Vacation Packages : Turkey
Treasures of Turkey
(13 days)

Land Price: $2,485 (Double occupancy)*

 The heart of the Holy Roman Empire before the fall of Constantinople (now Istanbul), Turkey is still considered by many to be a cradle of civilization and at the crossroads of the world.  Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Seljuk, Russia, Jewish and Armenian influences are seen today in the architecture, art, and artifacts of this diverse land. The people of Turkey consider their country to be a necessary addition to the European Union and welcome visitors from the West with open arms. For decades, Turkey has been one of the most popular vacation destinations for Europeans, who consider Turkey to be less expensive, easily accessible, and as beautiful and intriguing as the Greek Isles.Although Europeans flock here for the idyllic Mediterranean and Aegean beaches, the beaches are only a hint of the treasures to be found in this ancient land.  Our “Treasures of Turkey” gives you the geographical, cultural and historical highlights of a truly magnificent country.

Air price: From $480**
NYC - Istanbul - Izmir
Plus:
Kayseri - Istanbul - NYC
*Single, triple occupancy or families and groups, please inquire

**Air prices vary depending upon time of year and market conditions. Prices from and to other gateways in U.S.A. may be somewhat higher than for NYC.

LAND PRICE INCLUDES:
  • Private driver/guide with air conditioned standard size car (ten days)
  • Thirteen nights in superior first class and deuxe boutique hotels
  • Meet and greet by trip adviser at Izmir airport
  • Airport transfers at Izmir, Istanbul, and Kayseri 
  • Daily breakfast, one lunch, two dinners
  • Entry visa into Turkey
  • Extensive pre-tour assistance, practical and cultural guide
  • Travel bag, name badge, passport wallet, and luggage tags
  • Excursions, cruises, and activities described below for each region/city:

IZMIR

  • Two nights at the first class superior Anemon Hotel Izmir
  • Excursion to Pergamum with visits of the Asklepion, Acropolis, the Temple of Trajan, and the open air Bergama Market
  • Visits to the Ethnographical and Archaeological Museums
  • Excursion to Selcuk to visit the house of the Virgin Mary
  • Visit Ephesus and its Odeion, Temple of Hadrian, Celsus Library, Marble Street, Great Theatre and Harbour Road
  • Tour of the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus with new findings not yet open to the public
  • Time at the beach and water sports in place of any of the above activities

KUSADASI

  • One night at the first class superior Korumar Hotel
  • Excursion to Priene, an ancient Greek city, Miletos to view its Greco-Roman theater, and Didyma to see the Temple of Apollo 

BODRUM

  • Two nights at the first class superior Marmara Hotel
  • Evening walking tour of the city
  • Visit the antique theater and the Mausoleum, tomb of King Mausoleus and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
  • Excursion to Bodrum Castle and its Underwater Archaeology Museum
  • Wine tasting in one of Bodrum Castle’s tower rooms
  • Excursion to Aphrodisias viewing its Stadium, Hadrian Baths, Theater, Agora and Archaeological Museum
  • Time at the beach and water sports in place of any of the above activities 

PAMUKKALE

  • One night at the first class superior Colassae Hotel
  • View the white travertines in Pamukkale
  • Visit the Arch of Dometian and the ancient theatre in the city of Hierapolis, a Roman spa center
  • Swim in the hotel’s indoor and outdoor hot spring pool

ANTALYA

  • Two nights at the first class superior Dedeman Hotel
  • Explore the Greco-Roman archaeological sites along the Turkish Riviera
  • Take a "half-day" (2-3 hour) city tour of Antalya and see the Fluted Minaret and Hadrian’s Gate
  • Visit Antalya’s famous Archaeological Museum
  • Enjoy the Mediterranean beaches of the Antalya region

 KONYA

  • One night at the Ozkaymak or Dundar Hotel (each hotel is first class)
  • Visit Konya Mevlana Museum, Karatay Tile Museum and the Medrese
  • Visit with local craftsmen such as felt makers and horse carriage decorators
  • View the special dance of the Whirling Dervishes
  • Excursion to the 13th century Sultan Hani Caravanserail
  • Enjoy Turkish tea in an authentic atmosphere

CAPPADOCIA

  • Two nights at the first class superior Lodge Hotel Cappadocia
  • City tour of Cappadocia
  • Visit the 10th century underground city of Kaymakli
  • Early morning hot air balloon excursion over Cappadocia with champagne breakfast
  • Visit the Goreme Open Air Museum and the Citadel of Uchisar
  • Visit Avanos and watch a pottery demonstration at a local workshop
  • Dinner at an outdoor cave restaurant with folk and belly dancing 

ISTANBUL

  • Two nights at the deluxe boutique Galata Anemon Hotel
  • Boat excursion cruising the Asian and European coastlines
  • Dinner at the “Cistern Restaurant” near the Underground Cistern dating from the Byzantine period
  • Full day tour of Istanbul viewing the Hippodrome Square, the Blue Mosque, the Haghia Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, the Archaeology Museum and d the Covered Bazaar
  • Lunch at Konyali Restaurant in the Topkapi Palace

OPTIONAL FEATURES

  • Water sports, golf, tennis, horseback rides, biking, hiking or aerial pursuits
  • Dinner reservations at fabulous regional restaurants
  • Round–trip, air transportation from the United States and in Turkey
  • Travelers’ comprehensive insurance coverage for baggage, illness, trip cancellation/interruption, and accident at special group rates

ITINERARY
Meals are indicated by:
B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner
Meals aloft = On flight


U.S.A. /Istanbul
Day 1
Depart U.S.A. for Turkey. Meals Aloft
Istanbul/Izmir
Day 2
Change planes in Istanbul this morning and continue to Izmir. Met upon arrival by our rep, who counsels about your itinerary  and  transfers you to the Izmir Anemon Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing in Izmir includes a visit to the Old Elevator and Dareo Moreno Street. Walk on Kordon Street along the seaside; a relaxed atmosphere overlooking the Bay of Izmir. Tonight, we suggest having dinner at an outdoor local restaurant called Altinkapi (Golden Gate) famous for its Doner Kebab. Return to Izmir Anemon Hotel for overnight.  Meal aloft

Izmir/Pergumum/Izmir
Day 3
Your driver/guide with private car collects you at the hotel this morning and you depart for Pergamum to the north of Izmir. First, visit the Asclepion and learn its ancient healing techniques. Then visit the Acropolis with the steepest theater of the ancient world and the Temple of Trajan. Before lunch, visit the weekly open air Bergama Market and discover the products of this small Turkish village. At lunch, taste different Turkish dishes with fresh seasonal vegetables. After lunch, visit the Ethnographical and Archaeological Museums and the Red Basilica, which was an Egyptian Temple, later converted to a church in the 1st century. It is also considered one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation. Return to the Izmir Anemon Hotel.  B
Izmir/Ephesus/Kusadasi
Day 4
After breakfast, depart for Selcuk, a town near Ephesus.  Visit the House of the Virgin Mary on Mount Pion, and light a candle. Then visit Ephesus, the most famous ancient Roman city in Turkey, maybe in the world. See the Odeon, the Temple of Hadrian, the Celsus Library, the Marble Street, the Great Theater and the Harbour Road. Lunch is at a local restaurant in the early afternoon. After lunch, visit the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus. Check in to the Korumar Hotel and have dinner on own overlooking the Aegean Sea.  B


Vineyard in Chianti
Priene/Miletos/Didyma/Bodrum
Day 5
This morning visit Priene, which is a well-preserved ancient Greek city. Then see Miletos, which has a beautiful Greco-Roman theater where St. Paul gave a speech to spread Christianity in the 1st century. Proceed to Didyma to see the Temple of Apollo, famous for its oracle. Lunch is at a local fish restaurant in Didyma. Continue to Bodrum for dinner and overnight at the deluxe Marmara Hotel overlooking Bodrum Castle and the Marina. Bodrum is famous for its nightlife. Many shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants are open until the small hours of the morning. After dinner, enjoy a short walking tour of the city. B

San Gimigiano

Bodrum
Day 6
Start the day with a visit to the antique theater in Bodrum, overlooking the Bodrum Marina. Then visit the Mausoleum, the tomb of King Mausoleus, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the famous Bodrum Castle, built by the Crusaders in the 15th century. In Bodrum Castle, visit the Underwater Archaeology Museum, which is one of the largest in the world, and then experience a wine tasting at one of the tower rooms where Crusaders partook six centuries ago. Enjoy a late lunch on own in a typical small Turkish village, and observe their relaxed lifestyle. Return to the hotel.  B

Aphrodisius/Pammukkale
Day 7
This morning drive to Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite or Venus, the goddess of love. The archaeologists named the city Aphrodisias because they found so many statues of her.  View the Stadium, which seated 35,000 people and is the best preserved in the world, the Hadrian Baths, the Theater, the Agora and the Archaeological Museum where many Aphrodite statues are on display. Continue to Pamukkale, the Cotton Castle. See the white travertine’s - underground hot water springs. This water contains many minerals including calcium, whose deposits formed the white Pamukkale hill over thousands of years. The city of Hierapolis, in Pamukkale, was a spa center during the Roman period and people from around the world still visit this lovely town to experience its hot spring waters. See the Arch of Domitian and the ancient Theatre at Hierapolis. Overnight at the Colassae Hotel.  Swimming is available at the indoor or outdoor hot spring pool of the hotel. It is said that this water is good for the eyes, for the stomach, and has an aphrodisiac effect.  B
Hadrian's gate

Pamukkale/Antalya
Day 8

Today is devoted to the striking Greco-Roman archaeological sites along the Turkish Riviera.  First, visit ancient Perge, formerly a wealthy and culturally well-developed city.  A few miles away, find the once-prosperous Aspendos.  Enormous blocks of marble, transported from the Marmara Island specifically for the construction and ornamentation of these imposing buildings, clearly indicates the city’s wealth in the second and third centuries. Check into the boutique Aspen Hotel in Antalya. B
Antalya
Day 9
A city tour of Antalya includes the Fluted Minaret and a visit to the Antalya Museum, which houses one of Turkey’s finest archaeological collections. Optional activities this afternoon include the Mediterranean beaches, boating and other water sports, or your favorite leisure activities such as golf or tennis. B

Antalya/Konya
Day 10

Depart for Konya this morning and visit the Konya Mevlana Museum. Following lunch on own, visit the Karatay Tile Museum, and the Medrese, which was one of the first universities of the Ottoman Empire. Then visit with local craftsmen such as felt makers and horse carriage decorators. Check-in to the Ozkaymak Hotel or Dun Dar Hotel. Tonight, watch the fascinating dance show of the Whirling Dervishes.  B
Konya/Cappadocia
Day 11

Following breakfast, drive to Cappadocia with a visit to the 13th century Sultan Hani Caravanserail en route.  Enjoy Turkish tea in an authentic atmosphere, and have lunch at a local restaurant before enjoying an afternoon sightseeing tour of the city. As a result of two explosions, Cappadocia was covered with volcanic matter to a height of 100 yards. It was easy to carve these volcanic stones, and local people built underground cities and cave churches. Visit the 10th century underground city of Kaymakli before checking into the Dedeman or Lodge Hotel.  B
Cappadocia
Day 12
Early this morning depart the hotel for an unforgettable balloon trip over the spectacular volcanic landscape of Cappadocia. The trip ends with a champagne breakfast. After breakfast, visit the Goreme Open Air Museum and the Citadel of Uchisar.  This afternoon visit Avanos, the town of pottery makers, and watch a demonstration at a workshop. Then, visit a carpet manufacturing company, a private handicraft center supported by the government to keep the carpet manufacturing tradition alive in the Cappadocia area. Tonight, have dinner at an outdoor cave restaurant with folk and belly dancing.  B, D

Cappadocia/Istanbul
Day 13
This morning transfer to Kayseri Airport for your flight to Istanbul, the only city in the world spanning two continents. Check-in to the Istanbul Hilton Hotel and have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, take a private boat trip cruising the Asian and European coastlines of Istanbul. Return to the hotel with free time until the evening. Dinner tonight is at the Cistern Restaurant near the historical Underground Cistern dating from the Byzantine period. B

Istanbul
Day 14
Enjoy a full day tour of Istanbul, including its most popular sites: the Hippodrome Square, the Blue Mosque, and the Hagia Sophia Museum. Enjoy lunch at Konyali Restaurant in the Topkapi Palace, overlooking the Sea of Marmara, Topkapi Palace, the Archaeology Museum and the Covered Bazaar. Return this afternoon to the Istanbul Hilton Hotel. B/L

Istanbul/U.S.A.
Day 15
Transfer to the Istanbul Airport for your return flight home.

B / Meals aloft

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Updated: 7/28/2005