Day
1: Istanbul (D)
Arrival at Istanbul; meet and greet then transfer to hotel.
 |
| Topkapi
Palace |
Day
2: Istanbul (BLD)
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.
 |
| Selcuk
Caravanserai Agzikarahan |
Day
3: Istanbul - Ankara - Cappadocia (BLD)
Flight to Ankara. View the objects from various civilizations
at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Continue to Cappadocia
via Salt Lake. See a 13th century Selcuk Caravanserai, Agzikarahan.
 |
| Cappadocia
Fairy Chimneys |
Day
4: 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.
 |
| Mausoleum
of Mevlana |
Day
5: Cappadocia - Konya (BLD)
On the way to Konya, see the Sultanhan Caravanserai, a fine example
of traditional inns situated on the Silk Road. Following arrival
in Konya visit the Museum of Mevlana and the Karatay Complex.
| |
 |
| Corum
Catalhoyuk |
Day
6: Konya - Catalhoyuk - Alahan - Silifke (BLD)
Visit the site of Catalhoyuk, possibly the oldest settlement with
a town plan of more than 8000 years. En route see Alahan, an extensive
Byzantine monastic settlement. Late afternoon, enjoy the Mediterranean
sun and beach in Silifke, ancient Seleucia on Calycadnum.
 |
| St
Paul Well |
Day
7: Silifke - St.Thecla - Corycos - Mersin (BLD)
Visit the ruins of St. Thecla and continue to see the Corycos,
Heaven and Hell and the St. Paul's Well.
 |
| Antakya
St. Peter Church |
Day
8: Mersin - Antakya (BLD)
View the best preserved Roman mosaics at the Mosaic Museum in
Antakya, and see the Cave of Peter. Browse around Harbiye, where
the nymph Daphne is said to have been changed into laurel.
 |
| Adiyaman
Cendere Bridge |
| |
 |
| Adiyaman
Mt. Nemrut |
Day
9: Antakya - Adiyaman (BLD)
Drive to Adiyaman via Maras. View the intriguing landscapes and
panorama of the region.
Day
10: Adiyaman - Mt. Nemrut - Urfa (BLD)
Get ready before sunrise to drive up to Mt. Nemrut to view the gigantic
statues on the east and west terraces of the mountains as well as
the dramatically beautiful sunrise. Later, see the ruins of Arsemia
on Euphrates in Kahta. Continue to Urfa via the area of dazzling
project that is called GAP (South-Eastern Project) which aims at
irrigating Mesopotamian plains.
 |
| Urfa
Abraham's Pool |
| |
 |
| Harran
Ruins |
Day
11: Urfa - Harran - Urfa (BLD)
Urfa, ancient Edessa, is known as the birth place of Abraham.
See the pool of Abraham, Mosque of Halil-ur Rahman. Afterwards,
drive to Harran, one of the oldest towns in the world, cited in
the Old Testament.
Day
12: Urfa - Istanbul (BD)
Flight to Istanbul Day at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day
13: Istanbul (BLD)
A visit to the Spice Market is followed by a Bosphorus Cruise. Afterwards,
visit to Sadberk Hanim Museum. Farewell dinner.
Day
14: Istanbul (B)
Transfer to airport for homebound flight.
