 Day 1 - May 24th - Saturday
USA / Istanbul, Turkey
Depart on your flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
Day 2 - May 25th - Sunday
Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul, the city that bridges the two continents of Europe and Asia. Istanbul was established in the 7th century B.C. by the Megaran leader, Byzas. You will arrive and transfer with assistance to your hotel. A welcome cocktail and introduction to Turkey is planned in the evening. Point Hotel
Day 3 - May 26th - Monday (B, L, D)
Istanbul
Today you will embark on a cruise of the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe from Asia. Enjoy the view of old wooden villas, marble palaces, and ancient fortresses along the shoreline. Arrive on the European side and visit the legendary Topkapi Palace, with its spectacular display of treasures of the Ottoman Sultans. Then drive along the coast of the Golden Horn overlooking the historical walls and churches of the Byzantine period. A lecture presentation on "Ottoman History" will be provided. A special dinner is planned with Turkish families in their own homes. Point Hotel
Day 4 - May 27th - Tuesday (B, L)
Istanbul
Visit the Hippodrome, scene of ancient chariot races and the center of Byzantine life. Then visit the Blue Mosque. Built in the early 17th century, this masterpiece of Turkish architecture includes six minarets and an interior with over 20,000 glazed blue porcelain tiles. A short walk away is St. Sophia Museum, which was once the religious center during the Christian era. View the beautiful Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy of the site. After lunch visit the Asiatic side of Istanbul; including Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer residence of Ottoman sultans with its original furniture and magnificent gardens, and the Camlica hill. A lecture presentation on "Women in Turkish History and Culture" will be provided. Point Hotel
"(I liked) the personal touch of a very small group, the wonderful
destination, the knowledge and love of our leader, and the dinner at the home
of the company president in Istanbul. Another highlight was that our guide
was able to get us tickets to see the Whirling Dervishes in Cappadocia."
Turkey - N. Willits, Bermuda
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Day 5 - May 28th - Wednesday (B, L, D)
Istanbul / Ankara / Cappadocia
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey since 1923. Ankara now has a population of over three million. Visit the splendid museum of the Anatolian Civilizations, with its unique collection of ancient art. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, "the Father of Modern Turkey." The stones of the Mausoleum are purposely of uneven length to keep pedestrians' heads bowed as they approach the tomb. Drive to the surrealistic area of Cappadocia. Lykia Lodge
Day 6 - May 29th - Thursday (B, L, D)
Cappadocia
Visit the rock-carved churches in the Goreme and Zelve Valleys, where chapels and monasteries were hollowed into rocks as hiding places during the Byzantine era. Vividly preserved during the ensuing centuries, the original frescoes celebrate the beliefs of the early Christians. The only light that permeates the churches is the natural light that filters in through the entrances. The traditional village of Uchisar is surrounded by rock pinnacles. See the underground city of Derinkuyu, where thousands of men sheltered themselves from enemy attacks in this land of "Fairy Chimneys." These underground cities were so well hidden that they went undiscovered until the 1960s. Lykia Lodge
 Day 7 - May 30th - Friday (B, L, D)
Cappadocia / Konya / Antalya
Drive through the spectacular heart of central Anatolia. Arrive in the holy city of Konya, one of the world's most ancient cities and Turkey's most religious site. After lunch, visit the shrine of Mevlana, the great mystic, who inspired the rituals of the "whirling Dervishes." Then depart for Antalya, the capital of the Mediterranean coast, passing though the Taurus Mountains along the way. Still standing on the cliffs that surround the Antalya are the ancient city walls and ramparts built by the Greeks. In town stands the 13th-century Alaeddin Mosque and Hadrian's Gate which were built in honor of the Emperor's visit in A.D. 130. The Marmara Hotel
Day 8 - May 31st - Saturday (B, L)
Antalya - Perge
Depart for a visit of Perge and Aspendos. This region, known in antiquity as Pamphylia, was famous for its Greco-Roman monuments. Perge was a city of considerable importance during the Hellenistic period. It is also the place where St. Paul preached his first sermon. The theater of Aspendos, built in the 2nd century, is one of the best preserved in the world. This 15,000-capacity theater has remained intact for 1,800 years while war, earthquakes, and time have destroyed the surrounding monuments. The afternoon will be at leisure to enjoy the Mediterranean coastline. The Marmara Hotel
Day 9 - June 1st - Sunday (B, D)
Antalya
Visit the museum of Antalya with its abundance of historical and archaeological treasures. Take time to explore the hall of Emperors and Classical Art, which displays statues of the Greek Gods, the Emperors Hadrian and Septimus Serverus and their Empresses. View a stunning mosaic collection from Xanthos and also the extraordinary finds from the Karain Caves, which date back to the Old Stone Age. The Marmara Hotel
"Our guide, Iris, was great, her knowledge was amazing and I would recommend
her again. I
enjoyed spending the evening in a Turkish home. Experiencing the culture of
the people, seeing how they lived, their customs, and how they the lived in
ancient times. I really enjoyed the tour of how the rugs were made from
start to finish."
Turkey - S. Schulstrom, MI
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Day 10 - June 2nd - Monday (B, L, D)
Antalya / Pamukkale
Depart to Pamukkale, passing over the Bey Mountains. Lunch will be en route. Afternoon arrival in Pamukkale, a famous ancient spa, where pure-white travertine forms "frozen waterfalls." The calcerous deposits come from a warm spring that has large quantities of calcium bicarbonate in solution. When it reaches the surface, calcium carbonate is deposited as a hard grayish-white layer, creating a series of fan-like formations. Water dripping over the edge of the formations creates bizarre stalactite patterns. Also visit the ruins of Hierapolis, spread over a mile from the city founded by Eumenes II of Pergamum. Colossea Thermal Hotel
Day 11 - June 3rd - Tuesday (B, L)
Pamukkale / Aphrodisias / Sardis / Izmir
Travel to Aphrodisias, dedicated to the goddess of love, which once flourished under Roman and Byzantine rule. Aphrodisias was primarily known as a center for the arts, specifically sculpture. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and then depart to Sardis, the capital of ancient Lydia in the 7th century B.C. The Persians, led by King Cyrus in 546 B.C., invaded Lydia and claimed victory. Sardis became the center of one of four Persian states. Also visit an ancient synagogue during your time in Sardis. Kaya Prestige Hotel
 Day 12 - June 4th - Wednesday (B, L)
Izmir / Ephesus
Departure for Ephesus, one of the most important and famous ancient cities. Relics found in Ephesus date this city's existence to at least 3,000 B.C. This coastal city was coveted by conquerors throughout the centuries. In A.D. 53, St. Paul attempted to spread Christianity in Ephesus. When the harbor of Ephesus silted up, the majority of the city relocated to the nearby area surrounding the basilica of St. John, built by the Emperor Justinian. Visit the Museum, the Basilica of St. John, and the house of the Virgin Mary. Kaya Prestige Hotel
Day 13 - June 5th - Thursday (B, L, D)
Izmir / Pergamum / Canakkale
Drive along the coast of the Aegean Sea to the ancient city of Pergamum, another cultural center of antiquity and one of the seven churches of the Bible. Pergamum was the rival of Ephesus in the field of Commerce, and of Alexandria in the fields of arts and learning. Parchment was invented in Pergamum after Egypt cut off the supply of papyrus. Not far from the Acropolis of Pergamum, the Asclepion was known as one of the foremost medical centers of classical times. Dedicated to Ascleplios, the god of health and medicine, this first health spa was a place to socialize and recuperate. Drive to the legendary Troy, site of the tragedy of Paris and the beautiful Helen. In 1871, wealthy industrialist Heinrich Schliemann used Homer's Iliad to find the ancient city. Tusan Hotel
Day 14 - June 6th - Friday (B, L)
Canakkale / Gallipoli / Istanbul
Cross the Dardanelles and visit the Anzac Bay and World War I memorials. Fighting on opposite sides at Gallipoli were two future great leaders, Winston Churchill and Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk, the Father of Modern Turkey). During nine months of battles more than 100,000 men were killed and half a million were wounded. After lunch you will continue your drive to Istanbul. Point Hotel
Day 15 - June 7th - Saturday (B)
Istanbul / USA
Transfer to the airport for your flight back the U.S. |
