Including the Draconid Meteor Shower!
TREASURES OF
ISTANBUL - CAPPADOCIA & the Ancient Greek Cities
of Ephesus & Troy
September 23-October 4, 2010 - SOLD OUT!
October 3-14, 2011
Discover sites important to the heritage of Western Civilization on this great adventure to Istanbul
and the fascinating cave city at Cappadocia. We will also visit the two greatest Greek sites on the
Aegean Coast of Turkey, Ephesus and Troy.
L
E A D E R S H I P
Leading the expedition will be Mr. Seyhun Aktoprak. Seyhun received his MA in Art History at
Istanbul University and has been leading specialty study tours throughout Turkey since 1989.
As a youth, Seyhun lived in Istanbul, Malta, and Libya, and returned to Turkey in 1985. He
studied American Culture and Literature at Istanbul University for his Bachelor’s degree.
Seyhun has a tremendous interest in the heritage of Turkey, and looks forward to sharing his
knowledge of ancient archaeological and historical sites in Turkey with you. He knows you will
have a marvelous time discovering the treasures of Turkey.
I
T I N E R A R Y
Day
1 - DEPART FOR ISTANBUL
Depart New York’s JFK International Airport on
a nonstop flight to Istanbul.
Day
2 - ISTANBUL
Upon arrival in Istanbul, meet your guide at the airport
and transfer to the hotel. Time for rest and leisure.
In the evening enjoy a Welcome Dinner. Ramada Old City Hotel, Istanbul (3 nights). (D)
Day
3 - ISTANBUL - TOPKAPI PALACE
We will devote the entire day to sightseeing in Istanbul. First of all, we will stop at outstanding
Topkapi Palace, once home to the great Sultans. It is filled with treasures and antiquities
including twelve thousand pieces of fine Chinese porcelain. Then we will visit the Blue Mosque,
built in 1609 by Sultan Ahmet. The interior walls are covered with twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles.
Our sightseeing continues at the excellent Archaeology Museum with displays on Troy and
Assos, followed by a visit to the Underground Basilica Cistern which supplied water to the
imperial palaces. (B)
Day
4 - ISTANBUL - HIPPODROME & ST. SOPHIA
This morning, we will explore the Hippodrome and Basilica of St. Sophia, which has inspired
architects and religious leaders for over fifteen hundred years. Constructed in 326 by Constantine
the Great, it has been a cathedral, a mosque, and is now a museum. In the afternoon we explore
Chora Church, including 14th Century Byzantium Mosaics and amazing frescos; and
Suleymaniye Mosque which was built for Suleyman the Magnificent by the great Ottoman
architect, Sinan. (B)
Day
5 - ISTANBUL TO CAPPADOCIA
Today we will take a short flight from Istanbul to Kayseri near Cappadocia. We will explore
Kultepe, the site of the Ancient Kingdom of Kanesh and then drive to the Rock-cut Monastery at
Eski Gumusler. Peri Tower Hotel, Cappadocia (2 nights) (B, D)
Day
6 - CAPPADOCIA
Our sightseeing begins with a visit to the fascinating Göreme Valley. The lunar-like landscape of
this region is eerie, yet beautiful. Over thousand of years, the rain has eroded this landscape to give
rise to strange rock formations known as "Fairy Chimneys". Many of these have homes and
churches carved into them. Some of the grottos are magnificently decorated with colorful frescoes
depicting biblical scenes. Then visit the carpet cooperative to learn about this important local
industry. Your sightseeing continues to Asikli Hoyuk, the earliest settlement in Anatolia. (B, D)
Day
7 - CAPPADOCIA TO KUSADASI
Spend the morning visiting a typical Turkish village, Avanos, to see the techniques of ceramic art
dating from the 12th to 3rd century BC. We’ll watch the villagers make the pottery, which is quite
interesting! We will enjoy a tour of the Underground City of Kaymakli built by the Christian
inhabitants of this region tunneling into the soft volcanic rock of a large hill. Transfer to Kayseri
Airport for a direct flight to Izmir on the Aegean Coast. Pine Bay Marina Hotel, Kusadasi (2
nights). (B, D)
Day
8 - KUSADASI & EPHESUS
Today’s excursion goes to Ephesus, the largest ancient city uncovered in Turkey. Ephesus was
also a port city linking Sardis to Susa. Once populated with three hundred thousand people, it has
an enormous amphitheater, which can still hold twenty four thousand spectators. As we walk down
the marble covered streets, we will see the Temple of Artemis (Diana) which was one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World. We will also see the Ephesus Museum with some world-famous
works and the Basilica of St John. (B, D)
Day
9 - KUSADASI – PERGAMUM – ASSOS
Today our road will take us to the ancient city of Pergamum. Famous for the invention of
parchment paper, Pergamum had a library containing two hundred thousand books. We will visit
the Acropolis, the alter of Zeus and the ten thousand-seat amphitheater. At the Pergamum
Museum see the 4th century BC kuros, an early example of realism of the sculpted human form.
Then visit marvelous Asclepion, a fourth century BC shrine to the healing God Asclepios. A
winding road will take us to the sacred center of Asklepios. Here, mud and hot baths were used as a
therapy. Drive to Assos to spend the night in a charming stone hotel. Kervansaray Hotel, Assos (2 nights). (B, D)
Day
10 - ASSOS & TROY
This morning we will visit Assos and the village Behramkale, in a gorgeous setting overlooking the
Aegean and the island of Lesbos. The rugged summit at Assos is surrounded by an impressive
wall. Here the spectacular Temple of Athena was built in 530 BC. It is the only surviving example
of Doric architecture in Anatolia. We will also visit Troy, one of the oldest discovered sights in
Asia Minor with 9 different settlements and 30 related cities, including the symbolic wooden Trojan
horse commemorating the legendary war. (B, D)
Day
11 - ASSOS - BURSA - ISTANBUL
Today we will visit Bursa the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. See the fifteenth century Grand
Mosque, one of the most striking examples of Ottoman art and visit the Green Ottoman
Complex before continuing to Istanbul. Ramada Old City Hotel, Istanbul (1 night). (B, D)
Day
12 - ISTANBUL - USA
After a farewell breakfast transfer to Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport for our return flight to New York,
arriving the same day. (B)
2010 Brochure
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