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SAMPLE TOUR ITINERARY:
DAY 1 DEPART FROM USA TO ISTANBUL
Depart from USA non–stop direct flight with Turkish
Airlines to Istanbul.
DAY 2 ARRIVE ISTANBUL
Your tour guide will meet you after the customs and
baggage claim with a sign. Meet and transfer to the hotel
for check–in. Your tour guide will give you brief
information at th ehotel. Dinner at the hotel. (D)
DAY 3 ISTANBUL – POPULAR MONUMENTS
Full day Istanbul tour to popular sites; the Roman
Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles
then Hagia Sophia Church, first built by Constantius II.,
and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of
the world’s greatest architectural marvels and a designated
World Heritage site. Topkapi Palace, the Imperial
Residential Palace of the Ottoman sultans between the 16th
and 19th centuries and the oldest and largest of the
remaining palaces in the world. Its displays include
priceless world–class collections of jewelry, porcelain and
costumes of the sultans. Then visit the Grand Bazaar. Return
to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
*Tonight, we will have a TURKISH LANGUAGE COURSE by our tour
guide.
DAY 4 ISTANBUL – LOCAL LIFE
Morning visit to the Asian side of Istanbul. Asian side
of Istanbul is less touristic, mostly residential. We will
visit Kadikoy, the modern Bagdat Street and see the local
life in Asian side of Istanbul. We will take public boat
back to European side. In the afternoon, we will walk at the
vivid Istiklal Street, where one million people walk a day
at weekends. During our walk, we will see local shops,
cafes, restaurants, schools, churches, mosques, etc. We will
also visit the Galata Mevlevi Lodge Museum to see the daily
life instruments from the Ottoman period. Return to the
hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
*Tonight, we will have a Lecture about Women’s Role in
Turkey by a local faculty member.
DAY 5 ISTANBUL – BOSPHORUS UNIVERSITY & BOSPHORUS
This morning, we will visit the campus of the Bosphorus
University (Bogazici Universitesi). We will meet with some
local Turkish Students. In the afternoon, we will have a
Bosphorus Boat Tour, and our guide will tell us the history
of the buildings. monuments on the Asian and European shores
of Istanbul. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
*Tonight, we will have a Lecture about Turkey & European
Union by a local faculty member.
DAY 6 ISTANBUL AIRPORT – FLY CAPPADOCIA
Morning pick up from your hotel. Transfer to Istanbul
Airport for flight to Kayseri. Drive to Cappadocia, land of
unique landscapes and the unusual rock formations called
“Fairy Chimneys”. Early inhabitants carved the soft volcanic
rock to create underground dwellings, that eventually grew
to become entire cities where as many as six thousand
Christians hid to escape persecution. Visit famous valleys
and an underground city. Proceed to the hotel check–in.
Dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
DAY 7 CAPPADOCIA
Full day in Cappadocia. We will continue to explore
amazing region which is designated World Heritage Site since
1985. Visit the valleys, the pottery town Avanos, Uchisar,
World famous Goreme Open Air Museum and more. Before dinner
we will see a “Whirling Dervish” show.
Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. (B,L,D)
DAY 8 CAPPADOCIA – KONYA – ANTALYA
Through the spectacular heart of central Anatolia, drive
to the holy city of Konya, one of the world’s most ancient
cities and Turkey’s most religious site where you visit the
shrine of Mevlana, the mystic who inspired the “Whirling
Dervishes”. On to Antalya, the capital of the Mediterranean
coast, passing through the Taurus Mountains. Still standing
on the cliffs that surround Antalya are the ancient city
walls and ramparts built by the Greeks. In town stands the
13th–century Alaeddin Mosque and Hadrian’s Gate, built in
honor of the Emperor’s visit in A.D.130. The next two nights
is at the hotel in Antalya, a city situated on the
Mediterranean Coast. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,L,D)
DAY 9 ANTALYA – AKDENIZ UNIVERSITY
This morning, we will visit the Akdeniz University
campus and meet with Turkish students. Founded in 1982,
Akdeniz University is an important university with its 17
Faculties, 7 Institutes, 5 Schools, 13 Vocational Schools,
and 39 Research and Application Centers. In the afternoon,
we will discover local life in Antalya. Dinner and overnight
at the hotel.
*Tonight, we will have a Lecture about Turkish Arts by a
local faculty member. (B,L,D)
DAY 10 ANTALYA – PERGE – MUSEUM
Drive to the archaeological site of Perge and visit the
site known for it’s stadium and great bath complex. After
the lunch visit the award winner museum of Antalya then free
time in Antalya. (B,L,D)
DAY 11 ANTALYA – Free time to explore Antalya on your own. (B,D)
DAY 12 ANTALYA – PAMUKKALE
Drive to Pamukkale (Cotton Castle). See the white
terraces of Pamukkale made of calcium deposits by thousands
of years. Proceed to our SPA hotel in Pamukklae for dinner
and overnight. (B,L,D)
DAY 13 PAMUKKALE – SIRINCE – KUSADASI – COOKING AT A LOCAL
RESTAURANT
Morning drive to the Village of Sirince with its
beautiful serene landscapes, vineyards and olive groves. As
you walk about the cobblestone streets, visit local wineries
and taste the fruits of their labor. Although the area has
been influenced by the influx of tourism, the local
livelihood still lies in the farming traditions and local
produce includes olive oil, wine and also some of the finest
peaches in the country. After the village visit a short
cooking course at a local family restaurant and lunch.
Aftenoon proceeed to the hotel in Kuşadası for dinner and
overnight. (B,L,D)
DAY 14 EPHESUS – KUSADASI
Visit Ephesus, cradle of the early Churches. Visit the
ancient site including the Terrace Houses. We will have
lunch at a local handmade Carpet Cooperative where we will
have a demonstration by local village women. Then, we will
visit the Isa Bey Mosque, which is the oldest mosque of
Western Turkey. The Imam of the mosque will give a lecture
about Islam and the mosque. Return to the hotel in Kusadasi
for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
DAY 15 BEACH TIME – KUSADASI
Free time at the beach in Kuşadası. Dinner at the hotel
(B,D)
DAY 16 KUSADASI – IZMIR – UNIVERSITY VISIT & HOME STAY
This morning, we will visit the campus of the 9
September University (Dokuz Eylul Universitesi). We will
meet with some local Turkish Students. Founded in 1982 as
the second state university in İzmir, after Ege University,
Dokuz Eylul University is housing over 60,000. With its
diverse opportunities, DEU also accommodated 824
international students in the last academic year. Today we
will also visit a textile clothing factory and workshop. See
the process of textile products.. Then free time in the city
and meet Turkish families. Students will stay at local homes
instead of hotels, and experience real Turkish life and
food. Dinner and overnight at homes. (B,D)
DAY 17 PERGAMUM – IZMIR – HOME STAY
Drive to the ancient city of Pergamum, another cultural
center of antiquity and one of the seven churches of the
Bible. Parchment was invented in Pergamum after Egypt cut
off the supply of papyrus. Visit the Acropolis and see the
steepest theater of the ancient world. Lunch at a local
kebap restaurant. Then proceed to Asclepion, the old healing
center. Back to Izmir. Dinner at homes. (B,L,D)
DAY 18 KARSIYAKA BAZAAR – IZMIR – HOME STAY
Drive to Izmir, on the shores of a large bay and
encircled by mountains. Today, it is third largest city in
Turkey. We will visit the Dareo Moreno Street and the Old
Elevator where you can see a panoramic view of the Izmir
Bay. We will take the public boat to the other side of the
bay, called Karsiyaka. Karsiyaka is the residential area.
Visit the local bazaar which offers food, clothing and many
other items. Back homes, dinner and overnight. (B,D)
DAY 19 IZMIR - HOME STAY
Visit Izmir and explore the city, Kemeralti Bazaar,
local mosques, churches or synagogues, and the modern part
Alsancak. Dinner and overnight at homes. (B,D)
DAY 20 FLY BACK TO USA
Transfer to Izmir Airport for your flight to USA via
Istanbul.
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