With the world’s news at our fingertips, travellers are finding comfort in recalibrating and resetting, immersing themselves in the past to educate themselves and learn how historical events and characters of the former times have shaped our modern world today. Following data from the WTM Global Travel Report stating that the cultural tourism market is expected to grow by 15% in 2025, Star Clippers is putting the focus on trips that are fuelled and inspired by longstanding purposes and reasoning. Star Clippers has therefore coined the phrase ‘Histourism’ to describe these adventures; pursuing the past on journeys that have withstood the test of time for thousands of years, whilst learning about the stories that surround them.
Modern mythology is a trending theme for holidays in 2025 as travellers seek journeys that impart knowledge and survive recounts over thousands of years. Myths can help people navigate life by establishing moral boundaries and answering timeless questions, whilst connecting them to cultures, histories, places and other people. With references to myths still in abundance within film, television, literature and music, their timeless retellings and adaptations indicate that - even thousands of years later – we are seeking out the past more than ever before, whilst the future exudes uncertainty and unpredictability.
To deep-dive into ‘Histourism’, explore the Northern Cyclades on board Star Clipper and discover how siblings Artemis and Apollo still shape the movements of the modern world. In 2024, almost 3 million visitors flocked to Ephesus, home to the temple of Artemis, making it the second most popular archaeological site in Turkey. Easily accessible from Kusadasi, the temple of Artemis is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and stands as a testament to human ingenuity and devotion. The city of Ephesus thrived around the temple as worshippers made their pilgrimage to pay homage to the goddess of the hunt, fertility and nature. In 2025, Ephesus’ archaeological site will expand to allow visitors to travel further into the depths of history as a part of the ‘Endless Ephesus, Legacy for the Future’ project.
Modern mythology is a trending theme for holidays in 2025 as travellers seek journeys that impart knowledge and survive recounts over thousands of years. Myths can help people navigate life by establishing moral boundaries and answering timeless questions, whilst connecting them to cultures, histories, places and other people. With references to myths still in abundance within film, television, literature and music, their timeless retellings and adaptations indicate that - even thousands of years later – we are seeking out the past more than ever before, whilst the future exudes uncertainty and unpredictability.
To deep-dive into ‘Histourism’, explore the Northern Cyclades on board Star Clipper and discover how siblings Artemis and Apollo still shape the movements of the modern world. In 2024, almost 3 million visitors flocked to Ephesus, home to the temple of Artemis, making it the second most popular archaeological site in Turkey. Easily accessible from Kusadasi, the temple of Artemis is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and stands as a testament to human ingenuity and devotion. The city of Ephesus thrived around the temple as worshippers made their pilgrimage to pay homage to the goddess of the hunt, fertility and nature. In 2025, Ephesus’ archaeological site will expand to allow visitors to travel further into the depths of history as a part of the ‘Endless Ephesus, Legacy for the Future’ project.
Star Clipper – Sailing the northern Cyclades
Artemis’ influence continues throughout the Northern Cyclades sailing; Patmos, once named Litois in honour of Artemis (she was also known as Litoida after her mother, Lito), is believed to have been resurfaced by Artemis and her twin brother Apollo. The Cave of the Apocalypse - believed to be where St John wrote the Book of Revelation – is home to whispers of ancient prophecies and a visit here is offered as an optional excursion available to our guests. The island exudes majestic elegance and monastic simplicity in duality, a fitting comparison to our timeless fleet. Apollo & Artemis’ birthplace, Delos, is a short ferry ride from Mykonos and also available as an excursion. A World Heritage Site and one of Greece’s most important historical sites, Delos was first settled in the third millennium BC, with excavations unearthing the Sanctuary and parts of the cosmopolitan Hellenistic town from as recently as 1872. Whilst now uninhabited, Delos still attracts over 100,000 visitors a year, each seeking to learn the storied past of those that came before us.
Temple of Isis - Delos Island
Greek mythological stories aren’t singled down to just Greece – the Strait of Messina, a route traced by Royal Clipper in summer 2025 and Star Clipper in summer 2026, is believed to be where Odysseus battled with sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis in Homer’s Odyssey. As our majestic tall-ship makes a spectacle of a sunrise sail-in, guests can retrace Odysseus’ legendary journey home from the Trojan War. Faced with having to decide between Scylla and Charybdis, the phrase now coined ‘between a rock and a hard place’ signifies a predicament where one must navigate between two equally dangerous options, inspired by Odysseus’ dilemma. Odysseus’ decision to sail closer to Scylla was him deciding to choose the lesser of two evils, another phrase used today.
An Artist’s Interpretation of Homer’s Odyssey
‘Histourism’ is more relevant than ever this year, as we seek out meaningful stories that survive the weathering, adaptations and retellings that inevitably come with the passage of time. You can relive journeys inspired by ancient myths here (https://starclippers.co.uk/destinations/eastern-mediterranean-sailings.html)
