Turkey, Land of Contrasts

•   A boat cruise on the Bosphorus Strait, which runs through the heart of Istanbul

Day 1: Arrive Istanbul
A transfer is included from Atatürk Airport to the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, located in Taksim, the heart of modern Istanbul; Tauck’s guest rooms have stunning views of the Bosphorus. Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Day 2: Hagia Sofia & the Blue Mosque
Emperor Justinian took his own breath away at first sight of Hagia Sofia, the cathedral he built in Constantinople (“I am now greater than Solomon,” he declared) and you can feel his breathless awe when you enter this miracle of Byzantine art and engineering under soaring vaulted ceilings, gilded mosaics, and a massive dome that seems to float, unsupported. The cathedral became a mosque (Ayasofia) when Ottoman Turks conquered the city (and later was an inspiration for Islamic architecture throughout the Middle Ages). From the airy, natural light of Hagia Sofia, descend to the watery “underground palace,” a vast Roman cistern of marble colonnades and sculpture that once supplied water to the city. Emerge to meet the splendor of the Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmed I to surpass Hagia Sofia, with multiple cascading domes and minarets, finely carved marble and stained glass windows, and namesake blue tiles covering the walls within. From the Blue Mosque it’s a short walk to the Green House (Yasil Ev) where you’ll have lunch in the gracious setting of a 19th-century mansion, an oasis of calm in busy Sultanahmet, the historic district of Old Istanbul.
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Day 3: Mysterious Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar
Lose yourself in the labyrinthine grounds of Topkapi Palace, official residence of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire; explore its gardens, courtyards and opulent homes, including the Harem (with its 400 rooms), and the Imperial Kitchens. Outside, a mercantile maze awaits you at the Grand Bazaar, the oldest covered marketplace in the world, with 4,000 shops offering exotic treasures in a warren of streets, passageways and vaults. Escape for a breath of sea air on a cruise of the Bosphorus through the heart of Istanbul, arriving at the home of an artist and businessman who will share his inside views of Turkish life with you.
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Day 4: Izmir and the Ruins at Sardis
Fly to Izmir, the “Pearl of the Aegean,” a modern shipping port with 3,000 years of history. Depart for Sardis, a commercial center of antiquity at the foot of the Tumulus Mountains, where Romans and Persians once vied for its wealth (the first gold currency in the world was minted here) evident in the extravagant ruins of the Temple of Artemis, the Gymnasium, and the Roman synagogue, one of the largest of its time, with its Greek and Hebrew inscriptions, marble columns, and mosaic floors.
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Day 5: Ephesus – The Amazon City
A lecture this morning on the role of women in modern Turkish society (the most secular in the Muslim world) is a prelude to your visit to Ephesus and its spectacular ruins. The city was a bastion of women’s rights and education in the ancient world (legend says the city was founded by Amazons) and site of the largest temple dedicated to Artemis, the hunter-goddess of Greek mythology – of which only one column remains standing. Ephesus was also a major center of early Christianity, established by St. Paul (who spent time in prison here). Explore the remains of its former glory... the Greek amphitheatre, the hollow facade of the Library of Celsus, the paved streets, the frescoed walls, and the scholastic baths... and imagine the days when pagan goddesses and female artists ruled.
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Day 6: Antalya plus the Ruins of Perge
Fly to the resort town of Antalya on the Mediterranean, gateway to the Turkish Riviera. Drive to the ruins of Perge, one of the richest cities in the ancient world, whose remains include gate towers, a theatre, and a colonnaded street once lined with statues (which you’ll see tomorrow at the museum in Antalya). Home to some of the oldest Christian communities, St. Paul delivered one of his first sermons here. Unwind tonight at Kempinski Hotel The Dome, a luxury hotel on the Belek beachfront, featuring Seljuk decor and stunning views of the sea and mountains.
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Day 7: All About Antalya, Museum and Old Town
Turkey’s history unfolds through art and artifacts dating from the Stone Age onward in the Antalya Museum’s exhibition halls; most impressive is the Hall of Gods, featuring extraordinary mythological statues. Wander the colorful backstreets of Kaleici, Antalya’s Old Town, a maze of shops, tea gardens and coffeehouses. Tonight, learn the secret of making Turkish coffee (kahve), a process that leaves dregs in the cup, suitable for fortune-telling.
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Day 8: Konya, Rumi's Tomb and Catal Huyuk
A scenic drive through the Taurus Mountains brings you to Konya, once a trading center on the Silk Road, famous as the resting place of the Sufi poet Jelaluddin Rumi (1207-1273) who founded the order of Whirling Dervishes, a sect that strives for spiritual ecstasy through poetry, music and dance. The mausoleum, the Mevlana Complex, is as visually rich in Seljuk art as Rumi’s poetry is passionate, and is sure to leave you speechless. No less, perhaps, than the ruins at Catal Huyuk, outside Konya, where the pueblo-style Stone Age village of an advanced civilization survived for over 1,000 years.
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Day 9: Cappadocia and the Underground City
In Cappadocia, volcanic rock and erosion have created an alien landscape where countless tunnels and dwellings are burrowed into the hills, many by early Christians who fled here to escape persecution. Visit a family who has carved out a home in the side of a bluff, not far from Kaymakli, an ancient underground city eight stories deep. Stay the next two nights in Anatolian Houses, a deluxe hotel where the suites are modeled on cave dwellings.
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Day 10: The Fairy Chimneys and the Whirling Dervishes
Drift in a hot air balloon over Göreme Valley and its eerie vista of rock formations called “fairy chimneys,” then explore its cave-style churches, adorned with early Christian art. Tonight, a dance performance by a troupe of Whirling Dervishes will make your head spin (and your spirit rise to the occasion).
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Day 11: Istanbul / Spice Bazaar / Pera Palace
Fly to Istanbul in time for lunch at Hamdi’s, a landmark restaurant only steps from the great Spice Bazaar, where you’ll mine a vast aromatic arcade of spice bins, sweets, nuts, and Turkish delights. Cross the Galata Bridge to the Pera Palace Hotel, once a terminus hotel for the famed Orient Express  – where you can add your name to the list of illustrious guests who have stayed there, including Agatha Christie, Mata Hari and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Join us tonight at the hotel for a farewell reception and dinner.
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Day 12: Journey Home
Tour ends: Istanbul. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Pera Palace Hotel to Atatürk International Airport. Please allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included:

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/29/2012 - 6/10/2012	$5,490
6/12/2012 - 6/24/2012	$5,490
6/26/2012 - 7/8/2012	$4,990
8/28/2012 - 9/9/2012	$4,990
9/4/2012 - 9/16/2012	$4,990
9/11/2012 - 9/23/2012	$4,990
9/18/2012 - 9/30/2012	$4,990
9/25/2012 - 10/7/2012	$5,490
10/2/2012 - 10/14/2012	$5,490
10/9/2012 - 10/21/2012	$5,490
10/16/2012 - 10/28/2012	$5,490
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Ratings & Reviews:

This tour has no reviews yet. Have you experienced this tour? Write a review.

Related Travel Articles

• See Europe :: Travel Safely and In Style, Escorted Tours
• Tours :: The Most Common Questions about Escorted Tours
• Things You Must Tell Your Travel Agent - Don't Ruin Your Vacation
• All About Paris France :: the world’s most romantic city
• Trafalgar Tours :: 8 ways to Travel in Style
• Travel Improves Your Health
• River Cruises :: A Popular Choice for Travelers
• Eastern Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf Vacations
• Adventures by Disney Invites Families to Experience the World in 2010
• Extreme Travel Destinations
• Avalon Scenery
• Royal Lotus
• Nile River Cruise
• Spotlight on Ireland
• Paula Deen Cruise
• Angkor Wat Temple Complex, Cambodia
• Touring Australia and New Zealand
• What's Included on A Tour
• Caribbean Cruises
• Shopping in the Caribbean
• Ireland Small Group Tours - New for 2011
• New Ships for 2011
• Insight Gold...New for 2011
• Travel the Romantic Cities of Europe
• Italy One Day Sale
• France River Cruises
• Introduction to London
• What to Expect on a River Cruise
• France River Cruises
• Kenya Off the Beaten Path
• 100 Royal Things to do in the U.K.
• Holland America Sunrise Fitness "Cocktail"
• Life Onboard A River Cruise
• Summer Vacation Ideas
• The Luxury of Silversea Cruises
• New Ships for 2012
• Best Places to Travel in August
• Explore the Magic of Kenya
• East vs. West African Safaris