TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel through the rock-hewn fairyland of Cappadocia with your private guide
• Visit the “Harem” of Topkapı Palace
• Visit the “Slope Houses” of Ephesus
• Experience Sema Show, rite of communal recitation practiced by the Whirling Dervishes
• Visit the sacred site of Aphrodisias
• Enjoy a private cruise on the Bosphorous
• Marvel at the beauty on our scenic drive along the Turquoise Coast
• Visit the awe-inspiring St. Sophia, the jewel of the Byzantine Empire with its recently uncovered Seraphim.
• The world famous frescoes of St. Chora…

20th March, Sunday: Home – İstanbul - Ankara
Arrival in Istanbul, take the connecting flight to Ankara. Meet at the airport according to the arrival times and transfer to the hotel. A welcome cocktail & meeting will be offered at 7.00 pm where a welcome kit will be distributed to all the participants. After the meeting dinner and overnight. (D)
21st March, Monday: Ankara
Ankara city tour: visiting the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Hacı Bayram Mosque, Ankara Castle, the Column of Julian, the Temple of Augustus and Rome, and Ataturk’s Mausoleum. Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight in hotel. (B, D)
22nd March, Tuesday: Ankara – Yazılıkaya - Bogazkale - Alacahoyuk - Hattusas - Cappadocia
Drive to Hattusas [110 miles]. Visit Hittite sites at Yazılıkaya and Bogazkale, and Alacahoyuk. Departure for Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. (B, D)
23rd March, Wednesday: Cappadocia
(Optional Balloon tour: please check for additional cost below).
Departure for Soğanlı on the way visiting Keslik Monastery. Our nice walk in Soğanlı will take us to some medieval rock churches. In the afternoon we will visit the houses and churches in Mustafapasa (Sinassos). Dinner in the hotel and then transfer to the Sema Show, rite of communal recitation practiced by the Mevlevi Sufi’s. This show symbolizes the attainment of the various levels of mystical union with God and of absolute perfection through spiritual fervor and controlled ecstasy. Return to the hotel for overnight. (B, D).
24th March, Thursday: Cappadocia
In the morning, two hour hike in Kızılcukur and Gulludere Valleys. Then visiting the Goreme Open-air Museum and the churches outside this monastic complex, like Tokalı Church. Visiting Kaymaklı underground city and Uchisar. Drive to the pretty little town of Avanos, the center of tapestry and pottery for centuries. We will visit a carpet weaving cooperation and get a very informative lecture on Turkey’s most important traditional art. Dinner and overnight (B, D)
25th March, Friday: Cappadocia - Konya - Pamukkale
Today’s ride will be fairly long and maybe tiring due to the long distance between Cappadocia and Pamukkale. Visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the world-wide famous mystic and then proceed to the Ince Minareli Medrese. In the afternoon drive to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight. (B, D)
26th March, Saturday: Pamukkale - Kuşadası
Tour the beautiful natural snow-white "Cotton Castle" and the ruins of Hierapolis including the magnificently preserved cemetery "Necropolis", the Colonnaded Street, the theater and the Temple of Apollo. Tour Aphrodisias, the only ancient city dedicated to Aphrodite, including its Museum. Proceed to the hotel in Kuşadası. Dinner and overnight. (B, D)
27th March, Sunday: Kuşadası - Ephesus – Kuşadası
Departure to the glorious Ephesus to visit the ancient city including the impressive amphitheater, the exquisite Slope Houses, the Library of Celsius and the location of Artemis Temple, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Continue visiting the Isabey Mosque, the Basilica of St. John, a ruin of an Ottoman bath. Later visit the Basilica of St. John near Selcuk and finally finish the day off with the House of The Virgin Mary. Overnight in Kuşadası. (B, D)
28th March, Monday: Kuşadası – Pergamon - Canakkale
Early departure for Pergamon. Visit the Asclepion, the sanctuary that was dedicated to the God of Medicine and which was the first complete health spa in history. Visit Acropolis where the ruins of a library and sanctuary Athena are located, as well as an impressive theatre of 80 rows, allowing seating of nearly 10,000. Altar of Zeus ("Seat of Satan"), the church at the site of ancient Serapium, Red Court (Kızıl Avlu), dedicated to St. John and the Archeological Museum. Dinner and overnight. (B, D)
29th March, Tuesday:  Canakkale – Troy - Istanbul
Visiting the legendary Troy, here, one can see the ruins of the city and the famous wooden horse of Troy. Later crossing the Dardanelles and visiting the Kabatepe Museum and the Gallipoli Peninsula Anzac Cove Lone Pine Cemetery. After the tour depart for İstanbul. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)
30th March, Wednesday: Istanbul
Visiting the splendors of Istanbul: the 'Hippodrome', the scene of the chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life; the 'Blue Mosque' (Sultan Ahmet Camii) famous for its blue tiles; the 'Topkapi Palace Museum', with its Imperial Treasury and the Harem; 'the 'Basilica of Saint Sophia' (Ayasofya Müzesi), the 6th century underground Byzantine Basilica Cistern with its 336 Corinthian columns and Promenade in the Covered Bazaar, the historical shopping center with nearly 4000 shops and labyrinth alleys.  After the tour transfer back to the hotel. Return to the hotel for overnight. (B)
31st March, Thursday: Istanbul
After breakfast visit St. Chora Church, the Archeological Museum which houses very rich collections of classical antiquity; the Museum of the Ancient Orient displaying antiquities from the Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian and Sumerian civilizations. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts containing Turkish and Persian miniatures, Seljuk tiles, Koran and antique carpets.  Transfer to the pier to embark a private boat excursion along the European and Asian coasts of the Bosporus for about 2 hours. At night after driving through the illuminated streets of İstanbul, you will dine at a night club where you will be served various kinds of Turkish food and local drink together with a floor show of belly dancers with oriental music and folklore groups from different regions of Anatolia. Overnight at the hotel. (B, D)
1st April, Friday: Istanbul - Home
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight back home. (B)
Abbreviations: (B) = Breakfast / (D) = Dinner

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