Grand Tour of Turkey

This tour takes you to the most notable sights in Turkey: The Hittite ruins in North-central Anatolia; Cappadocia with its lunar landscapes; the Turquiose Coast and its antiquities; and incomparable Istanbul. You will delight in the sights and dine with natives as we visit small, authentic restaurants serving local delicacies. 

Day 1 - Board our flight to Ankara. Dinner served on board. 

Day 2 - Ankara is the capital of modern Turkey. After check in at our first class hotel and time for relaxing, we will visit the Attatürk Mausoleum and the Museum of Anatolian Cultures, a beautiful building that contains many important Hittite artifacts. Overnight Ankara. 

Day 3 - Off to the Hittite sites. The Hittites were an Indo-European people roughly contemporaneous with the Mycenaean Greeks. They appeared in north-central Anatolia about 2000 B.C. and proceeded to dominate this rich agricultural area. Hittites lived in hill fortresses, and had a well developed, codified system of laws. The major sites are close together, and as we travel through this fertile area we will notice farm families working the fields by hand, much as in the days of Suppiluliumas. Visiting: Alacahöyük, the remains of a stone city and the museum; Yazilikaya, with its excellent wall carvings of the Hittite pantheon; and Hattusa, the Hittite capital. Overnight Ürgüp. 

Day 4 - Cappadocia is famous for its most unusual lunar landscapes. The traveler is agog at a landscape pervaded by film-devouring formations of volcanic tufa, and the whole area is underlain by subterranean cities. We will visit Göreme and wander into the many churches cut from the stalagmite formations of the Open Air Museum; the "fairy chimneys" of Zelve, Avcilar, Uchisar, and Pasabaglari. Overnight Ürgüp. 

Day 5 - Sightseeing of the Göreme Valley continues to the underground city of Kaymakli, a troglodyte heaven. The builders are anonymous, but these passages probably served native populations over the centuries as shelters from marauding bands. The full extent of the tunnels is unknown for the city has not yet been fully explored. Next, to the pottery centers of Avanos. Overnight Ürgüp. 

Day 6 - South of Cappadocia lies "the holy city of Konya," which dates from Phrygian rule. During the 12th and 13th centuries it was noted as the home of intellectuals and artists from all over the Mediterranean, most famous of whom was Celâleddin Rumi, the Mevlâna, founder of the Whirling Dervishes. We will visit the Mevlâna Museum and see the famous green dome over his tomb. We will have time for a stroll through the bazaar just a short distance from our hotel. Today Konya is a carpet weaving center. Overnight Konya. 

Days 7 to 10 - We have reached Antalya on the Turquoise Coast of the Mediterranean. For the next four days we will enjoy this area as we visit the excellent museum and the very well preserved archaeological sites of Aspendos, Perge, and Side. While here on the "Turkish Riviera" we will also have an opportunity to take a cruise to the ancient sites of Olympos and Phaesalis, two of the preeminent cities of Lycia. These ruins are along the sea, especially the theatre, aqueduct, and tombs, and they are considered to be among Turkey's most picturesque. Rafting is also a possibility in Koprülü Canyon. 

Day 11 - Our morning flight will take us to Istanbul, city of mystique. This day's sightseeing will include St. Sophia, built by Justinian in the 6th century; then across the square to the ethereal Blue Mosque, decorated with thousands of brilliant blue Iznik tiles.  Nearby is the Hippodrome, the most important stadium of ancient times. Then on to the Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman Sultans.  Overnight Istanbul. 

Day 12 - Off to the Archaeological Museum; then the Covered Bazaar, the largest covered market in the world, where native merchants offer carpets, jewelry, brass, leather, and more. The rest of the day we will cruise the Sea of Marmara to the Princes' islands. Famous since Byzantine times, these islands have become the quiet shaded summer retreat of Istanbul. Overnight Istanbul. 

Day 13 - Today is free for exploration on our own. Walk around the narrow streets of the old city; visit the spice bazaar; stop for a Turkish coffee; enjoy.  Overnight Istanbul. 

Day 14 - Our guide and driver will take us to the airport and assist us with check-in for our flight home from "The Land of Civilizations." 
 

INCLUDED

Scheduled roundtrip air from the U.S.  Admissions  Breakfasts & eight dinners  Transfers  First class & superior tourist class hotels  Expert guiding 

NOT INCLUDED 
Gratuities 
Items of a personal nature 
Visa & passport