| Day 1 (Thursday) - Arrive Istanbul - transfer to hotel |
Arrive at Ataturk airport in Istanbul, meet with your Tour Director and transfer to the hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure.
| Day 2 (Friday) - Istanbul - Full day city sightseeing tour |
Optional: evening tour "Istanbul by Night" (Show & dinner)
Visits include:
Blue Mosque: Famous for its blue Iznik tiles and unique with six minarets. It was built in the name of Sultan Ahmet.
Hippodrome: Center of sporting events (chariot races, athletics) and political activities of the old Roman and Byzantine city.
Grand Bazaar: In addition to its historical importance, this bazaar will tempt even non shoppers with nearly four thousand shops exhibiting a rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leatherwear, antiques, and souvenirs.
Topkapi Palace: The former imperial residence from where the great Ottoman Empire was ruled for four hundred years. Today a spectacular museum exhibits one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and the very famous Treasury of the Ottoman Sultans.
Meal included: Breakfast
| Day 3 (Saturday) - Istanbul - at leisure |
Optional: "
Bosphorus & Two Continents Tour" (Hagia Sophia, Spice Market, Boat trip on the Bosphorus & lunch at a sea-front restaurant)
Meal included: Breakfast
| Day 4 (Sun.)-Transfer & Tour- Istanbul-Gelibolu-Canakkale Bogazi-Canakkale |
Today we travel to the Northern Aegean coast and the battlefields of Gallipoli, where in 1915 Allied troops faced the Turkish army led by Lieutenant-Colonel Mustafa Kemal, also known as Ataturk, the man who later became the leader of modern Turkey. Huge numbers of casualties were suffered here, and we pay our respects to those who gave their lives as we visit several of the Allied Cemeteries
Then we'll travel across the Straits of the Dardanelles to Troy, once believed to exist only in Homer's epic poem. Discovered by Heinric Schliemann in the 1870s, the site has since been excavated and now reveals remnants of nine civilizations dating back 5.000 years.
After exploring of the ruins and relics here we continue to Canakkale where we spend the night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
| Day 5 (Monday) - Transfer & Tour: Canakkale - Bergama - Kusadasi |
Visits include:
Pergamum: After breakfast we'll drive to Pergamum. Pergamum was an ancient city founded by colonists on the Aegean coast of Anatolia at the site of the present-day city of Bergama. It was on a tributary of the Bakircay (Caicus River) and enclosed by high mountains. Fertile, self-contained and easily defended, it provided the perfect setting for the maintenance of a city-state. Pergamum, once one of the richest small kingdoms in the Middle East, contained one of the world's largest collections of books.
Acropolis: We'll visit the magnificent Acropolis, which contains the ruins of Pergamum's acclaimed 200,000-volume library, so large it challenged the world's greatest library in Alexandria. In fact, the Egyptians were so afraid that Pergamum would attract scholars away from Alexandria that they cut off the area's supply of papyrus, forcing the invention of "pergamen" (Latin for parchment), made from animal hides rather than papyrus reed.
Amphitheatre: Along with the library, the Acropolis also boasts a great theater seating 10,000 and the marble-columned Temple of Trojan. Below the theater lie the ruins of the Temple of Dionysus along with the Altar of Zeus, in a marvelous setting shaded by evergreen trees.
Asclepieum was a sanctuary and a healing center built in the name of the god of healing, Asclepius. The healing center, Asclepieum, had been something very similar to a modern natural healing clinic. Patients were given exercises, drugs, herbal remedies, or could take the honey cure, drink waters of the spring etc.
Much of Pergamum has been lovingly restored; it is now considered one of the primary ancient sites in Turkey. Late in the afternoon we'll drive to Kusadasi where we'll spend two nights.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
| Day 6 (Tuesday) - Kusadasi |
Today we visit Ephesus , perhaps the world's best-preserved ancient city. In Roman times, Ephesus was the provincial capital of Asia , with a population of some 250,000 at the height of its glory. An important Christian community arose here, and Ephesus was visited by St. Paul , who later wrote one of his epistles to the Ephesians. Perhaps its greatest claim to fame is the fact that Ephesus once housed the Temple of Diana , one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Today its magnificently preserved ruins attract visitors from across the globe. A full day of touring here includes the immense amphitheater that holds 24,000 people and is still used today. Walk along the Sacred Way, where the rich once lived and an ingenious water and sewer system was constructed beneath paving stones of marble; see the Temple of Hadrian , a Corinthian-style building with the head of Medusa on the porch to keep away evil spirits; and the Library of Celsius , which held 12,000 ancient scrolls which were stored in niches around the walls. The Ephesus Museum is filled with statuary, ancient relics, mosaics, and artifacts excavated from the site.
We will also visit the House of Virgin Mary , who is reputed to have come to Ephesus shortly before the end of her life in 37 AD. We'll return to our hotel late this afternoon where we'll dine together this evening.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner |
| Day 7 (Wednesday) - Transfer: Kusadasi - Pamukkale |
Visits include:
Carpet Factory: On our way from Kusadasi we will stop at a traditional Turkish Carpet Factory, learning about all aspects of this traditional Turkish art and craft, from silkworm cultivation, to spinning, dyeing and the traditional patterns and weaving techniques.
Steam Train Museum: We will stop in a local village for lunch and a visit to Camlik Steam Train Museum where we can view the excellent collection.
Pamukkale (Hierapolis): has always been a very popular settlement where the hot springs were believed to have healing powers, so the city became the center of a pagan cult in antiquity and is a spa resort today. The ancient Hierapolis was founded by Pergamum, probably Eumenes 2, in the 2C BC. Hierapolis is believed to derive its name from Hiera the wife of Telephus, both being legendary ancestors of kings of Pergamum. Hierapolis is among the cities of the ancient world in which the grid-plan was applied.
Dinner will be at our hotel tonight with free time to enjoy the hot springs of Pamukkale.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
| Day 8 (Thursday) - Transfer: Pamukkale - Antalya |
Enjoy the thermal waters at hotel before setting out for Antalya. Antalya, located in an area called Pamphylia, was founded by Attalus 2, King of Pergamum, as a port city in the 2C BC. The name of the city is derived from its founder. Antalya had been a small city until very recently. Antalya and its population became one of the largest in Turkey.
Meal included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast we will start our tour of Antalya, which is located in an area called Pamphylia and was founded by Attalus 2, King of Pergamum, as a port city in the 2C BC. The name of the city is derived from its founder. Antalya had been a small city until very recently. Antalya has now become one of the largest cities in Turkey.
Visits include:
Kaleici, which means "inner castle" contains careful conversion of old houses into dwellings or pensions maintained the original appearance of these fine buildings. The walls of Antalya were built in the Hellenistic period but later restored and enlarged in the Roman and Byzantine periods. The impressive Roman structure of Hadrian's Gate was built by citizens of Antalya
Perge is the best example of a complete Roman city in the Pamphylian plain. It reached its pinnacle during the era of Alexander the Great. Among the outstanding ruins here are the ancient shopping arcade, the awe-inspiring 12,000-seat stadium, and a 15,000-seat theater.
Archeological Museum of Antalya chronicles the history of the area. Here you can find a wealth of ancient artifacts, as well as a "God Gallery" containing statues of 15 classical gods from Aphrodite to Zeus. The museum also has a fine collection of jewelry, vases, and glass. The afternoon is at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
| Day 10 (Saturday) - Transfer: Antalya - Konya |
On the trip to Konya, we'll visit Aspendos, a major port city in the Roman period with the navigable river of Köprüçay. Aspendos Theater is one of the largest ancient buildings in Anatolia and may well be accepted as the best preserved theater of antiquity. The theater's capacity is estimated to have been 15.000 people.
Konya has become a place of pilgrimage for Moslems because the leader of the Mevlevis, Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi was buried there. The Mevlevi order of whirling dervishes is a mystic group whose members are followers of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, a great Turkish poet and mystic. The brotherhood is based in Konya, where its founder is buried.
Mevlana Museum is where the cells of dervishes, fine examples of famous calligraphy artists, tombs of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi and his male relatives are located.
Meal included: Breakfast, Dinner |
| Day 11 (Sunday) - Transfer: Konya - Cappadocia |
Cappadocia (Kapadokya) is the ancient and modern name of a remarkable region in Central Anatolia. It is a geological wonderland which is sometimes considered to cover a triangular area between Kayseri, Nigde, and Kirsehir, or more specifically, a smaller triangular area from Urgup to Avanos and to Nevsehir. Renowned for its awe-inspiring natural rock formations - which were utilized for everything from housing to churches and even complete underground villages - Cappadocia is as magical today as it was when early farmers discovered the fertile powers of the volcanic ash that covered the area thousands of years ago. Cappadocia became a haven for the first Christians, who ultimately carved more than 3,000 churches in the porous rock, painting many of them inside with splendidly preserved scenes from the Old Testament.
Uçhisar is the name of a town and the fortress in the town. This 60 meter-high fortress was not built but carved out of a natural hill, dominating the area with a breathtaking view of all the surrounding Cappadocia formations.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
| Day 12 (Monday) - Cappadocia |
Optional: balloon ride (5:00 - 9:00 a.m.) and continue tour program.
Visits include:
Göreme: The open air museum of Göreme consist of steep cliffs and many hidden churches dating from the second half of the 9C and afterwards.
Kaymakli: Later a short drive will bring you to the remarkable underground city of Kaymakli. Beginning in the second century AD, as successive armies swept across Asia Minor, the resident of Cappadocia created uniquely defensible communities by digging approximately eight stories down into the volcanic tufa stone.
Avcilar and Pasabag: for photos of a remarkable landscape of tufa cones.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
| Day 13 (Tuesday) - Transfer: Cappadocia - Ankara |
Ankara is the capital of Turkey. The city was formerly called "Angora" which meant anchor and later it was changed to "Ankara".
Visits include:
The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, where you can gain many insights into Turkey's fascinating past. One of the exhibits dates back to the earliest known human community, and takes you through civilizations that include the Urartu, Hattie, Hittite, Phrygian, and Assyrian. The building itself dates from the 15th century, and is a restored covered market.
Mausoleum of Ataturk (Anitkabir): M. Kemal Ataturk never requested a monumental tomb for himself but the adoration and respect shown to him by Turkish people would never have allowed him to be buried in an ordinary place. The construction of a huge mausoleum similar to the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World was started on the summit of Anittepe.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
After Breakfast, transfer to the Ankara Airport & fly to Istanbul
Meal included: Breakfast
Optional Tours Available:
Istanbul - Day 2
Optional evening tour "Istanbul by Night" (Show & dinner): $70.00 per person
Enjoy your dinner at a first-class night club with a floor show of famous belly dancers and folk groups representing different regions of Anatolia. Evening ends with the songs of a popular Turkish singer. Water, two soft drinks or two beers or half a bottle of local wine and tea or coffee is included.
Istanbul - Day 3
Optional Full Day Tour "Bosphorus and Two Continents" (with lunch): $60.00 per person Visits include:
Hagia Sophia: Greatest marvel of architecture Constructed as a Basilica in the Sixth Century by emperor Justinian.
Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar): It was built as a part of the Yeni Cami complex and has since been an exciting covered market with the fragrant scent of spices from the Orient.
Boat trip on the Bosphorus: Cruise on a regular ferry through this waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia. This boat ride takes you past the late Ottoman Palaces, Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi, as well as beautiful wooden mansions and modern villas of the 19th & 20th Century which form this elegant section of the city. Disembark at Sariyer.
Lunch is served at a sea front fish restaurant. Bottled water, one soft drink, tea or coffee is included.
Cappadocia - Day 12
Balloon Ride (Sunrise flight): $200.00 per person
Every flight is a fantastic adventure as we float intimately amongst the fairy chimneys and soar over the magnificent Cappadocian landscape. A flight is truly "the experience of a life time!"
A hot - air balloon flight is unique from all other experiences of flight as there is no sensation of motion. Traveling at heights of up to 1500 feet, the feeling is one of peace and tranquility. The earth slowly descends and rotates below you. Within moments after lifting off you become at ease while you effortlessly drift over the treetops and the spectacular Cappadocian landscape. It is like a dream to gently float over the countryside in complete harmony with your surroundings.
The deep canyons and lush fertile valleys of Cappadocia provide the balloons with an ideal playground for a unique and memorable flight; gentle winds carry us over places that could never be reached except by balloon. Ballooning can be such fun! In season we can even pick apricots from the trees!
