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Itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)

Day 1 ISTANBUL Overnight International flight to Istanbul with all meals on board.

Day 2 ISTANBUL Arrive at Istanbul’s airport where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After unpacking, time to relax and stroll around.

Day 3 ISTANBUL (B,L) After breakfast depart from your hotel for a full day tour of the city. This morning you will visit the church of St. Sophia the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, the Blue Mosque famous for its six minarets and the Byzantine Hippodrome. After lunch in a typical Turkish restaurant the tour continues with visits to Topkapi Palace, now a world famous museum, the Mosque of Suleiman the magnificent and the Grand Bazaar, world’s largest covered market.

Day 4 ISTANBUL-ANKARA (B,L) Continue your sightseeing today in the city built astride two continents, with a cruise on the Bosporus, the strait that separates the city as well as Europe and Asia. Sail past the Dolmabahce Palace, the Rumeli Hisar fortress and more. After lunch your tour continues to the Asian side of the city. Visits include the Beylerbeyi Palace, summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, then on to the Handicraft Center on the coast. You will be transferred to the airport this evening for your flight to Ankara. Meeting with assistance and transfer to your hotel.

Day 5 ANKARA-CAPPADOCIA (B,L,D) Introduction to Turkey’s capital city this morning with a tour featuring some of Ankara’s most important sites. Visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum which displays pieces dating as far back as 3000 BC, the Mausoleum of Ataturk and the Citadel. Then depart for Cappadocia with a stop for lunch on the way, and a rest-stop in Salt Lake for pictures.

Day 6 CAPPADOCIA (B,L,D) Breakfast at the hotel. Today enjoy a full day tour of the area. Visit the Goreme Valley with its 10th century churches cut out of soft rock and its colorful frescoes, the natural citadel of Uchisar, and the Valley of Zelve. Then on to Cavusin and the Valley of Chimneys and the caves of the ancient city of Avanos, today a village famous for its pottery and handicrafts.

Day 7 CAPPADOCIA-KONYA-ANTALYA (B,L,D) We depart for Konya (Ikonion), following the ancient Silk Road, with a stop at Agzikarahan Caravanserai, a city of great importance in ancient days and later the capital of Selcuk Turks where St. Paul and Barnabas preached. We visit the shrine of Mevlana, the great mystic who inspired the rituals of the “Whirling Dervishes”.

Day 8 ANTALYA (PERGE-ASPENDOS-SIDE) (B,L,D) A full day excursion today includes visits to historical sites such as, Perge, an important city of ancient Pamphylia. Visit the ruins with its great theater, the stadium and the huge Hellenistic Gates. St. Paul and St.Barnabas went through Perge on their way to Antalya (Antiochia) as they preached and talked to the people. Then to Aspendos, site of the best preserved ancient Greek theater in the Mediterranean, and finally Side, today a small village with ruins of earlier days from the Greek and Roman period.

Day 9 ANTALYA-PAMUKKALE (B,L,D) After a brief city tour of Antalya this morning we continue to Pamukkale with lunch on the way. Evening arrival in Pamukkale for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 PAMUKKALE-HIERAPOLIS-APHRODISIAS-KUSADASI (B,L,D) Breakfast at the hotel. Then proceed to Hierapolis (the holy city). Visit the Temple of Apollo, the theater, the fascinating Necropolis and the great baths of Hierapolis. Continue to Aphrodisias (the city of Aphrodite) named after the Greek Goddess. Lunch upon arrival. Visit the Temple of Aphrodite, the Odeon, the stadium and the theater. Then on to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.

Day 11 KUSADASI (EPHESUS)-IZMIR (B,L,D) After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Ephesus, the most complete ancient Greek city ever excavated. An important commercial and cultural center of the ancient world. Walk the marble street, see the library of Celsus and the theater. It was in Ephesus that St. Paul preached that Gods made by human hands are not Gods. Then on to the Basilica of St. John. After lunch visit the shrine of Virgin Mary where the third Ecumenical council was held in 431 AD, it is strongly believed that St. John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus where she lived out her last years. After a last visit to the Selcuk Archaeological Museum we continue to Izmir for dinner and overnight.

Day 12 IZMIR-PERGAMOS-TROY-CANAKKALE (B,L,D) Drive north today along the Aegean coast to Pergamos, impressive site of an ancient city of great wealth and importance. Visit the Sanctuary of Asklepios, the Trojan Temple, the theater and the Acropolis with the Altar of Zeus, said to be the place that Satan has his throne ( John, book of Revelations). St. Paul visited the area at least twice with St. Luke joining him the first time. Then continue to Canakkale to visit Troy of legend. See the ruins of nine cities built on top of each other and the enormous reconstruction of the wooden horse used by Ulysses and the Mycenean Greeks to conquer the city of King Priamos.

Day 13 CANAKKALE-ISTANBUL (B,L) After breakfast at the hotel we cross the strait of Dardanelles by ferry boat, passing from Kalipolis site of fierce fighting in World War I, on our way to Istanbul for overnight.

Day 14 ISTANBUL-DEPARTURE (B) After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport for your departing flight home.

Rates

DEPART: WEDNESDAY / SATURDAY (other departure dates available)

              LAND
     First Class   Deluxe
Jan     $1,740     $2,409
Feb     $1,809     $2,409
Mar     $1,879     $2,459
Apr     $2,055     $2,495
May     $2,095     $2,555
Jun     $2,095     $2,595
Jul     $2,095     $2,775
Aug     $2,095     $2,775
Sep     $2,095     $2,775
Oct     $2,055     $2,595
Nov     $1,879     $2,595
Dec     $1,879     $2,595

Other day departure may be available.

Air add-ons from your airport

Rates are per person, double occupancy and do not include air departure taxes.

EXTEND YOUR STAY: Extra hotel nights or upgrades are available upon request.
(per person/per night including breakfast)

Hotels

First class hotels: Golden Age (Istanbul), Ickale (Ankara), Club Lodge (Cappadocia), Kislahan (Antalya), Richmond (Pamukkale), Barmek (Kusadasi), Kaya Prestige (Izmir), Acol (Canakkale) or similar.
Deluxe hotels: Hilton (Istanbul), Sheraton (Ankara),. Sheraton (Antalya), Korumar (Kusadasi), Grand Efes (Izmir) or similar.
Important note: Deluxe hotels are available only in Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Kusadasi and Izmir.

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