery, the Coach Museum in the Belem Royal Palace and the treasures of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. Later we drive to the charming hillside town of Sintra, for lunch at the superb Palace of Seteais, a stroll in the Old Town and a look at the Pena Palace. This evening, back in Lisbon, we enjoy a grand welcome dinner, serenaded by celebrated fado musicians, in a spectacular setting at one of the city's elegant mansions.
Lapa Palace B, L, D
Thursday, June 7
This morning our private jet carries us across Spain to Granada, in the heart of Andalucia. On arrival, a drive through spectacular countryside brings us to our five-star "hotel-village," on a large private estate outside town, where we dine tonight.
La Bobadilla B, L, D
Friday, June 8
We drive into the city of Granada this morning to explore the courtyards and audience chambers of the Alhambra, as well as the lovely gardens of the Generalife. After lunch at one of the country's famous Parador hotels our afternoon is at leisure. This evening a fiery flamenco performance precedes an excellent dinner.
La Bobadilla B, L, D
Saturday, June 9
A day at leisure to enjoy the tranquillity of our hotel and its superb facilities. Alternatively, we have an opportunity to drive across the rugged Andalucian countryside to Cordoba's extraordinary Mesquita: half Arab mosque, half Renaissance cathedral. We dine under the stars tonight at our hotel.
La Bobadilla B, L, D
Sunday, June 10
Our jetliner flies us across the sparkling Mediterranean Sea to Tunis, capital of the friendly North African country of Tunisia, just 90 miles south of Sicily. Here we visit the colorful medina (old town), a UNESCO World Heritage site, and see the city with its blend of colonial French and medieval Arab. We then transfer the short distance to Carthage and check into our luxurious hotel on the Mediterranean shore, with time for a swim before dinner à la carte.
The Residence B, L, D
Monday, June 11
This morning we drive to the nearby Roman remains of ancient Carthage, once a rival of Rome. We then travel to tiny Sidi Bou Said for a seafood lunch in this artist's paradise of flowering vines and whitewashed houses. Returning to our hotel, we are at leisure until this evening's traditional "fantasia," a spectacular display of Tunisian dance, music and horsemanship.
The Residence B, L, D
Tuesday, June 12
We leave North Africa this morning and fly across the Mediterranean Sea to Athens, cradle of democracy and capital of classical Greece, where an orientation tour on arrival showcases the city's highlights. After checking into our hotel, we enjoy dinner à la carte this evening.
Athenaeum Inter-Continental B, L, D
Wednesday, June 13
This morning we visit the Acropolis on its rocky promontory 200 feet above the city, then it's down to the picturesque Plaka, Athens' ancient core. After lunch in a local restaurant, we take a gentle walk to the library of Hadrian and several fine Byzantine monuments. At dinner tonight, our restaurant has excellent views of the floodlit Acropolis and the Parthenon, high above city rooftops.
Athenaeum Inter-Continental B, L, D
Thursday, June 14
Today we visit the city's agora (market place) and the unrivalled Archeological Museum, on whose ancient treasures our Western concepts of civilization and beauty are founded. After a light lunch in a local restaurant, we visit the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion, built in the 5th century BC with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world. This evening we gather to bid farewell to this fascinating city at dinner.
Athenaeum Inter-Continental B, L, D
Friday, June 15
This morning we fly eastward to land on the Turkish coast near the remains of the ancient city of Ephesus. Already prosperous by the 6th century BC, this busy metropolis was a center for the worship of the great mother-goddess Cybele; later it became the home of Anatolian Christianity. After our tour, we reboard our private jet to continue to Istanbul, where our hotel on the Bosphorus was once a sultan's showplace.
Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski B, L, D
Saturday, June 16
Capital of the Christian Byzantine Empire and of the Islamic conquerors who followed, Istanbul remains a multi-layered city where nothing is quite as it first seems. Sancta Sophia, our first stop this morning, is a symbol of the city's complexity: first a church, then a mosque, now a museum. There's also time to browse amid the 3,000 shops of the Grand Bazaar. At lunchtime we repair to the waterfront to board the lovely 'MN Halas' for a delicious meal and a midday cruise along the Bosphorus.
Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinshi B, L, D
Sunday, June 17
We enjoy more sightseeing amid Istanbul's busy streets and crowded history, as we tour the lavish Topkapi Palace, once the residence of the Ottoman Sultans, and visit the Church of St. Saviour in Chora, whose mosaics are a wonder to behold. We also visit the Blue Mosque, so called for the azure of its Iznik tiles. This evening we dine at the Sultan's court, complete with janissaries, concubines and traditional Turkish dance and music.
Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski B, L, D
Monday, June 18
We leave Istanbul and fly to Venice. On arrival our entry intoLa Serenissima is uniquely romantic: we cruise into the city aboard a private launch, sailing down the famous Grand Canal into the heart of Venice. After checking into our hotel, we dine à la carte this evening.
Hotel Bauer B, L, D
Tuesday, June 19
Queen of the eastern Mediterranean for over three hundred years, Venice has untold treasures to share. We begin our day with a walking tour to St. Mark's Cathedral and the lavishly decorated Doges' Palace. This afternoon's explorations show us additional glories, including the masterworks of the Accademia and the Church of the Frari, with its lovelyMadonna and Child triptych by Bellini. This evening we dine in the fine restaurant ortrattoria of our choice.
Hotel Bauer B, L, D
Wednesday, June 20
After a leisurely start this morning, we board a fast private launch and cruise across the lagoon to the secluded little island of Torcello. Here we enjoy a delightful lunch at the famous Locanda Cipriani restaurant, before visiting the 12thcentury cathedral with its colorful mosaics. En route back to Venice we stop at the island of Murano, famous for its glassmakers, with free time to shop. Our last evening in Venice begins with a romantic gondola ride, complete with a musical serenade, our prelude to dinner in a sumptuous Venetian setting.
Hotel Bauer B, L, D
Thursday, June 21
Boarding our private jet, we leave Venice this morning, bound for the glittering French Riviera. On arrival at Nice, we set off on a drive along the celebrated Corniche Road to Monte Carlo, stopping en route to explore the enchanting medieval walled village of Eze, at the top of a cliff above the sea. After checking in at our hotel, dinner this evening is à la carte.
Hotel Hermitage B, L, D
Friday, June 22
A late start this morning, followed by a tour of Monaco's Old Town and lunch at our hotel on the terrace overlooking the harbor. Our afternoon is at leisure to shop, relax or explore on an optional excursion to St. JeanCap-Ferrat. Here the lovely Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, set in gardens overlooking the sea, displays a dazzling collection of objects d'art. Back in Monte Carlo, we dine à la carte and perhaps try our luck at the tables of the Casino.
Hotel Hermitage B, L, D
Saturday, June 23
We drive to Nice this morning, to enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town with time to shop in this welcoming Provençal atmosphere. Our drive then continues, up into the hills to the medieval village of St. Paul-de-Vence. Here, after a delightful Provençal lunch on the terrace of the celebrated Colombe d'Or restaurant, we're free to stroll in the village and browse the shops. This evening we mark the end of our stay in Monte Carlo with dinner in the luxurious surroundings of the Casino's Golden Square.
Hotel Hermitage B, L, D
Sunday, June 24
This morning we depart Monte Carlo, to board our private jet in Nice. We fly to Bilbao to explore the spectacular Guggenheim Museum before continuing to Barcelona, once a major outpost of Roman Spain. On arrival we begin an immediate introduction to this vibrant seaside city with a tour of the 1992 Olympic complex before our afternoon check-in at our hotel. Tonight we dine in one of the city's best restaurants in the lively central district.
Hotel Ritz B, L, D
Monday, June 25
This morning's sightseeing concentrates on the historic center of the city, including the Rambla; the Boquería Market; and the 14th-century Cathedral. After lunch in a quayside restaurant, we see some of the eccentric masterpieces of Barcelona's hometown genius, Gaudi. There is time to stroll and shop in the elegant Paseo de Gracia before returning to our hotel. This evening, we toast new friends and warm memories at a gala farewell dinner, enlivened with student minstrels.
Hotel Ritz B, L, D
Tuesday, June 26
We return to the airport today, to board homebound commercial flights.B
Circumnavigating the Mediterranean by Private Jet
| From | To | Flying Time | Mileage |
| Lisbon | Granada | 1 hour, 15 minutes | 550 miles |
| Granada | Tunis | 2 hours, 25 minute | 955 miles |
| Tunis | Athens | 2 hour, 15xminutes | 744 miles |
| Athens . | Ephesus | 1 hour | 189 miles |
| Ephesus | Istanbul | l hour | 196 miles |
| Istanbul | Venice | 2 hours, 40 minutes | 104 miles |
| Venice | Nice | 1 hour, 5 minutes | 282 miles |
| Nice | Bilbao | 1 hour, 15 Minutes | 510 miles |
| Bilbao | Barcelona | 1 hour | 291 miles |