2005 TURKEY EXPERT TOUR
27 Meals
Between April November
Every Two Weeks
Departures on Fridays from Istanbul
13 Nights, 14 Days
With Superior First Class Hotels
2005
GUARANTEED DEPARTURE DATES: Departures
from Istanbul on Fridays
TEX 01
Apr 15-28
TEX 11
Sep 2-15
TEX 02 Apr
29-May 12
TEX 12 Sep
16-29
TEX 03
May 13-26
TEX 13
Sep 30-Oct 13
TEX 04 May
27-Jun 9
TEX 14 Oct
7-20
TEX 05
Jun 10-23
TEX 15
Oct 14-27
TEX 06 Jun
24-Jul 7
TEX 16 Oct
21-Nov 3
TEX 07
Jul 8-21
TEX 17
Nov 4-17
TEX 08 Jul
22-Aug 4
TEX 18 Nov
11-24
TEX 09
Aug 5-18
TEX 19
Nov 25-Dec 8
TEX 10 Aug
19-Sep 1
TEX 20 Dec
9-22
PROFESSIONALLY ESCORTED ITINERARY
Day 01 Friday
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 Saturday
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. Then visit the Grand
Covered Bazaar with over 4,000 tiny shops. Evening
at leisure. (B)
Day 03 Sunday
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 Monday
Pergamon - Izmir
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. (B,L)
Day 05 Tuesday
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 Wednesday
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 Thursday
Hierapolis - Aphrodisias - Antalya
Morning tour of PAMUKKALE, noted ancient spa, where
pure white travertines 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. (B,D)
Day 08 Friday
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 Saturday
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 Sunday
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 Monday
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 Tuesday
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 Wednesday
Bursa - Istanbul
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. (B)
Day 14 Thursday
Istanbul - End of the Tour
Escorted transfer to Istanbul airport for flight
back. End of our services. (B)
13 nights
hotel accommodation
at the above
mentioned hotels
Sightseeing as per the itinerary
All escorted transfers
Daily breakfast
7 lunches
6 Dinners
Transportation by A/C bus, or
A/C van
depending on the size of
the group
English speaking professional
tour guide
throughout the tour
All Entry fees to the sites &
museums
Portage at hotels
Tips to the hotel and restaurant
staff
Service charges & local taxes
Travel documents, maps
EXCLUDING
Flights
Drinks and meals which are not
listed at the itinerary
All personal expenses
Turkish Visa Fee
Tips to the tour guide and driver
