Day
1: Istanbul (D)
Arrival at Istanbul. Transfer to hotel
 |
| Topkapi
Civilization |
Day
2: Istanbul
A full-day sightseeing tour of the city with visits to the Roman
Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, the Basilica
Cistern, St. Sophia and the Grand Bazaar.
 |
| Bursa Grand Mosque Interior |
| |
 |
| Ankara Polatli Ruins of
Gordion |
Day
3: Istanbul - Bursa (BLD)
Drive to Bursa, the first imperial capital of the Ottomans. Highlights
of the city.
Day
4: Bursa - Pessinus - Gordion - Ankara (BLD)
Departure to Ankara, the capital of the Turkish Republic. Visit
ancient Pessinus on the way. Then see the Gordion, famous for
the legendary King Midas.
 |
| Museum
of Anatolian Civilizations |
| |
 |
| Mausoleum
of Ataturk |
Day
5: Ankara - Cappadocia (BLD)
Highlights of Ankara: the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Mausoleum
of Ataturk. Later drive along the Salt Lake to Cappadocia. En
route visit well-preserved Selcuk Caravanserai.
Day
6: Cappadocia (BLD)
Explore the magical and bizarre game played by nature. See the
rock carved churches, underground cities of early Christians,
"fairy chimneys", little, vine yards, experience pottery-making
and carpet weaving.
 |
| Konya
Sultanhan & Whirling Dervishes |
Day
7: Cappadocia - Konya (BLD)
En route visit Sultanhan, one of the most beautiful medieval inns
in Turkey. In Konya, see the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the founder
of whirling Dervishes sect; Karatay Medrese, which houses a Ceramics
Museum.
 |
| Toros Mountains |
Day
8: Konya - Aspendos - Perge - Antalya (BLD)
Drive to Antalya via picturesque landscapes of Taurus Mountain
range. Visit ancient city ýf Perge and the famous Aspendos Theater.
 |
| Antalya Karain Cave |
Day
9: Termessos - Karain Cave - Antalya (BLD)
Visit the Archaeological Museum and then drive up to Termessos,
with its fascinating setting being one of many impressive ancient
sites. See the Karain Cave, one of the oldest inhabitation centers
of the world.
 |
| Denizli Hierapolis |
Day
10: Antalya - Hierapolis - Pamukkale (BLD)
Drive to Pamukkale, a white wonder of the nature. View the remnants
of the ancient city of Hierapolis and the well-preserved necropolis
surviving from antiquity.
 |
| Pamukkale Aphrodisias |
Day
11: Pamukkale - Aphrodisias - Kusadasi (BLD)
Magnificent city of Aphrodisias, dedicated to the goddess of love
Aphrodite, a center of sculpture in the ancient world. Viewing
the beautiful landscapes, arrive at Kusadasi.
 |
| Ephesus
Temple of Hadrian |
Day
12: Ephesus - Kusadasi (BLD)
Ephesus, the world's largest open air museum of its kind: The
Temple of Hadrian, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Diana,
the Theater, the agora. Then visit to the Selcuk (Ephesus) Museum,
home to finds from the site of Ephesus; the Basilica of St. John
and the House of Virgin Mary.
 |
| Troy |
Day
13: Kusadasi - Pergamon - Troy - Canakkale (BLD)
Today visit the fabulous site of Pergamon with its Acropolis and
Asklepieon. Afterwards, visit the legendary Troy, highlighted
in Homer's Iliad.
Day
14: Canakkale - Gallipoli - Istanbul (BLD)
Drive via Gallipoli Peninsula to Istanbul. Remainder of the day
at your leisure. Farewell dinner.
Day
15: Istanbul (B)
Transfer to airport for homebound flight.
