Itinerary

Day 1 - Ankara

Arrive Ankara, the capital of Modern Turkey. Meet our guide and driver to transfer to our hotel. Day at leisure. Welcome cocktail and dinner at our hotel.

Day 2 - Ankara

Full day visit of Ankara including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations which houses the richest collection of artifacts brought from various parts of the country. These artifacts include pre-historical materials, Neolithic cave drawings, utensils from Catalhoyuk, the earliest known city in the world. We will see thousands of object brought from different parts of the country and gives us an overall picture of Hittite, Phrygian, Lydian and Urartian civilizations. We then will proceed to the Temple of Augustus. After lunch, we will visit the Mausoleum of the founder of Modern Turkey, Ataturk. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Ankara.

Day 3 - Cappadocia

Today we drive south to Cappadocia, the land of fairy-chimneys via the Salt Lake. After lunch at a local restaurant, we proceed to explore the region including the Pigeons Valley and the Castle of Uchisar before we arrive at our hotel Dinner and overnight.

Day 4 - Cappadocia

We continue for our full day tour of the region. Our first stop is at Goreme where we will see many rock cut churches with beautiful frescoes.Then we will drive to see the Pashabagi Valley before we arrive at Zelve Open Air Museum which was one of the earliest monastic settlements in the area. Time to visit local crafts people before we get to our hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 5 - Cappadocia, Konya

We will visit one of the underground cities of Cappadocia which was used in times of danger. Lunch in Konya, which was the capital of the Selcuk Empire and adorned with elaborate monuments of the 12th and 13th century. We visit the Mevlana Museum which houses the tomb of the world famous mystic philosopher Mevlana. A sacred Islamic shrine and object to pilgrimage from all over Turkey. Proceed to Karatay Museum which was a theological school and displays the most exquisite Selcuk tiles of the 13th century. Dinner and overnight in Konya.

Day 6 - Konya, Antalya

Drive to Antalya, the most famous resort center on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Continue to Aspendos, visit the best preserved Roman Theatre built by Marcus Aurelius in Asia Minor. We then drive to the impressive aquaducts of the city better preserved than the ones in Campagna, France. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Drive to Perge, which was once the greatest learning center and visited by St. Paul. It is still one of the most impressive Greco-Roman sites of Turkey. Arrive in Antalya and have dinner at hotel. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 7 - Antayla

Leave hotel for our visit of the Archeological Museum which houses an elaborate collection of statues and artifacts from Perge and surrounding cities. Lunch at a local restaurant. Reminder of the day is at leisure to explore the old section of the city or take an optional tour to Termessus, known as the Eagle’s Nest. It is one of the most memorable experiences of archeology, fauna and flora in the entire Mediterranean. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.

Day 8 - Antalya, Pamukkale

Drive to Pamukkale crossing the Taurus Mountain ranges. After lunch we will continue to explore the ancient city of Hierapolis with ancient streets, a very well preserved theatre and numerous burials in different shapes. Enjoy walking on the white calcium terraces formed by the hot springs in the area. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 9 - Pamukkale, Kusadasi v

Today, we drive to Kusadasi throught the famous Meander Valley. Enroute visit Aphrodisias, dedicated to Aphrodite and rewarded by Augustus. It has the most sophisticated school of schulpture ever founded in Asia Minor and is also famous for its high quality white marble. We will also visit a local museum which displays artifacts found in the city. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon arrival at Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight.

Day 10 - Kusadasi, Ephesus, Kusadasi

Morning tour of Ephesus, the greatest of all the Roman cities in Asia Minor. It was the home of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Our tour of Ephesus includes the elegant library of Celsus, the grand theater where St. Paul preached, the Temple of Hadrian, the Marble Street and also a special visit to the Roman villas of Ephesus with their elaborate wall paintings. We also visit the House of Virgin Mary where according to a legend she spent her last years. After lunch, we visit the local museum of Ephesus and the Basilica of St. John, where he is believed to be buried. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Kusadasi.

Day 11 - Kusadasi, Pergamum, Ayvalik

Today we drive north to Pergamum via Izmir, ancient city of Smyrna. As we approach Bergama, one can see the ancient acropolis atop the hill rising above the modern town. This was the seat of the Pergamene rulers who stretched their territories to the Eastern Mediterranean. It housed the second largest library of the ancient world. We will see the temple of Athena, Trajan, the famous Altar of Zeus and the steepest theater in the world. After lunch, we continue to the most important healing center in Asia Minor which was dedicated to the God of healing, Asklepios. This is where Galen practiced and taught medicine. We drive further north to Altinoluk and our hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 12 - Altinoluk, Troy, Istanbul

Today we leave for Troy, the place of local childhood fantasies of battles over Helen of Troy, or perhaps where Western literature had its beginnings. We cross the famous Dardanelles by ferry. After lunch we continue to Istanbul and to our hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 13 - Istanbul

A full day visit of Istanbul including the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Underground cistern and the church of St. Sophia with its world famous mosaics and architecture. We have lunch within the Topkapi Palace complex. We then continue our tour of the palace, one-time residence of the Ottoman emperors and now a museum housing extraordinary collections of jewelry, armor and imperial costumes. We will finish the tour with a visit to the Grand Bazaar before returning to our hotel. Dinner at hotel.

Day 14 - Istanbul

Today we continue to explore more of Istanbul including the Chora Church (Kariye Cami), one of the most important monuments in Istanbul and famous for its mosaics. We visit the Mosque of Suleman the Magnificent. After lunch we drive along the ancient walls of Constantinople before returning to our hotel and our final dinner.

Day 15 - Istanbul

Transfer to the international airport for outgoing flights.

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