TASTE OF TURKEY TOUR

Day 1 - Arrival in Antalya (D)

Upon your arrival in Antalya, you are met with a friendly ""merhaba"" (hello) and escorted to your hotel. You have the day free to relax at your leisure. Learn more about the cultural adventure ahead of you at an orientation meeting at 7pm. get acquainted with the other members of your group during the welcoming dinner.

Day 2 - Perge/Aspendos/Antalya (BLD)

Begin your Greco-Roman quest today by visiting Perge where a mere scrape of the shoe will reveal mosaic walkways through the ancient agora. Its extensive ruins include a stadium that once echoed to the roar of 15, 000 spectators. Continue to Aspendos, which has one of the best-preserved theaters in the world. Its acoustics are so well tuned that a coin dropped on stage can be heard in the last row. Visit the Archeology Museum in Antalya.

Day 3 - Antalya/Aphrodisias/Pamukkale (BLD)

Explore the remains of Aphrodisias, the city dedicated to the goddess of love and home to a school of sculpture that was known throughout the ancient world. Sculptural relief’s still adorn many of the buildings. Explore its many Greco-Roman remains including a stadium, which once sat 30, 000 people and the Temple of Aphrodite, which was later converted into a Christian basilica. Continue to Pamukkale, a spa known throughout the ancient world.

Day 4 - Pamukkale/Sardis/Izmir (BLD)

Enjoy the beauty of Pamukkale's immense tiers of white limestone as they cascade down a barren hillside. Visit the nearby Roman theater and necropolis. Continue to Izmir, where you will explore the remains of Sardis where King Croesseus of Lydia resided. Also visit the Temple of Artemis, gymnasium and the synagogue.

Day 5 - Ephesus (BLD)

Today you will discover Ephesus, which is a highlight of every trip to Turkey. Do make sure to walk the streets of the most complete city of antiquity in the world. Sit in the same theater where Paul preached and Roman dramas were performed. Every summer, during the International Izmir Festival, the theater is alive with the words, music and drama of contemporary performers in this ancient setting. Stroll past the Library of Celsius, the baths and the Temple of Hadrian. You'll also visit the house where the Virgin Mary spent her last days and a photo stop FOR the Temple of Artemis with the last remaining column indicating where one of the Seven Wonders of the World was

Day 6 - Pergamum/Troy/Canakkale (BLD)

Drive along the mythic coastline of the ""wine-dark"" Aegean Sea to ancient Pergamum, home to the famous physician, Galen. Stroll through the remains of the Asclepion, one of the foremost medical centers of ancient times, the library which once held 240, 000 scrolls, the Acropolis and the Trojaneum. Next visit the site of one of the most famous wars of ancient times, the legendary city of Troy, immortalized in Homer's Iliad and 'Discovered' in 1871 by Heinrich Schliemann. Continue on to Canakkale.

Day 7 - Canakkale/Gallipoli/Istanbul (BLD)

Ferry across the Dardanelle for a somber stop at the very real memorial at Gallipoli, commemorating one of the most famous battles in modern history. The beauty of the green hills, sandy beaches and blue waters provides an honored resting place for the soldiers who bravely fought and died in this historic battle. After lunch, you return to Istanbul, rising from the shores of the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

Day 8 - Istanbul (BLD)

Discover the classical highlights of Istanbul: the Roman Hippodrome, Blue Mosque famed for its Iznik tiled interior and six minarets and Mosque of Suleymaniye the Magnificent. You will also visit the jeweled interior of the Topkapi Palace, home to the Spoon maker’s Diamond. In the afternoon, you are free to explore the labyrinth tunnels of the Grand Bazaar that houses more than 4, 000 shops. The names recall the days when each trade had its own quarter: the goldsmiths' street, the carpet sellers' street, and the street of the skullcap makers. Still the commercial center of the old city, the bazaar is the original shopping mall with something to suit every taste and budget.

Day 9 - Istanbul (BL)

In the morning, glide past minarets and palaces, stone fortresses and wooden Ottoman mansions during a cruise on the Bosphorus. In the afternoon discover the Saint Sophia and the church of Saint Savior in Chora. The Basilica or St. Sophia, now called the Ayasofya Museum is unquestionably one of the finest buildings of all time. Built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, its immense dome rises 55 meters above the ground and its diameter spans 31 meters. You should remain here for some time to absorb the building's majestic serenity and to admire the fine Byzantine mosaics.

Day 10 - Departure (B)

Transfer to the airport and the end of our services.

PACKAGE  INCLUDES:
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Accommodation in specified category
Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
Museums and sites entry fees
Transportation in non-smoking a/c coach with professional English (other languages are possible)  speaking guide and professional driver.
Sightseeings as mentioned in tour plan.

NOT INCLUDED:
International or domestic flights, portage at airports, drinks, tips to guide and driver and items of a personal nature. Domestic flights with associated transfer are optional and extra if needed; overnight coach transportation price is included in the tour price.