27 Meals
13 Nights, 14 Days
With Superior First Class Hotels

PROFESSIONALLY ESCORTED ITINERARY
Day 01 Friday
Arrive Istanbul
Meet and greet. A short orientation tour. Then transfer to the hotel for a welcome briefing. Evening is free. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 02 Saturday
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 ST.SOPHIA CHURCH which is considered one of the worlds greatest architectural marvels.  Then visit the Grand Covered Bazaar with over 4,000 tiny shops. Evening at leisure. (B)

Day 03 Sunday
Istanbul - Troy - Canakkale
Drive to GALLIPOLI, through the European lands of Turkey. Cross the Dardanelles Strait by ferryboat. Visit ancient TROY, see its legendary walls and the replica of the wooden horse. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale. (B,D)

Day 04 Monday
Pergamon - Izmir
Drive to Bergama. Visit the ACROPOLIS, the steepest theater of the ancient world, the Temple of Trojan, Library. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then visit ASCLEPION, the ancient healing center and the RED BASILICA which is one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse (rev:2-12). Evening at leisure. Overnight in Izmir. (B,L)

Day 05 Tuesday
Ephesus - Izmir
Leave for EPHESUS, cradle of early Christianity (rev:2-1-7). Visit the HOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY, the ancient Ephesus, the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM and the TEMPLE OF DIANA which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Return to Izmir. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Izmir. (B,L)

Day 06 Wednesday
Sardes - Pamukkale
Drive to SARDES (rev:3-1-6) 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. Lunch en route. Proceed to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Day 07 Thursday
Hierapolis - Aphrodisias - Antalya
Morning tour of PAMUKKALE, noted ancient spa, where pure white travertine forms frozen waterfalls. Observation of carpet weaving at one of the local workshops. Drive to APHRODISIAS, the city of the Goddess of Love, see the well preserved stadium, the Odeon, the theater and the agora. Continue to Antalya for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 08 Friday
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,L,D)

Day 09 Saturday
Antalya - Konya - Cappadocia
Early departure to KONYA. Visit the Mevlana Museum, 13th century Whirling Dervish Monastery. After lunch continue to CAPPADOCIA where nature has scoured surrealistic moonscape shapes and where the persecuted Christians dug underground cities and churches during the 9th century. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. Tonight, an OPTIONAL Folk and Belly Dance Show at one of the cave restaurants in Cappadocia. (B,L,D)

Day 10 Sunday
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. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. (B,L,D)

Day 11 Monday
Cappadocia - Ankara
Morning sightseeing in Cappadocia. After lunch, visit the Agzikarahan Caravanserai from the Selcuk period. Drive to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, via Salt Lake. Evening at leisure. Overnight in ANKARA. (B,L)

Day 12 Tuesday
Ankara - Bursa
Visit the ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATION MUSEUM and the MAUSOLEUM of Kemal Ataturk in Ankara. Drive to BURSA. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 13 Wednesday
Bursa - Istanbul
Visit the Green Mosque, the Green Tomb and Bursas colorful Silk Bazaar. Drive to Istanbul. Rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)

Day 14 Thursday
Istanbul - End of the Tour
Escorted transfer to Istanbul airport for flight back. End of our services. (B)