Itinerary

Day 1: Magnificent Istanbul! You will be met upon arrival and transferred to our hotel in the old part of the city and within easy walking distance of most of the must-see places. The hotel's style reflects both Ottoman and Byzantine elegance with modern touches throughout. The Welcome Dinner will be the first meal of the trip.

Day 2: We'll enjoy a morning visit to one of Istanbul's smaller mosques, the Rustem Pasa Mosque, famous for its exceptionally fine tiles. Later, we'll cruise up the Bosphorus on a private boat gliding past opulent palaces, exquisite mosques, imposing fortresses, and traditional wooden Ottoman mansions.

After our luncheon overlooking the harbor, we'll explore the Spice Market with the enticing displays of Turkish delight, barrels of spices and herbs, pistachios soaked in honey (one of many Turkish aphrodisiacs), fine linens, and hundreds of other exotic items. Then we'll continue on to the Topkapi Palace, built in 1453, which was the lavish home to the sultans for many centuries. In the treasury section we can see the jewel-encrusted thrones, the world's largest emerald and the famous Topkapi dagger. Dinner will be in a small, typical restaurant in the old city.

Day 3: Another full day of sightseeing will include the Roman Hippodrome, the Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum and the cool, serene Underground Cistern, built in A.D. 375 to provide water storage for the ancient city. We will then visit the monumental Hagia Sophia Basilica, jewel of the Byzantine Empire, which was opened by Emperor Justinian in A.D. 537. It was used as a Christian church for 916 years, as a mosque for 481 years, and by order of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Ataturk, was made into a museum in 1934. After a luncheon in the garden of a restored Ottoman mansion, we'll explore the Grand Bazaar. There are 18 entrances and over 4,000 shops in this, the world's largest covered market. We'll make an evening visit to the Blue Mosque to appreciate its intricate, delightful interior. Later we will dine at a seafood restaurant favored by the locals.

Day 4: Today we leave Istanbul, traveling southwest along the shore of the Sea of Marmara to cross the Dardanelles into Asia at Canakkale. We continue to the legendary city of Troy where Greek and Trojan heroes fought the Trojan War (13th century B.C.) for the honor of the beautiful Helen. We spend the night in a small town where Aristotle founded a school of philosophy in 340 B.C., Assos, also known as Behramkale. We'll have dinner in our small hotel along the Aegean waterfront.


Day 5: High above Assos is the magnificent setting of the Temple of Athena. Although its treasures have been carted off to museums in Istanbul, Europe, and Boston, we will enjoy poking around the old walls and tumbled buildings. Our visit to the hilltop ruins of Pergamum brings us to one of the most dramatic sites in the ancient world. It boasted the largest library with 200,000 scrolls, most of which were given to Cleopatra by Mark Anthony. The theater, which held 10,000 people, is still fairly intact. Nearby Asklepion was one of the leading medical institutions of the Roman age. We'll go on to Kusadasi for the next four nights. Dinner will be at one of the waterfront restaurants.

Day 6: Today we'll visit three smaller but exquisite archeological treasures. Priene is one of the most intact Hellenistic settlements to be seen, with the superb Temple of Athena a highlight. It is the earliest example of urban planning. Militius is impressive for its gigantic theater and Didyma for its Temple of Apollo built to honor the god of prophecy and oracles. Dinner will be at one of the waterfront restaurants.

Day 7: Perhaps you've heard the words, "a reading from St. Paul to the Ephesians." Today you can sit in the same theater where St. Paul preached. Ephesus is overwhelming, yet still the best-preserved Roman city (and perhaps the best place in the world) to get the feeling for what life was like in Roman times. After lunch in the pastoral village of Sirince, we'll visit the house where the Virgin Mary spent the last years of her life and also the Basilica of St. John. Dinner will be on your own tonight.

Day 8: Today we'll drive to the delightful "frozen waterfalls" and healing hot mineral springs of Pamukkale and the nearby ruins of Hierapolis. We'll explore lovely Aphrodisias, the city and temple dedicated to the goddess of love and one of the finest ancient stadiums ever built. Dinner will be in our hotel.


Days 9-12: From the Izmir airport we'll fly to Kayseri in the land of bewitching geological wonders that is Cappadocia. Early traders called these formations, "Fairy Chimneys." Here Byzantine Christians formed communities and carved churches in the rock. Some are beautifully painted and now ours to appreciate. We'll visit Zelve Valley with elaborate cave shelters carved into the rocks centuries ago, the amazing underground city of Kaymakli, and the dwellings and early churches in the Goreme open-air museum. Cappadocia is perfect for getting out and walking. On our three- to four-mile hikes we can better appreciate this magical countryside. This is the center of carpet- and pottery-making, so we'll learn how these traditional arts are still alive. We'll visit a Caravansary and imagine the camel caravans of old stopping for rest here during their trek across the "Silk Road." For those interested, there is an optional balloon ride. (Not included in the trip cost) Our hotel for these nights is one of the "cave hotels" as most rooms have been carved out of the surrounding rock. Dinner will be on your own one night.

Day 13: From the airport in Kayseri, we will fly to Istanbul. There will be time for some last-minute shopping before our farewell dinner.

Day 14: After breakfast you will be transferred to the Istanbul airport for your onward flight.

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