Day 1 ISTANBUL Depart via International overnight flight to Istanbul with all meals on board.

Day 2 ISTANBUL You will be welcomed upon arrival at Istanbul’s airport, assisted and escorted to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or to explore this fascinating city on your own.

Day 3 ISTANBUL (B,L) Today a mixture of exotic east and bustling west as your tour of the city starts. Visit the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, St. Sophia, the pride of Christianity and the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, the Byzantine Hippodrome where chariot races were once held, and, the Blue Mosque with its six minarets this morning. After lunch continue your visit to Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 17th centuries, now a world famous museum, the Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent and the Grand Bazaar.

Day 4 ISTANBUL-ANKARA (B,L) Your sightseeing continues this morning in the city many call “the crossroads of the world”. Begin with a cruise of the Bosporus, the strait that separates Europe from Asia, and then a tour to the Asian side of the city. Highlights include the Dolmabahce Palace the Rumeli Hisar Fortress, and Camlica Hill for a panoramic view of the city. Visit the Beylerbeyi Palace and the Handicraft center. Stop for a visit and leisure time at a typical fishing village along the Bosporus. This evening you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Ankara. Meeting upon arrival and transfer to your hotel for overnight.

Day 5 ANKARA-CAPPADOCIA (B,L,D) This morning start your tour of Ankara the capital of modern Turkey. First the most important sites of Ankara including the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the museum of Anatolian civilizations and the Citadel. After lunch you depart for Cappadocia , with a stop in Salt Lake for pictures.

Day 6 CAPPADOCIA (B,L,D) A full day tour in Cappadocia begins with a visit to the natural citadel of Uchisar, then an extensive visit to Goreme open air museum with its 10th century churches cut out of soft rock and its colorful frescoes. After lunch in a typical restaurant in the area we proceed to the Valley of Zelve famous for its Byzantine monastic complex and its troglodyte residences, then we continue to Cavusin for a brief visit and to the village of Avanos famous for its pottery and handicrafts.

Day 7 CAPPADOCIA-KONYA-PAMUKKALE (B,L,D) Enjoy the beautiful countryside this morning as we drive through the plains of the region to visit Agzikarahan Caravanserai and continue to Konia (Ikonion) following the ancient Silk Road. A leading city of culture in the ancient days and later the capital city of the Selcuk Turks, Paul and Barnabas once visited here. We visit the shrine of Mevlana, the great mystic who inspired the rituals of the “Whirling Dervishes” and continue to Pamukkale for overnight.

Day 8 PAMUKKALE-HIERAPOLIS-APHRODISIAS-KUSADASI (B,L,D) Today proceed to Hierapolis (the holy city) , visit the Temple of Apollo, the theater, the fascinating Necropolis and the great baths of Hierapolis. Free time will for bathing in the thermal waters. Continue to Aphrodisias (the city of Aphrodite) named after the Greek Goddess. Lunch upon arrival. Visit the Temple of Aphrodite, the Odeon, the stadium and the theater. Then on to the lovely resort town of Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 KUSADASI-EPHESUS-IZMIR (B,L,D) After breakfast proceed to Ephesus, the most complete ancient Greek city ever excavated and one of the world’s finest archaeological sites. Walk the marble street, see the Roman baths, the Library of Celsus and the theater. Then on to the Basilica of St. John. After lunch visit the Shrine of Virgin Mary, where she lived her last years, then to Selcuk Archaeological Museum. Continue to Izmir for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 IZMIR-PERGAMOS-TROY-CANAKKALE (B,L,D) Drive north through the rich olive orchards along the Aegean coast to Pergamos. Visit the Acropolis, the Sanctuary of Asklepios, the Temples of Athena and Dionysos, the Altar of Zeus and the theater. After lunch continue to Canakkale to visit legendary Troy, the city of Paris and Helen and see the Wooden Horse used by the Mycenian Greeks and Ulysses to conquer the city of King Priamos, which, according to Homer, was rich in gold. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale.

Day 11 CANAKKALE-ISTANBUL (B,L) After breakfast cross the strait of Dardanelles by ferry boat to Kalipolis and continue to Istanbul, stopping enroot for lunch.

Day 12 ISTANBUL-DEPARTURE (B) After breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Tour Features
Ten nights hotel accommodations (Istanbul 3, Ankara 1, Cappadocia 2, Pamukkale 1, Kusadasi 1, Izmir 1, Canakkale 1), with breakfast daily.

All transfers with assistance and baggage handling.
Full day Bosporus cruise and Istanbul sightseeing.
Full day tour of Istanbul.
Seven days of fully escorted touring of Turkey as per itinerary.
Entrance fees to all sites as per itinerary.
Hotel service charges and taxes.
Host service in Istanbul.
Sightseeing by air conditioned vehicles and professional English speaking guides.
Meals as per itinerary: Breakfast (10), Lunch (9), Dinners (6).