TURKEY

2012 - LAND ONLY

 8 days   

Extensions and upgrades available

also available:

TURKEY  10 days, 

TURKEY with gulet cruise on the Aegean Sea  11 days,

Trips for travel agent and spouse / companions

Departs every FRIDAY

Friday

Istanbul

Arrive Istanbul

WELCOME TO TURKEY !!!

You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

  Overnight TITANIC  HOTEL, Istanbul

Saturday

Istanbul

In the morning visit Topkapi Palace which served as the home of Ottoman Sultans for 400 years, the Blue Mosque, which has six minarets and a middle dome of 109 feet, is the next stop before St. Sophia, an originally Christian Basilica, a museum for all regardless of creed.

 Before returning to your hotel visit the Grand Covered Bazaar dating back to XVth century. It covers over 2,000 shops. (b)

OPTIONAL; Dinner with a Turkish show.

   Overnight TITANIC  HOTEL, Istanbul

Sunday

Istanbul/Ankara/Cappadocia

Depart to Ankara, the capital of Turkey and one of the fastest growing cities in the world with a history that can be dated back 3000 years.

Upon arrival visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, which also exhibits the remains of Çatalhöyük, the Neolithic village dating back to 6500 B.C. Then visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey.

Next destination is the mysterious Cappadocia. . (b,d)

  Overnight DEDEMAN HOTEL, Cappadocia

Monday

Cappadocia

Early morning OPTIONAL Balloon tour.

Sightseeing in this unique corner of the world. Göreme 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 4^th 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 saints slaying the dragon, symbol of ancient religion.

In the afternoon, first visit 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 region also includes Zelve Valley and villages of Çavusin and Avanos. (b,d)

  Overnight DEDEMAN  HOTEL, Cappadocia

Tuesday

Cappadocia/Pamukkale

Drive 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 the curecity of Hierapolis in 190 B.C.  

Visit the 13^th century Seljukian masterpiece, Sultanhan Caravanserai before arriving in Konya to visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana. (b,d)

   Overnight  LYKUS RIVER HOTEL, Pamukkale

Wednesday

Pamukkale/Kusadasi

Stroll through the ruins of ancient Hierapolis, the Roman city, and transfer to Kusadasi. En route visit Aphrodisias, the ancient city dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite.

Continue to Selcuk to visit the Temple of Artemis “one of the seven wonders of the ancient world”.  (b,d)

  Overnight TATLISES  HOTEL, Kusadasi

Thursday

Kusadasi/Izmir

After breakfast begin a full day of sightseeing. Visit the ruins of Ephesus, which played a major role in the development of architecture, religions, governmental and economic systems and arts. The temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of 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 Theatre and in a little house outside the city the Virgin Mary spent her last days.  (b,d)

   Overnight TATLISES  HOTEL, Kusadasi

Friday

Izmir/depart

Transfer to the Izmir airport.

INCLUSIVE FEATURES:

- All hotels (or similar)  as per itinerary

 -Daily breakfast, five dinners

- All transfers and sightseeing by motor coach

COST PER PERSON: LAND ONLY

BASED ON LOW SEASON RATES

Travel Agent

Spouse / Companion

from $  950.00

from $1050.00