Day 1: Istanbul - Ankara - Sungurlu
Arriving to Istanbul Airport and meeting with your guide
at the airport. Afternoon we fly to Ankara. Ankara is
Turkey's political capital and second biggest city. Since
1923, it has been capital of the Turkish Republic, a secular
nation. In the afternoon, you'll visit the world-renowned
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with its priceless collection
of Paleolithic, Neolithic, Hatti, Hittite, Phrygian, and
Urartian and Roman artifacts. Drive to Sungurlu. Dinner
and overnight in Sungurlu.
Day 2: Hittite Sites - Cappadocia
Explore the remains of Hattusas, the capital city of
the Hittites and site of the world famous cuneiform tablets.
You will also visit the rock shrine of Yazilikaya, featuring
drawings of 63 out of the 1,000 deities worshipped by
the Hittites. In the afternoon, drive into the heart of
central Anatolia to the volcanic beauty of Cappadocia's
deceptively, desolate landscape. Dinner and overnight
at our hotel in Cappadocia.
Day 3: Cappadocia
Explore one of the oldest settlements of the region --
Goreme. The chimney-like, rock formations that spread
throughout Cappadocia's rugged landscape are as fantastic
as man's accomplishments within its stone. Visit the Byzantine
churches of Goreme carved into the cliffs and caves with
colorful frescoes dating to the 7th century. Originally,
there was a church for every day of the year. Continue
your exploration of this intriguing region with a visit
to the hidden, monastic valley of Pasabagi, which has
a large number of carved rock houses and churches. Stroll
through the red valley of Dervent and a photo stop at
the ancient natural citadel of Uchisar. Dinner and overnight
at the hotel in Cappadocia.
Day 4: Cappadocia
This morning learn how the colorful kilims (carpets)
that echo the earth tones of the region are made during
a demonstration by local weavers. Descend 8 stories beneath
the surface of the earth to explore the underground city
where approximately 15,000 early Christians, fleeing persecution,
lived for months at a time undetected in Derinkuyu. The
city was sub-divided into separate sections for better
defense purposes with comfortable living rooms, wine cellars,
meeting halls and churches. After lunch continue to explore
Cappadocia's beauty in the local village of Soganli. Explore
early rock carved churches, see typical Cappadocia houses
and barter at the local handicraft market. In the evening,
attend an optional performance of the mystic whirling
dervishes in a rock carved lounge (at additional cost).
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Cappadocia.
Day 5: Cappadocia - Konya - Antalya
See the difference in accommodations for 13th century
travelers during a stop at Sultanhani Caravanserai en
route to Turkey's oldest city – Konya, the capital
of the Seljuk Empire, but known worldwide as the home
of the sect of the Whirling Dervishes. Chanting of poetry,
rhythmic rotation, and incessant music create a euphoria
that, according to the faithful, induces a feeling of
soaring, of ecstasy, of mystical flight. Continue south
to Antalya. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
Day 6: Antalya - Pamukkale
After visiting the Antalya Archaeology Museum in the
morning, we drive to Pamukkale, visiting Thermessos with
its spectacular view en route. We stop for lunch at a
local restaurant and spend the rest of the day at leisure,
walking on the calcareous terraces of Pamukkale or enjoying
the thermal facilities. Dinner, and overnight in Pamukkale.
Day 7: Perge - Aspendos - Antalya
Begin your Greco-Roman quest today by visiting Perge
where a mere scrape of the shoe will reveal mosaic walkways
through the ancient agora. Its extensive ruins include
a stadium that once echoed to the roar of 15,000 spectators.
Continue to Aspendos, which has one of the best-preserved
theaters in the world. Its acoustics are so well tuned
that a coin dropped on stage can be heard in the last
row. Visit the Archeology Museum in Antalya. Dinner and
overnight in Antalya.
Day 8: Antalya - Aphrodisias - Pamukkale
Explore the remains of Aphrodisias, the city dedicated
to the goddess of love and home to a school of sculpture
that was known throughout the ancient world. Sculptural
relief’s still adorn many of the buildings. Explore
its many Greco-Roman remains including a stadium, which
once sat 30,000 people and the Temple of Aphrodite, which
was later converted into a Christian basilica. Continue
to Pamukkale, a spa known throughout the ancient world.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Pamukkale.
Day 9: Pamukkale - Sardis - Izmir
Enjoy the beauty of Pamukkale's immense tiers of white
limestone as they cascade down a barren hillside. Visit
the nearby Roman theater and necropolis. Continue to Izmir,where
you will explore the remains of Sardis where King Croesseus
of Lydia resided. Also visit the Temple of Artemis, gymnasium
and the synagogue. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in
Izmir.
Day 10: Ephesus
Today you will discover Ephesus, which is a highlight
of every trip to Turkey. Do make sure to walk the streets
of the most complete city of antiquity in the world. Sit
in the same theater where Paul preached and Roman dramas
were performed. Every summer, during the International
Izmir Festival, the theater is alive with the words, music
and drama of contemporary performers in this ancient setting.
Stroll past the Library of Celsius, the baths and the
Temple of Hadrian. You'll also visit the house where the
Virgin Mary spent her last days and a photo stop for the
Temple of Artemis with the last remaining column indicating
where one of the Seven Wonders of the World was. Dinner
and overnight in Izmir.
Day 11: Izmir - Pergamum - Troy - Cannakkale
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. Dinner
and overnight in Canakkale.
Day 12: Canakkale - Gallipolis - Istanbul
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 go to Istanbul, rising from the shores of the Black
Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 13: Istanbul
We start our first morning in Istanbul strolling to the
great square which was once the Byzantine Hippodrome.
Now it is a great parklike area surrounded by the Blue
Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Underground Cistern, commonly
called the Basilica Cistern. After lunch at a local restaurant,
retracing our steps we walk to the Topkapi Palace, more
than a palace, it is an assemblage of museums, containing
the collections amassed by the Sultans over almost five
centuries. After Topkapi Palace, we finish the day with
Grand Bazaar visit. Dinner, and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 14: Istanbul
Begin your discovery of Istanbul's natural beauty and
rich historic heritage with a morning cruise on the Bosphorus.
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. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 15: Istanbul
Discover the classical highlights of Istanbul: the Roman
Hippodrome, Blue Mosque famed for its Iznik tiled interior
and six minarets and Mosque of Soliman the Magnificent.
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. Dinner
and Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 16: Istanbul
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. Dinner and Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 17: Istanbul
Transfer to Airport and Leaving Turkey
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