11 Day First Class Tour
March 12-22, 2008
Available year-round for groups of 15 or more.

DAY 1: DEPART USA
We have an overnight flight arriving in Istanbul the next morning 

DAY 2: ISTANBUL
Arrival in Istanbul. Transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day free at leisure. (D)  

DAY 3: ISTANBUL
In the morning visit Suleymaniye Mosque, Byzantine Hippodrome, in which stands the obelisk brought from Egypt by Theodosius and the Serpent Column taken from Delphi by Constantine. The Blue Mosque, which has six minarets and a middle dome of 109 feet, is the next stop before St. Sophia, an originally Christian Basilica, conceived by Constantine and rebuilt by Justinian, then turned into a mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. In 1920s Ataturk made it a museum for all regardless of creed. After lunch at a local restaurant we have an afternoon visit to Topkapi Palace (*) which served as the home of Ottoman Sultans for 400 years and now serves as a museum with a exquisite collection of Chinese porcelain. Before returning to the hotel we visit the Grand Covered Bazaar dating back to XVth century. It covers over 2,000 shops. Overnight. (BLD) 
(*) Only general admission is included. (BLD) 

DAY 4: ISTANBUL - CANAKKALE
This morning we have a Bosphorus Cruise and also visit the Rumeli Fortress in Istanbul before departing to Canakkale by crossing the Dardanelles Strait. (BLD) 

DAY 5: CANAKKALE - KUSADASI
Departing Canakkale we drive to Kusadasi visiting Troy en-route. Troy was the immortal city of the legendary Helen of Troy and Trojan Horse, which was destroyed and rebuilt nine times. Ancient Troy is well known for its 3rd and 4th Century BC excavations.  Don't forget to have your picture taken from the top of the Trojan Horse. Before arriving we also stop in Pergamon. This was the hometown of Galen, renowned doctor and surgeon and site of his temple devoted to healing, the Asclepion. The ruins of the library here once held 200,000 books; of which all were parchment. (BLD)   

DAY 6: DAY TRIP TO EPHESUS
We have a Morning departure for Ephesus. Upon arrival we visit House of Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St. John, Archaeological Museum and the archaeological site of ancient Ephesus. (BLD) 

DAY 7: KUSADASI - PAMUKKALE
Today we visit the ancient Roman city of Hierapolis and the travertine located in Pamukkale.  En- route we stop at Aphrodisias, this ancient city dedicated to Aphrodisias, the Goddess of Aphrodite. We arrive in Pamukkale, called the cotton fortress, which rises above the fertile Menderes Valley. Hot mineral waters burst from the earth and cascade over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. The therapeutic waters here were known to founders of the cure city of Hierapolis in 190 BC. (BLD)

DAY 8: PAMUKKALE - KONYA - CAPPADOCIA 
After breakfast we drive to Cappadocia. En-route in Konya, visit the tomb of Mevlana, the great mystic poet and Islamic spiritual leader who founded the sect of Whirling Dervish. We arrive in Cappadocia for the evening. (BLD) 

DAY 9: CAPPADOCIA
We have a full day sightseeing in Cappadocia, the unique corner of the world.  We visit Goreme open air museum, Natural Citadel of Uchisar, Zelve valley, villages of Cavusin and Avanos, underground city of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu. (BLD) 

DAY 10: CAPPADOCIA - ANKARA - ISTANBUL 
After breakfast we drive to Ankara, the capital of Turkey.  Visit Hittite’s Museum and Mausoleum of Ataturk; the founder of modern Turkey and the Ankara Castle.  In the late afternoon we transfer to the airport for the flight to Istanbul.  Upon arrival in Istanbul we transfer to airport for final evening. (BLD) 

DAY 11: DEPART FOR HOME
This morning we depart for the airport for our flight home. (B)
 
Package Prices:
$2069 per person double occupancy
Single Supplement: $189.00

Including:
Roundtrip air from NYC (inexpensive add-on fares nation-wide), first class (4 Star) lodging, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, modern transportation, sightseeing as listed.

Not Included: 
Air taxes (approx. $101), optional travel insurance, Turkey visa ($20) and gratuities.