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Day 01 Saturday Arrive Istanbul
Meet and greet. A short orientation tour. Then transfer to the hotel for a
welcome briefing. Evening is free. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 02 Sunday 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 world’s greatest architectural marvels and the Spice
Bazaar. Return to the hotel. Evening at leisure. (B)
Day 03 Monday Istanbul - Troy - Canakkale
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. (B,D)
Day 04 Tuesday Pergamon - Izmir
Drive to Bergama. Visit the ACROPOLIS, the steepest theatre of the ancient
world, the Temple of Trojan, Library. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then visit
ASCLEPION, the ancient healing centre and the RED BASILICA which is one of the
Seven Churches of the Apocalypse (rev:2-12). Evening at leisure. Overnight in
Izmir. (B,L)
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Day 05 Wednesday Ephesus - 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. (B,L)
Day 06 Thursday Sardes - Pamukkale
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. (B,L,D)
Day 07 Friday Hierapolis - Aphrodisias - Antalya
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 theatre
and the agora. Continue to Antalya for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
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Day 08 Saturday Antalya
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. (B,L,D)
Day 09 Sunday Antalya - Konya - Cappadocia
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,L,D)
Day 10 Monday Cappadocia
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. (B,L,D)
Day 11 Tuesday Cappadocia - Ankara
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. (B,L)
Day 12 Wednesday Ankara - Bursa
Visit the ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATION MUSEUM and the MAUSOLEUM of Kemal Ataturk in
Ankara. Drive to BURSA. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Day 13 Thursday Bursa - Istanbul
Visit the Green Mosque, the Green Tomb and Bursa’s colourful Silk Bazaar. Drive
to Istanbul. Rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)
Day 14 Friday Istanbul - End of the Tour
Escorted transfer to Istanbul airport for flight back. End of our services. (B)
DEPARTURE DAYS:
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