- Itinerary
- Day 1 New York - Istanbul
- Fly from New York's JFK airport to
Istanbul, Turkey.
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- Day 2 Istanbul
- Arrive in Istanbul. Transfer to your
hotel for overnight.
- Overnight in Istanbul.
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- Day 3 Istanbul
- After breakfast depart for a full day
sightseeing tour of Istanbul. Visit the remnants of the Roman
Hippodrome, the magnificent sixth-century Byzantine church, Haghia
Sophia, the 17th-century Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, once the
residence of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries,
and the Grand Bazaar. Welcome dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.
(B, D)
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- Day 4 Istanbul
- A full day of sightseeing in Istanbul.
After visiting the historical Spice Market near Galata Bridge,
a cruise along the Bosphorus, the waterway connecting the warm
waters of the south to the Black Sea, is scheduled. (In winter,
cruise may be substituted with Suleymaniye Mosque and Chora Church.)
In the afternoon you will cross Bosphorus Bridge connecting Asia
and Europe and visit Beylerbeyi Palace, a 19th-century Ottoman
palace. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)
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- Day 5 Ankara - Cappadocia
- Morning flight to Ankara where you'll
visit the famous Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Mausoleum
of Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic. (For Thursday departures,
the museum can be replaced with Ankara Castle & Haci Bayram
Mosque). Then, drive to Cappadocia, while enjoying the view of
the beautiful Turkish countryside along the way. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B, D)
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- Day 6 Cappadocia
- Full day tour of the Cappadocia region.
Enjoy the amazing scenery of unusual rock formations and man-made dwellings, and churches and chapels
from the early Christian and Byzantine periods. Your visits will
include Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar, Valley of Zelve, and
the Underground City of Kaymakli. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B,
D)
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- Day 7 Konya - Pamukkale
- Depart from Cappadocia for Pamukkale.
On the way you'll visit the Sultanhan Caravanserai which was
built along the ancient Silk Road in the 13th century, and Konya.
In Konya, once the capital of the Seljuk Turks in the 13th century,
you'll visit the Museum of the Whirling Dervishes. Arrive in Pamukkale late afternoon.
Overnight in Pamukkale. (B, D)
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- Day 8 Pamukkale - Aphrodisias - Kusadasi
- After breakfast visit the ancient city
of Hierapolis where you'll visit a fascinating necropolis and
theater from the Greco-Roman period. After taking pictures of
cotton-white cascades, drive to ancient Aphrodisias, a city named
for Aphrodite, the goddess of love. After visiting wonderful
ruins and the museum you'll drive to Kusadasi.
- Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, D)
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- Day 9 Kusadasi - Ephesus - Izmir
- A full day tour of Ephesus. This glorious
city, founded about 4,000 years ago, still surprises the visitor
with its ruins. Visit the ruins and the site museum, the House
of Virgin Mary, where she is believed to have spent her final
years, and the sixth-century Basilica of St. John. Overnight
in Izmir. (B)
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- Day 10 Izmir
- In the morning an excursion to Sardis,
capital of Lydian Empire in the 6th century BC. Visit the Temple
of Artemis, gymnasium and one of the oldest synagogues in the
world. In the afternoon visit Pergamon: the majestic Acropolis
with its Temple of Trajan and theater. Also visit Asclepion,
the ancient world's great healing center.
- Overnight in Izmir. (B)
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- Day 11 Izmir - Bodrum
Before noon you will be transferred
to Bodrum. Embarkation, welcome drink and program briefing in
Bodrum harbor. Dinner and overnight stay in the harbor or at
a nearby cove. (If arrival of guests is sufficiently early, it
may be possible to spend the night in Cos harbor.)
- (B, D)
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Day 12 Bodrum - Cos
Arrival in Cos. We will have some time for a short tour of the
town upon arrival in Cos. Then sail to the bay of Kamari for
overnight stay. (B, L, D)
Day 13 Astipalaia
Early morning departure for the island of Astipalaia. After lunch
and swimming at Vagi on the east of the island, we will continue
to Chora, the center of the island for dinner and overnight stay.
(B, L, D)
- Day 14 Anafi
After cruising about 4-5 hours, we will reach Anafi at noon.
Anafi is a small island of the Cycades, where we will spend a
tranquil and relaxing day swimming and walking ashore.
- (B, L, D)
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- Day 15 Santorini - Ios
Sailing to Santorini in the early morning to arrive for breakfast
in the harbor situated on the rim of what used to be a volcanic
crater. Sightseeing time in Santorini during the day and evening
departure for overnight stay on the island of Ios.
- (B, L, D)
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- Day 16 Amorgos
A short cruise of about 3 hours will bring us to the southwest
end of the island of Amorgos. We will have swimming stops and
lunch before entering the harbor in the afternoon. Towards evening
it is possible to walk up the Langada hill where you can have
dinner before returning to the boat. Those who do not with to
walk may take a taxi to/from Langada. (B, L, D)
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- Day 17 Cos
Arrival in Cos in the afternoon following a long sail from Amorgos.
Opportunity to visit places we missed at the beginning of the
cruise. Overnight stay in Cos is a stay was not included at the
beginning of the cruise. (B, L, D)
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Day 18 Bodrum - Istanbul
After breakfast, you will disembark at Bodrum and you will be
transferred to Bodrum airport for your flight back to Istanbul.
In Istanbul you will be transferred to your hotel. (B)
Day 19 Transfer
Transfer to the airport after breakfast for the departure flight.
(B)
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