DAY 1 ISTANBUL
Arrive in Istanbul, and transfer to your hotel. After a short tour briefing, the rest of the day is free to rest, relax or walk around to explore the city. Welcome dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ISTANBUL ). [ D ]
DAY 2 ISTANBUL
We spend the full day visiting the sights of Old Istanbul. We will begin at the ancient Hippodrome which was the center of the civil activities back in the Hellenistic and Roman times. At the Hippodrome the chariot and horse races and athletic runs took place for the entertainment of the people of Constantinople. We walk to the nearby Ibrahim Pasha Palace which houses the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art where we will see an impressive exhibit from the various periods of Turkish and Islamic art, ranging in date from the 7th C. to the 19th. Then we proceed to the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue tiles covering its interior walls and also for its six minarets which is a unique feature of this mosque. Nearby is Hagia Sophia Museum, the former Cathedral of Constantinople, considered as the masterpiece of the early Byzantine architecture. Hagia Sophia is renowned for its superb mosaic decoration as well as its architectural style. Back in Byzantine Empire, most emperors were crowned in this cathedral after a special ceremony. After lunch we will visit the Topkapi Palace, residence and administrative center of the Ottoman Sultans. In the grounds of the Topkapi Palace are many courtyards surrounded by old buildings each housing small museums with exhibits of jewelry, costumes, calligraphy and various objects that belonged to the Imperial treasury of the Ottoman Sultans. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ISTANBUL ). [ B L D ]
DAY 3 ISTANBUL TO BURSA
Drive to Bursa. This morning, after a short drive over the Bosphorus Bridge, we will take the Ferry across the Sea of Marmara. Enroute visit Nicaea ( modern Iznik ), where Constantine the Great summoned the first council meeting, known as the Nicean Council, to set the principles of Christianity. At Nicaea, we will visit the Constantine's palace on the lake shore where sum 318 Bishops attended the council meeting in 325. In the town center is the church of St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia) which still has beautiful mosaic decoration on the floor and some remains of frescoes on the walls. This is the Church where the seventh ecumenical council had met upon the invitation by the Byzantine empress Irene, in the year 787. We will also see the ancient roman theater, city walls and gates that still stand in almost original as they had been built. Continue to Bursa the city famous for its fine quality silk that had been produced in this area since the Byzantine times. Bursa also represents the early phase of the Ottoman architecture, as this city served as the first capital for the Ottoman Sultans. Our visits in Bursa will include the Green complex which was built by the Sultan Murat, Green Mosque, Green Tomb and Green Medrese all make up this large complex beautifully set today in a pedestrian area closed to car traffic. The name Green for this complex of buildings comes from the superb early Iznik tiles in green color. Then, we stroll through the Covered Bazaar and Silk Market where vendors sell various products from jewelry to textiles and also many traditional folk arts and local crafts. Then we wander the winding streets to see interesting old Ottoman Turkish architecture. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( BURSA ). [ B L D ]
DAY 4 BURSA TO ANKARA
Drive to ANKARA the capital of modern Turkey. This morning, we will take a walking tour of the Cumalikizik, a nice village just outside Bursa to experience the village life in Turkey. This village has many old traditional houses back from Ottoman era and moreover it is still a living town. Enroute visit the archaeological site at Gordion, the capital of the ancient Phrygian kingdom, one of the early civilizations of Anatolia, who took over Asia Minor after the collapse of the Hittite kingdom. There we will visit the King Midas' Tomb and tiny local museum where findings from the site Gordion are exhibited. As we leave the town, you will see, up on the hillsides, tens of burial mounds built for the royal families who ruled the Phrygian kingdom. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ANKARA ). [ B L D ]
DAY 5 ANKARA TO CAPPADOCIA
Sightseeing of Ankara. This morning, we will begin at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations housed in a restored 15th century Ottoman Bedesten that was once Ankara's main covered bazaar, has one of the most extraordinary collections of antiquities in the world, ranging in time over the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, Assyrian, Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian and Greco-Roman periods. Later, we will visit the Ataturk's Memorial built for the founder of modern Republic of Turkey. Rest of the day, drive to Cappadocia with a stop at the Salt Lake and through the central Anatolian Plateau, observing the villages and people on our way. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( CAPPADOCIA ). [ B L D ]
DAY 6 CAPPADOCIA
Morning departure for the sightseeing of CAPPADOCIA. We will spend the full day walking and driving around this fascinating volcanic area with incredible formations, a superb work by the mother nature. We will begin at the Pigeons' valley where there is a nice panoramic view of the area, stopping at the Uchisar rock castle which was built hollowed out of the rock, and used for defense purposes at the times of danger. Next, we will visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, a large open courtyard surrounded by rock churches decorated with frescoes and murals. Cappadocia became at an early time monastic center built by St. Basil who was the bishop of ancient Caesarea (modern Kayseri). We will make a stop at the Pasabagi valley with fairy chimneys which are conical formations eroded by the natural elements over the centuries. Visit local craftspeople (Rug weavers, doll makers, pottery workshops). We will visit Avanos, a town famous for its pottery, built on the banks of the Red River of Turkey which flows through the town and brings down red clay from the surrounding mountains for the potters who transform it, on kick-wheels, to beautiful pots, vases, cups, plates. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( CAPPADOCIA ). [ B L D ]
DAY 7 CAPPADOCIA TO ANTALYA
Drive to ANTALYA, Turkey's famous resort center. Enroute sightseeing of Konya famous for its monastery of whirling Dervishes and early Selcuk-Islamic architecture. Visit Mevlana Museum, which is believed to be the holiest place of Turkey and house the memorial of Mevlana the famous Turkish philosopher and the founder of the order of whirling dervishes. Proceed to Karatay Medrese, the Islamic theological college from Turkish-Selcuk period (13th cent.), now it houses a nice collection of tiles and carved stones produced by the Seljuks. The rest of the day, we drive, making spontaneous stops for photography, to Antalya through the lake district, and over the Taurus Mountains. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ANTALYA ). [ B L D ]
DAY 8 ANTALYA
Day at leisure, have time to wander the old city of ANTALYA, bazaars, yacht harbor, or stay on the beach for sun-bathing. Or you can join our optional tour offered by your tour guide to Myra ancient city with spectacular Lycian type Rock Tombs built into the cliffs, the Church of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) where he was a bishop in 4th cent., and a boat trip to the island of Kekova known for its submerged city. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ANTALYA ). [ B D ]
DAY 9 ANTALYA
Day long excursion to the ancient Greco-Roman sites of the Pamphylia region. We will begin with Perge which is one of the best examples of a complete Roman city. We will take a walk along the main streets and view the well-preserved ancient structures, stadium, agora, Hellenistic towers, roman gate and baths, city walls. Perge was one of the cities that was visited by St. Paul during his missionary journeys. After leaving Perge, we head for the ancient city of Aspendus which has undoubtedly the most perfectly preserved Roman theater in existence. The theater located at the foot of the acropolis was built in the 2nd century by the emperor Marcus Aurelius. Aspendus has also very well preserved aqueducts from Roman times standing to its almost full height. Continue to Side, the great ancient city and also a popular resort town right on the Mediterranean. We will tour the small local museum of Side that houses a fine collection of statues, sarcophagi, architectural sculpture and inscriptions. Right across the street from the Museum is another well preserved Roman theater that offers a magnificent view toward the Mediterranean from the top of the seats. We will walk down the shop-lined street to the site of the twin temples of Apollo and Athena with beautiful setting on the seaside. We head back for Antalya, if time permits, we visit Antalya Archaeological Museum with fine sculptures, sarcophagi and findings from around Pamphylia region. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ANTALYA ). [ B L D ]
DAY 10 ANTALYA TO PAMUKKALE
This morning, we drive back into Taurus Mountains, with spontaneous stops to photograph Nomads in and around their goat-hair tents. Early afternoon arrival at our hotel, and have time to use natural geothermal pools. We will tour the calcified pools of Pamukkale and the ancient ruins of Hierapolis. Most of the cliffs formed by the geothermal waters are as white as the cotton that gives Pamukkale its name, which in Turkish means "Cotton Castle". The ancient city Hierapolis whose ruins are scattered a above the calcium pools, is another well preserved site in Turkey. It has been a popular spa center since the Hellenistic and Roman ages. The view from the ancient theater towards the valley is spectacular. According to tradition, St. Philip, one of the twelve apostles was martyred here at this city, and a monumental martyrdom built for him is there. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( PAMUKKALE ). [ B L D ]
DAY 11 PAMUKKALE TO KUSADASI
Today we will journey to the Aegean coast of Turkey. Enroute, visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias perfectly preserved Carian and Roman city. Aphrodisias is a rare city built of entire marble, because the marble quarries are so rich in this area. Aphrodisias had also produced the finest sculpture in ancient times, because of the high quality marble that was quarried from the surrounding mountains. The excavation of the site was conducted by the archaeologist Kenan Erim who was a Turkish professor from New York University and sponsored by the National Geographic Society. The rest of the day, we drive through fig and olive orchards to our hotel on the Aegean cost. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel( KUSADASI ). [ B L D ]
DAY 12 KUSADASI
Full day sightseeing of well preserved sites of Ephesus. We begin with Ephesus, the great city and metropolitan center of the Antiquity, whose extensive ruins are among the best preserved in the world. As we walk down the main street of Ephesus, we will visualize its ancient life and buildings. Then we drive up to the Virgin Mary's House claimed to be the true place where Mother Mary spent her last years before she had died in this area. This is one the most important pilgrimage shrines in the world. Up on the hill above the town Selcuk, we will visit the Basilica of St. John built for the apostle author of the book of revelations. Looking at the size of this church, we can easily say that it was one the largest churches in its time. Returning to the town Selcuk, we will visit the local Ephesus Museum with a nice exhibit of the objects such as statues, sarcophagi, busts, inscriptions, found during the excavations at Ephesus. If time permits we will drive up to Sirince a traditional village situated on a hill top. The village people still produce embroidery and lace work and also a good place to taste some local Turkish wine. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( KUSADASI ). [ B L D ]
DAY 13 KUSADASI TO CANAKKALE
Drive to CANAKKALE. Enroute visit Pergamum, the capital of Pergamum Kingdom and a great Hellenistic city with superb setting on the top of the mountain that rises above the surrounding plain. We will walk around the well preserved ruins of Pergamum. The view from top of the Acropolis toward the Aegean Sea is spectacular. We will stop at Asclepieum, the famous ancient medical center where Galen, the famous physician of the ancient world, practiced medicine. Drive on to Troy, the fabled city of the book "Iliad" written by Homer and the site of the Trojan War between Achaeans and Trojans. We will begin our walking tour near the replica of the Trojan horse and walk around the ancient city, and observe the fortification walls, temples, palaces, theater, and megaron style houses. Have time to have your photos taken on the Trojan horse. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( CANAKKALE ). [ B L D ]
DAY 14 CANAKKALE TO ISTANBUL
Early morning departure for the ferry to take us across the strait of Dardanelles, to Thrace which is the European part of Turkey. Apart from the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul, Dardanelles (or Hellespont) separates the continents of Europe and Asia, it was one of the most important water ways in the ancient ages, as it is today. We will make a brief stop at the Gallipoli war memorials and cemeteries. Gallipoli was the battlefield where the most crucial battle took place between the Ottoman army and the combined army of British and the Anzac forces. Drive along the coast of the Sea of Marmara back to Istanbul. Early afternoon arrival in Istanbul, the rest of the day is on your leisure to browse the bazaar area or other interesting parts of the city. Dinner and overnight at your Hotel ( ISTANBUL ). [ B L D ]
DAY 15 ISTANBUL
This morning, we will cruise up the Bosphorus with private boat, sit on the deck and enjoy the nice traditional water-front houses built by the Ottomans in the last or in the turn of this century. We will disembark near the Spice bazaar, and have free time for shopping in the Spice Market where you will find hundreds of spices and herbs. Spice market was built by the Ottomans in the 16th C., and has been used as the main market of spices and herbs since then. We head for the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, where will have time for shopping. In the grand bazaar which is an old ottoman bedesten built in the 15th. C., and said to have about 3,500 shops under its roof, you will find almost anything from souvenirs to jewelry, from textiles to Turkish ethnographic items. Rest of the afternoon is at leisure, you may want to stay in the grand bazaar or stroll through the streets. Farewell dinner at a special restaurant. Overnight at your Hotel ( ISTANBUL ). [ B D ]
DAY 16 TRANSFER TO AIRPORT
Check out and transfer to the airport for your flight back home. [ B ]
[ B ] : Breakfast
[ L ] : Lunch
[ D ] : Dinner |
