UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE OF TURKEY

14 Nights / 15 Days (Tour : TUNE3BO )

Day 1 - Istanbul
Arrival at Istanbul airport , you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Dinner
at your hotel.

Day 2 - Istanbul
Following breakfast, we drive to the 'Old City' where we will visit the Hippodrome,
The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, the Blue Mosque, famous for its delicate
blue ceramic tiles and Saint Sophia. This church - turned mosque - turned
museum takes the breath away with the sheer architectural size of its interior and
magnificent dome and next we will visit the spectacular Topkapi Palace. Built on
one of the seven hills of Istanbul, this huge complex commands views of the Sea
of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. It was the seat of government
for the Ottoman Empire for many centuries (1453-1852) and we will see the
extravagant Treasury, the priceless Chinese porcelain.

Day 3 - Istanbul
Our morning starts with a visit to the aromatic Spice Bazaar, where the smells of cinnamon, cloves and thyme, rise from
hundreds of colorful muslin bags at every store-front. We then board our ferry boat for a relaxing cruise along the shores of
the legendary Bosphorus, the natural gateway that divides Asia and Europe. As you sit back and enjoy Turkish coffee or wellbrewed
tea from traditional small cups, numerous summer palaces and palatial homes will pass by on either side.
Disembarking at the northern end of the Strait, we proceed to a restaurant for a tasty meal of local fish. Following lunch we
will travel by coach to the Suleymaniye Mosque, built by master architect Sinan during the reign of Sultan Suleyman the
Magnificent, the Lawgiver. The last stop will be Grand Bazaar with nearly 4000 shops of antiques, jewelry, gold, carpets and
leatherwear.

Day 4 - Canakkale (Troy)
After an early breakfast, we will begin our scenic drive down to Gallipoli, historically famous for being
the site of many battles during XXI. Following a lunch break, we will cross the second strategic
waterway, the Dardanelles, and land in Asia and proceed to Troy. Referred to in Homer's "Iliad" and
"Odyssey", Troy has in fact nine cities superimposed one upon another. Troy VI pertains to the famous
Trojan War of Homer where the legendary heroes included Agamemnon, Achilles, Ulysses and Nestor on
the Greek side and, Priam, Hector and Paris on the Trojan side. We will check-in to our hotel in
Canakkale for the evening.

Day 5- Izmir
On our journey to Izmir we will stop by the hauntingly beautiful Pergamon. Among the impressive
structures of this city, dating from 399 B.C., we will see the Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysus and the
200,000 volume library which was surpassed only by that found in Alexandria at the time. The
Asclepieum of Pergamon was a famous health center where methods of treatment included blood
transfusions, music therapy and meditation. Leaving Pergamon behind us we settle at our hotel in Izmir.

Day 6 - Kusadasi
Following an early breakfast we will proceed to the old section of Izmir called Kadifekale which was a bastion built by
Alexander the Great when he moved the city to this commanding location over the Bay of Izmir. Heading further south, we will
arrive at the ancient city of Ephesus and first visit the Basilica of St. John, who came here with the Virgin Mary and wrote his
Gospel. To the southwest of the Basilica stands the Isa Bey Mosque and further in the same direction is the Temple of Artemis,
one of the seven wonders of the world. Ephesus was undoubtedly one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient
world. Impressive structures we will see include the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, Theater and Odeon. We will also visit
the Museum of Seljuk. Close by is the House of the Virgin Mary where she is believed to have spent her last years. On August
18th, 1961, Pope John XXll proclaimed the House of Virgin Mary at Ephesus to be sacred. You will have a chance to take a
phial of Holy Water from the Sacred Spring.

Day 7 - Kusadasi
We will leave early and journey to Priene which is an example of a truly ancient city, whose history dates
back to the 10th century B.C. Highlights include the Temple of Athena Polias, the Ecclesiasterium and the
Agora. We next visit Miletus where the Philosopher Thales was born. He coined the phrase "Know
Thyself". We will inspect the Delphinion, Baths of Faustina and the Council Chamber. Our last visit is to
Didyma which served as a religious sanctuary to the god Apollo. The oracular inscriptions date as far
back as 600 B.C. Among the highlights are the Temple of Apollo and the Stadium. We then return to
Kusadasi for the night.

Day 9 – 10 - Bodrum
We leave our hotel straight after breakfast and drive to one of the nicest south resort town of
Bodrum. 2 relax days on a superior beach resort.

Day 11 - Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
Leaving our hotel early after breakfast, we will journey to Pamukkale but on the way, we will
stop over at one of the most attractive ancient sites of the Aegean Region. Aphrodisias was
famous throughout the ancient world for her Temple of Aphrodite and enjoyed great prosperity
during the Roman period. Some of the highlights include the Stadium, the Baths of Hadrian and
the Theater. We continue on to Pamukkale where the thermal water flows from natural pools in
white terraces. The ancient city of Hierapolis was named after Hiera, wife of the founder of
Pergamon. Highlights include the Roman Baths, the Temple of Apollo and the Nymphaeum.
Overnight stay in Pamukkale.

Day 12- Cappadocia
Following the breakfast, journey to Cappadocia via the Lake District into Konya, the center of the
Seljuk Empire, with many examples of Turkish Islamic art and architecture. Konya is situated in
the midst of a wind swept plateau at an altitude of 1030 meters, and the city is so old that a
small hill has been excavated here containing the bones of Bronze Age Man. In the evening, we
arrive in our cave hotel in Cappadocia.

Day 13 - Cappadocia
Today, we tour into Cappadocia, where the sights of the Fairy Chimneys are phenomenal,
especially when seen for the first time. The natural wonder of Cappadocia is a result of volcanic
deposits being eroded away by wind and water over millions of years. These soft rocks were
hollowed out by early Christians and used as secret dwellings as they were being sought first by
their Roman and later by their Byzantine persecutors. We will also visit many churches that have
been decorated with vivid frescoes which have withstood the corrosive effects of time. We checkin
to our hotel for a night of relaxation.

Day 14- Istanbul
Following the breakfast, transfer to Kayseri Airport for our morning flight into Istanbul.

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