Travel to Turkey: Highlights of Turkey

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Highlights of Turkey

			DAYS: 9 GRADE: I define PRICE: From $3195 per person HIGHLIGHTS: Istanbul Cappadocia Ephesus Village homestay ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels/Lodges Homestay MEALS: As noted  [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch,   D-Dinner] SEASON: Year-round Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services Send to a Friend Print this Itinerary

Travel to Turkey's three most important cultural and political centers: Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus. We set out on this best tour of Turkey exploring Istanbul on foot and by boat among outdoor markets, artisan workshops, and epicurean restaurants. Stay in a well-appointed Ottoman-style hotel, a boutique cave accommodation, and a renovated, historic residential hotel where we experience village life in the Aegean highlands.  We tour Ephesus and spend several days meandering through the dramatic landscapes and underground cities of Cappadocia. Join scheduled small groups, special family departures, or design a private Turkey vacation or honeymoon in Turkey for as few as two people. We recommend adding a day in Istanbul and a few days on the coast. You are received as guests by our Turkish guides who share their personal insights into everyday life.

All our cultural tours to Turkey begin riding a commuter ferry to a local restaurant on the Bosphorus.

DAY 1 :  ARRIVE ISTANBUL
Arrive and transfer to our hotel. Meet our guide in the late afternoon and stroll through the historic Sultanahmet District to stretch your legs after the long flight. We walk to a local restaurant for an introduction to authentic Turkish cuisine with a commanding view overlooking the Golden Horn, the commuter ferries and bridges of the Bosphorus, and the distinctive Istanbul skyline of mosques and minarets. Overnight Sultanhan Hotel (or similar), a former Ottoman government building converted to a hotel of lofty ceilings and a genuine historic ambiance. [D]

DAY 2 :  ISTANBUL TOUR WALKING THE HISTORIC DISTRICT
We spend the day with our professional Turkish guide exploring Istanbul's Sultanahmet District including visits to Aya Sophia, the Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cisterns, Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome, the spice market and the Grand Bazaar. As the sun sets, we hop on a commuter ferry joining local Istanbulis' returning home from work. On both sides of the historic Bosphorous are lavish palaces, restored Ottoman homes and numberous palacial embassies; all indicative of the city's centuries of international commerce and political prominence. This evening we enjoy dinner at a traditional Turkish restaurant with a creative menu. Overnight Sultanhan Hotel (or similar). [BLD]

Optional Cappadocia tours include hot air balloon, horseback riding, mountain biking and Turkish bath.

DAY 3 :  CAPPADOCIA
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Kayseri (1 hr) and short drive to Cappadocia (1.5 hrs). After check-in to our cave hotel we begin our exploration of this wondrous landscape of fairytale geological formations featuring more than 1000 early Christian rock carved churches with frescoes. The region is also famous for its local artisans and craftsmanship such as onyx carving, carpet making, pottery and local wines. Overnight Elkep Evi, a beautiful boutique cave hotel with spectacular views of the valley. [BLD]

Note: Optional schedule for day 3: Ask about flights via Ankara to visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilization which houses an impressive display of Hittite treasures, and the Mausoleum of Ataturk the father of modern Turkey. From Ankara we then drive to Urgup (4 hours). There is an additional cost for this option.

DAY 4 :  UCHISAR CASTLE, GOREME AND ARTISIAN VILLAGES
We spend two full days exploring Cappadocia with our professional Turksih guide on foot and by private vehicle. Visit Uchisar Castle, a natural rock formation of former residences carved out of the soft tuft, and the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a complex of medieval cave churches carved and elaborately painted by Orthodox monks. Our itinerary is flexible with options based on individual interests and abilities including visits to towns specializing in various handicrafts including pottery, onyx stone, doll making, carpet weaving, jewelry, winemaking, and copper crafting. At the world-famous master potter's workshop of Chez Galip, we learn about pottery-making, the origin of the potter's wheel invented in Anatolia, and have a chance to throw our own pots. Overnight Elkep Evi (or similar). [BLD]

DAY 5 :  WALKING EXPLORATIONS, VILLAGES AND UNDERGROUND CITIES
Today our tour of Turkey meanders through rock dwellings and hidden churches of these remote valleys. We walk short distances or hike for several hours with expert Turkish guides on moderately undulating trails exploring the strange fairy-chimney landscapes, canyon lands, vineyards and villages. At the village of Avanos we enjoy local fruits and wines and often buy ingredients for a picnic lunch. Later, we descend into the honeycombed Kaymakli or Derinkuyu underground cities where the people of Cappadocia could escape from marauding invaders and survive in tunnels and caverns for 6 months, 150 feet down. Optional activities (not included, to be arranged locally) may include hot air balloon rides, horseback riding, mountain biking, and a visit to a Turkish bath. Overnight at the Elkep Evi (or similar), a restored boutique cave hotel. [BLD]

	Local villagers invite us into their homes to share their hospitality and artisan skills cooking, weaving, pottery and felt-making.

DAY 6 :  IZMIR AND SIRINCE VILLAGE
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Izmir (1.5 hrs). We drive up into the hills to Sirince Village (1hr), for centuries a summer refuge from the hot coastal lowlands and check in to our beautiful historic village accommodation. Sirince is a series of small, distinctively restored village homes overlooking the quaint village.  A walk through the town reveals exquisite architecture, tea gardens, vibrant cottage industries and local handicraft shops. Enjoy the afternoon to relax and absorb the ambiance of village life. Overnight at Nisanyan Evleri or Gullu Konaklari village guest houses. [BLD]

DAY 7 :  EPHESUS AND TIRE VILLAGE
After an introductory visit to the Selcuk Museum and the ruins of the Temple of Artemis (Diana), one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, we walk through the splendid ancient city of Ephesus. Romans of the 1st and 2nd C. brought the greatest level of prosperity to Ephesus which became the capital of the Roman world of Asia. The excavated city winds its way up a hillside with colonnaded avenues, ancient temples, agora, stadium shops and houses, and the ornate two-story Library of Celsus.  In the afternoon we travel back in time to the rural Aegean village of Tire where one can still observe the old-fashioned courtyards of traditional artisans. Here we can see the felt makers, saddle makers, woodworking workshops, antique stores, and many other aspects of rural village life in Turkey. Wandering the quiet streets it is entirely natural for the proud artisans to invite us into their homes to share their genuine hospitality. Tire craftsmen employ techniques that have been almost universally lost over the centuries; only here have these skills been preserved for posterity passed down through generations. Overnight at Nisanyan Evleri or Gullu Konaklari village guest houses. [BLD]

	Farewell dinner overlooking the Golden Horn.

DAY 8 :  ISTANBUL
Transfer to Izmir airport (1 hr) for a morning flight to Istanbul (1 hr). Transfer in to hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to further explore the city or revisit sites of interest in the historic distric. (Optional half-day guided tour of Istanbul is available, based on time available and your interests.) Overnight Sultanhan Hotel (or similar). [B]

DAY 9 :  DEPART
Extend your stay or transfer to the airport for outbound flight. [B]

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Kurt Kutay 1(800)345-4453 C o n t a c t Adrian Chalker 1(800)345-4453