TOUR ITINERARY
Meet and greet. A short orientation tour. Then transfer to the hotel for a welcome briefing. Evening is free. Overnight in Istanbul.
Discover the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of Istanbul. Visit the Royal TOPKAPI PALACE, home of the Ottoman Sultans, the BLUE MOSQUE, unique with six minarets, the Roman HIPPODROME SQUARE and the ST.SOPHIA CHURCH which is considered one of the worlds greatest architectural marvels and the Spice Bazaar. Return to the hotel. Evening at leisure.
Drive to GALLIPOLI, through the European lands of Turkey. Cross the Dardanelles Strait by ferryboat. Visit ancient TROY, see its legendary walls and the replica of the wooden horse. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale.
Drive to Bergama. Visit the ACROPOLIS, the steepest theater of the ancient world, the Temple of Trojan, Library. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then visit ASCLEPION, the ancient healing center and the RED BASILICA which is one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse (rev:2-12). Evening at leisure. Overnight in Izmir.
Leave for EPHESUS, cradle of early Christianity (rev:2-1-7). Visit the HOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY, the ancient Ephesus, the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM and the TEMPLE OF DIANA which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Return to Izmir. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Izmir.
Drive to SARDES (rev:3-1-6) capital of ancient Lydia. Visit the Temple of Cybele which later became a church, the famous SYNAGOGUE from the third century, the Gymnasium and the new excavation area. See the Golden River Pactalos. Lunch en route. Proceed to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight.
Morning tour of PAMUKKALE, noted ancient spa, where pure white travertine’s forms frozen waterfalls. Observation of carpet weaving at one of the local workshops. Drive to APHRODISIAS, the city of the Goddess of Love, see the well preserved stadium, the Odeon, the theater and the agora. Continue to Antalya for dinner and overnight.
Full day excursion to the ancient Pamphylian, Hellenistic and Roman cities of PERGE and ASPENDOS and to the award winning ANTALYA ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM. Dinner and overnight.
Early departure to KONYA. Visit the Mevlana Museum, 13th century Whirling Dervish Monastery. After lunch continue to CAPPADOCIA where nature has scoured surrealistic moonscape shapes and where the persecuted Christians dug underground cities and churches during the 9th century. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. Tonight, an OPTIONAL Folk and Belly Dance Show at one of the cave restaurants in Cappadocia. (B,D)
Full day Cappadocia visit, including Goreme Open Air Museum, Avanos the pottery making town, the natural citadel of Uchisar and the underground city of Kaymakli. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Morning sightseeing in Cappadocia. After lunch, visit the Agzikarahan Caravanserai from the Selcuk period. Drive to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, via Salt Lake. Evening at leisure. Overnight in ANKARA.
Visit the ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATION MUSEUM and the MAUSOLEUM of Kemal Ataturk in Ankara. Drive to BURSA. Dinner and overnight.
Visit the Green Mosque, the Green Tomb and Bursas colorful Silk Bazaar. Drive to Istanbul. Rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
Escorted transfer to Istanbul airport for flight back
Tour price in USD per person based on double room occupation in a hotel based on group size, single supplement charge 20%-40% more for Eastern, Christmas and New Year holidays.
Please call us for our Special Group Discount when you book 2 more Travelers.
