Trip Region: Eastern Europe
Country(ies): Turkey, Croatia
Partners Trek? No
Cost: $2589
Airfare Estimate: $1500
Structure:   •   Lodging:   •   Nightlife: 8   •   Activity: 5

Do you like catamarans and other aquatic vessels? How about sunshine and beach parties? How about sunsets – do you like them? How about the opportunity to join a lineage of MTrekers so close with each other that weekly reunions might not be enough? If you answered yes to any of these questions, come join us on a Mediterranean adventure that will feature boating, partying, and eating our way through Europe, much like Tyrion’s entire storyline until Season 5. Similar to the Roman Empire in 324AD, our trek begins with a trip to Istanbul! We’ll spend three days in Turkey enjoying all its history, beauty, and entertainment, including a sunset cruise on the Bosphorus. Then we’ll ride Viseriyon, Drogon, and the Ice Dragon over to Croatia, birthplace of the King in the North. In Croatia, we’ll spend six days in Hvar and Dubrovnik cruising around on catamarans, exploring sea caves, swimming in the Mediterranean, and yes – beach parties. So if any of that sounds like fun then come on in, the water’s fine!

Day 1 — Saturday, Aug 15

Rest up! Detox, pray/meditate, write your will - do what you need to do before you embark on the CRAZIEST 10 days of your life. By the end of this trip, you’ll be wondering “when do classes start,” “how will I survive 2 years of this,” and “when’s our first reunion,” but for now just crush a couple glasses of free airport lounge white wine, stock up on plane snacks, and enjoy the last of your pre-Ross travel status.

Day 2 — Sunday, Aug 16

After a flight that takes us 9 hours into the future, we will start our adventures in Istanbul! After getting checked into the hotel, we will find our way to a local hotspot where we will dine like there’s no tomorrow, drink endless amounts of wine and raki, and eat all the baklava in sight. After dinner, we’ll explore the city a little bit, maybe find some hookah or karaoke, but probably “take it easy” to recover from our time travel.

Day 3 — Monday, Aug 17

The only city split between two continents, today we will be exploring the history and culture that Istanbul has to offer. In the morning, we will make a trip up to the Süleymaniye Mosque and visit Justinian the Great’s Hagia Sofia. After soaking up the history, we will visit a Turkish bathhouse. Post scrubbing yourself clean from what you did at Rick’s during orientation, Tori will lead us through a post-exfoliation routine that will leave us all glowing. To cap off the night, we embark on our *first* boat voyage of the trip and sail off for a sunset cruise on the Bosphorous Sea. If we don’t make it out on the first night (which I mean…), we definitely will be hitting the town and continuing the after-boat party on land.

Day 4 — Tuesday, Aug 18

Our Istanbul adventure continues, this time focused on what’s most important: *food*. Our bodies are finely tuned to find the best street meats out there and Istanbul is not one to disappoint. After downing our third cup of Turkish coffee (fifth one for Mer) and a full breakfast spread, we’ll head out to the Spice Market, known as the most colorful, fragrant, and lively market in the city, where we’ll sample some goods on offer. Afterward, we’ll continue on to the Grand Bazaar (new nickname for Ellen), the largest and oldest covered marketplace in the world with over 4,000 shops. The night is ours to explore, and by this point, Connor will be itching to find Turkey’s party scene.

Day 5 — Wednesday, Aug 19

Today, we enjoy our last Turkish delight and finish packing a suitcase so full of spices that it will raise a few eyebrows at Customs. We’re heading to Croatia! After taking a plane, a train (not actually), and a boat (this one’s true), we will arrive in Hvar in the afternoon. After we get settled in at our beachfront hotel, we will hit the town to finally live out our #YachtWeek dreams.

Day 6 — Thursday, Aug 20

Renowned as one of the best beach party sites in the entire world, we will be taking full advantage of the sun, sand, and (vodka) sodas. We may head over to Hula Hula for a beach party scene and even explore out to Carpe Diem Beach, a club so exclusive that it’s on its own island. Today will be one for the books, but maybe not the camera roll (plz Tori).

Day 7 — Friday, Aug 21

The day we’ve been waiting for the whole trip has finally arrived…. BOAT DAY, ALL DAY! At this point, we’ve all been counting down the days until we are able to hit the open ocean and explore the nautical side of life. This cruise includes an open bar, several rounds of Thunderstruck, a tour of the Blue Grotto, and backflips off the top deck. Get your portrait mode ready, cause this is the day we take the instagram that makes everyone back home think, “what the hell, I thought they just started grad school...”

Day 8 — Saturday, Aug 22

Fresh off the heels of a wild day of boat-related dartying, we will likely take it easy today with a day at your leisure. The day is yours to do what you like. Some suggested activities: walking around town, chilling on the beach, hitting up Hula Hula one more time for good measure…. or all the above. In the late afternoon, we’ll hop on a ferry for a quick ride down to King’s Landing (aka Dubrovnik) and get settled in at our new hotel.

Day 9 — Sunday, Aug 23

Whether you stanned the King in the North, the Mad Queen, or were actually rooting for the White Walkers by the end, today is our day to live out our Game of Thrones fantasies in Dubrovnik. After walking the city walls and reenacting the “shame” walk through the streets of the Old City, we will hop on our *fourth* style of boats and kayak around the city and out to Lokrum Island (sports!). Those less aquatically inclined may find themselves at the Buza Beach Bar, which is actually built into the city walls! We’ll find our way back together at night for a Farewell Dinner likely to rival the scale and opulence of Joffrey’s wedding (without the whole, y’know, dying part of it). We’ll then dig deep, find whatever we have left in the tank (probably not a whole lot tbh), and celebrate the best trip we’ve ever been on.

Day 10 — Monday, Aug 24

Time to pack your bags and head back to good ol’ Ann Arbor because we are at the finale of our epic journey. But no need to shed any tears because this is just the end to the beginning - see you at skeeps!