Great Turkish Adventure

Transcription

1 Great Turkish Adventure Map of Turkey indicating major historical sites June 22- July 8, days and nights in Istanbul 2 days and nights in Cappadocia 2 days and nights in Antalya 6 days and nights cruising the Turquoise Coast 1 day in Ephesus, 1 night in Kusadasi

2 OCSC s Great Turk ish Adventure Join OCSC on a journey of discovery as we explore the ancient lands and cultures of Anatolia (modern Turkey). As we travel we will bear witness to over 5000 years of human history including the great civilizations of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. East meets west in a dazzling display of culture, cuisine, and architecture. We ll walk in the footsteps of Alexander, Homer, Cleopatra, and innumerable scribes, traders and explorers who traveled the globe to discover this exotic and timeless land. In Istanbul we will wander the Grand Bazaar, explore the harem at the Topkapi Palace, cruise the Bosphorus and dine at fabulous local restaurants. Continuing on to Cappadocia we will marvel at the surrealistic geological formations, the fairy chimneys formed by vol- Gulet Under Sail canic eruptions and erosion. We ll hike through amazing slot canyons filled with rock cut churches, underground cities, and natural rock castles. We ll taste local wines at a vineyard and try our hand at throwing pottery in Avanos, a tradition dating back 3000 years. Perhaps the highlight of the trip will be a six night cruise along the Turquoise Coast, so named for its jewel colored waters. Our luxurious floating home will be a Turkish gulet, a beautifully handcrafted motor yacht that is both spacious and well appointed. Pulling into quiet bays and coves, we ll go ashore and hike through unspoiled countryside to medieval castles and ancient sites, including the haunting Lycian city of Myra. We ll snorkel over the ancient sunken city of Aperlea and enjoy a sunset hike to the top of Gemiler Island among other visits. Evenings find us aboard our comfortable gulet, where our chef pampers us with excellent food and wine as we relive the day s excitement. Many guests enjoy sleeping under the stars during the warm summer nights. The final destination of our journey is the famous ancient site of Ephesus, the Star of Asia Minor, and the largest and most important Roman City in ancient Anatolia. Here we ll walk the marble streets of Ephesus and sit at the ancient theatre like the Ephesians did thousands of years ago. We conclude our journey back in Istanbul where we can do some last minute shopping before heading home. 2

3 Day 1, June 22 Fly to Istanbul Leave your hometown and fly to Istanbul. Day 2, June 23 Arrive in Istanbul Transfer on your own (by metered taxi) to your hotel in the old quarter of Istanbul. Relax and rest after the flight. Meals on your own. Overnight at special class hotel in Istanbul. Day 3, June 24 Istanbul s Classics Walking Tour of Istanbul s Classics: After breakfast, your guide will meet you at 8:30 am in the lobby of your hotel for a full day walking tour of Istanbul s ancient monuments, including the famous Blue Mosque, St. Sophia and the Byzantine forum. You will start with a tour of Sultan Ahmet Square, the center of historical and cultural activities of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. You will also visit the Blue Mosque, famous for its beautiful blue tiles decorating the interior walls. Right across from the Blue Mosque is St. Sophia, originally built as a church by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and used as a mosque during the Outdoor Cafe in Istanbul s Old Quarter Ottoman era until 1935 (today it s a museum). In the afternoon you will visit the Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years. While you re walking corridors of Harem, you ll hear stories about Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his marriage to the Russian slave girl Roxalena (Hurrem Sultan) who later became one of the most powerful women of the Ottoman times. Today you ll enjoy welcome dinner at a unique restaurant famous for its Southeastern Turkish dishes. Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight at special class hotel in Istanbul. Day 4, June 25 Istanbul After breakfast, your guide will meet you at 8:30 am in the lobby of your hotel for a half-day tour of the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. In the afternoon, you ll be on your own to enjoy Istanbul: Don t forget to visit the Turkish Bath near the Grand Bazaar for a relaxing end to your day. Breakfast is included. Overnight at special class hotel in Istandbul. 3

4 OCSC s Great Turk ish Adventure Day 5, June 26 Cappadocia In the morning, you ll be transferred from your hotel to the Istanbul airport to fly to Kayseri. Please be ready in the lobby of your hotel with your luggage at 6:00 am. Your flight departs Istanbul at 7:45 am and arrives in Kayseri at 9:10 am. Upon arrival in Kayseri, you ll be transferred to Cappadocia (1.5 hrs drive). After having lunch at a 19th century Greek house, you ll visit Sinassos (Mustafapasa); an ancient town with spectacular old houses which are very fine examples of Late Greek settlements and architecture. In the afternoon you will enjoy a guided walking tour of the Zelve Valley, which will be a journey into the past with its troglodyte houses, 13th century churches, and hand carved dwellings where locals lived until This is an easy walking tour from one to two hours, which serves as an excellent introduction to the unique geology of the Cappadocia region. Overnight: Kayadam Cave Hotel or similar Breakfast and Lunch included. Day 6, June 27 Cappadocia Fairy Chimney Formations in Cappadocia Today you will have the option to go on a hot air balloon tour over the region at sunrise (please reserve in advance extra cost). This is not to be missed. Later you will visit the underground city of Derinkuyu where early Christians found shelter escaping from pagan attacks. In the afternoon, you ll visit the Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia including rockcut churches and frescoes dating to the 10th century AD. A visit to Cappadocia can t be complete without a visit to pottery workshops in Avanos where you can see traditional pottery making and beautiful pottery for sale. Before you return to your hotel, walk to the top of the Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Overnight: Kayadam Cave Hotel or similar Breakfast and Lunch included. 4

5 Day 7, June 28 Konya and Antalya After an early breakfast, you ll drive to Konya (3 hours) and visit the 13th century Mevlana Museum, the former monastery of the Whirling Dervishes. Here you ll hear Rumi s poems and learn about the philosophy of Sufism. After lunch in Konya, you ll drive to Antalya (4 hours), passing through the picturesque Taurus Mountains with cedar forests. When you arrive in Antalya, you ll check into your hotel, which is an old Ottoman house in the heart of the old quarter. In the evening you can enjoy one of the restaurants along the ancient harbor overlooking Mediterranean. Overnight: Dogan Hotel or similar Breakfast is included. Day 8, June 29 Perge and Aspendos After a leisurely breakfast, your guide will take you to the ancient site of Perge, dating from 300 B.C., which is just outside of Antalya. Perge was a leading school of sculpture during the Roman period. Here you ll walk along the colonnaded streets, visit the Romans baths, agora and the stadium. Later on, you ll visit the famous Aspendos theatre, which dates back to Roman times. After lunch, you ll go back to Antalya to visit the Archaeological Museum where the statues from Perge are on display. Late afternoon is free to enjoy a swim in the pool at your hotel or walk in the old quarter. Overnight: Dogan Hotel or similar Breakfast is included. Day 9, June 30 Finike After breakfast, you ll be transferred to Finike (1.5 hours) where you ll board onto your boat and meet the friendly crew. After a brief orientation given by your guide, you ll settle into your cabins and cruise two hours to Myra (Demre), where you will go ashore to visit the ancient site of Myra, famous for its Lycian royal cliff tombs dating 400 B.C. The Lycians were a matrilineal society, strong, independent defenders of their territory. Their tombs are carved into limestone cliffs and decorated with ornate architectural details, which are still intact. A short ride away is the church of St. Nicholas (later known as Santa Claus), who was a Christian bishop of Myra around 300 AD. After exploring the church and its magnificent frescoes, you ll return to the boat, cruise to Gokkaya Bay (30 minutes) and have afternoon tea and Gulet at Anchor cookies prepared by your chef on board. Late afternoon is free to enjoy the turquoise waters of Mediterranean (water sport activities such as water skiing and banana boats are available at Gokkaya bay at an extra cost). All meals included Gulet Accommodation. 5

6 OCSC s Great Turk ish Adventure Day 10, July 1 Simena After breakfast you ll cruise to Simena village where you can walk up to the medieval castle that dominates the skyline above the village. Simena is reached only by foot or by sea. Next to the castle you ll see Lycian sarcophagi-tombs- overlooking the Mediterranean. At the top of the castle, your guide will give a lecture about the Lycians and ancient life along the coast. You may enjoy a visit to a local s house for a cup of sage tea. You ll also have a chance to cruise over the sunken ruins of Kekova Island. This area is one of the magical places along the coast of Turkey. In the evening, you ll enjoy the marvelous Turkish cuisine prepared by your chef on board. All meals included Gulet Accommodation Day 11, July 2 Kalkan A 3-hour cruise will bring you to Firnazlar Bay where you ll have breakfast on the boat. After swimming and snorkeling along the rocky shore, you ll have lunch then cruise 20 minutes to Kalkan, which is a charming Mediterranean town. In Kalkan you ll have time to sit at a local café, enjoy a swim at the beach, or explore the fine arts and crafts shops in the village. We recommend you try dinner at one of the roof top terrace restaurants along the harbor. Breakfast and lunch included Gulet Accommodation. Kalkan Harbor Day 12, July 3, Gemiler Island Early departure for Olü Deniz (Dead Sea), where you will anchor beneath the 6

7 cliffs and have breakfast. Optional hike (1.5 hour) to the ghostly remains of Kayakoy (Levissi), an abandoned Greek town (1,200 elevation gain). After the First World War, Kayakoy s population was forced to abandon their homes under the conditions of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. Muslims who were brought from Greece refused to reoccupy the village so it has been abandoned since. Your guide will take you through the village where you ll sit at a café and have a cup of Turkish coffee. After exploring this site you ll hike down to the Cold Bay, where the boat is anchored and have a swim. After lunch, cruise to Ship Island (also known as Gemiler Island). There will be more opportunities to enjoy watersports in this bay. In the late afternoon, you ll take a sunset walk 20 minutes up to the summit of this small island and explore the extensive Byzantine ruins with their unusual covered pathways and small outbuildings (round-trip about one hour at an easy pace). All meals included Gulet Accommodation. Day 13, July 4 Fethiye Cruise to Fethiye, ancient Telmessos, now a quaint modern town with a bustling marketplace, many fine craft shops and wonderful fish restaurants. Explore nearby Amintas tomb (optional, by local taxi or a half hour walk), an impressive rock carved tomb honoring the famous 6th century B.C. Lycian ruler. After visiting Pool at Kismet Hotel the bustling markets of Fethiye, you ll return to your gulet and perhaps set out for an afternoon sail if the winds are right. Later cruise to a secluded bay where you ll have dinner and overnight. Breakfast and dinner included. Gulet accomodation. Day 14, July 5 Gocek Bay After breakfast you ll cruise along the coast for an hour to Agalimani, which is a secluded bay where you can take an optional hike to the ancient site of Lydea to explore the remains of the Temple of Athena. Your hike up into the hills will be on a moderately steep ancient path (similar to a fire road) winding past secluded farms high above the sea (45 minutes). There are still some nomads living around Lydae during the summer months. In the late afternoon cruise to Cleopatra s bath 7

8 OCSC s Great Turk ish Adventure where you ll enjoy swimming among the ruins. Enjoy water-sports provided by speedboats (extra cost) such as ringo rides on inner tubes, water -skiing, para sailing and more. All meals included Gulet Accommodation Day 15, July 6 Gocek to Kusadasi After breakfast you ll cruise to Gocek village, a yachting center, and bid farewell to your crew and drive to Kusadasi (4.5-hour drive). In the afternoon you will visit the ancient city of Ephesus, once called the Star of Asia Minor, the largest and most important Roman city in Anatolian antiquity. It was known for its wealth and beauty and today it s one of the best archaeological sites in the country. You ll wander into the past as you explore the library, marble streets, baths, agora and the theatre. Tonight you ll be treated to an early farewell dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. Breakfast and dinner included Kusadasi Kismet Hotel or similar Day 16, July 7 Ephesus to Istanbul After a leisurely breakfast you will be met by your guide and transfer to the Ephesus Museum to witness the incredible marble sculptures restored from the site. After lunch, you ll be transferred to the Izmir airport for your flight to Istanbul leaving at 2:30 PM and arriving at 3:30 PM. Upon your arrival in Istanbul airport you ll be met and transferred to your hotel in Istanbul. Breakfast included. Overnight at special class hotel in Istanbul. Day 17, July 8 Fly back to USA Depending on your flight schedule you will transfer on your own (by metered Trip Price Trip Price $3995 per person for a group of guests (8 cabin boat) $350 surcharge per person surcharge for group size of 8 11 (6 cabin boat) Single supplement: Hotel only: $490 Single Supplement Gulet: $1650 Minimum group size: 8, max: 15 Internal Turkish Airlines flights $270 (subject to change) 8

9 What s included? Expert leadership by a licensed professional guide fluent in English Hotel accommodations as noted in the itinerary Motor yacht ( gulet ) Meals as noted Group Airport transfers as noted Sightseeing as noted in the itinerary Ground transportation by deluxe, air-conditioned 25 seat bus Entrance fees and permits Bottled water on gulet and at included group meals Local wine, beer and sodas on the boat Donation of $100 in your name to TEMA foundation in Turkey Tipping to the guide, staff on board, drivers, porters at the airport and bellboys at the hotels What s not included? International airfare Flights within Turkey (app. $270, subject to change) Meals not noted in itinerary Airport transfers in Istanbul on Day 2 (arrival) and Day 17 (departure) Insurance of any kind Excess baggage charges Airport taxes Cost of medical immunizations (no immunization is needed for traveling in Turkey) Visas ($20) Admission to Turkish baths ($15) Items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.). What s Included? What s Not Included? 9

10 OCSC s Great Turk ish Adventure About the Boat About your Guide Further Information About the Boat A gulet is a traditional Turkish coastal motor-sailer modified to accommodate passengers. Our boats are usually about 90 feet long and 20 feet wide, with six to eight double cabins. Each double cabin has a private bathroom with a shower. Our boats are usually air-conditioned, and trip members frequently sleep on the ample decks. There s a large cabin with a kitchen and bar towards the back of the vessel, and meals are served in a large open area on the stern. Canvas and sailcloth awnings cover the dining area and a portion of the foredeck to provide shade. Gulets are picturesque, but the sails are rarely used for power and they use the motor most of the time. Our boats are quiet, and the captains will use the sails when possible. About your Guide Toplum Biner was born in Istanbul in His family roots are in the southeastern town of Gaziantep, the gastronomic capital of Turkey. Following graduation from the highly regarded French-speaking Galatasaray boarding school, he continued on to Bogazici (Bosphorus) University, the first American College ever established in Istanbul. His favorite subject was the history of art and architecture and he majored in Political Science and International Relations. His love of history and archaeology brought him to a career as a professional tour director. Toplum has been guiding in Turkey since His newest passion is to learn Italian and collect old postcards at various open air markets around Europe. For Further Information Please contact Perry Robertson Blue Odyssey 39 Locust Ave Larkspur CA (phone) (phone) (fax) robertson@blueodyssey.com Gulet at anchor 10