Archaeology Tour in Turkey

July 6 Sat   Arrive Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul, one of the most beautiful cities of the world lies on 2 continents. Our representative will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a sign YOUR NAME on it, then transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul (D)

July 7 Sun   Istanbul
Visit the Kariye Museum (St. Chora Church) famous for its Byzantine mosaics and frescoes, the Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman rulers for 400 years. It is now a museum housing a world renowned collection of jewelry and porcelain. Then visit the 6th century St. Sophia‘s (Hagia Sophia) built by the emperor Justinian, to be the grandest church of Christianity, it is now a museum. (B,D)

July 8 Mon   Istanbul - Ankara
Morning visit to the Mosaic Museum with its exquisite scenes of rural life, then the Hippodrome Square and the famous Covered Bazaar. Afternoon flight to Ankara for dinner and overnight. TK2170 18:00-19:10 (B,D)

July 9 Tue   Ankara - Bogazkale - Yazilikaya - Ankara
Morning departure for the center of the Hittite era. Visit Bogazkale (Hattusas) which is known as the city of temples. See the Kings Gate, the Lions Gate, the tunnel, great citadel, grand temple and the museum. Also see the ancient site of Yazilikaya (inscribed rock), close to Bogazkale. This is the most famous of the Hittite rock monuments. Here there is also an open air pantheon. Reliefs of Hittite gods and goddesses adorn the walls. These are carved into the native rock and date back to the 13th century BC. Return to Ankara for overnight (B,D).

July 10 Wed   Ankara – Gordion – Catalhoyuk – Konya
Drive to Polatli village to visit Gordion, the capital of the Phrygian kingdom in the first millennium B.C. Then drive to Catalhoyuk, the Neolithic Anatolian Hoyuk. Since 1993 an international team of archaeologists, led by Professor Ian Hodder, has been carrying out new research at Çatalhöyük. Then drive to Konya, ancient Iconium for dinner and overnight. (B,D) 

July 11 Thu   Konya – Side – Perga – Aspendos - Antalya
Drive to Antalya. A full day is devoted to the striking Greco-Roman Archaeological sites along the Turkish Riviera. Stop first at Perge, a wealthy and culturally well-developed city in ancient times. A few miles away is Aspendos, where the prosperity this city experienced in the second and third centuries AD is still visible. Enormous blocks of marble were transported from as far as the Marmara Island for the construction and ornamentation of its imposing buildings. After lunch continue to Side, an ancient Turkish harbor that has made a graceful transition into a lovely resort village. Its present popularity is due not only to its new resort atmosphere, but also to the many archaeological ruins that permeate this ancient settlement. (B,L,D)

July 12 Fri   Antalya - Termessos – Antalya
Visit the award winning Archaeological Museum of Antalya in the morning. Then drive up to Taurus mountains to visit the Roman city of Termessos. You need comfortable shoes to walk up the hill. See the theater of Termessos and then return to Antalya for dinner and overnight. (B,D) 

July 13 Sat   Laodicea – Hiearpolis - Pamukkale
Drive to Pamukkale. First visit Laodicea and the newly excavated area. Then visit Hierapolis, its theater, the Necropolis and the Archaeological Museum. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Swimming is available at the hot spring pool of your hotel. (B,D)

July 14 Sun   Pamukkale - Aphrodisias – Nysa - Kusadasi
Drive to Aphrodisias, the recently excavated Roman city dedicated to the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite. The site is being excavated by the New York University. The excavations are still going on as in many other ancient sites. See the Hadrian Baths, the well preserved Stadium, the Theater, the Agora and the beautiful Archaeological Museum containing the best Aphrodite Statues in Anatolia. Continue to the ancient city of Nysa to see the ruins from Hellenistic and Roman periods. Proceed to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

July 15 Mon   Miletus – Didyma – Priene – Kusadasi
Drive to Miletus to visit the Theater and the remains of the city. Continue to Didyma to see the Temple of Apollo which was the Oracle center of Asia Minor. Then visit the Greco-Roman city of Priene. Return to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. (B,D) 

July 16 Tue   Ephesus - Izmir (Smyrna)
Leave for Ephesus. Visit the Shrine of the Virgin Mary where she supposedly spent her later days. Proceed to Ephesus and see the spectacular ruins from the period of St. Paul, some of which are only recently excavated. See the Odeon, the Bouleterion, the Fountains, the Temples, the Brothel, the Library, the Agoras, the Great Theater, the Roman Baths, the Gymnasiums, the Archaeological Museum, St. John’s Basilica and his tomb and the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world). Continue to Izmir for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

July 17 Wed   Sardes – Smyrna – Izmir
Drive East to Sardis, the capital of the Lydian Empire where the coin is first invented. See the 3rd century Synagogue, the great Gymnasium, the golden river Pactalos, the Royal Road and the Temple of Artemis. Return to Izmir and visit the Roman Agora and the new Archaeology Museum in Fuar area. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,D) 

July 18 Thu   Pergamon - Assos
Drive to Pergamon Acropolis to see the steepest Theater of the ancient world, the Temple of Trajan, then visit the Asklepion, the ancient hospital. Proceed to Assos to see the Temple of Athena overlooking the Aegean Sea. Dinner and overnight in Assos. (B,D)

July 19 Fri   Troy - Gallipoli - Istanbul
Drive to Homer’s legendary Troy, famous for its wooden horse. Archaeological digs have proved that there had been nine separate periods of settlement in Troy. Cross the Dardanelles by car-ferry, drive to Istanbul for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

July 20 Sat   Istanbul
Visit the Archaeological Museum containing the greatest treasures of Greek and Roman antiquities discovered in Turkey, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), everyone’s favorite with its six minarets and blue Iznik tiles, and the Underground Cistern. We take an afternoon boat tour which take us along both the European and Asiatic shores of the Bosphorus. Tonight a farewell dinner at an outdoor seafood restaurant. (B,D)

July 21 Sun   Istanbul - End
Transfer to Istanbul airport. Fly back to Denver. End of our services. (B)

• 15 nights at good 4 star hotels
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• Daily breakfast and dinners at hotels
• Transportation by private A/C bus throughout the tour
• English speaking, government licensed professional tour guide throughout the tour
• Entry fees to the sites & museums
• Tips to the hotel and restaurant staff
• Service charges & local taxes

• Drinks and Lunches
• All personal expenses
• Turkish Visa Fee ($50 per person to be paid online before arrival www.evisa.gov.tr) (US citizens do not need a visa.)
• Tips to the tour guide and driver