Elegant Adventures

Day 1: New York / Istanbul

We take our overnight flight from JFK-New York to Istanbul. Meals and beverages served on board.

Day 2: Istanbul

Arrival in Istanbul Ataturk Airport. After clearing the customs, we meet our tour guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul. (D)

Day 3: Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel, we will start our full day Istanbul tour. Istanbul is the only city in the world that bridges Europe and Asia, and we will explore some of Istanbul's many treasures that bridge the past and present. Our first stop will be the ancient Hippodrome, where chariot races and athletic events took place during the Roman Period. Next, visit Istanbul's most famous treasure - the Blue Mosque, named for the beautiful Iznik tiles which give the mosque its interior color, and the Museum of Hagia Sophia, a Christian cathedral built in 536 AD. Later, to the Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans. After lunch, we will visit the Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent, built at the peak of the Ottoman Empire and decorated with baroque paintings. At the end of the tour we will have an opportunity to shop in the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered market places in the world. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)(L)(D)

Day 4: Istanbul

This morning we will take a Cruise on the Bosporus the winding strait that separates Europe from Asia. Enjoy the view of the old wooden villas, marble palaces and the ancient fortresses. You will have a chance to explore the city on your own for the rest of the day. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)(L)

Day 5: Istanbul / Izmir / Ephesus

Today we will transfer to the airport to take an early morning flight to Izmir. Then we will drive to Ancient Ephesus and walk through the Magnesian Gate which is the entrance to the ancient city of Ephesus. See the Odeon (concert hall), the fountain of Trajan, the steam-heated Baths of Scolastica, the Temple of Hadrian and the Latrians, the library of Celsus and The Great Theatre, which is the largest theater in antiquity having a capacity of 24,000 people. Our last stop here is to visit the Basilica of St. John, which was erected over his grave in the 6th century AD by the Emperor Justinian. Drive through the colorful town of Kusadasi to reach Mt. Koressos. Situated in a small valley, it is here where we will visit the humble chapel which lies on the site of the little house where the Virgin Mary is believed to spent her last days. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B)(L)(D)

Day 6: Pamukkale / Hieropolis / Aphrodisias

After early breakfast at the hotel we will drive to Pamukkale. Pamukkale is famous for cascading snow-white terraced cliff side basins and waterfalls. After lunch, visit the ancient Roman city ruins of Hierapolis, with Necropolis, Thermal Baths and Masterpiece Theater. Then we will drive to Aphrodisias, The ancient city of Aphrodisias is one of the most important archaeological sites of the Greek and Roman periods in Turkey. Aphrodisias lies in the Meander River basin, in a fertile valley 100 miles southeast of the port of Izmir. Famous for its sanctuary of Aphrodite, the city's patron goddess, Aphrodisias enjoyed a long and prosperous existence from the first century BC through the sixth century AD. We will see the Temple of Aphrodite, Sebastian, Tetrapylon, Odeon and Bishop's Palace, Agora, Baths of Hadrian, Theatre and the Stadium. Overnight in Pamukkale. (B)(L)(D)

Day 7: Pamukkale / Konya

Today after early breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Konya (Iconium). It bacame an important Christian city following St. Paul's preaching. A Phrygia legend says that Konya was the first city to be founded after the flood. Here we will visit the Mevlana Museum and the 13th century Whirling Dervish Monastery. Overnight in Konya. (B)(L)(D)

Day 8: Konya / Cappadocia

Today after breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Cappadocia  and our first stop will be Dervent Valley, where the elements have eroded the stone into peaks, cones and obelisks called fairy chimneys. Pasabagi, the three-capped chimney in the middle of valley was the retreat to the monk Simeon. Visit Avanos and experience pottery making. After Lunch, we will drive to Goreme National Park an open-air museum with its Byzantine churches carved into cliffs with its colorful frescoes dating back to the 7th century. Today our last stop will be the Citadel of Uchisar and Pigeon Valley. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B)(L)(D)

Day 9: Cappadocia

Full day tour Cappadocia. Today our first stop is Derinkuyu. This is an underground city carved into soft rocks resembling a huge labyrinth of tunnels, rooms, kitchens, wine cellars and passageways. A huge chimney ventilates this 8-levelled dwelling, which was used by early Christians to hide from Roman and Byzantine persecutors. Continue to Kizilcukur Valley and Cavusin. After lunch, visit the Ortahisar Valley. We will transfer to Kayseri airport for a flight to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)(L)(D)

Day 10: Istanbul

Today is our free day to enjoy Istanbul. There will be an optional Turkish night to enjoy our last night in Turkey. (B)(D)

Day 11: Istanbul / New York

Today after breakfast in the hotel we transport to the airport and begin our journey home. We take with us new friendships, memories and inspiration to last a lifetime. (B)

Tour Includes:

• 10 Nights in 4/5 star hotels
• 8 Dinners, 7 Lunches and 9 Breakfasts
• Ground transportation by A/C buses or minivans depending on the size of the group
• Site seeing as indicated in the itinerary with English speaking guide throughout the tour
• All entrance fees to museums
• Hotel taxes, service charges, and baggage handling
• International airfare from New York to Istanbul
• Bilingual Elegant Adventure tour leader throughout the tour

Price:

• Double occupancy per person price: $2,980. Airport taxes $200-$450 not included in the price.