Türkiye Itinerary
Day 1 (Oct 29): Arrive in Ankara and transfer to your hotel. Catch your breath and congratulate yourself on getting here!
Overnight in Ankara at Radisson Blu**
Day 2 (Oct 30): In Ankara we will have a full day touring. We visit Hattusas, which was the capital of the Hittite empire during the bronze age.
The Museum of Anatolian Civilization houses the archeological finds from the early stone age (before 8000 BCE) up through the Ottoman empire of the 19th century. Here are exhibits from many of the sites we will be visiting, including mother goddess figurines, reproductions of stone age houses, cuneiform tables with the first writing in Anatolia, grave goods, burial practices, and so much more.
We will also visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, who was the first president and founding father of the Republic of Türkiye in 1923. Due to his military and political accomplishments, Ataturk is regarded as one of the most important political leaders in the 20th century.
Overnight in Ankara at Radisson Blu**
Day 3 (Oct 31 - Halloween!): This is a travel day. We will drive to Antep via Kayseri. Kayseri has a long history, being an important trade post in 2000 BCE, then a prominent city during Roman rule, and again with the Seljuks. Today it is famous for its Turkish carpets.
Overnight in Antep at Sirehan Hotel**
Day 4 (Nov 1): We visit the Mosaic Museum in Antep, visit Harran Village, and drive to Urfa.
Overnight in Urfa at Dedeman Hotel**
Day 5 (Nov 2): Full day tour of Gobekli Tepe and Balikli Gol.
Gobekli Tepe is the site of one of the worlds oldest known megalithic structures, dating to 9,500 BCE, and gives us insights into prehistoric spiritual practices.
Balikli Gol dates to around 8000 BCE and also is thought to be the place of conflict between Abraham and Nimrod arguing about religious practices.
Overnight in Urfa at Dedeman Hotel**
Day 6 (Nov 3): Drive to Cappadocia via Adana. Cappadocia is a region of exceptional natural wonders, with a unique historical and cultural heritage. It is a high plateau that is pierced by volcanic peaks, giving it a unique terrain. It has a long history of occupation, by many different cultures.
Overnight in Cappadocia at Perissia Hotel**
Day 7 (Nov 4): Full day tour of Cappadocia inclusive of Uchisar Castle (an underground city), Pigeon Valley, Goreme Open Air Museum, and Pasabag Valley.
Overnight in Cappadocia at Perissia Hotel**
Day 8 (Nov 5): Drive to Konya, associated with the Gorgons of Greek mythology, and in modern times the home of the Sufi community and Whirling Dervishes.
Overnight in Konya at Anemon Hotel**
Day 9 (Nov 6): Drive to Pamukkale, and visit the ancient city of Hierapolis.
Pamukkale is a world heritage site, famous for its thermal mineral springs. Its mineral waters have made it a place of healing since ancient times.
Overnight in Pamukkale at Lycus River Hotel**
Day 10 (Nov 7): Drive to Kusadasi, and visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias on the way.
Aphrodisias was a notable school of sculpture during Roman times, and remained a place of pagan worship for some time after Christianity became the dominant religion. The cult image of Aphrodite of Aphrodisias is traced to a local goddess related to the widely worshiped goddess Artemis of Ephesus.
Overnight in Kusadasi at Le Bleu Hotel**
Day 11 (Nov 8): Full day tour of the ancient city of Ephesus including the House of the Virgin Mary and Sirince Village.
Inhabited from prehistoric times, the city of Ephesus was built in the 10th century BCE, and was a major center during the classical Hellenistic period of Greek culture. The city was famous for the temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BCE) which has been designated as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was also one of the Seven Churches of Asia cited in the Book of Revelations, and the Book of John may have been written there.
Overnight in Kusadasi at Le Bleu Hotel**
Day 12 (Nov 9): Drive to Canakkale. Visit the ancient city of Pergamum and Troy on the way.
Pergamum was one of the major cultural centers of the Greek world. A healing sanctuary of Aesclepius is found here. It was also another of the Seven Churches of Asia cited in the Book of Revelations.
Troy is known as the setting for the Greek myth of the Trojan war (The Iliad and the Odyssey). It is a kingdom of the Heroic Age, a mythic era when monsters roamed the earth and gods interacted directly with humans.
Overnight in Canakkale at Kolin Hotel**
Day 13 (Nov 10): Drive to Istanbul via Bursa.
Overnight in Istanbul at Titanic City Hotel**
Day 14 (Nov 11): Full day tour of Istanbul We will have a short stop at a historical spice market (Egyptian Bazaar) and a boat trip along both the European and Asiatic shores of Istanbul. One can see the Ottoman Beylerbeyi Palace and Camlica Hill.
Overnight in Istanbul at Titanic City Hotel**
Day 15 (Nov 12): Full day tour of Istanbul.
We visit the Hippodrome Square, the Hagia Sophia which is the oldest christian church, built in 537 CE as the patriarchal cathedral of the imperial capital of Constantinople. It was the largest christian church of the Roman empire.
We will also visit the famous Blue Mosque with its interior dome adorned in beautiful blue tiles. This was built during the Ottoman Empire.
The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest markets in the world, and is a great place to do some shopping!
We will also visit Topkapi Palace, the headquarters of the Ottoman Sultans.
We will have a farewell dinner before transferring to the airport (optional extension available, please contact us for more information).
** Please note that we will stay at the listed hotels or similar ones, as final accommodations will be set once bookings are complete
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