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Highlights
of This Tour: |
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| Turkey is a vast country. It is
also an ancient one, continuously
inhabited for ten millennia, home
to the rise and fall of many of the
world's greatest civilizations. It
would take months, or even years,
to explore fully the cultural, historical
and natural riches of this fascinating
land. But we've put together a tour
that allows a glimpse of some of Turkey's
most renowned sites.
We start out by exploring the Byzantine
cathedrals, bustling bazaars and towering
mosques of Istanbul, an imperial city
steeped in almost 3,000 years of Greek,
Roman and Ottoman history. After a
cruise along the legendary Bosphorus,
we fly to the heart of Anatolia, where
we visit Cappadocia, a region that
amazes and inspires with its surreal
landscape, early Christian settlements
and timeless way of life. From there,
we head for the blue waters and olive
groves of the Aegean region, the area
where much of what is regarded as
Western culture first took shape,
a stunning land once crowned by the
great marble cities of ancient Pergama
and Ephesus. Follow in the footsteps
of Alexander the Great, Cleopatra,
St. Paul, the Virgin Mary...
We arrange air-conditioned, comfortable
transport and professional drivers,
accommodations in top hotels, knowledgeable,
friendly guides and an itinerary that
helps you get the most out of your
stay in Turkey. Relax, marvel at the
glories of this marvelous country.
And leave the rest to us. |
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Detailed
Itinerary: |
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| 1st Day...
Arrive at Istanbul's Ataturk
International Airport, where
you are welcomed and assisted
with the transfer to your hotel.
Overnight
in Istanbul |
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2nd Day...
A full-day tour of Istanbul,
the fabled capital of three
great empires - Roman, Byzantine
and Ottoman. We visit Hagia
Sophia, the great cathedral
that was once the former spiritual
heart of the Byzantine Empire
and is considered by many to
be the 8th Wonder of the World.
Then, we explore The Blue Mosque,
an architectural masterpiece
dating from the 17th century
that is famed for its exquisite
blue tiles and six elegant minarets,
and Basilica Cistern, an ancient
underground cistern supported
by 336 columns.
After lunch, we tour Topkapi
Palace, the home of Sultans
and administrative center of
the mighty Ottoman Empire. Precious
personal belongings of the Ottoman
dynasties are on display in
the Treasury and the collection
of fine Chinese porcelain is
among the most extensive in
the world. We end the day with
a trip to the Grand Bazaar,
an exotic maze of narrow alleys,
stunning architectural details
and hundreds of shops selling
a rich assortment of handmade
carpets, gold, silver, leather
and other precious goods.
Overnight
in Istanbul |
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3rd Day… A half-day
cruise along the Bosphorus,
the glistening waters that link
Europe to Asia, the physical
and spiritual heart of Istanbul.
On the way back to our hotel,
we visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum,
a gracious three-story waterfront
mansion housing a rich collection
of Anatolian works of arts,
antiques and relics dating back
to 6,000 BC. Enjoy the afternoon
at your leisure. Overnight
in Istanbul |
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4th Day… We begin
the day with an early morning
flight to Kayseri, a central
Anatolian city 100 km from Urgup,
a charming town in the heart
of Cappadocia. We spend the
day exploring the surreal landscape
of volcanic tuff sculpted by
time and the elements, including
fairy chimneys, troglodyte dwellings,
sweeping vistas and the picturesque
towns of Ortahisar and Uchisar.
Overnight
in Urgup |
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5th Day… After breakfast,
we visit the Open Air Museum,
which is home to literally dozens
of rock-carved monasteries and
churches adorned with brilliant
Byzantine frescoes. We stop
at numerous spots to admire
the view and take photographs.
Lunch at a local restaurant,
then we visit rock formations
in Pasabag, Zelve's deserted
monastery complex, scenic Rose
Valley and the pottery-making
village of Avanos. Return to
hotel. Overnight
in Urgup
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6th Day...
After breakfast, we drive to
Derinkuyu, a rock-cut city extending
eight floors underground, then
visit a 13th century Ottoman
Caravanserai. We continue west
across the Central Anatolian
plains to Ankara, where we catch
a connecting one-hour flight
to Izmir (ancient Smyrna). Transfer
to our hotel for dinner. Overnight
in Izmir |
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7th Day... After
breakfast, we drive through
lush olive groves on the way
to the extensive ruins of Bergama
(Pergamum), including the Acropolis,
the Bergama Museum and the Asceplion,
an ancient Greek and Roman medical
center that also has a theater,
library and temples. We have
lunch at a local restaurant
before drive back through Izmir
(Smyrna) to Kusadasi, a resort
town on the Aegean. Overnight
in Kusadasi |
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8th Day... After
breakfast, we head for nearby
Efes (Ephesus), where we spend
the day visiting the Chapel
of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica
of St. John, Efes Museum, the
spectacular ruins of Ephesus,
including the Marble Street,
the largest ancient theater
in the world, several recently
excavated monuments, and the
Temple of Artemis, one of the
seven wonders of the ancient
world. We then return to Izmir
for the one-hour flight to Istanbul.
Transfer
to our hotel. |
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