Day 1 ~

Depart USA. Overnight flight to Istanbul.

Day 2 ~ Ankara

Arrive Istanbul; transfer flight to Ankara. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for overnight.

Day 3 ~ Ankara

Ankara, the ancient Ankuwash or the Angora, has been the capital of the Turkish Republic since 1923. In the morning, we will visit the Museum of Ancient Anatolian Civilizations, the best museum in Turkey for pre-classic exhibits. In the afternoon, we will travel to Gordion, the city of legendary King Midas and capital of the Phrygian Empire, where Alexander the Great cut the "Gordion Knot".

Day 4 ~ Cappadocia

Today we will travel south to the fascinating region of Cappadocia, stopping en route at the Hittite capital of Hattusas, which dates from 3,000 BC. Highlights include the Great Temple, Lion's Gate, and the Citadel. At the famous Shrine of Yazilikaya you will see reliefs of 63 gods and goddesses carved on the rock walls. Then we will continue on to Cappadocia, whose unique landscape was created eons ago by volcanic eruptions.

Day 5 ~ Cappadocia

The special composition of the rock in this fascinating area allowed the carving of underground cities where thousands of people lived. We will visit one of these underground cities and the Byzantine cave churches here, as well as Pasabagi with its unique "fairy chimneys". According to legend, these odd-shaped rocks housed fairies that were capable of casting spells. We will climb the Uchisar Fortress for a panoramic view of the beautiful Goreme Valley; visit Urgup, known for its Selcuk and Ottoman historical works, its kilims, handicrafts, and local wines; and tour Avanos, which is famous for its pottery.

Day 6 ~ Pamukkale

En route to Konya we will visit the Selcuk's Kervansary (camel palace) where caravans stopped to rest along the trading route and on the Konya, the city where Mevlana founded the Mevlevi Order of Whirling Dervishes where we visit to the Museum of Mevlana.

Our final destination today is Pamukkale (ancient Hierapolis)

Day 7 ~ Kusadasi

This morning we will explore Pamukkale before heading to Kusadasi via Aphrodisias. The cliffs of Pamukkale are covered by brilliant white mineral deposits with pools of clear warm water fed by thermal springs, creating a unique and beautiful natural wonder. This site was a famous health spa in Roman times and is still in use today. You can soak in the pools and view the beautiful marble columns, toppled by earthquakes that lie at the bottom; then explore the ruins of ancient Hierapolis with its theater, Temple of Apollo, colonnaded street, bath and its extensive necropolis.

It is time to visit Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. This is one of the most interesting sites in the country which has very impressive ruins and beautiful museum with splendid collection marble statuary.

We will continue on to Kusadasi, a favorite location which has a splendid boat harbor and fortress, for the night.

Day 8 ~ Kusadasi

Today we will explore the fascinating Hellenistic and Roman city of Ephesus including its beautiful theater, Celsus Library, Temple of Artemis one of the ancient wonder of ancient world and intriguing ruins. In the nearby charming town of Selcuk, we will tour the Museum of Ephesus where, among many artifacts, we will see a well-known statue of Artemis.

Day 9 ~ Canakkale

We will continue on to Pergamum, which has an interesting ancient medical center and acropolis and is especially famous for its library, once one of the most extensive in the world. Pergamum is also famous for the origination of parchment, from which we derive our modern writing paper.

Then we will visit Troy, the site of Homer's classic epic "the Iliad" and where nine different layers of civilization have been uncovered and partially excavated.

Day 10 ~ Istanbul

We will cross the famous Dardanelles by ferry to Gallipoli, where we will visit some of the memorials to those who died in World War I during the famous Battle of Gallipoli. Then we will travel through Thrace (the European section of Turkey) along the Sea of Marmara to the fascinating crossroads city of Istanbul to spend the night.

Day 11 ~ Istanbul

This morning we will walk to the Hippodrome, arena for political, cultural, and sports activities during Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman times. We will also visit the Blue Mosque, famous for its Iznik blue tiles; and St. Sophia, the largest Christian church in the world for more than 1,000 years. Nearby is the Underground Palace, or Basilica Cistern, with its mystical atmosphere and marble columns surrounded by water. Finally, we will visit the most famous archeological museum in Turkey, Istanbul Archaeological Museum including Ancient Orient Museum and tile museum (kiosk)

Day 12 ~ Istanbul

Our motor coach follows the ancient city walls of Istanbul to the Chora Museum, which has the most beautiful mosaics in Turkey. Afterward we will have a Bosphorus cruise between continents, seeing the fabulous palaces and villas that hug the shoreline. Later we will have a tour of the old and new city, including the Galata and Pera regions.

Day 13

Depart for the USA.

We will transfer you to the airport for your flight home.