19-Nights Kingdoms & Cultures - A Luxury Tour by Private Jet

Cephalonia (Argostoli)

Argostoli is the capital of Cephalonia. The harbour front is worth a walk. There is an excellent market for buying fresh fruit and veg, and the traffic free shopping area running parallel to the harbor front is also well worth visiting. Spend a Saturday evening in the main square over an ouzo, watching the local populace taking their volta. The whole family comes out to play. There are balloon sellers and amateur entertainers. Children race around on tricycles and on foot while their older brothers and sisters play the age old game of eyeing each other from the safety of their own peer groups. All this while the parents look on indulgently.

Kusadasi (Ephesus)

Visitors come to Kusadasi for beaches and nearby ruins of Ephesus. The major attraction is the archaeological site of ancient Ephesus, considered to be most important in Turkey. The history of this ancient city dates back to 10th century BC; many remarkable structures seen today are result of an excavation and restoration program. Along a white marble road grooved by ancient chariot wheels, the two-story Library of Celsus presents a striking sight. There are temples, houses of noblemen, and community buildings lining ancient streets. Nestled in the mountainside is a 25,000-seat amphitheater, still used for performances during Festival of Culture and Art. Bible buffs may know Ephesus as inspiration for St. Paul’s Epistle to Ephesians and the site of one of the first seven churches of Asia Minor. Treasures are kept in the Seljuk Archaeological Museum. Among the better-known ancient sites near Kusadasi are ancient Miletus and Dydima. Remains include a well-preserved Roman theater at Miletus and Dydima's sacred temple of Apollo.

Merv

An ancient oasis city that served as the gateway to Central Asia is located near the river of Murghab. Filled with rich monuments, the city of "Mary" or Merv was famous for its trade and politics and once was the seat of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. Having been destroyed and rebuilt through many centuries, this once-upon-a-time megacity transpired immortal ideas from great poets, scientists and philosophers. It now serves as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is marveled at by those who seek ancient cultures and vanished civilizations.

Ashgabat

The accomplishments of the Turkmen rests in the "the city of love" also known as Ashgabat. Found between the Karakum Desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range, Ashgabat a young city founded in 1881 sprouted on the ruins of the Silk Road. Across a dry valley, this city is covered in crisp white marble, glistening gold domes, and parks perfectly manicured.

Tbilisi

According to legend, the city of Tbilisi was founded in the 5th century by King Vakhtang Gorgasali who discovered a mystical warm spring that inspired the king to build a city on the site. Tbili meaning "warm" has been rebuilt 29 times and old town Tbilisi is known for its natural sulfur bathhouses. The city straddles the Mtkvari river, sits at the foot of the Trialeti mountain range, and lies in the center of eastern Georgia. 

Bukhara

The ancient Persian city of Bukhara, located on the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, is more than 2,000 years old. Often visited for its famous tomb of Ismail Samani and a large number of 17th century madrasas, Bhukara is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to being one of the best examples of 10th century Islamic architecture in the world.

Suceava

Suceava was the capital of MOLDOVA in the late Middle Ages. Today it is a pleasant city and worth a visit for its sights and museums, especially the Princely Fortress. A possible tourist route comprises the Princely Fortress of Suceava, the Sf. Ioan Monastery in Zamca as well as the medieval churches of Saint Dumitru, Holy Ressurection and Mirui. A point of interest is also the National Museum of Bucovina with its valuable historic and archaeologic exhibits.

But above all Suceava is interesting as it is an excellent starting point for tours to the mountains around. In the region around Suceava the most interesting sights are probably the painted monasteries. The Voronet Monastery dates from 1488 and is on the UNESCO list. Other monasteries are close by: Humor (1530), Moldovita (1532), Sucevita (1584), the Dragomirna Monastery ( 1609) and the Putna Monastery (1469) built by great Voivode Stefan cel Mare. Other monasteries of a great historic value are situated in the Stânisoara area: Slatina, Râsca and Pobota Monasteries.

interseting towns include: Câmpulung Moldovenesc, the so called Helvetian pearl of Bucovina founded by ruler Alexandru cel Bun, and the municipality of Radauti, well known for its fair. (credit World66)

Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital and largest city in Romania and is located in the southern part of the country. Referred to as the ‘Paris of the Balkans’, Bucharest has ornate buildings, wide boulevards and gardens fashioned after French architecture and city planning. In the name of progress and modernization, North Korean style buildings began being erected – many of which still stand unfinished today. Sights to see in Bucharest range from the stately to the heavenly. The Palace of Parliament should not be missed while in Bucharest – and it’s hard not to. It’s the second largest building in the world behind the Pentagon. Containing over 1,000 rooms, restaurants, conference areas and an art gallery, it houses the Romanian Parliament. There are several museums in the city, such as the National Art Museum and the Village Museum - an open–air museum containing over 300 houses, churches and mills from all over Romania and displays of some of the best folk architecture in the region. The Antim Monastery and Patriarchate Church are among Bucharest's outstanding religious structures.

Krakow

Top attraction and the premier tourist destination in Poland, Krakow (dated English spelling ‘Cracow’) is a vibrant city, proud of its long and glorious history, rich heritage, and architectural beauties. For centuries Krakow was the capital of the Polish kingdom. Today it remains the southern Poland’s metropolis and the seat of the Malopolska provincial government. Important as a crucial center of business, culture, and education, Krakow is also famous for its restaurants and clubs. Krakow is Poland’s capital of culture and was named a European City of Culture in 2000. The city boasts the best museums in the country and some best theaters. It counts two Nobel Prize winners in literature among its residents. It is also home to one of the world’s oldest and most distinguished universities.

Bay of Kotor

For centuries, Montenegro's Boka Kotorska, or Bay of Kotor, the deepest coastal inlet in the Mediterranean, was the boundary between Christianity and Islam. Today, the beach-lined bay, located 35 mi/55 km west of Podgorica, is home to several tourist resorts and historical sites. It is also considered one of the most beautiful bays in the world, and is the southernmost fjord in Europe.

Herceg Novi, strategically located at the northern entrance of the Bay of Kotor, is close to the borders of Bosnia and Croatia. Herceg Novi is noted for its city gates, fortresses and the church and monastery of Savina, which contain Gothic and baroque architecture. It is also a haven for artists, with numerous galleries located throughout the area that continuously hold exhibitions. If you visit in February, you can attend the Mimosa Festival, which is the city's oldest traditional event.

The 14th-century port of Perast has been declared a national conservation area. It has a strong seafaring tradition—Peter the Great, when building up the Russian Navy, sent sailors to its naval academy. With the mountains in the background and the Bay of Kotor in the foreground, Perast is a pleasant place to spend some time just relaxing or strolling its narrow streets.

At the southern end of the bay is the town of Kotor, a medieval walled city on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Kotor rates a full day to walk its narrow streets, investigate the shops and see Katedrala Sv. Tripuna (St. Tryphon's Cathedral). History buffs will enjoy the Maritime Museum located in the Grgurina Palace. If you're feeling fit, you can walk on Kotor's fortress walls that eventually wind their way up to St. Ivan's Castle. It's a steep climb, but worth it for the views of the bay.

Other interesting places along the bay include the fortresses and second-century Roman mosaics in Risan and the Island of Flowers near Tivat.

London

London is undoubtedly one of the world's finest cities. In addition to numerous monuments from its more glorious past, London is equally well-known for its pageantry and tradition. London has something for everyone - wide boulevards buzzing with excitement far into the night, quiet squares and explorable alleyways. Visit this famous city's parks, museums, galleries, monuments, abbeys and churches, skyscrapers and ruins, Georgian squares. Take in such events as the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower, or the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, or even one of the many theatrical productions. Some of the most exclusive shops are found along Oxford, Bond and Regent Streets. An old favorite and one of the world's premier institutions is Harrods - offering everything from Chanel suits and sliced salmon to caviar and even pets.