Turkey: Legends of Anatolia 2014

Day 1 – Sunday: Arrival in Istanbul

Upon arrival meet Tours representative and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to relax and unwind. Dinner on your own.

Day 2 - Monday: Istanbul

After breakfast, visit the Suleymaniye Mosque (the culmination of Ottoman architecture), as well as the Rustem Pasa Mosque with its beautiful Iznik (Nicea) tiles and the Spice Market with its exotic aromas. Lunch. In the afternoon, tour the imperial residence for Ottoman Sultans, Topkapi Palace, with its famous Harem and Treasury. End your day at the Grand Bazaar. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 - Tuesday: Istanbul – Canakkale 210 mi

In the morning, visit the Blue Mosque, renowned for its 17th c. tiles, and the Hippodrome, center of the social life in ancient Constantinople. Marvel at the architectural miracle of the Byzantine Empire, Hagia Sophia. Cruise on the Bosphorus to discover historic buildings. Lunch at a seafood restaurant. In the afternoon, continue to Canakkale. Cross the Dardanelles Strait by ferry. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4 - Wednesday: Canakkale – Troy – Pergamum – Selcuk 250 mi

Explore the site of the ancient city of Troy, whose 3,400-year history spans nine superimposed settlements (Troy 1 to Troy IX). Deepen your understanding of Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, which immortalized King Priam’s glorious city. Continue to Pergamum, capital of the Attalid Kingdom. Ride a cable car to the upper city to visit the ruins of the Acropolis: agoras, temples, palaces, and library. In the lower city, visit the Asclepion, a sanctuary and healing center dedicated to the god Asclepius. Overnight in Selcuk (Ephesus). (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5 - Thursday: Ephesus

After breakfast, discover one of the world’s best places to visualize an ancient Roman city Ephesus. Explore the Marble Street, Agora, Odeon, and Theater, as well as the Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian, and Library of Celsius. View the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In spare time, sample luxurious leather goods. In the afternoon, visit the Archeological Museum of Ephesus. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 - Friday: Selcuk – Pamukkale 115 mi

Drive to Pamukkale to admire the unreal landscape at the "Cotton Castle" with its white terraces of limestone deposited by thermal waters through the ages. Discover the necropolis of Hierapolis, one of the largest cemeteries of the ancient world. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7 - Saturday: Pamukkale – Aphrodisias – Antalya 350 km

After breakfast, drive to Aphrodisias, the ancient site dedicated to the goddess of beauty, love, and fertility. Appreciate Anatolia’s best-preserved stadium. At this site, which drew artisans to its famous school of sculpture, enjoy the Temple of Aphrodite, the Tetrapylon, the Theater, and the Museum. After lunch, cross the Taurus Mountains to arrive Antalya. Visit Kaleici and stroll through the picturesque streets of the old port. Admire Hadrian’s Gate and Hidirlik Tower. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 - Sunday: Antalya 65 mi

Drive to Kemer for a cruise-picnic on board of a traditional boat: Relaxing day with swimming in the Mediterranean Sea & sunbath possibilities. In the late afternoon, visit the ancient city of Phaselis; located in a beautiful bay surrounded by pine forest, it was the region’s most important harbor before Antalya was founded. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 9 - Monday: Antalya–Perge–Aspendos–Sagalassos 128 mi

In the morning, drive to Perge, a spectacular Greco-Roman city. Continue to Aspendos, a treasure with the world’s best preserved Roman Theater still used today for festivals and concerts. After lunch, continue to the Greco-Roman city of Sagalassos, a recently excavated archeological gem with exceptional natural beauty. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 10 - Tuesday: Sagalassos – Konya – Cappadocia 215 mi

After breakfast, drive to Beysehir on the shore of Beysehir Lake. Visit Esrefoglu Mosque (13th c.), a magnificent example of Seljuk architecture. Then, continue to the holy city of Konya, ancient capital of the Seljuks. Tour the Museum of Mevlana, honoring the famous mystic poet and founder of the Sufi Order of the Whirling Dervishes. Visit Aladdin Mosque (13th c.) and Karatay Medrese’s ceramic museum. En route to Cappadocia, stop at the Sultanhani Caravanserai, Anatolia’s largest staging post for merchants on the Silk Road. Arrive in Cappadocia. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 11 - Wednesday: Cappadocia 40 mi

Early in the morning, possibility to participate an optional Hot Air Balloon Ride over the magnificent landscape of Cappadocia. Take a full day to discover Cappadocia. Visit the Goreme Valley, an open-air museum with rock-cut churches (7th - 13th c.) adorned with biblical frescoes. At a handicraft center, learn about the arts of rural Turkey and watch a demonstration of rug weaving. Lunch. Tour an Underground City. Take photos at the best vista points. (Possibility of an optional folklore show with dinner). (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 12 - Thursday: Cappadocia 120 mi

In the morning departure to the Soganli Valley across the varied landscapes of the plateau of Cappadocia. After visiting the valley and its rock churches, barbecue lunch in the valley. In the afternoon, crossing the Avcilar and Kiliclar Valleys with their ancient cave dwellings and fairy chimneys. Visit the charming village of Uchisar with its citadel that offers a panoramic view on the Pigeon Valley. Participate to the Ceremony of the Whirling Dervishes in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 13 - Friday: Cappadocia – Hattusa – Ankara 265 mi

Drive to Bogazkoy. After lunch, visit Hattusa, Hittite capital in the second millennium BC. Discover the city’s Lion Gate, Great Temple, Walls, Royal Gate, and Tunnel. Then, visit Yazilikaya, a rock sanctuary decorated with reliefs of deities of the Hittite pantheon. Continue to Ankara. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 14 - Saturday: Ankara – Istanbul 282 mi

In the morning, discovery of Ankara, the ancient Angora, located on the high Anatolian plateau, chosen by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk as the center of national resistance, the capital of Turkey since 1923. Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with its unique Hittite collections and Anitkabir - the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. Lunch and continue to Istanbul. Farewell dinner in Kumkapi (fishing port) at a seafood restaurant. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 15 - Sunday: Departure (Breakfast)

Transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for your return flight to USA or Canada