Western Turkey
11 Day Extensive Tour
This is a multi-faceted tour. Experience two continents, sites rich in history and antiquity, fantastic shopping opportunities, and dazzling natural wonders. All this to be enjoyed in a country that is safe, warm and a terrific educational adventure.--You will share experiences here that you cannot anywhere else in the world

Day 1  Overnight flight to Istanbul, Turkey

Day 2  Istanbul. Arrival to Istanbul and transfer to hotel. Enjoy an evening stroll in your new world.

Day 3  Istanbul. Our tour guide will show us the massive Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, the dazzling treasures of Topkapi Palace and St. Sophia. Step into the 6th century Byzantine Underground Cistern, where 355 massive Corinthian columns support fine brick walls. Later we visit a vast, shoppers paradise. The Grand Bazaar, with it's 4,000 shops, is truly amazing. After dinner we transfer to the train station where we board our overnight sleeper train to the capital.

Day 4  Ankara. Breakfast is on board. We are met at the Ankara train station and continue our journey. We stop near Salt Lake to take pictures and visit Agzikarahan Caravanserial en route.

Day 5  Cappadocia. Visit Goreme open air museum with it's fairy chimneys and Churches cut out of soft rock. After lunch we visit the valley of Zelve (famous for it's troglodyte residences), descend into the underground city of Kaymakli and the city of Ortahisar. What a fascinating day!

Day 6 Pamukkale. Depart for Pamukkale via Konya. En route visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana.

Day 7  Kusadasi. After breakfast proceed to Hierapolis and visit the ancient Roman and Christian ruins there. Time is reserved for bathing in the warm water of Pamukkale's travertines. Continue to Aphrodisias and it's Temple of Aphrodite, Odeon, Stadium and Theater. Continue to the lovely resort town of Kusadasi with it's crystalline waters and soft sands.

Day 8 Kusadasi. Travel to ancient Ephesus; the most extensive ancient city ever found. The Basilica of St. John, Roman Baths, Celcus Library, Antique theater are only surpassed in interest by the Shrine of Virgin Mary, where she lived out her last years. Can you feel her presence?

Day 9  Canakkale. Depart to Pergamum and it's Asklepium Sanctuary, Altar of Zeu, Temple of Artemis, and the world's steepest theater. Continue to Canakkale for our overnight.

Day 10  Istanbul. Morning departure for Istanbul. We stop, en route at the fabled city of Troy. Here the Trojan Wars started over the abduction of Helen of Troy by Paris.

Day 11  We board our jet for our journey home.

Please call for a customized program and prices.