SCHEDULED SMALL GROUP TOUR TURKEY 2 WEEKS

Ancient Civilizations & Turquoise Coast (13 nights/14 days)

Let us introduce you to the wonders of Asia Minor: fall under the spell of Istanbul, the city that straddles two continents; roam the miraculous natural wonder of Cappadocia; bask in the natural beauty of the Turquoise Coast aboard a traditional Turkish gulet; and explore the ancient sites of Ephesus. Add the genuine hospitality of the Turkish people, and you’ll have all the makings of a captivating and truly fulfilling travel experience.

Tour features: 13 Nights / 14 Days (10 nights on land and 3 nights at sea): Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Antalya, Kekova, Kas, Turquoise Coast cruise between Fethiye and Gocek, Pamukkale, and Kusadasi / Ephesus.

Note: For those who wish to have more time in Istanbul, we are happy to book additional nights for you, either before or after the main trip.

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul
We meet at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul and transfer to our hotel located in the city center, just a few steps from Taksim Square.

After check-in, meet for a welcome briefing and orientation tour of the area. Proceed with your guide to Taksim Square and then on to Istiklal Street for a walking tour which lasts for about an hour. If you would like to have your dinner in this lively area before going back to the hotel, the guide can suggest good restaurants among the many dotting the sides of this lively pedestrian-only avenue.

Included meals: None

Day 2: Istanbul
We have two days to explore Istanbul, capital of three legendary empires. We include, in our program, the most important historical highlights of the city. While we go from one site to the other, we stroll in the streets of this old town enjoying its different moods and sentiments. If you feel energetic and enthusiastic enough, we are happy to expand the tour to include other interesting sights hidden in the less touristy areas of the district

We meet this morning in the hotel lobby and transfer to the Sultanahmet neighborhood of the old city for a full-day of sightseeing. Our day begins with a visit to the ancient Hippodrome, an area that was once the center of Byzantine civic life. We continue to Sultan Ahmet Mosque, more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque because its interior gleams with a magnificent paneling of blue and white 17th century Iznik tiles. Next we visit Hagia Sophia, often described as the greatest work of Byzantine architecture. After these visits, we break for lunch on our own before proceeding with the rest of our tour.

Our next stop is the Basilica Cistern, the largest and most ornate of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul. In its construction, columns and capitals of earlier edifices were used, providing a very decorative appearance. We finish the day at the famous Grand Bazaar. This bazaar will tempt even non-shoppers with nearly 4,000 shops exhibiting a rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather, antiques, and souvenirs.

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Istanbul
This morning we meet again for another full day of sightseeing. Our first visit is to Topkapi Palace, a pleasant and cozy oriental style palace once home of the Ottoman Sultans who ruled their vast empire spread across three continents from this very place. This complex is a museum today, housing the spectacular artifacts found in the palace, such as the famous treasury of the sultans, their exquisite robes (kaftans), beautifully ornamented weapons and huge collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain. Here you have an option to see the Harem section as well, which is a separate visit within the main palace complex.

After a break for lunch on your own, we visit the Spice Market, which was built as part of the Yeni Cami (New Mosque) complex and has since been an exciting covered market filled with the fragrant scent of spices from the Orient. The market and its environs give a glimpse of the old life style which is disappearing very quickly in most parts of the city.

Next, we embark on a local boat and start a one and a half hour cruise on the Bosphorus Strait. The Bosphorus is a narrow, navigable strait between Europe and Asia connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. This boat ride takes us past late Ottoman palaces as well as beautiful wooden mansions and modern villas of the 19th and 20th centuries which form this elegant section of the city. In a very relaxing and enjoyable way we have an insight to the past, present and the future of Istanbul. The silhouette of the old city in the distance summarizes what we have already seen in this tour. The solemn and subtle beauty of the old mansions which once belonged to the Ottoman pashas can be seen side by side with the loudly decorated ones owned by rich industrialists of today. We observe the details of a 15th century fortress from the shadow of a very modern suspension bridge connecting two continents. Once in a while, behind all of these, we can have a glimpse of new corporate neighborhoods with their high-rises.

After the cruise we transfer to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Istanbul / Cappadocia
Today, we take a morning flight to Kayseri to begin our tour of breathtaking Cappadocia. This area is renowned for its awe-inspiring natural rock formations that were utilized for everything from housing and churches to even complete underground villages. The valleys here are carved by erosion in tuff, a soft rock formed by volcanic ash accumulation over millions of years, and create a fertile pocket in an otherwise prairie-like Central Anatolian Plateau. Against this beautiful background Cappadocia's traditional rural life still goes on providing unique opportunities to observe a life style which is rapidly changing. Along with the specific sites mentioned in the following program, we visit a winery to taste the local wine, and stop at many vantage points to enjoy the beautiful scenery around us.

In the region we first visit the Goreme Open Air Museum which consists of steep cliffs and many hidden churches dating from the second half of the 9th century and later. We continue to Uchisar where we visit the so-called fortress. With a breathtaking view of the surrounding Cappadocian formations, this 60-meter high settlement was not built but carved out of a natural hill dominating the area. After this visit, we check into our hotel and spend some time at leisure. We have our dinner at the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Cappadocia
Today, early in the morning you have a chance to join an optional ballooning tour of the region, probably among the best ballooning in the world.

Our regular program goes on with a visit to the remarkable underground city of Kaymakli. Throughout history, as successive armies swept across Asia Minor, the residents of Cappadocia created uniquely defensible settlements by digging approximately eight stories down into the volcanic tuff. Next we visit Pasabag - a site of natural beauty with a remarkable landscape of tuff cones. We then drive to the small town of Avanos, famous for its pottery making which goes back to Hittite times and rugs which are the splendid representatives of the Turkish carpet making tradition. Here we learn about these regional crafts and may also see demonstrations performed by local craftsmen. We return to town in the early evening and have time at leisure.

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Cappadocia / Konya / Antalya
This morning we depart for Antalya via Konya. Upon arrival in Konya, one of the oldest cities in Anatolia, we break for lunch on our own. After lunch we visit Mevlana Dergah, the most famous site in Konya. It is the tomb and shrine of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the founder of the Mevlevi Order of Whirling Dervishes, and an object of pilgrimage from all over the world. The tomb has also been converted into a museum which houses items that belonged to Mevlana and other dervishes.

In the early evening we reach Antalya, Turkey's principal holiday resort in the Mediterranean region. Antalya is an attractive city with its shady palm-lined boulevards and beautifully preserved old town within the ancient city walls. The region around Antalya offers sights of astonishing natural beauty as well as awesome historical remains. Here is where we check into our hotel with views of Antalya Bay and the Bey Mountains.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Antalya
This morning we begin our tour at Perge, the most impressive classical site on the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey, which provided the majority of the sculptures displayed in the Museum of Antalya. Next we drive to Aspendos which is famous for having the best preserved theater of antiquity.

After our included lunch, we visit the Antalya Museum which offers an exposition on the findings from all of the excavations in this province. There is a wide spectrum of artifacts here, displayed beautifully, from the flint tools of the Paleolithic cave settlement of Karain to the statues which once decorated the streets of Perge. A rich ethnographic collection gathered from Antalya adds to the quality of the museum.

Next, we drive to Kaleici, Antalya's Old Quarter. Narrow streets, charming cafes, and numerous souvenir shops bring a special attractiveness to this part of the city. Here is where we end the tour, leaving the rest of the day to enjoy Antalya at our leisure.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Antalya / Fethiye / Embark Gulet
This morning we depart for Fethiye, perhaps the most beautiful drive in all of Turkey. On the way we visit the church and the tomb of St. Nicholas who was the bishop of this Mediterranean city during the 4th century. With a short drive from Demre, we reach Ucagiz , a small fishermen's village where we take a boat trip to Kekova Island, better known as the sunken city. Here one can see partly submerged remains of an ancient settlement on the shores of this island. We have lunch on board the boat then disembark at Ucagiz and drive to Kas where we can walk along the cute narrow streets full of shops and cafes. We continue on to Fethiye and arrive in late afternoon. The city of Fethiye has an important marina and overlooks a beautiful bay strewn with islands. At the harbor of Fethiye we embark on a Gulet and meet our captain and the crew. After dinner on board, we stay overnight in either Fethiye's harbor or in a nearby cove.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 & Day 10: Gulet / Blue Voyage in & around Fethiye Bay.
In the middle of this active tour, we slow down for a while and enjoy the relaxing charm of the Mediterranean where it meets with pine forests. Gulets, traditional wooden vessels of the Southwest Coasts of Turkey, provide an unequaled way to enjoy this beautiful region. We spend two full days - and three nights - on a gulet, admiring the natural beauty of the Turquoise coast intertwined with hidden historical sites. Swimming, short hikes on the shore, and home-style meals served on the open deck are very enjoyable parts of the experience.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Gocek / Pamukkale
After breakfast on board it is time to say goodbye to the captain and crew as we disembark at the port town of Gocek. We depart by motor coach from Gocek to Pamukkale, arriving in early afternoon. Pamukkale (Hierapolis) has always been a very popular settlement where the hot springs were believed to have healing powers, so the city became the center of a pagan cult in antiquity and is a spa resort today. For countless millennia a spring located somewhere on the plateau, possibly in the neighborhood of the ancient theatre, has been pouring out streams of hot mineral water. These have plunged down the mountain-side creating in the process enormous circular basins which are fringed with stalactites and surrounded by a huge area of smooth, dazzling, white calcareous rock - hence the Turkish name Pamukkale or Cotton Castle . We will explore the travertine formations as well as the extensive ancient site of Hierapolis. Check in at your hotel and enjoy the thermal waters.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 12: Pamukkale / Kusadasi
Depart for Kusadasi this morning, stopping along the way for a visit to Aphrodesias. The well preserved and beautiful ancient city named after the Goddess of Love is hidden in a bucolic environment. View the famous stadium preserved in a remarkable condition as well as the theater, Odeon & Temple. Then continue to Kusadasi, where we spend two nights.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13: Kusadasi
In the morning we depart for a full day of sightseeing. First we visit the ruins of Ephesus which is one of the best excavated and most attractive archaeological sites in the world. The size of the site, particularly its giant theatre, impresses visitors. More impressive still is the richness of detail even a casual observer can notice. The Roman period villas known as the Terrace Houses on the hill slopes overlooking the main street were recently opened to the public and they are comparable only with Pompeii. Our program includes this visit as well.

For our lunch we drive to a village on the hills near Ephesus. Originally a Greek-Orthodox village, Sirince is now a very pretty site of Turkish-Greek culture. From its beautiful hilltop location we enjoy impressive views of the vineyards and olive trees surrounding the village. As we wander the narrow streets of the village lined with typical Greek houses, we come across women selling handcrafts of all kinds and other local village products. Here we have a chance to socialize with the locals and taste the simple but delicious cuisine of the Aegean at a home-hosted lunch. Our final stop of the day will be in the town of Selcuk where we visit the Museum of Archaeology. Almost all of the exhibits are findings from Ephesus, the most spectacular being two beautiful statutes of Artemis Ephesia, both dating from the Roman Imperial era.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14: Kusadasi / Istanbul / Homebound Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Izmir Airport for a flight to Istanbul,connecting with your flight home.

Included meals: Breakfast

Price of the package includes:

1. Accommodation in hotels ( including breakfast ):
   3 nights Istanbul: Central Palace Hotel (near Taksim Square)
   2 nights Cappadocia: Uchisar Kaya Hotel
   2 nights Antalya: Rixos Hotel Downtown
   3 nights aboard a traditional Gulet yacht ( Fethiye - Gocek )
   1 night Pamukkale: Lycus River Hotel
   2 nights Kusadasi: Kismet Hotel
   

2. Domestic flights within the program (Istanbul-Kayseri or Nevsehir and Izmir – Istanbul ) based on economy class service

3. Meals as indicated by (B), (B,L), (B,L,D) -- B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.
   25 Meals: 13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 8 dinners

4. Services of a private licensed professional English-speaking guide.

5. All transfers and touring by private, modern, air-conditioned, chauffeur driven vehicles, appropriate to the size of your group.

6. All entrance fees to sites and museums mentioned in program.

7. Parking, ferry, and toll road fees

8. Gratuity at restaurants where meal is included in the program

Price of the package excludes:

1. Airfare of international flights and related taxes

2. Soft and alcoholic beverages

3. Optional gratuities to the tour guide, the driver and the Gulet crew

4. Travel insurance

5. Visas, laundry, and personal items