where to adventure travel in indonesia

For more than 2,000 years Alexander the Great has excited the imagination of people around the globe. Barely out of his teens he invaded Asia with some 45,000 men to conquer the vast and rich Persian empire. He didn't stop there, but continued on an epic 22,000 mile journey, Troy to Alexandria, Samarkand to Babylon. By the time he died, aged just 32, he had gone beyond the limits of the known world, carving out an empire stretching from Greece to Afghanistan, Israel to India.

Today you can find his legacy still resonating across three continents - Europe, Asia, and Africa. Head to Egypt, venture out into the desert to the oasis of Siwah, a great circle of vivid green in a sea of parched yellow, and you'll find a crumbling temple where the oracle declared Alexander the son of Zeus. Trek into southern Iran, and you will discover Persepolis, the ruined ceremonial capital of the Persian kings, burnt to the ground by Alexander.

The ultimate travel destination for those enthralled by Alexander must be Turkey. Following in his footsteps from Troy to the battlefield of Issues, you'll savour a magical combination of landscapes, food, and ancient wonders. Archaeological adventures await at every turn.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Alexander sarcophagus

Step inside Istanbul's archaeological museum, and marvel at one of the finest pieces of craftmanship from the ancient world. It's not Alexander's personal coffin but belonged instead to a subordinate. On the sides of his tomb you'll find Alexander, carved in lustrous white marble, galloping at a hunt and rearing up on his horse Bucephalas.

Walk the marbled streets of Ephesus

Explore the capital of the Roman province of Asia, now one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world. A century of excavations by Austrian archaeologists has revealed so much to see: from private villas to opulent baths, a theatre for 28,000 and an extraordinary library.

Sail the Lycian Shore

Gaze at Turkey's turquoise coast as you cruise aboard a traditional Turkish gulet. Beneath soaring pine clad mountains you'll relax in splendour while reflecting on Alexander's navy and ancient pirates. Moor up and go ashore at Phaselis where Alexander was crowned with golden wreaths.

The temple of Apollo at Didyma

Walking beneath soaring columns and down dark vaulted corridors to the innermost holy of holies, you can still feel the might and influence wielded by the old gods.

The views from Termessus

Hike into the mountains and you'll find this rocky eyrie, an ancient city in the clouds, one of the few places to say no to Alexander and survive.

TRAVELER INFO

When to travel

Spring and Autumn. Mid April to early June, and September to October are the best times to avoid the intense summer heat and crowds.

How long do you need

At least a week to see a few highlights. Two to three weeks will allow you to cover a significant amount of terrain, visit a great many sites, and gain an appreciation of the sheer physical and logistical difficulties faced by Alexander.

Planning your travel adventure

There are many tour companies that use Alexander the Great as a headline for trips that have very little to do with where he went and what he did, so scrutinize their itineraries. If you're traveling independently, buy the best Turkey maps you can before jetting off. Large scale maps are often difficult to find in Turkey, especially outside the main cities.

Inside information

If you head into the interior away from the coast, be wary of Turkey's renowned kangal dogs. They protect flocks of sheep and goats from wolves and have a well earned reputation for ferocity. Carry a walking stick and some stones for protection.

Further information:Alexander the Great on the Web

Probably the most comprehensive source of information on Alexander on the internet. It even has a 'Travel and Tourism' section which features the pick of Alexander travelogues and companies offering tours in his footsteps - [http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/alexander/]

http://www.pothos.org All about Alexander the Great. Includes a travel guide for picking out some of the best places you can visit, from Vergina in Greece to the Siwah oasis in Egypt.

Peter Sommer runs a specialist travel company, Peter Sommer Travels, offering archaeology holidays and gulet tours in Turkey, Greece, and Italy. He personally leads escorted cultural vacations in Turkey retracing the route of Alexander the Great.

An archaeologist and documentary producer he has worked on many acclaimed BBC/PBS/CNN TV series including In the footsteps of Alexander the Great, and Commanding Heights: the battle for the world economy. His most recent series, Tales from the Green Valley, about life on a Welsh farm in the year 1620, was shown to rave reviews on BBC2 in the UK in 2005.

He has had travel articles published in newspapers incl. The Times(UK), The Brisbane Sunday Mail & The South China Morning Post, & magazines incl. Cruise Magazine, Good Holiday Guide, Yacht Vacations Magazine, The Travel Magazine, The European Magazine etc. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers' Guild, the UK's best established guild of professional outdoor & travel writers.