Turkey Study Tour 2008 Itinerary

7 Nights - 9 Days

Oct 23 - Oct 31, 2008 or Nov 06 - Nov 14, 2008

DAY 1: Oct 23 or Nov 6 - En Route

Turkish Airlines has a non-stop and non-smoking service to Istanbul. You will have comfortable overnight flight. Enjoy the delicious food and refreshments along with various kinds of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Overnight on board.

DAY 2: Oct 24 or Nov 7, - Arrive Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul, the city which has been the capital of three empires in a time span of 3000 years and the unique link between east and west, past and present. Transfer to the hotel in the city center for check-in. Then, depart from the hotel for a Bosphorus Boat Tour along the Asian and European shores of Istanbul. Return to the hotel.

DAY 3: Oct 25 or Nov 8, - Istanbul

Discover the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of Istanbul. Visit the Topkapi Palace, once the Imperial residence of Ottoman Sultans, which displays priceless world class collections of artifacts, jeweler and rare porcelains. Nearby is the Blue Mosque known for the color of its interior decoration. Continue across the Hippodrome Square to the Hagia Sophia Church, the 6th century Basilica which was the largest building of the world for many of the thousand years of its existence. Stop to visit the world famous Grand Covered Bazaar. Overnight in your hotel.

Optional Turkish Night in Istanbul $75 pp: Transfer to restaurant, dinner at a restaurant to taste various kinds of excellent Turkish cuisine and local drinks while watching the spectacular oriental show performed by famous belly dancers, folk groups from different regions of Anatolia and Turkish singers. Late night back to the hotel (First local drinks are included within the price).

DAY 4: Oct 26 or Nov 9 , - Istanbul - Fly to Kayseri - Cappadocia

Early flight to Kayseri airport and then we will proceed to Cappadocia the violent eruptions of the volcanoes Erciyes and Hasan three million years ago, which covered the surrounding plateau with tuff, lava and volcanic ash, are at the origin of the strangest landscape on Earth. Undergoing erosion by wind and water, this plateau was shredded, creating monumental rock formations. Rock cones, capped pinnacles and fretted ravines are the result, in colors ranging from warm red and gold to cool greens and grays. “Fairy chimneys” with flat stones on the top, and cones with distorted shapes combine to embellish the landscape in a manner almost beyond the imagination of a surrealist sculptor. Cappadocia is not only a wonder of nature. Cliff openings give access to cave dwellings, rock-cut churches, monasteries and underground cities created during the earliest Christian era. You will have an unforgettable experience.  Bus will take us from Kayseri Airport to Cappadocia in approximately 1hour and 30 minutes. Today we are going to visit Goreme. The most famous sight in the region is The Goreme Open Air Museum (National Park),a moonscape volcanic valley filled with hollowed from the soft volcanic stone. We will visit a monastic complex of rock churches and chapels covered with frescoes, the area is one of the best-know sites in central Turkey. Then we will proceed to  Avanos, the charming town on the banks of the Kizilirmak river. We will visit a  production center in the cave and have an opportunity of a lecture about ceramics. Cappadocia district is consisting of many valleys and small towns. Such as : Goreme, Uskup, Zelve, Uchisar, Kaymakli. We will be going through most of the valleys and towns on our drive way enjoying the breathtaking panorama. Overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY 5: Oct 27 or Nov 10, - Cappadocia

Visit Kaymakli for a look to this underground city which goes down eight different levels into solid rock. Journey into Cappadocia, where the signs 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 Byzantine. Visit lovely Zelve, a natural amphitheater at the junction of three valleys the cliff-faces are riddled with opening to houses and churches, many with frescos still visible. Continue for an observation of carpet weaving at one of the local workshops. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Optional Balloon Tour & Champagne Breakfast $225 pp: Cappadocia is a land of extreme beauty, the deep canyons and lush fertile valleys provide our balloons with an ideal playground for a unique and memorable flight. If you wish to do a balloon ride one time in your life save it for Cappadocia, you will have an unforgettable experience.

DAY 6: Oct 28 or Nov 11, - Cappadocia - Konya- Pamukkale

After breakfast we will drive to Konya ,one of the Turkey’s oldest continuously inhabited cities was known as Iconium in Roman times and the later capital of the Seljuk Turkish Empire .Visit Mevlana Museum, a 13th century Whirling dervish monastery passing though the beautiful city Konya continue to Pamukkale cotton castle Mineral Water Spa since ancient times. Continue to Pamukkale, created by the deriving springs in a cliff almost 200m high overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters. Also called Cotton Castle, being one of the natural wonder of the world, has an unreal landscape made up of mineral forests, snow white cascades and a series of terraced basins. Overnight in Pamukkale.

DAY 7: Oct 29 or Nov 12, - Pamukkale - Aphrodisias - Kusadasi

Drive to Aphrodisias, the city of the Goddess of Love, see the well preserved stadium the Odeon, the Theater and the Agora. Visit to the famous Aphrodisias Archeological Museum. Fashion leather show in Selcuk Town. Overnight in Kusadasi.

DAY 8: Oct 30 or Nov 13, - Kusadasi - Ephesus - Kusadasi

Visit the House of the Virgin Mary which is recognized as her final resting place by Vatican. Leave for the ancient city of Ephesus, the Celsus Library, the marble paved Arcadian Road, the Brothel, the Roman Baths, the Theater where St. Paul preached and the Temple of Artemis which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. See the statue of Ephesians’ Artemis while touring the Archeological Museum of Ephesus . Overnight in Kusadasi.

DAY 9: Oct 31 or Nov 14, - Kusadasi- Istanbul - New York

Escorted transfer to Izmir airport for the flight back home. End of our services.

Breakfast Lunch Dinner