Itinerary

Day 1: Departure from USA

An overnight flight to Istanbul.

Day 2: Arrive Istanbul 

We arrive in Turkey’s cultural and spiritual heart today. As guests’ arrival times may vary greatly, we have no group activities or meals planned; on our own we can explore the area surrounding our hotel or simply relax. Dinner tonight is on your own.

Day 3: Full Day Istanbul Tour (B) 

Begin with a visit to Topkapi Palace, the main residence of the Ottoman Sultans, with its jewel encrusted treasury and elegant four courts. After a lunch break, visit the main sights around Sultanahmet Square, including the famous Hagia Sophia Museum, once the largest church in the world for 1000 years, and decorated with stunning 6th century golden mosaics. Then visit the Blue Mosque, designed with 6 delicate minarets and a striking blue Iznik tiled interior. Nearby, take a stroll through the site of the ancient Hippodrome, once the sporting ground of chariots and political riots, and see the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column and Fountain of Wilhelm II. Finally, visit the Grand Bazaar, where you can shop or haggle with local merchants over unusual antiques, colorful spices, beautiful jewelry and richly textured fabrics. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4: Full Day Istanbul Tour (B) 

Today explore the bustling Egyptian Spice Market of 17th century origin - a colorful bazaar heaped with spices, Turkish sweets, dried foods and much more. Then visit the beautifully tiled tiny Rustem Pasha Mosque hidden among the narrow cobbled market streets nearby. Next we take a Bosphorus Tour Sightseeing Boat Trip * (2 hr boat ride) up Istanbul's winding straits for a chance to relax and admire the shoreline of beautiful mosques, lavish palaces and decadent villas - you'll see Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, Ottoman summer mansions and Ortakoy mosque, the defensive Rumeli Fortress and Bosphorus Bridge. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 5: Istanbul –Troy - Canakkale  (B, D) 

This morning, you'll depart for Canakkale. After lunch on your own en route, you’ll visit legendary Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is the city where, in Homer's monumental Iliad, Helen's face is said to have launched a thousand ships. Until 1870, it was thought that Troy was a fictional place. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale.

Day 6: Pergamum - Kusadasi  (B, D) 

This morning,  depart for Kusadasi. En route , we will explore the remarkably well-preserved ancient city and fascinating ruins at Pergamum, which was home to a library of more than 200,000 parchment volumes. First we’ll visit the Asclepium, ancient medical center built in the name of Asclepios- god of medicine. Following lunch, continue to Pergamum Acropolis, where the temple of Athena, Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysos, Library, Agora, Great Theater and the Roman Baths will be seen.  Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 7: Kusadasi -Ephesus (B,D) 

After breakfast we’ll first visit the Artemission Temple which is one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Continue to Ephesus, one of the 12 cities of Ionia and one of the best preserved classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean dated back to 2000 years. Afternoon visit House of Virgin Mary. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 8:  Kusadasi - Pamukkale (B,D) 

After breakfast this morning, you'll visit Hierapolis and travertines to experience the healing center and its natural formations. Pamukkale is famous not only for the stunning aspect of its unique geological formations, but also for its historical remains. Hot, calcium oxide-rich waters flowing down the slopes that overlook the fertile river valley have, over the millennia, built up deposits of white travertine on the plateau. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 9: Pamukkale - Aphrodisias -  Antalya (B,D)

Today's transfer to Antalya reveals the beauty of Turkey's fabled Turquoise Coast. En route, you’ll stop and visit ancient Aphrodisias, named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. On a guided tour of this city, you’ll discover fascinating ruins, including the Temple of Aphrodite and its tetrapylon, or monumental gate. Tour the adjacent museum to learn more about the history of the Temple, its original construction from marble, and its later conversion into a Christian basilica. While in Aphrodisias, you’ll also visit the ancient Council House and the stadium, both of which remain well-preserved today.

You arrive in Antalya in the early evening, and have some time to relax after dinner at your hotel.

Day 10: Antalya -Aspendos - Perge (B,D) 

This morning, you'll see the ramparts, Hadrian's Gate, slender minarets, and restored harbor area. Then visit the Archaeological Museum of Antalya. The artifacts here trace the path from the Stone and Bronze ages, through the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and up to the Ottoman Empire. You'll also see Ottoman ethnographic exhibits. The museum is one of Turkey's largest, and has nearly 5,000 works of art on exhibit.

Later, you will discover Aspendos, an ancient city dating to the fourth and fifth centuries BC. Here is the stunning ancient theater in Turkey—so well-preserved that you can see the names of Roman spectators carved into the backs of the seats—a bit of ancient graffiti. Not far from the theater are the remains of a large aqueduct from ancient times. You'll also visit Perge, where St. Paul gave some of his first sermons. Originally settled by the Hittites in 1500 BC, Perge thrived during the Roman Empire. The ruins here, which include a theater and stadium, create an excellent impression of how an ancient city looked and felt.

Day 11: Konya - Cappadocia (B,D) 

This morning, depart Antalya for Cappadocia. At around mid-day, you'll reach the historic holy city of Konya. Once known as Iconium, Konya was home of the Whirling Dervishes. Here, you visit the Mevlana Museum, containing the mausoleum of the founder of the Whirling Dervishes. You arrive in Cappadocia in the early evening, and have some time to relax before dinner at your hotel.

Day 12: Cappadocia (B,D) 

In the morning, explore the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent Valley- also known as the “Valley of the Fairy Chimneys”.  Visit the conical tufa formations capped with basalt that are still used as storage units today in Pasabag. After lunch in Avanos, you will visit a cave pottery atelier where you will observe some of the local pottery creations. Our last stop will be Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There, you'll view the ancient rock-hewn churches sculpted in the hillsides almost 1,000 years ago. Medieval Christian monks established a community of monasteries by carving their churches out of the soft volcanic stone that is part of this terrain. On the stone walls of the caves, they depicted the New Testament with paintings and vibrant frescoes. Tonight you have the option of watching a Whirling Dervishes ceremony or relaxing in your room.

Day 13: Cappadocia (B,D) 

You can rise early this morning (weather permitting) and get a new perspective on the intriguing tufa landscapes while gliding smoothly above them on our optional hot-air balloon excursion.

Today you will visit the vast Uchisar Kale (Fortress) that dominates the skyline for miles. Continue to the underground city of Kaymakli, once a refuge from Arab, Roman, and Mongolian aggressors. Our last stop will be Cavusin Village where we will see frescoes dating back to 11th century. After lunch break, you'll enjoy an informative discussion on the Turkish tradition of hand-looming at a carpet workshop. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 14: Cappadocia – Ankara (B,D) 

Travel overland to Ankara today. Upon arrival, we will visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, a tribute to the founder of modern Turkey. Ataturk helped lead the nation during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and transformed it into the secular republic that stands today. Then, visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the finest Hittite museum in the country. It details the many cultures that have inhabited this region, starting as far back as the Paleolithic Age. Dinner and overnight in Ankara.

Day 15: Ankara – Istanbul  (B) 

After breakfast, depart for Istanbul. Upon arrival, afternoon is free at leisure.

Day 16: Departure   (B) 

End of the tour. We hope to see you again in Turkey.