Central Turkey Tour 2008

The Central Turkey Tour

including

Constantinople, Ankara, Cappadocia, Underground City, Hittite Capital, Antioch, Iconium and Antalya

The Fairy Chimneys

Straddling the Bosphorus, its skyline studded with domes and minarets, İstanbul is one of the truly great romantic cities. Its history tracks back from Byzantium to Constantinople to its place at the head of the Ottoman Empire. Then travelling to Ankara, the Turkish capital drive to the old city to visit the Augustus Temple, and a selections of other Museums. Then visiting Boğazkale Hattusha: the Hittite Capital. In Cappadocia we will visit the Goreme Open Air Museum and the Ozkonak Underground City. The highlights of the day also include visits to the Pigeon's Valley. We then visit the world renown Valley of the Fairy Chimneys. Moving onto visit the town of Guzelyurt. In ancient times this town was known as Karbala and in Christian period as Kalvari, then Gelveri. It is a good example of a stopping place for the silk road which was the major road for the trade caravans around the 11^th century. Visit Aksaray one of the four provinces in the much-visited area of Cappadocia. Visit the Mevlana Museum , Karatay Museum. Visit to Koyna or Iconium which was visited by Saint Paul and Barnabas, according to the Book of Acts, in 47, 50 and 53 AD. We drive to the town Yalvac, ancient Antioch in Pisidia. Finally we chill out in the resort of Antalya.

Hattusha: the Hittite Capital

The cost of this 11 day 10 night trip is £1295 per person and includes Bed and Breakfast (B) and Dinner (D) or All Inclusive as indicated, every day based in a 4 star hotel or all inclusive resort, with shared accommodation in a twin room, airport transfer to and from the hotel, all entrance fees excursions and professional guide are included for the itinerary stated below. The trip excludes the cost of the flight, any additional hotel expenses, visas, insurance. This adventure requires a minimum of 8 people. Booking deadline 30th April 2008.

Istanbul

On our tour we will visiting, in Istanbul the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Saint Sophia, Turkish & Islamic Art Museum, Topkapi Palace, in Ankara, the Turkish capital, the Augustus Temple, the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations. In Cappadocia we will visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, the Ozkonak Underground City. We will also be visiting the Pigeon's Valley, Avcilar Valley, Monks Valley the Old Village of Cavusin and the Valley of the Fairy Chimneys. We visit the town of Guzelyurt which in ancient times was known as Karbala and in Christian period as Kalvari. Moving onto Agzikarahan Kervansaray; it is a good example of a stopping place for the silk road which was the major road for the trade caravans around the 11^th century. Then onto the Mevlana Museum, Karatay Museum. Visit to Iconium which was visited by Saint Paul and Barnabas, according to the Book of Acts, in 47, 50 and 53 AD. Then drive to the town Yalvac, ancient Antioch in Pisidia. Visit the Roman period remains of Antioch in Pisidia and the local museum in Yalvac.

For further details email Anita Jones

The Hotel Proposed Itinerary Location Map Dates and Prices Booking Form Places of Interest Home (A nita way to travel)

The Hotel
Throughout this tour all hotels will be 4* and at the end of the trip we will be staying for two nights in all inclusive resort centre.

Proposed Itinerary (subject to changes)

Day 1 – Saturday 23rd August 2008 Istanbul D
Flight from Heathrow to Istanbul and check into the hotel. In the afternoon the City Sightseeing Tour of Istanbul. Evening dinner at fish restaurant The Kumkapi.

Day 2 – Sunday 24th August 2008 Istanbul B,D
Full day tour. On our Istanbul Classic City Tour we will be visiting the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Saint Sophia, Turkish & Islamic Art Museum, Topkapi Palace the former imperial palace of the Ottoman sultans which holds priceless jewels, porcelain, paintings, costumes, royal armoury and holy relics, Suleymaniye Mosque and the Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar ia a maze of 65 winding, covered streets crammed with about 4,000 tiny shops, cafés, and restaurants. It is reputedly the largest number of stores under one roof anywhere in the world. For Dinner Bosphorus by night with dinner cruise and Belly Dance Show as we zigzag between two continents. Enjoy pretty panorama of the richly decorated late Ottoman palaces, wooden houses and the fortresses.

Day 3 – Monday 25th August 2008 Istanbul B,D
9.00 – Free time and suggested tour with Chris, including, The Grand Bazaar is a maze of 65 winding, covered streets crammed with about 4,000 tiny shops, cafés, and restaurants. It is reputedly the largest number of stores under one roof anywhere in the world. Kebab dinner at the Hamdi Restaurant.

Day 4 – Tuesday 26th August 2008 Istanbul - Ankara B,D
After arriving in Ankara, the Turkish capital drive to the old city to visit the AUGUSTUS TEMPLE, the most important Roman monument of Ankara, the Temple to Augustus and Rome built at the top of a little hill at the foot of the Acropolis, on the site of a pre-existing temple to local divinities. It is known as Monumentum Ancyranum and it became important when its restoration led to the discovery of the text (both in Latin and Greek) of the spiritual testament of Augustus (Index Rerum Gestarum). Then visit the MUSEUM OF ANATOLIAN CIVILISATIONS which displays a unique collection of artefacts from the civilisations of Anatolia, making it the richest of its kind in the world, and one of the landmarks of Turkey, the MAUSOLEUM OF ATATURK.

Day 5 – Wednesday 27th August 2008 Ankara - Boğazkale (Hattusha: the Hittite Capital) B,D
After an early start we will have a full day’s tour of the site. Dinner and overnight in Boğazkale. (Hattusha: the Hittite Capital)

Day 6 – Thursday 28th August 2008 Boğazkale (Hattusha: the Hittite Capital) - Cappadocia (Nevşehir) B,D
After leaving our hotel and travelling to Cappadocia we will over the next two days visit the GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM and the OZKONAK UNDERGROUND CITY whcih is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The highlights of the day also include visits to the PIGEONS' VALLEY, AVCILAR VALLEY-MATIANOI, PASABAG- the MONKS' VALLEY, the OLD VILLAGE OF CAVUSIN, the VALLEY OF FAIRY CHIMNEYS- DEVRENT, and the pottery manufacturing town of AVANOS. A chance will hopefully exist to go on a hot air balloon trip over the area.

Day 7 – Friday 29th August 2008 Cappadocia (Nevşehir) B,D
Continue with activities from Day 6 above

Day 8 – Saturday 30th August 2008 Cappadocia (Nevşehir) B,D
Depart from the hotel for a drive to the town of GUZELYURT. In ancient times this town was known as Karbala and in Christian period as Kalvari, then Gelveri, in which one of the founder fathers of the Christian Church- St. Gregory of Nazianzus was born in AD 328, then onto the Agzikarahan Kervansaray; it is a good example of a stopping place for the silk road which was the major road for the trade caravans around the 11^th century. Visit Aksaray one of the four provinces in the much-visited area of Cappadocia. Visit the MEVLANA MUSEUM, KARATAY MUSEUM. Visit to Iconium which was visited by Saint Paul and Barnabas, according to the Book of Acts, in 47, 50 and 53 AD.

Day 9 – Sunday 31st August 2008 KONYA - Yalvac (ANTIOCH in PISIDIA) B,D
Then drive to the town YALVAC, ancient ANTIOCH in PISIDIA. Visit the Roman period remains of Antioch in Pisidia and the local museum in Yalvac. Visit Yalvac Museum

Day 10 – Monday 1st September 2008 Yalvac – Antalya B,D
Antalya resort to chill out and free time to visit the sights and go shopping for those last minute gifts.

Day 11– Tuesday 2nd September 2008 All Inclusive
Antalya resort to chill out and depart

Dates and Prices

23rd August 2008 to 2nd September 2008 - £1295 per person

Prices are per person, in a shared twin room, bed and breakfast, evening meal, transit to and from the airport, professional guide and any entrance fees that may be applicable Excluding the cost of the flight which we can book on your behalf and Turkish visa any additional hotel expenses, insurance, excursions and . For flight details refer British Airways or Turkish Airlines. We are able to book a flight on your behalf and are happy to do so however, if you are unable to obtain a flight, within 5 days of us receiving your booking, and are therefore unable to travel, your deposit will be returned.