AUTHENTIC ADVENTURE OPTION B

Day 1 Thu: Istanbul – Arrival | Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Welcome briefing will be held.

Day 2 Fri: Istanbul | Enjoy a full day tour including a visit to Topkapi Palace Museum, residence of the Ottoman Sultans between 1453–1852 (excluding harem). Visit the Hippodrome, which was once the center of life where chariot racing and other public events took place. Tour the Blue Mosque built between 1609 and 1616, famous for its blue ceramic tiles. Next see St. Sophia, a church built in the 6th century Byzantine capital, converted to a mosque by the Ottomans, and now a museum and one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Your last stop will be the famous Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and oldest covered market with over 60 streets. Join an optional dinner with belly dancing entertainment. B

Day 3 Sat: Gallipoli – Dardanelles – Canakkale | In the morning, depart for Gallipoli, the site of many battles during WWI. Visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair, then cross the Dardanelles to Canakkale for overnight. B D

Day 4 Sun: Troy – Pergamum – Izmir | Visit Troy with its famous wooden horse, best known for being the setting of the Trojan War and many cities built on top of each other. Before arriving into Asclepion, enjoy lunch with locals in a traditional local village. Then continue to Pergamum to visit the ancient Medical Center in Asclepion and continue to Izmir for overnight. B D

Day 5 Mon: Ephesus & St. Mary’s House – Izmir | Tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural center of the ancient world, and explore 2,000 year-old marble streets, a theater, the Library of Celsius, a gymnasium and Hadrian’s Temple. Take a short drive to see St. Mary’s stone cottage where it is believed Virgin Mary spent her last years accompanied by St. John. Continue to a regional rug production center to have a firsthand experience of this unique art form. B

Optional : Dinner at local restaurant.

Day 6 Tue: Izmir – Pamukkale | Drive through lush valleys to Pamukkale, the Cotton Fortress, with white lime cascades formed by hot mineral springs. Visit ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis and enjoy a swim in your hotel’s thermal pool. B D

Day 7 Wed: Pamukkale – Bodrum | After breakfast visit ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis and later drive to Bodrum to visit the Castle of St.Peter and the renowned Underwater Museum that was awarded the best Underwater Museum of the World in 2000s. Overnight in Bodrum. B D

Day 8 Thu: Bodrum – Cappadocia | After breakfast, late morning departure to the airport for flight to Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight  at Cappadocia. B D

Day 9 Fri: Cappadocia | Early Morning Optional: Hot Air Balloon Tour. Experiencefloating through volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves at sunrise. After break- fast visit Goreme, a historical region of Turkey, located among the rock formations, which was first settled back in the Roman period. Many rock churches can still be seen today, as Christianity was then the prevailing religion in that region. Continue to the town of Avanos renowned for its high quality earthenware. Also visit Pasabagi, Devrent Valley and attend a brief regional pottery workshop. Dinner at a special local restaurant. Join an optional Whirling Dervishes performance. B D

Day 10 Sat: Cappadocia – Istanbul | After breakfast depart to the airport for flight to Istanbul. In the afternoon, join an optional half-day Bosphorus cruise enjoying the strait that separates Asia and Europe. Its shores are lined with fine neighborhoods, Ottoman palaces, fortresses, old wooden villas, hotels, parks and gardens, restaurants and cafés. Finish your last minute shopping at the Spice Market filled with the fragrance of the exotic east. B

Day 11 Sun: Istanbul | Transfer to the airport for your return flight home. B

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