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September 15-29, 2008 (follows Albania tour)

May 3-17 & September 6-20, 2009 (precedes Bulgaria tour)

Join our small group Turkey Tour which includes: Istanbul, Troy, Pergamon, Izmir, Ephesus, Sardis, Aphrodisias, Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia, Ankara and Bursa.

Download Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Istanbul A short orientation tour., then transfer to the hotel for a welcome briefing. Dinner at an outdoor local seafood restaurant in Kumkapi district. Overnight in Istanbul. (D)

Day 2 Istanbul Discover the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of Istanbul. Visit the Royal Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman Sultans, the Blue Mosque, unique with six minarets, the Roman Hippodrome Square and the Saint Sophia Church, which is considered one of the worlds greatest architectural marvels. Also visit Cistern Basilica (largest underground water reservoir in the city remaining from the Roman times was rebuilt by Justinian after Nika Revolt in 532 ). Then visit the Spice Market ( Egyptian Bazaar ) where the air is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and the Grand Covered Bazaar with over 4,000 tiny shops. Dinner at Gelik Turkish Grills Restaurant. (B,D)

On a finger of land, at the confluence of the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara stands, the Topkapi Palace, the maze of buildings that was the focal point of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries. In these opulent surroundings the sultans and their court lived and governed. A magnificent wooded garden fills the outer, or first, court. In the second court, on the right, shaded by cypress and plane trees, stand the palace kitchens, which now serve as galleries exhibiting the imperial collections of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain. To the left is the Harem, the secluded quarters of the wives, concubines, and children of the sultan, charming visitors with echoes of centuries of intrigue. Today the third court holds the Hall of Audience, the Library of Ahmet III, an exhibition of imperial costumes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the treasury and a priceless collection of miniatures from medieval manuscripts. In the center of this innermost sanctuary, the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle enshrines the relics of the Prophet Muhammed brought to Istanbul when the Ottomans assumed the caliphate of Islam. (Open every day except Tuesday).

The ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life, stood in the area that now fronts the Blue Mosque. The area is now named for the mosque, Sultanahmet. Of the monuments which once decorated it only three remain: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Remains from the curved end of the Hippodrome wall can be seen on the southwest side of these three monuments. Today the square forms the center of Istanbul's historical, cultural and touristic pursuits. Take particular note of the surrounding wooden houses, especially the 18th century homes on Sogukcesme Street. Delightfully restored, they have a new lease on life as small hotels; one houses a fascinating library of books on Istanbul.

Day 3 Istanbul- Morning visit Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art housed in the grand vizier's restored palace. It was the grandest private residence ever built in the Ottoman Empire. Time & interest permitted, also visit Istanbul Archaeological Museum, near Topkapi.

Afternoon boat cruise up the Bosphorus Strait
A traditional and unforgettable boat excursion up the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and Asia. Its shores offer a delightful mixture of past and present, grand splendor and simple beauty. Modern hotels stand next to yali (shorefront wooden villas), marble palaces abut rustic stone fortresses, and elegant compounds neighbor small fishing villages. We embark at Eminonu, , after visiting the spice market, and stop alternately on the Asian and European sides of the strait.

During the journey we pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace; farther along rise the green parks and imperial pavilions of the Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of the parks stands the Ciragan Palace, refurbished in 1874 by Sultan Abdulaziz, and now restored as a grand hotel. For 300 m along the Bosphorus shore its ornate marble facades reflect the swiftly moving water. At Ortakoy, the next stop, artists gather every Sunday to exhibit their works in a streetside gallery. The eclectic mix of people creates a lively scene. Sample a tasty morsel from one of the street vendors. In Ortakoy, there is a church, mosque and synagogue that have existed side-by-side for hundreds of years - a tribute to Turkish tolerance at the grass roots level. Overshadowing Istanbul's traditional architecture is one of the world's largest suspension bridges, the Bosphorus Bridge, linking Europe and Asia.

We cross the bridge and disembark to visit the beautiful Beylerbeyi Palace which lies just past the bridge on the Asian side. (B, D)

Day 4 Istanbul - Troy - Canakkale
Drive to GALLIPOLI, through the European lands of Turkey. Cross the Dardanelles Strait by ferry boat. Visit ancient Troy, see its legendary walls and the replica of the wooden horse. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale. (B,D)

Day 5 Pergamon - Izmir
First we will visit the Acropolis, a city built by one of the generals of Alexander the Great. We will see the steepest theater of the ancient world, the Temple of Trojan, the city walls, and library. Lunch at a local restaurant. Next we visit to Asklepion, the ancient Healing Center, and the Red Basilica-- which is one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse.

Then, we will continue to Izmir.

Izmir lies on the shores of a large bay furrowed by ships and yachts and encircled by mountains. The climate is a mild one and, in summer, the heat is tempered by the constant and refreshing sea breezes. Behind the palm-lined promenades and avenues, which follow the shoreline, the city, in horizontal terraces, gently ascends the slopes of the surrounding mountains. Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey and its port is second only to Istanbul. A cosmopolitan and lively city all year round. Dinner at an outdoor restaurant. Overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

Day 6 Ephesus - Izmir
Drive to Ephesus, the most famous ancient Roman city in Turkey, maybe in the world. A visit to Efes (Ephesus), once the commercial center of the ancient world, is a highlight of any visit to Turkey. The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple, once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and rebuilt several times, in its latest form dates from the third century B.C. The ruins also include a theater, gymnasium, agora and baths, as well as the Library of Celsus.

Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, the Odeon, the Temple of Hadrian, the Celsus Library, the Marble Street, the Great Theater and the Harbour Road. Then, visit the Archaeological Museum and the Temple of Diana which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Tradition has it that, after the death of Christ, John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus where she is said to have spent her last days in a small house (Meryemana Evi) built for her on Bulbuldagi (Mt. Koressos). Now a place of pilgrimage for Roman Catholics and a popular attraction for everyone, the house has received the official sanction of the Vatican.

The Archaeological Museum houses an impressive collection of statues and other finds recovered during the excavations at Ephesus. The nearby Turkish Bath Museum, in a 16th century building, shows Turkish life at the hamam (bath). Return to Izmir. Dinner at an outdoor restaurant. Overnight in Izmir. (B,D)

Day 7 Sardes - Pamukkale
Drive to Sardes capital of ancient Lydia. Visit the Temple of Cybele which later became a church, the famous Synagogue from the third century, the Gymnasium and the new excavation area. See the Golden River Pactalos. Proceed to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight.

A magical, spectacular natural site, unique in the world, Pamukkale (Hiecrapolis) is a fairyland of dazzling white castles. Thermal spring waters laden with calcareous salts running off the plateau's edge have created this fantastic formation of stalactites, cataracts and basins. The hot springs have been used since Roman times for their therapeutic powers. Both the thermal center with its motels and thermal pools, as well as the ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis, are situated on the plateau. Swimming is available at the indoor or outdoor hot spring pool of our hotel. (B,D)

Day 8 Hierapolis - Aphrodisias - Antalya
Morning tour of Pamukkale and the underground hot water springs. Observation of carpet weaving at one of the local workshops.

Drive to Aphrodisias, the city of the Goddess of Love. Visit the well preserved stadium, the Odeon, the theater and the agora. Then visit the Denizli Glass Factory to see the old glass blowing technique and glass production.

Continue to Antalya for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Surrounded by amazing scenery of sharp contrasts, Antalya, Turkey's principal resort, is an attractive city with shady palm-lined boulevards and a prize-winning marina. In the picturesque old quarter of Kaleici, narrow, winding streets and old wooden houses abut the ancient city walls.

Day 9 Antalya
Full day excursion to the ancient Pamphylian, Hellenistic and Roman cities of Perge and Aspendos and to the award winning Antalya Archaeological Museum. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Perge (18 km from Antalya) was an important city of ancient Parnphylia, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC. St. Paul visited this city on his first missionary journey. The theater stage has finely carved marble reliefs, and other carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium. Amateur archeologists will want to see the handsome city gate flanked by two lofty towers, a long colonnaded road once paved with mosaics and lined with shops, a large agora, public baths and a gymnasium.

Day 10 Antalya - Konya - Cappadocia
Early departure to Konya, the location of the death of the celebrated sufi poet Rumi. Visit the Mevlana Museum and the 13th century Whirling Dervish Monastery. Continue to Cappadocia where nature has scoured surrealistic moonscape shapes and where the persecuted Christians dug underground cities and churches during the 9th century.

Continue to Cappadocia, (3 hrs drive)following one of the oldest trade routes of the world, the Uzun Yol (Long Road). The route linked Konya with its other great cities and ultimately with Persia (Iran). The Long Rd was dotted with hani (Ottoman-era caravanserias) where traders would stop for accommodation. The remains of three caravanserias can be visited; the best preserved being the impressive Agzikara Hani built between 1231 & 1239.

Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. Our hotel is located in the charming village Uchisar, dominated by its castle. Old Uchisar is less congested than Goerme. Tonight, an optional Folk and Belly Dance Show at one of the cave restaurants in Cappadocia. (B,D)

Day 11 Cappadocia
Full day Cappadocia visit, including Goreme Open Air Museum, Avanos the pottery making town, the natural citadel of Uchisar and the underground city of Kaymakli. As a result of two explosions, the area was covered with volcanic matter to a height of 100 yards. As it was easy to carve these volcanic stones, local people built underground cities and cave churches in Cappadocia. Dinner, attend a "Whirling Dervish Show" and overnight in Cappadocia. (B,D)

Day 12 Cappadocia - Ankara
Morning sightseeing in Cappadocia including including many painted rock churches. After lunch, visit the Agzikarahan Caravanserai from the Selcuk period. Drive to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, via Salt Lake. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Ankara. (B,D)

Day 13 Ankara - Bursa
Visit the Anatolian Civilization Museum and the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk in Ankara. Drive to Bursa. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 14 Bursa - Istanbul
The city of Bursa, southeast of the Sea of Marmara, lies on the lower slopes of Uludag (Mt. Olympos of Mysia, 2,443 m). The city derives its name from its founder, King Prusias of Bithynia. Its previous antique name was Prussa ad Hypium. It subsequently came under Roman, then Byzantine rule before falling to Orhan Gazi in 1326, when it become the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Many important Ottoman buildings remain.

Known as "Green Bursa," the city is filled with gardens and parks and overlooks a verdant plain. It is at the center of an important fruit growing region. Bursa was, and is still, famous for its peaches, silk trade, towel manufacture and thermal springs. Make a point to try the local dish Iskender Kebab, a dish of bread, tomato sauce, strips of grilled meat, melted butter and yogurt. Candied chestnuts are another regional speciality.

A tour of the city begins in the eastern section at the Yesil Turbe (Green Mausoleum). Set in a garden and distinguished by its exterior paneling of tiles, the mausoleum holds the tiled cenotaph of Sultan Mehmet 1. Across the street, the Yesil Mosque of 1424 reflects the new Ottoman, as opposed to Seljuk, aesthetic. A medrasa nearby completes the complex and is also home to the Ethnography Museum. Before exploring this area, we can stop for a glass of tea in one of the traditional tea houses. Going uphill, to the east, we pass by the Emir Sultan Mosque in its delightful setting, and after walking through a district of old houses, we reach the Yildirim Beyazit Mosque (1391).

Now we make our way to Cumhuriyet Square (known locally as Heykel) and stroll along Ataturk Avenue to Kom Park where outdoor cafes are set among flowers and fountains. At the back of the park, a long building, the Kom Han (1490), houses the silk cocoon trade. From here we proceed to the covered bazaar area, with its narrow streets, caravanserais and bedesten. On the other side of Kom Park stands one of Bursa's oldest religious buildings, the Orhan Gazi Mosque, built in 1413. Nearby is the large Ulu Mosque, constructed in the Seljuk style. A finely carved walnut mimber (speaker's platform) and impressive calligraphic panels decorate the mosque. The sadirvan (ablutionary fountain) lies uncharacteristicly within the mosque itself under the ceiling of twenty domes.

Walking west from the Ulu Mosque we arrive at Hisar, an old and picturesque quarter of Bursa. In the park that overlooks the valley are the mausoleums of Osman, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, and his son Orhan Gazi, who commanded the army that conquered Bursa. The cafes of Tophane offer a good place to stop for refreshments. In nearby Ressamlar Sokak (Painters' Street), local artists work in the open air.

At the Yildiz Park Tea Gardens in the Muradiye quarter, you get a superb view of the Muradiye Complex. The compound, in a tranquil park-like setting, contains the Mosque of Sultan Murat 11 (1426) built in the style of the Yesil Mosque and the tombs of Murat 11, Sehzade Cem and Sehzade Mustafa. These contain some of the loveliest decoration and tile work. The nearby Ottoman House Museum is in a restored 17th century dwelling that provides an interesting glimpse into the lives of wealthy Ottomans.

Optional extension: add an extra day in Bursa to visit other places of interest in Bursa including the Culture Park with the Bursa Archeological Museum, and the Ataturk Museum on the road to Cekirge, The western suburb of Cekirge has been known since Roman times for its warm springs rich in minerals. Many modem hotels have thermal bath facilities or, you can also visit the old hamams. Yeni Kaplica (New Spring) was built in 1552 by RustemPasa, Pasa, the Grand Vizier of Suleyman the Magnificent. The Eski Kaplica (Old Spring), built on the site of the original Byzantine baths, is the oldest bath. The Karamustafa Pasa baths are reputed to have the best hot mineral waters in the area. Buildings of interest in Cekirge, include the Mosque and Mausoleum of Murat I and the tomb of Suleyman Celebi, a religious poet. The monument to Karagoz commemorates the character whose humorous antics are immortalized in Turkish shadow puppet theater.

Drive to Istanbul (3 hrs) or we may use car ferry which will be slightly shorter travel time. Farewell Dinner at an outdoor restaurant. Overnight in Istanbul. (B,D)

Day 15 Transfer to airport for flight home. (B)

Our Escort: Mr. Cenk Eronat was born in Ankara in 1966. After primary school he moved to Izmir with his family where he finished High School, University graduating from Tourism and Management Department. After several experiences in well-known tourism companies and 5 star hotels he took his tour guide license from the government and started to guide tour groups in 1989. Since 1999 he has been working with our partner in Turkey, TutkuTours as vice president and guide. As both tour guide and a photographer who has travelled the world, he believes just a glimse at Turkey’s multicultural beauties for any photographer, is an uncomparable experience.  If you want to see Turkey from his eyes, just go to his photo collections and enjoy..! http://www.turkeyphotos.org/

HOTELS: based on availability

Istanbul	Galata Anemom	www.anemonhotels.com	(Boutique Hotel)
Canakkale	Iris	www.irisotel.com	(4 Star)
Izmir	Anemon	www.anemonhotels.com	(4 Star)
Pamukkale	Colossae	www.colossae.com.tr	(5 Star)
Antalya	Aspen	www.aspenhotel.org	(Boutique Hotel)
Cappadocia	Villa Cappadocia	http://villacappadocia.com	(Boutique Hotel)
Ankara	Gordion Hotel	www.gordionhotel.com	(Boutique Hotel)
Bursa	Celek Palas	http://celikpalas.com	(5 Star)

2008 PRICE: $2150 based on min 6 people; single room supplement $515;

2009 PRICE: $2485 based on min 6 people; single room supplement $588; supplement cost if less than 6 people.

Group Size: 6-10 people

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all text & photos © 1997-08, Barbara Sansone