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Antalya's Roman harbor. |
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WESTERN TURKEY AND TURQUOISE COAST (10 Days/9 Nights, by Orion Tour)
Istanbul, Çanakkale, Troy, Pergamon, Izmir, Ephesus, Kusadasi, Aphrodisias, Pamukkale (Hierapolis), Antalya, Perge, Aspendos
ORION TOUR has designed this tour for the visitor who enjoys history as well as nature: introducing majestic Istanbul, followed by a southward journey that touches antique cities along the Aegean and finally to the Turkish Riviera in Antalya on the Mediterranean coast.
Day
1 - Istanbul
Arrival at Istanbul airport, you will be met and
transferred
to your hotel.
Day 2 – Istanbul
Following breakfast, we drive to the 'Old City'
where we will visit the Hippodrome,the Blue Mosque,
famous
for its delicate blue ceramic tiles and Saint Sophia.
This church - turned mosque - turned museum takes the
breath away with the sheer architectural size of its
interior and magnificent dome and next we will visit
the spectacular Topkapi Palace. Built on one of the
seven hills of Istanbul, this huge complex commands
views of the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the
Golden Horn. It was the seat of government for the
Ottoman Empire for many centuries (1453-1852) and we
will see the extravagant Treasury, the priceless Chinese
porcelain. (BL)
Day 3 – Istanbul
Our morning starts with a visit to the aromatic
Spice Bazaar, where the smells of cinnamon, cloves
and thyme,
rise from hundreds of colorful muslin bags at every
store-front. We then board our ferry boat for a relaxing
cruise along the shores of the legendary Bosphorus,
the natural gateway that divides Asia and Europe. As
you sit back and enjoy Turkish coffee or well-brewed
tea from traditional small cups, numerous summer palaces
and palatial homes will pass by on either side. Disembarking
at the northern end of the Strait, we proceed to a
restaurant for a tasty meal of local fish. Following
lunch we will travel by coach to the Suleymaniye Mosque,
built by master architect Sinan during the reign of
Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver. The
last stop will be Grand Bazaar which is amongst attractive
shopping centers and the biggest "souk" in
the world with nearly 4000 shops of antiques, gold,
jewelry, carpets and leatherwear. (BL)
Day 4 - Çanakkale
- Troy
After an early breakfast, we will begin our scenic
drive down to Gallipoli, historically famous for
being the site of many battles during WW1. 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 our hotel in Çanakkale for the evening.
(BD)
Day 5 – Pergamon - Izmir - Kusadasi
On our journey to Izmir we will stop by the hauntingly
beautiful Pergamon. Among the impressive structures
of this city, dating from 399 BC, we will see the
Altar of Zeus, Temples of Dionysus and Trajan and
the 200,000
volume library which was surpassed only by that found
in Alexandria at the time. The Asclepieum of Pergamon
was a famous health center where methods of treatment
included blood transfusions, music therapy and meditation.
Leaving Pergamon behind us we settle at our hotel.
(BD)
Day 6 – Kusadasi - Ephesus
Following an early breakfast we will proceed further
south and arrive at the ancient city of Ephesus.
Ephesus was undoubtedly one of the most important
cultural
centers of the ancient world. Impressive structures
we will see include the Library of Celsus, Temple
of Hadrian, Theatre and Odeon. We will also stop
by at
the Temple of Artemis which was one of the Seven
Wonders of the antiquity. Close by is the House of
the Virgin
Mary where she is believed to have spent her last
years. On August 18, 1961, Pope John XXll proclaimed
the House
of Virgin Mary at Ephesus to be sacred. You will
have a chance to take some of Holy Water from the
Sacred
Spring. (B, D)
Day 7 - Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
Leaving our hotel early after breakfast, we will
journey to Pamukkale but on the way, we may include
an optional
tour of Aphrodisias. This city was famous throughout
the ancient world for her Temple of Aphrodite and
enjoyed great prosperity during the Roman period.
Some of the
highlights will include the Stadium, the Baths of
Hadrian and the Theatre. We continue on to Pamukkale
where
the thermal water flows from natural pools in white
terraces. The ancient city of Hierapolis was named
after Hiera, wife of the founder of Pergamon. Highlights
include calcified terraces, the Roman Baths, the
Temple of Apollo and the Nymphaeum. Overnight stay
in Pamukkale.
(BD)
Day 8 – Antalya
We leave our hotel straight after breakfast and
begin a long and scenic journey towards the sparkling
turquoise
coast. After checking into our hotel in Antalya,
we even have time for a swim before dinner. (BD)
Day
9 – Antalya
Free time to explore Antalya as you like.
Optional tour:
A leisurely visit to two ancient cities situated
close to the hotel. With its architectural and archaeological
wealth, Perge is one of the most interesting remains.
Even though there is not much left to see on the
Acropolis,
there are wide porticoed streets, lined with many
fine buildings, market places and gymnasiums and
a beautiful
Roman bath. Next on our itinerary is Aspendus whose
theatre is the best preserved in the world with marvelous
acoustics. Two of the other highlights will be the
stadium and the aqueducts. Our last stop for the
day will be at the magnificent archaeological museum
in
Antalya for the finds from Perge and other ancient
nearby cities. (BD)
Day 10 – Istanbul
Free time until we transfer to the airport for
your flight back home via Istanbul. (B)
(Tour code: ORNDTWT4)
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