Itinerary

DAY 1         ISTANBUL
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon we stroll along the streets of this glamorous city. After a glimpse of the old city, we get back to our hotel for a welcome cocktail and then go to a traditional spot for our welcome dinner. Overnight at a nice hotel with local flavor.
Extracurricular activities: Walk the back roads.
Sites visited: Spice Market, University Square, Covered Bazaar.

DAY 2         ISTANBUL
In the morning, we start to visit the glorious highlights of Constantinople. We visit Topkapi Palace, and then walk to the other splendid relics such as 400-year-old Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), and 2000-year-old Roman Hippodrome and the Underground Cistern. and visit the Hagia Sophia Church, miraculously built in the first half of the 6th century, by Emperor Justinianus.
Sites visited: Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, and Roman Hippodrome and Haghia Sophia.

DAY 3            CAPPADOCIA
This morning we take a short flight to Cappadocia located in the center of Turkey. This unusual landscape is a geological and historical wonder composed of extensive underground cities (churches, schools, frescos, homes, ventilation systems etc.) carved into eerily eroded volcanic tuff. After checking into our hotel, we walk to Uchisar Castle, an impressive rock formation long use by locals as a castle. It offers a superb panorama of the surrounding area. We continue to hike through the Love Valley, famous for its magical fairy chimneys as well as explore the Goreme Open Air Museum with its excellent examples of Byzantine rural art. We finish the day with a stop at a local carpet factory. Turks started making knotted carpets in the 5th century BC in Central Asia and they have been given as highly prestigious gifts since medieval ages.
Extracurricular activities: Hiking 3-4 hours a day, visiting local workshops such as pottery, carpet, winery
Sites visited: Goreme Open air Museum, Derinkuyu underground city.

DAY 4            CAPPADOCIA
We start our day with a hike through the picturesque Red Valley. With its high walls and narrow canyons, it may remind you of the American Southwest. Our hike passes ancient monasteries and churches as we make our way back towards Goreme. This area of Cappadocia is well known for its pottery, and this afternoon we may stop to visit a local studio to learn more about this ancient art.
Extracurricular activities: Visiting pottery
Sites visited: Red Valley, Goreme.

DAY 5            CAPPADOCIA
Cappadocia has dozens of subterranean towns, but the most impressive are Kaymakli and Derinkuyu. These elaborate settlements are up to eight stories deep (only yet partially excavated) with a tangle of tunnels leading to churches, private living quarters, storage areas, deep water wells, carved chimneys for air shafts and even wine producing chambers. There is one tunnel nearly 6 miles long that connects the two underground cities. Up to 60,000 people lived here for months underground. The determination and motivation behind the creation of these subterranean fortresses is nearly inconceivable. Next, it’s off to the beautiful stream-lined canyon of the Ilhara Valley for an afternoon of hiking. This narrow canyon is simply delightful with dozens of hidden, Byzantine churches, along with their original frescos, to explore along the way. After lunch in the valley at a small cafe situated on the banks of the river, we head back on a different track.
Extracurricular activities: Hike the Ihlara Valley.
Sites visited: Ihlara Valley, Derinkuyu Underground City.

DAY 6        EPHESUS AREA
We take the early morning flight to Izmir via Istanbul and a short drive take us to Ephesus area. This is a very important delta, where river Kaystos silted for millenniums. The international port of Ephesus has attracted the world’s merchants, artists and the statesmen interest for centuries. In this area we will visit the relics of Hellenistic, Roman, biblical, Byzantine and Ottoman interests such as the ancient settlement of Ephesus, the Archeological Museum, Artemission, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, House of Virgin Mary, Basilica Church of St. John the apostle, the pretty old village called Sirince.
Extracurricular activities:
Sites visited: Sirince visit and maybe more depending on time, such as St John’s Basilica.

DAY 7        EPHESUS AREA
We visit St John Basilica Church in order to have an overall view of the area. We also visit the impressive museum of Ephesus, and Artemission, which was rated as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, House of Virgin Mary, which is authenticated by Vatican as a pilgrimage destination. Virgin Mary was entrusted to St. John the apostle and probably came to Ephesus with him. We eat at Sirince village at a traditional restaurant. This unique village is under preservation and famous for its nice architecture, wineries and olive oil. The highlight of the day is the great Ephesus. We will walk the marble streets, admire the library, the temples and dream of the big riot against St Paul in the 25,000 seat Roman Theater.
Sites visited: Ephesus, Archeology Museum, Artemission, and House of Virgin Mary,
Sirince Village, St John Basilica Church

DAY 8        ISTANBUL
Take the short morning flight to Istanbul to make the last minute shopping and visit other favorite parts of this magnificent city.

DAY 9     TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT

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