Let's Go to Turkey

A 14 Day Private Tour of Istanbul and Anatolia with an extended stay in Cappadocia .
Visit Turkey's top sights- Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia and Ankara
all in 14 days on a private locally escorted tour
Tour starts daily in Istanbul year round , choose your own date

DAY 1 - ISTANBUL - Daily - Year Round - Private Touring in Istanbul and Anatolia
Arrive any day when you choose . We meet your flight and escort you to your hotel.
Sample Deluxe hotels : Hyatt, Conrad , Inter.Continental, or similar ( subject to availability), if you prefer a boutique style hotel, please let's know in advance. Sample first class : Aygun PLaza , Senator or similar .
All transfers are always on a private basis . Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur .

DAY 2 - ISTANBUL - (BL)
Let us show you the city: the Blue Mosque, Byzantine Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia , Topkapi Palace, and then on to the Underground Cistern. walk thru the columns of this grand water reservoir. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. All tours are always on a private basis . Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, and private guide .

DAY 3 - BOSPHORUS (BL)
Istanbul's history was formed by the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. Now, as in ancient times, it is a maritime vital link between the countries bordering the Black Sea and those in the rest of the world. Today we take a leisurely cruise northward along this historic waterway. Along its shores are ranged palaces great and small-Topkapi, Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi, Küçüksu, Hünkar Iskelesi. Four great fortresses rise on the hills, reminding us that to control the Bosphorus was to control the destinies of nations. Our afternoon cruise (morning cruise for Oct-Apr season) of two continents, crossing from Europe to Asia and back, includes visits to the Navy's Museum (showing some magnificent boats used by the Ottoman Sultans), the Bosphorus Bridge, Çamlica Hill lookout, and stupendous Dolmabahçe Palace.

Lunch is included at a charming local restaurants . Hotel Room amenity : Complimentary Turkish Lokoom pastries

DAY 4 - Istanbul (BL)
All morning at leisure. Breakfast is included at the hotel. In the afternoon we drive to Balat along the Golden Horn where the Star of David appears on the facades of some buildings, we walk by Ahrida Synagogue, built in the 15th century . Continue to the centuries-old Jewish neighborhood, Galata, with its tower built by the Genoese. From the panorama balcony. See the stunning views of old constantinople, Bosphorus, Golden Horn and the Jewish quarters. Enjoy refreshments , sweets and tea at a local cafe ( included with ou rcompliments ) in this historical atmosphere. Afterwards drive back to your hotel. All tours are always on a private basis . Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, and private guide .

DAY 5 - CANAKKALE (BL)
After breakfast we start our scenic drive south to the famous Gallipoli, we cross the strategic Dardanelles, to land in Asia ! , tour Troy , before we reach Çanakkale , lunch is included enroute .
Sample deluxe hotels : Kolin Hotel or similar . All tours are always on a private basis . Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, and private guide .

DAY 6- PERGAMON & IZMIR (BL)
We drive to Pergamon to see its Acropolis, Temple of Trojan, Altar of Zeus and Temple of Dionysus, the Red Basilica, and the ancient medical center of the Asclepion, then continue to Izmir . Lunch is included enroute . Sample deluxe hotels : Hilton Izmir , or similar . All tours are always on a private basis . Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, and private guide .

DAY 7 - EPHESUS (BL)
We drive to Selçuk to visit the extensive ruins of Roman Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary. Drive through the Anatolian countryside . Tour the Temple of Artemis, one of the wonders of the ancient world. Then on to Ephesus is a visit to one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world.
Ancient historians believed that Ephesus was founded by the Amazons, but now, it is believed to have been the Hittite city of Apasa.
With your guide, you will see the Odeon, where the advisory council held its meetings and the Baths, as well as many other columns, monuments and ruins, including the Celsus Library. Afterwards drive to Camlik Village. Enjoy a lunch ( included ) in the grounds of a country house in the quaint village of Çamlik. Here you will see a private demonstration of the traditional carpet making process from dying to spinning to weaving at a school where young girls are trained in the craft.

Sirince Village Tour is included in the afternoon
This old Orthodox Village, 30 kilometers from Kusadasi, was once "Cirkince"(ugly). Indeed its inhabitants gave this name on the purpose as they did not want to be bothered by foreigners nor to share the beauty of their village. Still after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly and called it "Sirince" (pretty). Today the village is a perfect synthesis of Turkish-Greek culture as of the 1920's; after the Turkish Independence War, people exchange between Greek and Turks has occurred and all the typical Greek houses, though they kept their original outside characteristics, have received the local layout inside. At Sirince Village you will have chance of seeing the local life at a village and purchasing some small local souvenirs and handicrafts. The village is also famous for its local grape and other fruit wines. During the lunch, mingle with the local people of the village as you will be a guest in their village for a simple cup of traditional Turkish coffee at the main coffee house of the village. Depending on the number of guests, a gypsy woman may read your fortune after you finish your coffee .

DAY 8 - PAMUKKALE (BL)
We drive to Pamukkale for a tour of the ancient Roman spa of Hierapolis and its warm calcium-rich mineral baths. Lycus River Hotel 4 stars ( best available) or similar. Lunch is included enroute .

DAY 9 - KONYA (BL)
Passing through Turkey's fertile Lake District, we drive to Konya, capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum and home of the Whirling Dervishes. We visit the Mevlana Museum, where the founder of the dervish order is buried, lunch is included at a charming local restaurant , sample deluxe hotels : Hilton Konya or similar . Sample First Class : Riixos Hotel or similar

DAY 10 - CAPPADOCIA (BL)
Enjoy your breakfast before continuing on to Cappadocia, stopping at the Sultanhan Caravanserai on the way. We descend into a labyrinthine Underground City at Kaymakli, then tour the rockhewn cave churches and monasteries of the Göreme Valley and the rockhewn natural citadel of Uçhisar, lunch is included today . Sample hotels : Cave Suites hotel, Kapadokya Lodge or similar .

DAY 11 - EXPLORING CAPPADOCIA (BLD)
We drive across the rolling steppe of Central Anatolia to the town of Derinkuyu and descend into an underground labyrinth carved thousands of years ago. Hundreds of cave-rooms and passageways descend eight levels into the earth. Storerooms, kitchens, larders, and churches show that this "underground city" was capable of housing thousands of people when danger threatened. On our way back to our hotel we stop at the striking Agzikarahan Caravansaray, built by the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century as a way-station for the rich camel caravans plying the Silk Route between Europe and Asia. Late afternoon drive to Avnos , a traditional potter- making town to visit the local artisans, and admire the fine detailing of the famous Iznic ceramic designs. In the evening we visit an underground restaurant for a traditional Turkish folklore show, with dances and costumes from several regions rich in folklore, including Gaziantep, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea. The mysterious and alluring art of belly-dancing, and an enjoyable evening of traditional Turkish dance.

DAY 12 - CAPPADOCIA LIFESTYLE WALK (BL)
Morning tour of the small local bustling vegetables, fruit and spice market. Enjoy meeting locals as they do their daily shopping. Now that we've seen the highlights, it's time to really enter into the daily life of women in Cappadocia. We visit local cave homes in rock hewn villages set in spectacular valleys off the beaten track, and learn from local women how to prepare and cook several Cappadocian culinary specialties. Depending upon the season, we may pick fresh grapevine leaves to make dolma, or use a slender rolling pin to roll the dough for manti (Turkish ravioli), or prepare fresh vegetables for a savory lamb stew cooked in an earthenware crock. Best of all, we get to enjoy our culinary creations for lunch! In the late afternoon, choose any of several activities depending upon your interests. One of the most popular is to learn how beautiful Turkish kilims and carpets are created by talented Turkish female artists: we watch carpets being woven, and talk with the artists creating them. Evening at leisure

DAY 13 - Kayseri & ISTANBUL (B)
Drive to Kayseri and head to the airport for our flight to Istanbul, and an airport hotel location ( subject to availability)

DAY 14 - DEPARTURE (B)
We escort you to the airport for your flight . Bon Voyage
Compare with the 10-day version ? Please click here

Rates per person in USD $

Click here for the 7 day version or the 12 days edition

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

Rate doesn't include :

• International air fare.
  
• Visa Fee : in cash upon arrival, for US citizens, or from any of the Turkish Consulates .
  
• Trip/travel insurance
  
• Tips

We will provide the best vehicles available . Always for our valued VIP guests

More Choices :

• Click here for this tour with Egypt extension

• Compare with the 7 Day Heart Of Anatolia version

• compare with the 10 day edition

• Bodrum Edition

• The Jewish Heritage Tour of Turkey .

• Add Greece and the Peloponnese .

• Compare with the 9 Day Istanbul and Anatolia version .

• Click here for the 12 days edition, including air fare from JFK

From: "Cueva"
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 12:00 AM
To: info@travelinstyle.com
Subject: Re: Re: : Re: M/M Cueva -Sep-Egypt & Turkey

Dear Omar,
oh we loved Turkey too! The service there was also impeccable, and we wished we could have stayed a week in Istanbul, it is such an amazing city! I also should mention that we were quite impressed with the quality of the guides we had in Turkey, both them were excellent, flexible, and very experienced. Bodrum was just a bit on the touristy side for our taste but it was beautiful and a great place to just relax for a few days, which was very necessary, so we were glad to have gone there as well.
Sarah

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