Sunday, May 10 /
Sept 6, 2009: Arrive in Istanbul
Upon arrival at The Istanbul Ataturk Airport, You will be
met and assisted to
The Blue
House Hotel in Sultanahmet district for dinner and
overnight.
Meals : Dinner (D)
Monday, May 11 / Sept 7, 2009
Meet your guide at hotel lobby
at 8:45 for a full day to explore the magical city of
Istanbul. We first walk to the
Rustem Pasha Mosque and then the
Spice Market, where Geneose and Venetian goods were sold
at a time when there was no Suez Canal, and all the spices
from the East were also brought here after being loaded on
vessels in Egypt. We get on board and take the leisurely
Bosphorus Cruise from Eminonu, to the still unspoiled
village of Sariyer. The
Topkapi Palace is our next visit. More than a
palace, it is an assemblage of museums, containing the
collections amassed by the Sultans over almost five centuries.
Dinner in Istanbul.
Accommodation:
The Blue
House Hotel
Meals : Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D)
Tuesday, May 12 / Sept 8, 2009: Istanbul
Following breakfast, we will visit the
Dolmabahce Palace, the
Chora Church and the
Suleymaniye Mosque. After lunch at a local restaurant, ,
we finish the day with
Grand Bazaar visit. Dinner in Istanbul.
Accommodation:
The Blue
House Hotel
Meals : (B, L, D)
Wednesday, May 13 / Sept 9, 2009: Istanbul - Flight to Izmir -
Kusadasi
Following breakfast taken at the hotel, check out of your
room and start our third morning in Istanbul strolling to the
great square which was once the
Byzantine
Hippodrome. Now it is a great park like area surrounded by
the
Blue Mosque,
Hagia Sophia, and the
Underground Cistern, commonly called the Basilica Cistern.
After that, transfer to Istanbul airport for the evening
flight at 18.00 o’clock to
Izmir . Arrival in
Izmir at 19.00 o’clock. Transfer to the hotel for check-in and
accommodation. Dinner at hotel.
Accommodation:
Kismet Hotel
Meals : (B, L, D)
Thursday, May 14 / Sept 10, 2009: Ephesus
Today we first drive to the
Virgin Mary's House; after that we visit
Ephesus which was founded in the eleventh century BC by
the Ionians. Strolling through the streets of Ephesus, we will
witness the perfection of the Graeco-Roman Art. Later in the
afternoon we will visit
St John's Basilica, believed to be the tomb of the Apostle
John, Christ's beloved disciple. From the basilica, we will be
able to look down on the remains of the temple of Artemis. We
end the day with our visit to the
Isa Bey Mosque, then we head on to Kusadasi for rest.
Dinner, and overnight in Kusadasi.
Accommodation:
Kismet
Hotel Kusadasi
Meals : (B, L, D)
Friday, May 15 / Sept 11, 2009: Priene - Miletus - Didyma
After breakfast, we drive first to
Prienne, formerly a leading member of the Panionic League.
As we drive further South, we visit
Miletus and then arrive at
Didyma, where we have lunch at a local restaurant,
circumstances permitting, across the road from the temple. As
the historian Pausanias wrote; 'The sanctuary of Apollo at
Didymoi, and the oracle there are more ancient than the Ionian
settlement.' Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Accommodation:
Kismet
Hotel Kusadasi
Meals : (B, L, D)
Saturday, May 16 / Sept 12, 2009: Aphrodisias - Pamukkale
As we check out, we drive to
Pamukkale giving an en route visit to Aphrodisias, which
was the city dedicated to the cult of Aphrodite. As we visit
the Sculptor's Museum in
Aphrodisias, we have lunch at a local restaurant. We visit
Hierapolis on arrival, then have time to stroll over the
calcareous terraces of Pamukkale, or to enjoy the thermal
facilities. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
Accommodation:
Richmond Thermal Hotel Pamukkale
Meals : (B, L, D)
Sunday, May 17 / Sept 13, 2009: Termessos - Antalya
Today we follow the spectacular drive to Antalya. After
lunch, we visit
Thermessos, with its breathtaking view. As we arrive in
Antalya, we have time to explore the city, especially its old
district. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
Accommodation:
Marina Residence Antalya
Meals : (B, L, D)
Monday, May 18 / Sept 14, 2009: Perge - Aspendos
In the morning, we first visit
Perge, one of the most impressive sites of Pamphylia, and
then
Aspendos, the world's best preserved ancient theatre.
After lunch at a local restaurant near the Aspendos Theatre,
we spend the afternoon at leisure. We suggest spending the
afternoon at the Konyalti Beach, which is one of the best
beaches of Antalya district. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
Accommodation:
Marina Residence Antalya
Meals : (B, L, D)
Tuesday, May 19 / Sept 15, 2009: Antalya/Konya
In the
morning, we visit the
Antalya Archaeology Museum and head to
Konya. After having our lunch at a local restaurant, we
visit the world famous
Mevlana Museum, formerly the place where the mystic
philosophy of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi was taught. Dinner and
overnight in Konya.
Accommodation:
Rumi Hotel
Konya
Meals : (B, L, D)
Wednesday, May 20 / Sept 16, 2009: Konya/Cappadocia
Today, we drive to Cappadocia, with an enroute visit to
Sultanhan Caravanserai, where the medieval merchants used
to stay overnight. After this, we arrive in
Ihlara Valley and have our lunch at a local restaurant by
the river. After the lunch, we walk through the canyon via the
Steps of Anatolia to Belisirma village, the ancient
Peristrema. Set by the Melendiz River this is known as the
“Valley of the Sky”. Churches carved from the rocks form a
gallery of early paintings that are remarkable for their
accuracy. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Accommodation:
Yunak Evleri
Urgup
Meals : (B, L, D)
Thursday, May 21 / Sept 17, 2009:
Cappadocia
Today we introduce you to the lunar landscape of
Cappadocia at
Dervent Valley, then we head on to
Zelve Open Air Museum, which is one of the earliest
inhabited and latest abandoned monastic settlements of
Cappadocia. Seeing the best examples of the fairy chimneys at
Pasabag Fairy Chimneys Valley, we drive further to
Avanos, where we have lunch at a local restaurant.
Goreme Open Air Museum is where we visit the rock carved
churches and colorful frescoes. We end the day hiking up to
the top of
Uchisar Castle, which is the highest and the most dominant
point, giving us a breathtaking panorama. Dinner in
Cappadocia.
Accommodation:
Yunak Evleri
Urgup
Meals : (B, L, D)
Friday, May 22 / Sept 18, 2009: Cappadocia
Our first stop is the
Soganli Valley, which is one of the earliest settlements
in Cappadocia. After this, we drive back to Urgup through the
unspoiled villages of Cappadocia, surrounded by the
“table-top” mountains. On the way we visit the Medrese in
Taskinpasa, a Theological School of the Seljuk Turks. After
lunch in
Mustafapasa at an old Greek house hosted by a local
family, we descend towards the centre of the earth, with a
trip to the
Underground City of Kaymakli, one of the largest and
deepest of Cappadocia’s many such settlements. Dinner and
overnight in Cappadocia.
Accommodation:
Yunak Evleri
Urgup
Meals : (B, L, D)
Saturday, May 23 / Sept 19, 2009: Cappadocia - Home
Transfer to Kayseri Airport to board a morning flight to
Istanbul. Board your homeward flight or book additional nights
in Istanbul. Please advise us on your departure flight out of
Istanbul so that we could book you on the best connecting
flight from Kayseri. Accommodation: You may book additional
nights in Cappadocia or Istanbul.
Meals: (B)