Day 1 - Evening flight from USA to Istanbul. 

Day 2 - After refreshing at our 1st class hotel we'll have a walk around this fabulous city, founded by the Greek, Byzas, in 662 BC. 

Day 3 - This morning we have a great orientation to Troy. We visit the Archaeological Museum, Archaeological Park, and the Museum of the Ancient Orient. This afternoon we are Odysseus, Jason & Medea cruising up the Bosphoros toward the Black Sea. 

Day 4 - Istanbul is one of the great cities of antiquity and today for good reason. We cross the Golden Horn to visit St. Sophia, begun by Constantine and completed by Justinian, still one of the great architectural feats of the world; the Blue Mosque, decorated with over 21,000 Iznik tiles; the Hippodrome, where racing and politics combined for Boogey Nights in Old Constantinople; Yerabaton Cistern, the amazing vaulted, underground water supply reflecting Roman engineering genius - Way Cool - (Harvard Guide to Turkey); The mosque of Sileyman the Magnificent, the Ottoman's most famous sultan - a work of beauty by the imperial architect Sinan. 

Day 5 - Today is free for the most interesting activity in Istanbul - street walking. Visit the Grand Bazaar; the Spice Market by the Galata Bridge; the tea-house on Divan Yolu for tea, a hooka or a Turkish bath; the Asian side. 

Day 6 - We are off to the "plain of windy Troy." Before crossing the Hellespont (Dardanelles) we will visit Gallipoli, site of the modern Trojan War. This evening let your imagination revel, watching sunset over Troy. After dinner stroll along the shores of the Hellespont with the natives. Would you like to swim the Hellespont like Leander and Byron? It can be arranged! Over night Canakkale (Ancient Abydos). 

Day 7 - After visiting the archaeological museum, we go directly to the site of Troy. We will walk through the various levels of excavation, Schliemann's Trench, and of course, the Trojan Horse. Overnight Canakkale.

For the next 7 days we enjoy this renowned and beautiful area (our Circe's island) from our base at Kusadasi in ancient Ionia and our hotel on the Aegean coast. 

Day 8 - Southward to Kusadasi on the sunlit azure Aegean coast. En route, Pergamon, one of the great Hellenistic cities, site of the Altar of Zeus. 

Day 9 - Heroes deserve their rewards; today ours is sailing around the coast of Asia Minor. 

Day 10 - Reserved for an optional tour to Sardis, terminus of The Royal Road and western- most capital of the Persian empire, whose burning in 499 BC, precipitated the Persian Wars. 

Day 11 - Open your mind and let your psyche roam. Today we experience the real birthplace of the West, the three great cities of ancient Ionia: Miletos, Didyma, Priene. From here sprang the mother of all knowledge, philosophy (as well as the mistress of Perikles).

Day 12 - We are free for an optional tour of Aphrodisias, one the of the most exciting recent excavations in Turkey. (Cadogan Guide). The site was always sacred, dating from 8,000 years ago. In this beautiful setting we can see the connection between the Greek goddess Aphrodite and Enana, Assyrian goddess of love and war. Aphrodisias was Augustus' favorite city in Asia Minor.

Day 13 - After Troy, the most famous site in the eastern Aegean is Ephesos. Today our guide will point out her marvels and mysteries. First, a visit to the small but excellent archaeology museum (Odysseus blinding the Cyclops).

Day 14 -As Odysseus before us, we have Ithaka in sight. We set sail from Izmir (home of The Poet, Homer) for the USA.

Included as part of the tour: 

Round trip air from Chicago
First class hotels
Expert guiding
Breakfasts & dinners in Canakkle
Sightseeing as mentioned
 

Not included with the tour: 

 Passport
 Visa  
 Items of personal nature
 Gratuities to guides and drivers 

We have directed this tour many times in the past and will do so in the future. Keep checking back with us at this site.