Turkish Heritage - 15 Days
New York - Istanbul - Bursa - Canakkale (Troy) - Izmir - Kusadasi (Ephesus) - Pamukkale - Antalya - Cappadokia - Ankara - Istanbul - New York
What is included in this tour program?
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day 14 | Day 15
Day 1
Your international Turkish Airlines nonstop flight will depart the U.S.A. airport this evening,
arriving in Istanbul the next day before 1 p.m.
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Upon arrival in Istanbul, you will meet your guide and take a two-hour drive to Bursa,
the Ottoman Empire's first capital. |
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Day 3 - Canakkale (Troy)
In the morning, we will visit the Green Mosque, the Green Tomb, which were both built by Mehmet
the first, and the ancient Silk Bazaar. After lunch, we will then drive 3? hours
to Canakkale, a small city on the Dardanelles across from Gallipoli. We will stay at a nice 4-star
hotel, Akol, which overlooks the Dardanelles straight.
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Day 4, 5 – Izmir - Kusadasi (Ephesus)
This morning, we will visit the legendary city of Troy and have the opportunity to see a replica of the Trojan Horse. |
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Day 6 - Pamukkale (One of the Natural Wonders of the World) Hierapolis
Today we will drive to Aphrodisias, the city of art dedicated to the Goddess Aphrodite.
The marble theatre there is beautiful and the immense stadium, which is the largest and best preserved in the world, seats over 35,000. We will also visit the museum there. Afterwards, we will continue to Pamukkale. Also called “Hierapolis”, this city has an incredible necropolis, the city of the dead, and is world famous for its calcium-travertines. We will stay at the 5-star Colossae Hotel and spa. At the hotel, you can swim in the heated pools of enriched mineral water that can cure many illnesses including stomach ailments and skin diseases.
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Day 7, 8 - Antalya - Turkish Riviera
Antalya is our destination for today. Known as the Turkish Riviera, this beautiful city is snuggled
between the Mediterranean Sea and the Toros Mountains. During our stay in Antalya, we will
visit the ruins of ancient cities of Aspendos and Perge.
Today, what remains are the ruins of a great theater, a stadium, and the colonnaded main street.
We will stay at the 5-star deluxe Dedeman hotel, which has a beautiful view of the Mediterranean
Sea and the mountains. Another treat in Antalya will be a visit to its spectacular museum.
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Day 9, 10 - Cappadocia (One of the Natural Wonders of the World)
Along the way to Cappadocia, we will stop briefly in Konya to visit the
Whirling Dervish Museum, a very holy place for Turkish Muslims. There are exhibits of Dervish
costumes, instruments, illuminated manuscripts and various ethnographic artifacts. Arriving in
Cappadocia, we will enjoy the unique landscapes of wind and rain eroded volcanic formations.
Carved directly into stone, Cappadocia's amazing subterranean cities include ancient underground
churches and cities hand-hewn from solid rock by early Christians. Here, we will visit
handicraft shops and a caravan-saray (an ancient caravan
motel). Going off the tourist track, we will have wonderful strolls
where we visit small villages and discover the unknown Cappadocia. While in Cappadocia there will be
an excellent lecture and demonstration on Turkish carpets and kilims as well as a lecture/demonstration
on pottery. We will also attend a Whirling Dervish ceremony and folk dance show.
Your stay will be at the spectacular Cappadocia Cave Suites, the newest and most “luxurious cave
living” in Cappadocia. Rated one of the 200 best unique hotels in Europe in Johansens publications
and one of the top twenty boutique hotels in the world by Abercrombie & Kent, many of the eighteen
spacious units feature a Jacuzzi, several rooms have fireplaces and five units include two bedrooms.
Some units have beautiful 200-year-old wooden ceilings and one room is decorated in original 8th
century painted frescoes showing the Maltese cross. The views from the hotel are spectacular with the
fairy chimneys in sight (www.cappadociacavesuites.com).
Dinner will be at the hotel.
OPTIONAL: Hot air balloon rides over Cappadocia at reduced rates. A balloon ride in Cappadocia
(for people of all ages) is safe and nothing less than spectacular.
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Day 11 - Ankara
We will drive four hours to Ankara where we will visit the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey, and the magnificent Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Our stay will be at the 5-star hotel, Etap Altinel.
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Day 12, 13, 14 – Istanbul
After a six-hour drive with stops, we will arrive in Istanbul. Among the many things we will do in this city is visit the Military Museum and enjoy a concert performed in traditional costumes by the world's first established military marching ensemble. |
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Day 15 - DEPART FOR USA
We will depart the hotel shortly after breakfast. We will have a morning flight, returning to
U.S.A. in the afternoon of the same day.
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