TURKEY

ISTANBUL TREASURES

Day 1: Arrival
Arrive in Istanbul, the only city in the world built on two continents. You will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2: Istanbul (BL)
Take a full day Historic Istanbul Tour. Visit the St. Sophia Museum, built in the 6th century and once the largest Christian Church in the world. Tour Topkapi Palace, the imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans, with displays of priceless world-class collections of artifacts, jewelry and rare porcelain. Marvel at the Blue Mosque with its six minarets and famous blue Iznik tiles and the Hippodrom Square where ancient chariot races were held. End the day with a visit to the world famous Grand Covered Bazaar.

Day 3: Istanbul (BL)
Visit the Egyptian Spice Market, and then embark on a Bosphorus boat tour, viewing the beauties of the European shoreline and one side and the Asian shore line on the other. Cross to the Asian side to visit Camlica Hill and tour the Beylerbeyi palace, the summer resident of the Ottoman sultans with its magnificent gardens.

Day 4: Departure (B)
Transfer to Istanbul airport for your homeward flight.

TURKEY TREASURES

Day 1: Arrival
Arrive in Istanbul, the only city in the world built on two continents. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul (BL)
Take a full day Historical Istanbul Tour. Discover the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of Istanbul. Visit the Royal Topkapi Palace, the imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans, with displays of priceless world-class collections of artifacts, jewelry and rare porcelain, the Blue Mosque with its six minarets, the Roman Hippodrome Square and St. Sophia Church which is considered one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. End the day with a visit to the Grand Covered Bazaar with over 4,000 tiny shops. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3: Istanbul (BL)
Full day Bosphorus and Istanbul Treasures Tour. Visit the Egyptian Spice Market, and then embark on a Bosphorus Boat Tour viewing the beauty of the European and Asian shorelines on either side. After lunch, visit the gorgeous St. Chora Museum with its marvelous mosaics and frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible and which dates back to 14^th Century AD. Return to your hotel after tour. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4: Istanbul/Izmir (B)
Transfer to Istanbul airport for your flight to Izmir, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight in Izmir.

Day 5: Pergamon (BL)
Drive to Pergamon, where you will visit the Acropolis, the Temple of Athena, the famous Library, the Royal Palaces, and the Temple of Trojan. See the steepest Theater in the world, the Temple of Dionysos, the Alter of Zeus (Seat of Satan), and the view of the Red Basilica (St. John's church). After lunch, visit the ruins of the Asclepieon, the medical center of the ancient world. Overnight in Izmir.

Day 6: Ephesus (BL)
Drive to Ephesus, the veritable cradle of early Christianity. Visit the Shrine of the Virgin Mary, on the spot where she is believed to have spent her later days. Proceed to Ephesus and see the spectacular ruins from the period of St. Paul, some of which have only recently been excavated. See the Odeon, the Bouleterion, Fountains, the Temples, the Brothel, the Library, the Agoras, the Great Theater, the Roman Baths, and the Gymnasiums. After lunch, visit the Archaeological Museum and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Overnight in Izmir.

Day 7: Izmir/Ankara/Cappadocia (BLD)
Early morning transfer to Izmir airport for your flight to Ankara. Visit the worldwide famous Anatolian Civilizations Museum also known as the Hittite Museum, and the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the Turkish hero. Then depart for Cappadocia and lunch on the way. After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake, visit the 13th century Seljukian Caravanserai Agzikarahan. Arrival to the Cappadocia region and overnight.

Day 8: Cappadocia (BLD)
Visit the Pigeon Valley near Uchisar; then proceed to the Open Air Museum in Goreme. Drive through the Avcilar Valley and visit the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. After lunch, visit Kaymakli Underground City, where the early Christians hid from persecutors, Pasabagi in Zelve region and Avanos. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 9: Cappadocia/Ankara/Departure (B)
Drive from Cappadocia to the airport at Ankara for your homeward flight.

TURKEY TREASURES AND TURKISH RIVIERA

Day 1: Arrival
Arrive in Istanbul, the only city in the world built on two continents. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul (BL)
Take a full day Historical Istanbul Tour. Discover the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of Istanbul. Visit the Royal Topkapi Palace, the imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans, with displays of priceless world-class collections of artifacts, jewelry and rare porcelain, the Blue Mosque with its six minarets, the Roman Hippodrome Square and St. Sophia Church which is considered one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. End the day with a visit to the Grand Covered Bazaar with over 4,000 tiny shops. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3: Istanbul (BL)
Full day Bosphorus and Istanbul Treasures Tour. Visit the Egyptian Spice Market, and then embark on a Bosphorus Boat Tour viewing the beauty of the European and Asian shorelines on either side. After lunch, visit the gorgeous St. Chora Museum with its marvelous mosaics and frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible and which dates back to 14^th Century AD. Return to your hotel after tour. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4: Istanbul/Izmir (B)
Transfer to Istanbul airport for your flight to Izmir, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight in Izmir.

Day 5: Pergamon (BL)
Drive to Pergamon, where you will visit the Acropolis, the Temple of Athena, the famous Library, the Royal Palaces, and the Temple of Trojan. See the steepest Theater in the world, the Temple of Dionysos, the Alter of Zeus (Seat of Satan), and the view of the Red Basilica (St. John's church). After lunch, visit the ruins of the Asclepieon, the medical center of the ancient world. Overnight in Izmir.

Day 6: Ephesus (BL)
Drive to Ephesus, the veritable cradle of early Christianity. Visit the Shrine of the Virgin Mary, on the spot where she is believed to have spent her later days. Proceed to Ephesus and see the spectacular ruins from the period of St. Paul, some of which have only recently been excavated. See the Odeon, the Bouleterion, Fountains, the Temples, the Brothel, the Library, the Agoras, the Great Theater, the Roman Baths, and the Gymnasiums. After lunch, visit the Archaeological Museum and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Overnight in Izmir.

Day 7: Izmir/Ankara/Cappadocia (BLD)
Early morning transfer to Izmir airport for your flight to Ankara. Visit the worldwide famous Anatolian Civilizations Museum also known as the Hittite Museum, and the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the Turkish hero. Then depart for Cappadocia and lunch on the way. After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake, visit the 13th century Seljukian Caravanserai Agzikarahan. Arrival to the Cappadocia region and overnight.

Day 8: Cappadocia (BLD)
Visit the Pigeon Valley near Uchisar; then proceed to the Open Air Museum in Goreme. Drive through the Avcilar Valley and visit the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. After lunch, visit Kaymakli Underground City, where the early Christians hid from persecutors, Pasabagi in Zelve region and Avanos. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 9: Cappadocia/Antalya (BLD)
After breakfast, transfer to Ankara for your flight to the coastal city of Antalya. Upon arrival in Antalya you will be escorted to your hotel. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 10: Antalya (BLD)
Take a city tour of Antalya, including visits to Hadrian's Gate, the Old City Walls, and highly praised Antalya Archaeological Museum. Visit the ancient city of Termessos and the Lower Duden waterfalls cascading over a cliff into the Mediterranean. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 11: Perge/Aspendos/Departure (BL)
Drive to the ancient Pamphylian cities of Perge, where St. Paul preached his first sermon, and to Aspendos, with its well preserved 15,000 seat theater famed for its excellent acoustics. Then drive to Antalay airport for your departure flight.