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PROFESSIONALLY ESCORTED
ITINERARY
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 worlds 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 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)
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)
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,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 theater and the agora.
Continue to Antalya for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
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,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,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,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)
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 Bursas colorful
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)
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