Turkey - 11 Days / 9 Nights from
Day 1 - Depart USA Day 2 - Istanbul Arrive in Istanbul. Transfer to hotel. Balance of your day is Free. Enjoy a Welcome Drink with your hospitality staff. Day 3 - Istanbul In the morning visit Suleymaniye Mosque, Byzantine Hippodrome, in which stands the obelisk brought from Egypt by Theodosius and the bronze Serpent Column taken from Delphi by Constantine. The Mosque, which has six minarets and middle dome of 109 feet, is the next stop before St. Sophia, an originally Christian Basilica, conceived by Constantine and rebuilt by Justinian, then turned into a mosque in 1593 by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. In the 1920's, Ataturk made it a museum for all, regardless of creed. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit Topkapi Palace which served as the home of Ottoman Sultans for over 400 years and now serves as a museum with an exquisite collection of Chinese porcelain and Ottoman treasure. Before returning to your hotel visit the Grand Bazaar which dates back to the 15th century. It covers over 2,000 shops. Overnight. (BL)
Check out our ISTANBUL EXTENSION 4 Days / 3 Nights	Day 4 - Cappadocia Transfer to the airport for an early flight to Ankara, the capital of Turkey, one of the fastest growing cities in the world with a history that can be traced back to 3000 years. Upon arrival visit the Anatolian Civilization Museum which includes the remains of Catalhoyuk, the neolithic village dating back to 6500 B.C. (end of the Hittites who established an empire in Anatolia during 2000 B.C.) Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of modern day Turkey. After lunch at a local restaurant in Ankara, destination is the mysterious Cappadocia. Visit Agzikarahan Caravanserai and natural citadel of Uchisat en route. (BLD)
METRO TOUR INCLUDES: 3 nights first class hotel in Istanbul with breakfast 2 nights first class hotel in Cappadocia with breakfast 1 night first class hotel in Pamukkale with breakfast 1 night first class hotel in Kusadi with breakfast 1 night first class hotel in Izmir with breakfast 1 night first class hotel in Canakkale with breakfast 22 meals (9 breakfasts, 8 lunches & 6 dinners) Sightseeing as per Itinerary, all entrance fees, Guidance Tips and Porterage Hotel taxes and service charges Not included: Domesting air fare; Istanbul - Ankara International air fare Departure taxes		Day 5 - Cappadocia Sightseeing in this unique corner of the world Goreme Open-air Museum is full of pink, rose and white tapering columns. These tall free standing cones of stone curve and twist as if pulled from earth like taffy. Others are tall like fairy chimneys. The caves were settled in the 4th century as monasteries. Visit some caves in cliffs to see Byzantine frescoes decorating early Christian churches. Among them are frescoes of St. Helene who discovered the true cross at Jerusalem and of the saints slaying the dragon, symbol of ancient religion. In the afternoon, first to Kaymakli Underground City carved out of rock and completely self contained. More than 200 people lived on each of seven floors with the last one 250 feet underground. It is connected to Derinkuyu Underground City by six miles of tunnel. The tour of the religion also includes Zelve Valley and villages of Cavusin and Avanos. (BLD) Day 6 - Pamukkale Transfer to Konya and visit the Tomb of Mevlana, the great mystic poet and Islamic spiritual leader who founded the sect of "Whirling Dervishes." After lunch continue to Pamukkale, the cotton fortress which rises above the fertile Menderes Valley. Hot mineral waters burst from the earth and cascade over steep cliffs forming pools, channels, and stalactites. The therapeutic waters here were known to founders of curecity of Hierapolis in 190 B.C. (BLD) Day 7 - Kusadasi Stroll through the ruins of ancient Hierapolis, the Roman city, and transfer to Kusadasi, En route lunch at a local restaurant and visit Aphrodisias, the ancient city dedicated to the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite. Arrival, dinner and overnight. (BLD)
Type of Hotel	Double Occupancy
First Class Hotel Elsewhere Deluxe in Instanbul
Rates per person sharing a twin, 15% VAT tax included Note: This tour may be multilingual
First class hotels: Yigitalp/Instanbul, Peri Towers of Lodge/Cappadocia, Richmond Thermalor Lycus River/Pamukkale, Turtel/Kusadasi, Kaya Prestige/Izmir and Akol/Canakkale. Departure Dates from USA: Every Thursday.
Day 8 - Izmir Visit the Ruins of Ephesus which played a major role in the development of architecture, religion, governmental and economic system and art. The Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world and center of pagan religion for 15 centuries. Here Marc Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession, St. Paul preached in the Great Theater and in a little house outside the city the Virgin Mary spent her last days. In the afternoon depart for Izmir, birth place of Homer. Short orientation tour upon arrival. (BLD) Day 9 - Canakkale In the morning visit Bergama (ancient Pergamon). Parchement was invented here. This was the hometown of Galen, renown doctor and surgeon and site of his temple devoted to healing, the Asklepion. The library once held 200,000 books, all parchement. Lunch at a local restaurant in Bergama and in the afternoon drive to Troy, the immortal city of the legendary Helen of Troy and the Trojan Horse, which was destroyed and rebuilt nine times. (BLD)
Check out our Istanbul Extension