A Sultan's Adventure
A private Tour of Turkey
If you have more
than a week but less than two, we can still show you all of Turkey's top
sights--Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Kusadas, Çanakkale--an
unbeatable value.
DAY 1 - ISTANBUL
Our staff meets your plane and escorts
you to your hotel. In the evening, transfers and touring are alwyas on
a private basis
DAY 2 - ANKARA & CAPPADOCIA
A morning flight takes us to Ankara
for a visit to its renowned Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. We then
drive south from the Turkish capital to biblical Cappadocia, visiting
the Seljuk Turkish caravanserai of Agzkarahan and the natural rock fortress
of Uçhisar on the way. (BLD)
DAY 3 - CAPPADOCIA
We explore the "moonscape"
of Cappadocia, visiting the painted churches in the Göreme and Zelve Valleys,
the rock-hewn dwellings in Ortahisar, the pottery-making center of Avanos,
and the incredible underground city of Kaymakl (or Derinkuyu). (BLD)
DAY 4 - KONYA & PAMUKKALE
An early morning drive takes us
to the mystical city of Konya, birthplace of the Whirling Dervishes, for
a visit to the Mevlana Museum. We continue to the spa of Pamukkale to
enjoy the sunset from its warm mineral-water pools before making the short
drive to Denizli and our hotel. (BLD)
DAY 5 - HIERAPOLIS & APHRODISIAS
We return to Pamukkale to tour the
extensive ruins of Roman Hierapolis and have a swim in the mineral pools,
then continue through lush farming country to Aphrodisias, the well-preserved
City of Aphrodite, goddess of love. After touring the ruins, we drive
to the Aegean seaside resort of Kusadas for the night. (BLD)
DAY 6 - EPHESUS & IZMIR
The miraculously revealed House
of the Virgin Mary is our first stop, after which we tour Ephesus, the
capital of Roman Asia Minor, and the Basilica of St John, said to mark
his tomb. The drive to Izmir is past fields of potatoes and tobacco, and
orchards of figs. (BLD)
DAY 7 - PERGAMON & DARDANELLES
Driving north along the Aegean coast,
we come to Bergama (ancient Pergamon) and ascend its lofty acropolis,
followed by a tour of the Asclepion, one of the world's first medical
centers. After lunch, we continue northward along the coast to Çanakkale,
on the Dardanelles. (BLD)
DAY 8 - TROY & MARMARA COAST
The short drive to Troy ends with
the thrill of standing atop the ancient walls where beautiful Helen once
stood, where the Trojan Horse brought victory for the invading Achaeans
3300 years ago. We return to Istanbul along the fertile shores of the
Sea of Marmara. (BLD)
DAY 9 - ISTANBUL
Having saved the best for last,
we tour the great Ottoman capital, visiting the Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye
Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi, the palace of the sultans, with its
fabulous Treasury and collections of priceless Chinese porcelains. In
the afternoon we venture out to the great city walls to see the Kariye
Museum (Chora Church), resplendent with Byzantine mosaics. In the evening,
join us for dinner and a fabulous show of belly-dancing and folk dancing
(optional, at extra cost). (BL)
DAY 10- ISTANBUL
Full day at leisure or to explore
further this city of wonders on your own (cB)
DAY 11 - DEPARTURE
We escort you to the airport for
your flight home. (B)
Rates
per person in US $
| In Triple
Occupancy |
US$ 3820
|
| In Double
Occupancy |
US$ 3850
|
| In Single
Occupancy |
US$ 4530
|
This fully escorted tour departs Istanbul each Saturday from April through
October (no winter departures).
Rates are per person
and include:
|
