A 14 day Private
tour in Turkey. Choose Your own Travel Date
Our "private" Tours are for those who can afford and expect
the "BEST"
Come
with us to tour the heartland of Anatolia, meet Turkey's real people,
see how they live, share meals with them, and go beyond what the average
tour promises. We'll meet artisans and learn their crafts, hike through
striking landscapes, and explore the deep history, art, culture and
society of biblical Cappadocia, the treasures of Istanbul , Ephesus
and more. Combine With
the Greek Isles .
Daily Departures. April - Oct . Some tourist sites are closed on differ
net days of the week, visits in Istanbul, maybe moved around to
accommodate your dates and the sites "open" hours.
DAY
1 - USA - Daily : April - Oct ! Handling
your own air fare , please click here
Compare with the Saturday edition
without International air
Board your flight at JFK (for west coast cities the add on is $450).
For West Coast guests, you need not to fly via NYC , you will fly non-stop
to Europe , via LH, BA, AF etc, then connect to Istanbul.
Overnight across the Atlantic, dinner is served on board. Air fare is
included in economy class, tax included .
DAY
2- WELCOME TO ISTANBUL!
We meet your flight at Istanbul's Atatürk International Airport
and escort you to your hotel located in the heart of the city's historic
district.
DAY
3 - ISTANBUL'S TOP SIGHTS Friday (BL)
Today we explore Istanbul's top sights, including the imperial palace
of Topkapi, with its sumptuous 500-room Harem ( Ticket included ) ,
ruled by the second most powerful person in the vast Ottoman Empire:
the Valide Sultan (Queen Mother). A short walk takes us to the Byzantine
Hippodrome and, beneath it, the eerie Sunken Palace cistern. Finally,
we dive into the Grand Bazaar, the world's oldest "shopping mall," to
look for treasures in its 4000 shops. Lunch is included in a local charming
restaurant .
Today
we explore Istanbul's top sights, including the imperial palace of Topkapi,
with its sumptuous 500-room Harem ( Ticket included )
DAY
4- ISTANBUL: BOSPHORUS CRUISE (BL)
In the morning we board a traditional Istanbul ferryboat for a cruise-tour
up the Bosphorus, the broad waterway which joins the Black and Marmara
seas while dividing Europe from Asia. We cruise north past a half-dozen
Ottoman imperial palaces, traditional yalis (waterside villas)
and shore villages. Later, as we drive south, we stop to visit the castle
of Rumeli Hisar and the sumptuous imperial palace of Dolmabahçe,
overlooking
the Bosphorus, it is definitely incomparable with 14 tons of pure gold
used for its interior decoration, its priceless paintings, furniture,
a rich collection of Bohemian crystal in addition to its famous Harem
section.
Returning to the mouth of the Golden Horn, we delve into the colorful
sights, vibrant sounds and intriguing scents of the Egyptian Market
(Spice Bazaar) before returning to our hotel.
DAY
5- ISTANBUL: (B)
After breakfast , We
start our day in Istanbul with a walk to the Rustem Pasha Mosque, then
we visit the
spectacular Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia,
we have lunch at a local restaurant and get on board and take a leisurely
Bosphorus Cruise from Eminonu, to the still unspoiled village of Sariyer.
Remainder of the day at leisure .
DAY
6- ISTANBUL to CAPPADOCIA (BD)
A morning flight takes us across Anatolia ("Great Mother" in Turkish)
to Kayseri, from which we drive into the eerie volcanic landscape of
biblical Cappadocia. We settle in at the Ottoman House Hotel and enjoy
a typical Turkish dinner.
DAY
7- EXPLORING CAPPADOCIA (BLD)
Today we explore the foremost sights in this historic, visually striking
region. Our first stop is the Göreme Open Air Museum, with its
dozens of ancient cave-churches carved from the soft volcanic stone.
Many still contain their beautiful colored fresco decoration. Next we
explore the monastic valley of Zelve, where whole monasteries were carved
into the rock. In the Pasabag and Dervent valleys we view the "fairy
chimneys," pinnacles of volcanic rock formed by wind and water erosion
over millennia. We stroll through the typical Cappadocian towns of Ürgüp
and Ortahisar to experience daily life in this rich farming region,
and perhaps to do some shopping. Just before lunch we enjoy a panorama
of the Red and Rose Valleys. In the afternoon we make the short drive
to Avanos, a traditional pottery-making town, to visit its innovative
"cave cultural center" . The staff and students welcome us to enjoy
Turkish tea and sweet cakes. We return to Ottoman House for dinner and
a good night's rest.
 DAY
8- CANYONS & LABYRINTHS (BLD) We drive
across the rolling steppe of Central Anatolia to the dramatic canyon
of Ihlara, filled with historic churches. A leisurely walk takes us
through this dramatic scenery and past a dozen churches to the villages
of Belisirma and Selime. Following our canyon walk, we drive to the
town of Derinkuyu and descend into an underground labyrinth carved thousands
of years ago. Hundreds of cave-rooms and passageways descend eight levels
into the earth. Store-rooms, kitchens, larders, and churches show that
this "underground city" was capable of housing thousands of people when
danger threatened. On our way back to Ottoman House, we stop at the
striking Agzikarahan Caravansaray, built by the Seljuk Turks in the
11th century as a way-station for the rich camel caravans plying the
Silk Route between Europe and Asia. In the evening we visit an underground
restaurant for a traditional Turkish folklore show, with dances and
costumes from several regions rich in folklore, including Gaziantep,
the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea. The mysterious and alluring art
of belly-dancing, round out this enjoyable evening of traditional Turkish
dance.
DAY
9 - MONASTERIES & MARKETS (BD)
Today we visit some of the most interesting sights in Cappadocia: the
striking scenery and cave churches of the Pancarlik Valley, the Keklik
Monastery complex in Soganli Valley, and the Ottoman village of Mustafapasa,
filled with graceful old Greek and Turkish houses. Then we visit the
colorful and bustling markets. Afternoon at leisure. In the evening
The Ottoman House's chef briefs us on some of the dishes served to the
sultans and sultanas, including a variety of traditional meze (Turkish
hors d'oeuvres) made with eggplant, garlic, spiced yoghurts, salad greens,
and goat cheese; oven baked lamb or skewered meats; and plump figs,
apricots and nuts. Enjoy your dinner at the hotel
DAY
10 - Kayseri/ IZMIR / Kusadasi (B)
We fly to Izmir via Istanbul, we ascend Kadifekale, Izmir's hill crowned
by a fortress built by Alexander the Great, before we drive to Kusadasi
. Afternoon at leisure.
DAY 11 - EPHESUS & KUSADASI (BL)
In the morning light. Then it's off to biblical Ephesus to see the Basilica
of St. John the Evangelist, who came here with the Virgin Mary. Passing
the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the
ancient world, we reach Ephesus, the most impressive ancient city on
the Mediterranean. Lunch at a local restaurant. After our tour, we continue
to the fine Ephesus Museum and the hilltop House of the Virgin Mary,
said to be her last home on earth. We spend the night again in the Aegean
resort of Kusadasi
DAY
12 - APHRODISIAS & PAMUKKALE
(BL)
Driving east along fertile river valleys crowded with fields and fruit
orchards, we reach Aphrodisias, the City of Aphrodite, goddess
of love. After our visit, we continue to Pamukkale, the "Cotton
Fortress," where cascades of gleaming white calcium cover a hillside.
The warm mineral-laden waters attracted the Romans, who built the spa-city
of Hierapolis here. We tour its ruins, and enjoy the swimming pool at
our hotel here in the evening.
DAY
13 - PRINE , MILETUS & DIDYMA / Istanbul (B)
A short drive brings us to the well-preserved ruins of Priene, a very
ancient city perched above the aptly-named Meander River. We next tour
Miletus, where the philosopher Thales was born. Finally, we tour the
gigantic oracular temple at Didyma, which challenged the primacy of
Delphi, before returning to Istanbul by plane. We fly back to Istanbul,
and your hotel
DAY
14 - RETURN HOME (B)
We escort you to the airport for your onward or homeward flight. Bon
Voyage
Rate
are per person in USD $
| |
Five
Stars Hotel |
| Triple |
US$
6250.00 |
| Double |
US$
6360.00 |
| Single |
US$
8290.00 |
YOUR
TOUR INCLUDES:
-
Comprehensive
sightseeing by private air-conditioned sedan , with a private chauffeur
, and private professional licensed guide
-
Airfares,
between JFK and Istanbul, round-trip in economy class , tax included
For most West Coast Cities please add : $ 450.
For Boston , DC & Chicago : Air fare Add -on : $350
Air
fare summer supplement (doesn't apply when you handle
your own air fare :
May until end of Sep : $450 supplement will apply).
When you handle your own air fare, please deduct $ 600 from the rate.
- Airfares,
within Turkey in business or economy class ( subject to plane's configuration
-
All
admissions and museum fees
-
All
transfers in Turkey are ALWAYS on a private basis, private air-conditioned
sedan , with a private chauffeur , and private professional licensed
guide
-
Hotel
accommodation in deluxe properties such as Hyatt , Conrad or an
Ottoman Mansion
style boutique hotels in Istanbul & Cappadocia ,
based
on your preference and availability at the time you book with us.
-
Table
d'hote (set-menu) meals as indicated in the tour itinerary: cB
= continental breakfast; L = set-menu lunch;
D = set-menu dinner
-
Tips
to escorts, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff .
You
will never sacrifice comfort when you travel with us
Rate
doesn't include :
- Visa
Fee : $20 in cash upon arrival,
for US citizens, or $45 for Canadians,
or from any of the Turkish Consulates
- Trip/travel
insurance
More Choices:
-
General
Sample Hotel Listing ( or similar) : 5 Stars and best available :
Istanbul : Conrad Hotel, Hyatt Hotel, Inter.Continental or similar
. If you prefer a boutique style Ottoman Mansion Hotel, please let's
know in advance : Sample : Blue House . Arena . Yesil Ev, Sultanahmet
Sarayi , Sultanhan or similar
Kusadasi : Korumar Hotel or similar
Pamukkale: Colassae Hotel or similar
Antalya: Talya Hotel or similar
Konya: Riixos Hotel or similar
Cappadocia : Cave Suites Hotel or similar (local 4 star)
|
