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Tour One Info

Turkey - Highlights and Hidden Treasures

Trip Length	- 14 days, 13 nights
Start/Finish	- Istanbul
	- International airfare not included
Tour Details	- Available here

Experience the sights and sounds of “ISTANBUL” – the most magnificently situated city in the world, straddling two continents, Europe and Asia. Cruise the Bosphorus, the strait that divides it, and discover for yourself why this city was so important and so eagerly sought after by many of history’s greatest conquerors. Let us show you “our picks” from the Ottoman nooks and crannies of this magnificent city as well as the major sites. Istanbul is an exotic and cosmopolitan city with a varied and tumultuous history – a city full of life to be enjoyed on a multitude of fascinating levels!

In “CAPPADOCIA” discover the surreal landscape of “fairy chimneys” carved from rock and eroded by wind, water and time; explore the lunar landscape of the Zelve Valley dotted with caves and troglodyte dwellings; visit the 10th Century rock-cut churches of Goreme with their exquisite Byzantine frescoes; stay in a village cave hotel built into the rock. Visit one of the many underground cities in the region, used by the early Christians to hide from their enemies. Experience a sense of the silk route by visiting a Caravanserai: a home for the camels to rest on the journey. Take an optional hot air balloon ride over this fantastic landscape. Customize your stay by attending a colourful Turkish folk dancing and belly dancing show in an underground cave or by seeing the Whirling Dervishes in an ancient caravanserai.

Spend three nights on the “MEDITERRANEAN COAST in ANTALYA” and three nights on the “AEGEAN COAST in KUSADASI”. Our itinerary includes visits to Greco-Roman ruins and large ancient cities and ports; see Roman aqueducts and amphitheatres, including the best-preserved amphitheatre in the world dating to the 2nd Century A.D. Visit a local village high in the mountains bordering the Aegean coast. Experience the village life of rural Turkey as it still exists today.

The Itinerary

DAY 1 - ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL
You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Welcome to TURKEY!
(Overnight in Istanbul - Conrad Hilton)

DAY 2 - ISTANBUL
This morning, you meet your tour director for a short information session about Turkey and the tour. The day is spent exploring old Istanbul. The BLUE MOSQUE with its Iznik tiles from the 17th Century A.D., the HIPPODROME where Roman chariot races were held, the HAGIA SOPHIA, a 6th Century A.D. Byzantine church and the BASILICA CISTERN, storage for the imperial water supply, are all of great historical interest.
(Overnight in Istanbul - Conrad Hilton)

DAY 3 - ISTANBUL
Istanbul is the only city in the world spanning two continents. The Bosphorus water channel divides the European side from the Asian side. Our BOSPHORUS CRUISE presents Ottoman palaces, old mansions called yalis, fortresses and modern suspension bridges. Docking on the Golden Horn provides easy access to TOPKAPI PALACE which was the seat of the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years. We visit all sections of the Palace including the Harem and the Treasury housing the famous Topkapi Dagger and the 86 Carat Spoonmaker Diamond. From here, we enter the shoppers’ paradise of today - the GRAND BAZAAR with 4000 shops - the largest covered bazaar in the world.
(Overnight in Istanbul - Conrad Hilton)

DAY 4 - ISTANBUL to ANKARA
We drive to Ankara; Turkey’s modern capital city. Ankara sightseeing includes a visit to THE MUSEUM OF ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS commonly known as the “HITTITE MUSEUM”. One of the leading museums of the world, this museum describes the archaeology of Anatolia from the Palaeolithic Age two million years ago to the present day. We also visit the MAUSOLEUM of ATATURK, Turkey’s greatest leader and the father of the Republic.
(Overnight in Ankara - Hilton hotel)

DAY 5 - ANKARA to CAPPADOCIA
While driving, we stop to experience a sense of the silk route by visiting a CARAVANSERAI: a home for the camel caravans to rest on their journey. In Cappadocia, visit 10th Century rock-cut churches with their exquisite Byzantine frescoes in the GOREME OPEN-AIR MUSEUM. Stop to view the natural citadel of UCHISAR and the PIGEON VALLEY.
(Overnight in Cappadocia - Kaya Hotel)

DAY 6 - CAPPADOCIA
Discover the surreal landscape of the PASABAG FAIRY CHIMNEYS carved from rock and eroded by wind, water and time. Explore the lunar landscape of the RED VALLEY dotted with caves and troglodyte dwellings. Visit one of the underground cities in the region, used by the early Christians to hide from their enemies. Visit a Government carpet weaving school and discover first hand the true beauty of the carpets produced by Turkey’s cottage craft industry.
(Overnight in Cappadocia - Kaya Hotel)

DAY 7 - CAPPADOCIA to ANTALYA
On route to Antalya through the picturesque Taurus Mountains, we stop in Konya which was once the home of the mystic sect of Whirling Dervishes and the old capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire. In Konya, we visit the MEVLANA TEKKE, with its beautiful fluted turquoise dome.
(Overnight in Antalya - Sheraton Voyager)

DAY 8 - ANTALYA
We drive east to visit two Greco-Roman cities. PERGE is an impressive ancient city with its extensive ruins, including a stadium, baths and Hellenistic gate towers leading to the colonnaded main street. ASPENDOS, a 2nd Century A.D. city, contains the best preserved ancient amphitheatre in the world. The Roman aqueduct system evident in Aspendos attests to the ingenuity of Roman engineering. On our return to Antalya, we vist the famous ANTALYA ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, housing the antiquities from Perge and Aspendos.
(Overnight in Antalya - Sheraton Voyager)

DAY 9 - ANTALYA
Today is a leisure day on the Mediterranean and a day to explore the city of Antalya. Enjoy the pool and spa facilities of the hotel, spend time at the beach or arrange an optional boat trip from the harbour of the old town, Kaleici.
(Overnight in Antalya - Sheraton Voyager)

DAY 10 - ANTALYA to KUSADASI
We drive from the Mediterranean coast to the Aegean coast of Turkey arriving at our sea side hotel in the lively coastal town of Kusadasi.
(Overnight in Kusadasi - Charisma Hotel or Sea Light Hotel)

DAY 11 - KUSADASI
Visit EPHESUS, the largest Greco-Roman city in the world, with a population of 250,000 in the 2nd Century A.D. Visit the famous Celsus Library, climb the amphitheatre where St. Paul preached and explore the many fountains and temples of the city. Our visit includes the EPHESUS TERRACE HOUSES opened to the public in 2007 after 10 years of excavation. In the hills high above Ephesus, we visit the HOUSE of MOTHER MARY, where she spent her last days.
(Overnight in Kusadasi - Charisma Hotel or Sea Light Hotel)

DAY 12 - KUSADASI
Visit one of the local villages high in the mountains off the Aegean coast. Explore the local markets, experience the village life of the farmers and evidence the many faces and colours of rural Turkey.
(Overnight in Kusadasi - Charisma Hotel or Sea Light Hotel)

DAY 13 - KUSADASI to ISTANBUL
In the morning, we drive to Izmir for our flight back to Istanbul. Spend the afternnon in the GRAND BAZAAR doing last minute shopping. Join your guide for an optional farewell dinner in a unique area of Istanbul.
(Overnight in Istanbul - Conrad Hilton)

DAY 14 - ISTANBUL to HOME
You are transferred to the airport for your flight home. Good Bye to TURKEY!

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