Best of Turkey                                                         • Istanbul • Gallipoli • Dardanelles • Canakkale • Troy • Pergamum •

13 Days / 12 Nights                                                                                             • Kusadasi • Ephesus • Hierapolis • Pamukkale • Perge •

   • Antalya • Aspendos • Konya • Cappadocia • Ankara •

Day 1 Thursday       Istanbul

Arrival in Istanbul, the only city in the world that spans two continents. You will be welcomed on arrival and transferred to your hotel for a two night stay. Welcome briefing this evening.

Day 2 Friday      Full Day Istanbul Tour

Discover the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of Istanbul on a full day tour.

We begin at the Topkapi Palace, the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans for almost three centuries located on the Seraglio Point overlooking the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. The palace is an extensive complex interconnected with galleries and passages. Your visit will include some of the main highlights. (Imperial Harem is not included).

The ancient Roman Hippodrome, scene of chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life is next. Remains from the curved end section of the Hippodrome’s walls can be seen on the south side of the square. Nearby is the elegant six minaret mosque of Sultan Ahmet I also known as the Blue Mosque. The interior is lined with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles made at Iznik in more than fifty different tulip designs. Also visit the Aya Sofya or St. Sophia Church*, an ancient Basilica built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian acknowledged as one of the architectural marvels of all time. The tour concludes at the Grand Bazaar where you can wander amongst the stalls of over 3500 tiny shops that offer a wide selection of goods. The evening is free. Lunch and dinner on your own.

Optional – Turkish evening including dinner and belly dancing.

Day 3 Saturday   Istanbul - Gallipoli - Dardanelles - Canakkale

Leaving Istanbul we travel to Gallipoli where a stop is made for lunch (not included). A visit will be made to Anzac Cove which gained fame as the site of the First World War landing of the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) on April 25, 1915. See the Lone Pine Cemetery which stands on a plateau at the top of Victoria Gully and is located on the road from Gabatepe to the New Zealand Battlefield at Chunuk Bair. Within the Cemetery stands the Lone Pine Memorial commemorating servicemen who perished in the Anzac area.

READ ABOUT THE NEWFOUNDLAND REGIMENT

Cross the Dardanelles by vehicle ferryboat and arrive in Canakkale in the early evening. Dinner

Day 4 Sunday    Canakkale - Troy - Pergamum - Kusadasi

A morning drive to Homer’s fortified city of Troy lost until 1871 until the German adventurer Heinrich Schliemann discovered it using Homer’s Iliad to locate the site. Obtaining permission from the Ottoman government, the site was excavated at his own expense. He uncovered four superimposed towns (nine have since been uncovered). See the legendary walls and the replica of the famous wooden horse that guards the entrance. Crossing the Kaz Mountains we head for Bergama (Pergamum) town, one of the Seven Churches of the Bible and a great center of culture. Bergama’s fame stems from the fact that it was home to Gallen, a great physician and medical authority who set up shop as physician to Pergamum’s gladiators. Most of the ruins of the Acropolis have been moved to Berlin to the Pergamum Museum. Stop for lunch (cost not included) before continuing to the Acropolis. The most significant ruins are the great library of Pergamum that once housed over 200,000 books. The main structure of the Acropolis includes the Library as well as the marble columned Temple of Trajan. The Great Theater built into the hillside once seated 10,000 spectators. Pass the Asclepion, one of the foremost medical centers of classical times and the Red Basilica, one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse (Rev. 2- 12) before continuing to Kusadasi for two night stay. Dinner

Day 6 Monday     Kusadasi - Ephesus

This morning we focus on the famous ruins of Ephesus, once the commercial center of the ancient world famous for its Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The sacred city of Ephesus (Rev. 2-1-7) lay largely in ruins forgotten until the early 20th century. A visit will be made to a carpet weaving co-operative to observe an ancient art that has been passed down for generations. Continue to the House of the Virgin Mary. Tradition has it that after the death of Christ, John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus where she is said to have spent her last days in a small house built for her on Mt. Koressos. It is now a popular place of pilgrimage. You will also see the Marble Road where indentations of Roman carriage wheels can still be seen. The afternoon is free. Participants can return to the hotel.

Optional - Tour of Sardis (based on a minimum of 5 participants). Located on the banks of the Pactolus River, Sardis located 60 miles inland from Ephesus was capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia where a huge complex which included a gymnasium was built in the center of the lower part of the city. Also of interest was the synagogue, one of the largest synagogues excavated. Dinner

Optional – Tour of Sirince (based on a minimum of 12 participants). Sirince, a pretty Orthodox village is located at the top of a mountain with narrow streets where local women sell their handicrafts. Time for shopping in the village before returning to the hotel.

Day 7 Tuesday     Kusadasi - Hierapolis - Pamukkale       

Driving through fertile valleys we arrive in Pamukkale, a noted ancient spa where thermal spring waters laden with calcareous salts have created a fantastic formation of stalactites, cataracts and basins. Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish is recognized as a World Heritage Site together with Hierapolis. Time for lunch (cost not included). Facing present day Pamukkale is Hierapolis founded by King Eumenes II of Pergamon around 190 B.C. There are only a few historical facts that are known about the origin of the city founded as a thermal spa. First excavated in 1957, further excavations unearthed a number of valuable discoveries. The Apostle Philip, a native of Hierapolis was martyred here in 80 A.D. and a basilica erected to commemorate his martyrdom. After our visit of Hierapolis free time to walk on the limestone formations of Pamukkale before departing for the hotel. Dinner

Day 7 Wednesday   Pamukkale - Perge - Antalya
Leaving Pamukkale stop to visit the ancient city of Perge founded by the Hittites with its Hellenistic Gates and the best preserved stadium in Asia Minor after Aphrodisias. Most of the remaining ruins in Perge such as the theater and streets date from the Pax Romana period. This is also where St. Paul preached his first sermon. Travel to Antalya founded by King Attalus II of Pergamum. Afternoon in Antaya is free.Dinner

Day 8 Thursday        Antalya
Today is yours to relax at the hotel or to take an optional tour to Phaselis, an ancient coastal city founded by the Greeks in the 7th century B.C. or to relax on a yacht cruising along the Turquoise Coast of the Mediterranean. Dinner

Day 9 Friday            Antalya - Aspendos - Konya

A morning drive to Aspendos, lying on the banks of the Eurymedon River where you will see the remains dating from Roman times including the remarkable theater built in the 2nd century A.D. by Xenon. It is one of the best preserved in the world seating 15,000 spectators and offering perfect acoustics. Continue to Konya, home of the famous Whirling Dervishes for a visit to the Mevlana Mausoleum, dedicated to the founder of the sect, and the Karatay Koran School. Dinner

Day 10 Saturday       Konya - Cappadocia
Leaving Konya journey via the small town of Aksaray (the white palace) en route to the 13th century Agzikarahan, one of the best preserved caravanserais dating from the Seljuk period. These buildings provided the caravans with places to sleep, to pray, to read and to eat. Continue to Cappadocia, a geographical wonder where nature has created a surrealistic moonscape and where underground cities and churches were created by the persecuted Christians in the 9th century. It has been estimated that there are some 600 rock cut churches in Cappadocia. Pay a visit to the underground city of Saratli. It was discovered only in 1972 by a local farmer who was curious about where his excess crop water was disappearing. He found a space underground which, when excavated, revealed a whole city which could house thousands of people for up to three months Dinner

Optional – Whirling Dervishes performance.

Day 11 Sunday          Cappadocia
Optional – Early morning Balloon tour Experience floating through the volcanic valleys and over the fairy chimneys as the sun rises over Cappadocia.

After breakfast visit the churches of the Goreme Valley which contain the most spectacular paintings of the region. The area has been designated as a huge open air museum. Travel north to Avanos, located 18 kms north of Nevsehir where the tint of the deep red soil also colors the clay used to make the famous pottery of the area. Stop in Pasabagi (also known as Monks’ Valley) which is approximately 1 km from Goreme. The valley contains some of the most interesting fairy chimneys in Cappadocia with twin and triple rock caps. Next is the Red Valley, where the red soil along its banks give the Kizilirmak (Red River) and the valley its name. Visit a pottery workshop in a cave before continuing on your underground city visit. Return to the hotel. (50 kms) Lunch is on your own. Dinner

Day 12 Monday          Cappadocia - Ankara
Morning departure through the salt lake area for the capital city of Ankara whose very name has changed several times over the years. Located in Anatolia, Ankara was an important crossroads of trade and was famous for its long haired Angora goat. This afternoon visit the Ataturk Mausoleum completed in 1960 and dominating the modern part of the city and the Anatolian Museum of Civilization with its spectacular display of Hittite and Urartian finds. This is the most important museum in Turkey and contains a priceless collection that reflects Anatolian civilizations from Paleolithic to Classical times. Dinner

Day 13 / Tuesday          Ankara - home
Transfer to Ankara airport.