2008 program texts will be adjusted to reflected the itinerary above.

Istanbul

Day+1    Depart USA
Day 1      In transit  - Arrival Istanbul
Day 2      Istanbul

The hotel in Istanbul is located in the middle of town. Most sights are within walking distance. At the head of the peninsula is the Topkapi Palace, home to sultans for centuries. Today it is a museum of the unique, multi-faceted art collections of the sultans. The well-known 6th century Hagia Sophia and the Sultanahmet Mosque ("Blue Mosque"), built more than a thousand years later, are across from one another. You may also spend a lot of time in the enormous, partially covered bazaar, consisting of a web of specialized shopping streets. Here you will get an excellent impression of the Turkish cuisine, daily life and trade. For nighttime entertainment, some choices are the luxurious shopping, dining, and nightlife district of Taksim, the pleasant quarter of Kumkapi, or the Gulhane Park. During an optional boat tour on the Bosphorus you will see the Dolmabahce Palace, the impressive Europa Bridge, strongholds and some authentic wooden houses typical of the Istanbul of the past. For this boat tour we may use the public ferry or request the services of a local captain. From the new Galata Bridge you will sail towards the mouth of the Black Sea. The boat will make many stops along the Bosphorus.

Day 3    Istanbul - Canakkale
Day 4    Canakkale - Troy - Bergama

During the 23-day trip we leave Istanbul by the European side of this metropolis and take a ferry to Canakkale, a calm harbor town in the narrow passage of the Dardanelles. The last part of the trip is by bus. We arrive in the afternoon, leaving you with a few hours to explore this small fishing town, site of World War I's famous Battle of Canakkale.

On the way to Bergama we stop at the archeological site of legendary Troy, discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1873. Troy was made famous by Homer’s epic about the Trojan War in 13th century BC. The city was destroyed and rebuilt several times. There are only a few recognizable ruins, such as pieces of the thick city wall, part of a gateway and a sacrificial place. We recommend that you visit the small museum nearby before you go to the archeological site.  The reconstruction of the town helps you to go back in time in your imagination.

After our visit to Troy we continue to Bergama. In this pleasant rural town are the remainders of the Greek city of Pergamon. During a short period in the second century BC this town was the center for art and science in Asia Minor. The town underwent an enormous construction boom and served as an example of the momentous city development of those days. Many palaces, temples, altars and terraces were constructed. Today you only find the foundations of the famous altar on the Acropolis. Here is also one of the largest medical centers of the ancient world, the Asklepion. The remainders of the Greek and Roman baths remind you of a visit to the hammam. In the early morning we visit the Acropolis of Bergama and then we drive to Selcuk.

Day 5    Bergama - Selcuk
Day 6    Selcuk
Day 7    Selcuk - excursion to Ephesus 

Selcuk has a typical Turkish atmosphere, particularly at the attractive market square in the town’s center. This square filled with tea-drinking men is the image of atmosphere that you would expect in Turkey. Furthermore, Selcuk has an archeological museum and the 6th century St. John's Basilica on the Ayasoluk Hill. Selcuk is an excellent starting point for all kinds of daytrips. Beach lovers may have their fill in the area of Kusadasi, the best-known shore town along the west coast. A visit to the ruins of the ancient trade center of Ephesus, which flourished until the 3rd century, will be impressive. The town’s decay was caused by the silting up of the harbor and by the ravages of past conflicts. Ephesus was also an important religious center. People came from far away to visit the large temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The unique extensive archeological sites offer an excellent impression of ancient daily life. Highlights among the hundreds of monuments, varying from theater to bordellos, are the temple of Hadrianus, the theater and the Celsus Library. Less known, but certainly worthwhile, are the ruins of the Greek towns of Pirene and Milete, both surrounded by beautiful pine tree covered hills, olive orchards and small hamlets.


Day 8      Selcuk - Afodisias - Pamukkale

On the way to Pamukkale, we will pass many cotton fields. We will stop at Aphrodisias at the famous temple of Aphrodite. The stadium here is also worth a visit. From Denizli, in the distance on the slope, you can already see the miraculously shaped white limestone travertines of Pamukkale. These basins are filled with therapeutic calcium and carbonated water. The sunrises and sunsets in the background of the limestone travertines leave an ineffaceable impression. You may also want to take a walk by the ruins of the Roman town of Hierapolis.

Day 9      Pamukkale - Fethiye
Day 10    Fethiye - Kas
Day 11    Kas, boat trip
Day 12    Kas - Antalya

After our stay in Pamukkale, the trip continues through a mountainous landscape to Fethiye, a harbor town on the south shore of Turkey. From there, we travel to Kas, the basis for our boat journey. We will sail along the magnificent Turkish south shore. Quiet bays, where you may relax on sun filled beaches, or snorkel and swim, interrupt the rocky shore. Back ashore we will spend the night in Kas before we drive to Antalya on the Turkish Riviera.     

Day 13    Antalya - Konya
Day 14    Konya - Urgup
Day 15    Urgup
Day 16    Urgup

Konya, a former capital, is primarily known for the mystic philosopher and follower of Persian Sufism, Celaleddin Rumi, or Mevlana. He is the founder of the Dervish Order, which is especially known for the ecstatic whirling dervish dances. The 13th century Dervish Convent Mevlana Tekke is now a museum. In addition to the sarcophagus of Mevlana, family members and shahs of the order, the museum is home to a beautiful collection of Islamic arts and crafts.

The trip to Cappadocia introduces you to the bare and vast Anatolian Steppes. Return to a time when camel caravans traveled by the nomad camps. During our time in Cappadocia we will stay in a small hotel in the town of Urgup, near Goreme. This is an ideal starting point to explore this special region on your own. Erosion of the volcanic tuff layer has created a bizarre, moon-like landscape with valleys, gorges and erratic rock formations. For centuries the region has been a safe haven for persecuted groups such as the Christians. More than 3,000 churches built into the rocks and a number of underground cities have been preserved. We will explore this interesting region by bus, by foot, by bike or by moped. Attractions include the open-air museum of Goreme with various small rock churches with frescoes, the underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, the green Ihlara Valley, the Zelve Valley and the potters’ village of Avanos. Other options are a scenic picnic and a visit to a small farm or a winery. After our stay in Cappadocia, we will travel by bus to Ankara.

Day 17     Urgup - Ankara; night train to Istanbul
Day 18     Istanbul
Day 19     Depart Istanbul - Arrive US

Ankara, the capital of Turkey, is a worthwhile closure of this roundtrip. One of the most important museums of Turkey is in Ankara, the museum of Anatolian civilizations. The valuable collection gives an excellent overview from the Paleolithic to the Greek-Roman period. Nearby the museum is the old citadel. In the center are the always lively Geclik Parki and Kokatepe Camli, the largest mosque in the Middle East. On top of a hill is the impressive mausoleum of Ataturk. We will spend an afternoon in Ankara and return to Istanbul by night train. The next day we arrive in the Asian part of Istanbul in the early morning. We will have one more day to spend here before we fly back to the United States.