Day 1 -  March 1st - We will meet at our accommodation in Istanbul and then spend the full day tour in Istanbul. The places we will visit are St. Sophia (Hagia Sofia), Underground Byzantine Cistern (Yerebatan), Hippodrome of Istanbul, Blue Mosque (The Sultan Ahmed Mosque), Topkapi Palace including Harem section and Grand Bazaar. Dinner and Overnight Istanbul. (B,L,D)

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Day 2 - March 2nd - We will have another full day in Istanbul with a first visit to the Old Spice Bazaar. After our visit we will have Bosphorus Cruise by Private Yacht to see the Anadolu Hisari, Rumeli Hisari (no interior visits to medieval fortresses), old mansions, waterfront wood houses, imperial palaces, hunting lodges, modern villas on both the European and Asians shores of the strait while cruising. After our boat tour we will visit Suleymaniye Mosque and Taksim Square. Dinner and Overnight Istanbul. (B,L,D)

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Day 3 - March 3rd - First stop this morning is at Tekirdağ to visit Barbare Vineyards for a vineyard tour followed by a Traditional Turkish meal paired with wines. Then make our way to the Gallipoli Peninsula where we see Kabatepe Museum, ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston’s Jolly (Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels), The Nek, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial and visit the poignant Lone Pine Cemetery, the Dardanelles. We then take the ferry crossing from Eceabat across to Canakkale to get checked into our hotel before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Canakkale. (B,L,D)

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Day 4 = March 4th - This morning we visit the ancient city of Troy, made famous in Homer’s epic poem; and see the replica of the wooden horse, We then make a short drive to Assos and visit the Temple of Athena located on the Acropolis. From here we take the coastal Aegean Sea route to Burhaniye with some coastal stops along the way. Dinner and Overnight Burhaniye. (B,L,D)

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Day 5 - March 5th - This morning we depart from Burhaniye driving to Pergamon where we will see the Acropolis, Temple of Athena, Serapis Temple, Heroon, Sanctuary of Athena, Library of Pergamon, Temple of Trajan, Theatre, Zeus Altar and Red Court. Pergamon is the third of the ‘Seven Churches of Asia’ . Our second stop on this tour is Asclepion which was perhaps the world’s most famous ancient medical center, and is the second-most important site in Bergama. We then drivey to Kusadası to get settled into our accommodation before dinner. Dinner and Overnight Kusadası. (B,L,D)

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Day 6 - March 6th - This morning we make the very short drive to Ephesus. St. Paul visited Ephesus briefly during his second missionary journey and stayed there more than three years. Both Paul and Apostle John wrote letters to the Ephesians. We also visit Baths of Scholastica, Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, the Theater, Temple of Artemis which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Our second stop will be the Basilica of St. John where you will see the burial place of St. John. Then we will visit the House of Mother Mary; We next visit Carpet Cooparative and learn about Turkish Art along with having a local lunch.  After lunch we return to Kusadasi where you will have the evening free. Overnight Kusadası. (B,L)

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Day 7- March 7th  - After breakfast this morning we will drive to Priene, an ancient city from the 4th century B. C. The temple of Athena, the theatre and the house of Alexander The Great are the highlights of this site. Although it doesn’t require a lot of walking, we don’t suggest this to our guests who have mobility problems because the city was founded on a steep hill. After Priene we will drive to Miletos, the city of philosophers; the Faustina Baths and the Theatre are the places not to be missed there. After about thirty minutes driving we will be in Didyma. For lunch you will have a chance to taste the local Daily Fish of the Aegean region. After lunch we will visit the Temple of Apollo in Didyma, the second biggest temple after the one in Delphi, and definitely one of the best preserved ancient Greek Temples. We then return to Kusadasi before dinner. Overnight Kusadası. (B,L,D)

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Day 8  - March 8th - After breakfast we will drive to the ancient city of Nysa, an ancient city built on the slopes between the mountains. Nysa has magnificent ruins where nature and forest meet with marble and trees that dance with historical buildings. Nysa is the city of Dionysus who is the God of ancient times, wine, entertainment and decadence. The city is an attractive stop for visitors with its stadium, bridges, theater and other ruins built on arches and vaults. Then we continue driving to the ancient city of Aphrodisias. The most interesting points of Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, are a big stadium, odeon, monumental gateway and the Temple of Aphrodite. The stadium is probably one of the best preserved examples in the world. Dinner and Overnight in Pamukkale. (B,L,D)

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Day 9 - March 9th After breakfast we will visit, Pamukkale (Hierapolis) and see the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, Necropolis and Philip’s tomb and will have a short drive to Laodicea. The final letter of the churches of ancient Asia Minor is to the church in the city of Laodicea. We visit the Christian Ruins as well as the Statue of Emperor Augustus, Aquaduct, Stadium and Ephesian Gate. We then settle in for the long drive to Fethiye where we find our accommodatio and dinner waiting. Dinner and Overnight Fethiye. (B,L,D)

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Day 10 - March 10th - As we are about half way through the tour you will have the full day in Fethiye to relax, regroup, unwind or just rest up for the second half of the tour. Fethiye is located at the junction of Aegean and Mediterranean seas. The ancient name of the city is Telmessos and you will see a fortress on the hill overlooking the city which was built by Knights of Rhodes Island. Fethiye is also known for its rock tombs carved into the faces of the high cliffs by the Lycians. There are numerous restaurants and it is a lovely place to walk in. Overnight Fethiye. (B)

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Day 11 - March 11th - We leave Fethiye behind this morning and visit the ancient city of Tlos to see the Lycian Tombs,  Gorge of Saklikent (spectacular place, the second largest gorge in Europe) and Xanthos (the most unique architectural example of the ancient Lycian Civilization) and Patara (Lycian city close to one of the longest beaches in Turkey). We then make our way to Kalkan before dinner. Dinner and Overnigh Kalkan. (B,L,D)

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Day 12- March 12th - Today we drive along the Turquoise Coast and eventually we will reach Kekova. In this little fishing town we will have a 1 hour boat tour and see the sunken city. Then we drive to Demre and visit the St Nicholas Church. It is believed that Saint Nicholas lived and died in Demre (Myra). We also visit the ancient city Myra. Then we have a very long drive to reach Antalya. Dinner and Overnight in Antalya. (B,L,D)

 

Day 13 - March 13th - This morning we drive south of Antalya city to see Kaleici (old Antalya), Clock Tower, Old Harbour, Kesik Minare, Hadrianus Gate. Then visit Antalya Archaeological Museum. After lunch, a visit to the Kursunlu Waterfall to relax and behold God’s beautiful creation dating back to the Roman period. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,L,D)

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Day 14 - March 14th - This morning we will visit the Greco-Roman city of Perge where Paul gave his first speech on Christianity in the area. Then we will see the world’s best preserved Greco-Roman Amphitheater at Aspendos. We will also visit Side to see the ancient Theatre, Great Gate and Temple of Apollo. We then drive back to Antalya where you will have the evening free. overnight Antalya. (B,L)

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Day 15 - March 15th - After breakfast, we will drive about 2 hrs to visit Sagalassos which is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in Turkey. We will see a fountain from the Hellenistlic and Roman Period and visit the library. After our visit, we will proceed to Konya (Iconium) via Beysehir Lake. We will see the Mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi (the founder of whirling Dervishes). Dinner and Overnight Konya. (B,L,D)

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Day 16 - March 16th - We will have about an hours drive to visit Çatalhoyuk large Neolithic and Chalcolithic Proto-city settlement in southern Anatolia, which existed from approximately 7500 BC to 5700 BC, and flourished around 7000 BC. In July 2012, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Than we will have another long drive to Cappadoccia. We will visit Kaymaklı Underground City (one of the most interesting examples among 36 underground cities in the area), at Cappadocia. Dinner and Overnight Cappadocia. (B,L,D)

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Day 17 - March 17th - This morning if the weather is good we will have an early morning Hot Air Balloon Flight. We then visit the Imaginary Valley (also known as Dervent valley), Monks valley, Zelve (amazing cave town which housed one of the largest communities in the region) you can visit Local Ceramic Workshops and the Goreme Open-Air Museum (ruins of churches carved into volcanic rock).  Dinner and Overnight Cappadocia. (B,L,D)

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Day 18 - March 18th - This morning we have another long drive to reach the Capital City of Hitits ‘Hattusas’ We will visit the Lower and the Upper city, and then drive to Yazılıkaya, the largest known Hittite rock sanctuary. We then have another long drive to Ankara. Dinner and Overnight Ankara. (B,L,D)

 

Day 19 - March 19th - Today we have a full day tour in Ankara. We will visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilization, Ulus, Mausoleum of Ataturk, Temple of Augustus, Roman Bath, Column of Julian and the Ankara Citadel. Farewell Dinner and Overnight Ankara. (B,L,D)

 

Day 20 - This morning we will fly from Ankara to the Istanbul Airport to prepare for the journey home. (B,L)

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