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17-Day Tour.
A journey worth the taking. Come and
experience the vast culture, art and
archeology this tour and Turkey has to
offer. Time travel to the past and
experience how it all began. Price and
value, a true travelers’ enchantment.
Highlights
Istanbul; St Sophia, Bosporus Cruise, Blue
Mosque, Kariye (St Chora), Suleymaniye
Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Grand
Bazaar. Ankara; Anatolian Civilizations
Museum, Hittite Sites. Cappadocia; Goreme
Valley, Pasabagi, Dervent Valley, Uchisar,
Soganli Valley, Underground city of Ozkonak,
Avcilar, Sultanhani Caravanserai,
Konya;Whirling Dervishes, Antalya; Perge,
Aspendos, Pamukkale/Denizli; Aphrodisias,
Pamukkale, Izmir; Sardis, Ephesus, House of
Virgin Mary. Canakkale, Pergamum, Troy,
Gallipoli.
Arrive in Istanbul on Saturday
Depart from Istanbul on Sunday
Itinerary
B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner. Where
indicated.
Pre Tour Extension Options
1. Fri. Departure to Turkey.
2. Sat. Arrival in Istanbul (D)
Upon your arrival in Istanbul, you are met
with a friendly 'merhaba' (hello) and
escorted to your hotel. You have the day
free to begin exploring Turkey's cultural
capital or to relax at your leisure. Learn
more about the adventure ahead of you at an
orientation meeting at 7pm. During dinner
get acquainted with the other members of
your group.
3. Sun. Istanbul (BLD)
Begin your discovery of Istanbul's natural
beauty and rich historic heritage with a
morning cruise on the Bosporus. Glide past
the minarets and palaces, stone fortresses
and wooden Ottoman mansions of the only city
in the world that bridges Europe and Asia.
In the afternoon discover Saint Sophia and
the church of Saint Savior in Chora. The
Basilica or St. Sophia, now called the
Ayasofya Museum is unquestionably one of the
finest buildings of all time. Built by
Constantine the Great and reconstructed by
Justinian in the 6th century, take time to
stop and savor its majesty and serenity as
you admire the fine Byzantine mosaics and
Islamic calligraphy. Finalize your day
wandering through the Spice market.
4. Mon. Istanbul/Ankara/Mausoleum (BLD)
Early morning drive to Ankara capital city
of Kemal Ataturk’s new regime since 1923,
his memorial stands as one of landmarks
Ankara, once Galatian’s Ancyra. A detailed
visit to the museum of Anatolian
civilizations will take you to the mysteries
as far back as Paleolithic age. Their
exhibit includes miraculously preserved
wooden furniture from the tomb of Phrygian
kind Midas.
5. Tue. Museum/Hittite Sites/Cappadocia
(BLD)
Explore the capital of Hittite Kingdom the
ancient site of Hattusas. During the 2nd
millennium B.C Hittites were counter
balancing Egyptians. Visits Yazilikaya, the
sacred sanctuary its chambers unveils stone
reliefs from 13th century B.C. Continue to
Cappadocia
6. Wed. Cappadocia (BLD)
Begin your discovery of Cappadocia with
Goreme’s “Caves of God” a Unesco world
heritage site. Monasteries and churches hewn
into volcanic tufa rock reached their peak
between 7th and 13th centuries. Natural
formations from the landscape of Avcilar and
Red valley of Dervent will offer you a large
palette of colors through the hours of the
day. You will see the ongoing erosion on the
fairy chimneys of Pasabagi and natural
fortress of Uchisar after your lunch in an
authentic restaurant [Page Top]
7. Thu. Cappadocia (BLD)
Descend several stories beneath the ground
to the underground city of Kaymakli where
early Christians fleeing persecution lived
for month at a time undetected. Learn how
the colorful rugs that echo the earth tones
of the region are made during a
demonstration by local weavers Drive to the
southern regions of Cappadocia to discover
picturesque villages like Sinasos, Sahin
Efendi and Soganli.
8. Fri. To Cappadocia/Konya/Antalya area
(BLD)
Today’s long driving will be interrupted
first by a visit to a seven hundred years
old Caravanserail then a visit to biblical
city of Konya, we will visit the museum and
mausoleum of the founder of the mystic cult
of Whirling Dervishes… Love and tolerance to
his multi cultural environment his followers
are great place of veneration. In the
afternoon cross the Taurus mountains and get
impressed by its flora of variation from fur
trees to cedar trees . arrive at the end of
day to the Mediterranean city of Antalya.
9. Sat. Perge/Aspendos/Antalya (BLD)
Begin your discovery of Greek an Roman
arcaeology by the exclusive site of Perge
where St. Paul gave his first sermonts .
Aspendos has the bes preserved Roman theater
of Turkey today it is a venue for classical
music Performances. Afternoon enjoy a visit
to a jewellery center which makes one of
fames of Antalya then stroll through the
ottoman houses of Antalya’s old city
enclosed by roman walls and Hadrian Gate.
10. Sun. Antalya/Aphrodisias/Pamukkale (BLD)
Mid-Tour Break Options:
Visit the most inspiring ancient site of
Asia Minor, Aphrodisias is dedicated to the
goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite. During
the roman era its famous school of sculpture
was feel by abundant marble quarries at the
near vicinity. After lunch reach Pamukkale
to enjoy warm thermal spring pool in your
spa hotel.
11. Mon. Pamukkale/Sardis/Izmir (BLD)
Explore Pamukkale formations petrified
waterfalls calcium stalactites and shallow
travertine pools neither hot nor cold waters
of revelation were the source of healing by
the dwellers of Hierapolis. Drive through
Philadelphia the city of Brotherly Love.
Visit Sardis excavated by various
universities included Harward U. Sardis once
Lydian capital of King Croesus was later
adorned by a splendid twin-arked ruman
period synagogue
12. Tue. Ephesus (BLD)
Today you will visit Ephesus of all the
great cities of ancient world Ephesus is the
best preserved it has the first church
consacreted to Mary. following your lunch at
the historic village of Sirince visit the
tomb of St. John. [Page Top]
13. Wed. Izmir/Pergamum/Troy/Canakkale (BLD)
Drive along the mythic coastline of the
""wine-dark"" Aegean Sea to ancient
Pergamum, home to the famous physician,
Galen. Stroll through the remains of the
Asclepion, one of the foremost medical
centers of ancient times, the library which
once held 240, 000 scrolls, the Acropolis
and the Trojaneum. Next visit the site of
one of the most famous wars of ancient
times, the legendary city of Troy,
immortalized in Homer's Iliad and
'Discovered' in 1871 by Heinrich Schliemann.
Continue on to Canakkale.
14. Thu. Canakkale/Gallipolis/Istanbul (BLD)
Ferry across the Dardanelle for a somber
stop at the very real memorial at
Gallipolis, commemorating one of the most
famous battles in modern history. The beauty
of the green hills, sandy beaches and blue
waters provides an honored resting place for
the soldiers who bravely fought and died in
this historic battle. After lunch, you
return to Istanbul, rising from the shores
of the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara
15. Fri. Istanbul (BLD)
Discover the classical highlights of
Istanbul: the Roman Hippodrome, Blue Mosque
famed for its Iznik tiled interior and six
minarets . You will also visit the jeweled
interior of the Topkapi Palace, home to the
Spoon maker’s Diamond. In the afternoon, you
are free to explore the labyrinth tunnels of
the Grand Bazaar that houses more than 4,
000 shops. The names recall the days when
each trade had its own quarter: the
goldsmiths' street, the carpet sellers'
street, and the street of the skullcap
makers. Still the commercial center of the
old city, the bazaar is the original
shopping mall with something to suit every
taste and budget.
16. Sat. Istanbul (B)
The day is yours to explore this exotic city
as you desire. Visit the underground cistern
adorned with classical columns, the Baroque
beauty of the Suleymaniye Mosque or the
opulent Dolmabahce Palace. Ride along the
ancient city walls once fortified by 400
towers and 50 gates - across one of only two
suspension bridges that span two continents
to the Asian side of the city.
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Departure Dates |
Land Only |
Sgl Supp. |
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2007 Mar 2 |
995 |
335 |
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Mar 9 |
1055 |
275 |
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Mar 16, 23 |
1280 |
380 |
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Mar 30 |
1280 |
380 |
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Apr 6, 13, 20, 27 |
1280 |
380 |
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May 4, 11, 18 |
1380 |
405 |
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May 25 |
1380 |
405 |
|
Jun 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 |
1280 |
380 |
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Jul 6, 13, 20, 27 |
1280 |
380 |
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Aug 3, 10 |
1280 |
380 |
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Aug 17, 24, 31 |
1280 |
380 |
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Sep 7, 14, 21, 28 |
1490 |
445 |
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Oct 5 |
1490 |
445 |
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Oct 12, 19 |
1490 |
445 |
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Oct 26 |
1315 |
390 |
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Nov 2, 9 |
1255 |
325 |
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Nov 16, 23 |
1055 |
275 |
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Dec 2007 |
1055 |
275 |
Rates are per person in double room and
based on lowest airfare available.
Land only rate does not include domestic or
international flights.
Add airport taxes
Business Class Upgrade Available
Rates Available From Most U.S. Cities
Passport and Visa
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Western Turkey
Information
