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Cappadocia, a stopping-place on this tour. |
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AFFORDABLE TURKEY (8 Days/7 Nights, by Orion Tour)
Istanbul, Çanakkale, Troy, Pergamon, Izmir, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia, Ankara
(Group departures are infrequent, but Orion Tour
will be happy to make arrangements for you to follow
this itinerary as a private tour.)
Day 1 - ISTANBUL
Arrival at Istanbul Atatürk Airport. Meet
by Orion representative and proceed to "Old
City" for
full day tour including the Blue Mosque, famous for
its blue tiles and unique with its six minarets built
in the name of Sultan Ahmet I. Next we will have
a look at the Hippodrome of Constantinople where
horse and chariot races used to take place. Then
visit the St. Sophia museum, which is one of the
greatest religious and architectural marvels of all
times. Finally the famous Topkapi Palace museum will
be visited, which was built as the home of the Ottoman
sultans and the World Famous Imperial Chinese Porcelain
sections will be visited. Last stop will be Grand
Bazaar. Following our return to the hotel dinner
and overnight. (LD)
Day 2 - ISTANBUL -ÇANAKKALE
After an early breakfast, we will begin our scenic
drive down to Gallipoli, historically famous for
being the site of many battles during WWI. Following
a lunch break, we will cross the second strategic
waterway, the Dardanelles, and land in Asia and proceed
to Troy. Referred to in Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey",
Troy has in fact nine cities superimposed one upon
another. Troy Vl pertains to the famous Trojan War
of Homer where the legendary heroes included Agamemnon,
Achilles, Ulysses and Nestor on the Greek side and,
Priam, Hector and Paris on the Trojan side. We will
check-in to our hotel in Çanakkale for dinner
and overnight. (BLD)
Day 3 - ÇANAKKALE - IZMIR
Depart for Izmir, enroute we will have lunch
in Bergama before visiting Pergamon to see
the Acropolis, the
Temple of Trajan and the theater both overlooking
to the plain of Bergama with a picture break for
one of the Seven Churches of Revelation in downtown
Bergama, then finally Ancient Medical Center, Asclepion
will be visited before driving to Izmir and Overnight
in Izmir. (BLD)
Day 4 - IZMIR - PAMUKKALE
Following breakfast we drive to Selçuk to
visit the House of Virgin Mary on top of Mt. Coressos.
Then our memorable visit to Ephesus will begin as
well as viewing one of the Seven Churches of Revelation,
the Temple of Artemis (One of the Seven Wonders of
Antiquity) and the Basilica of St. John from a distance,
followed by lunch in the township of Selcuk. After
lunch we will visit the famous local production center
for leather garments whereby after a live Fashion
Show time will be allocated for shopping. Then continue
to Pamukkale. You will tour the Antique City of Hierapolis
where Calcareous hot springs descending over cliffs
have created fascinating travertines in the form
of white terrace and basins. After a picture break,
dinner and overnight. (BLD)
Day 5 - PAMUKKALE-KONYA-CAPPADOCIA
Following an early breakfast we will drive through
an interesting landscape where peasants make their
living, to have lunch enroute before arriving in
Konya. Konya was the center of the Selçuk
Empire as well as the city of Mevlana and his Whirling
Dervishes. After visiting the Mevlana Museum we
will continue to Cappadocia viewing the Sultanhani
Caravanserai
enroute. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.(BLD)
Day 6 - CAPPADOCIA
Today we visit the incredible Underground City
of Kaymakli where early Christians lived secretly
in
order to survive and keep their faith. Then picture
steps will be given at the Pigeons Valley and at
the foot of the Uchisar Castle. Then proceed to
the Goreme Valley to visit the rock carved
churches hollowed
out of volcanic ash. Lunch will be at Avanos Village
followed by the famous local pottery and carpet
shows allowing ample time for shopping in the
afternoon.
Also time will be allocated for the local souvenir
shopping before returning to the hotel for dinner
and overnight.(BLD)
Day 7 - CAPPADOCIA-ANKARA-ISTANBUL
In the morning drive to Ankara to visit the Atatürk
Mausoleum (1881-1938) founding father of the Turkish
Republic. After lunch visit the well-known Museum
of Ancient Anatolian Civilizations with its great
Hittite Collection. Then continue to airport for
flight to Istanbul by TK139 at 17:30. Transfer to
hotel for dinner and overnight.(BLD)
Day 8 - ISTANBUL
We escort you to Istanbul's
Atatürk
Airport for your flight home. (B)
(Tour Code: AFFD7N)
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