Discovery Tours by Gate 1

www.discovery-tours.com

Why You'll Love It

East and West. Towering ancient ruins and vast blue waters. The only country to border two continents, Turkey is a land of contrasts. This adventure is filled with natural wonders, world-class hotels, and authentic Turkish cuisine. Soak it all up; your senses will thank you.

Make sure your camera battery is charged. Whether you’re stepping foot on Pamukkale’s salt deposit Cotton Castles, witnessing the surreal Fairy Chimneys (rock formations) of Cappadocia, or exploring the maze of Ottoman palaces and Roman aqueducts of Istanbul, the stunning sights are endless. See it all as part of Discovery Tours by Gate 1's intimate group experience (only 10-18 travelers per trip!).

A country influenced by both Europe and Asia, Turkey is where a rich cultural history has played out against unparalleled natural beauty. In short, it’s where you want to be.

– Evelyn, Bloomspot Staff Writer

Package includes:

Roundtrip, economy-class airfare from New York City (NYC) to Istanbul (IST)

Intra-flights

13-night first-class accommodation (Anatolian Hotel, Hotel El-Ruha, Zeus Hotel, Gamirasu Hotel, Dedeman Konya Hotel, Pam Hotel, Kordon Otel Pasaport, Ottoman Imperial Hotel)

All transfers

29 meals: 13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 11 dinners (including a home-hosted lunch)

Bottled water, coffee, and tea with all meals. Beer and wine included with dinner except on day 4 & 5

Services of an English-speaking Tour Manager throughout

Guided sightseeing and entrance fees per the itinerary

Luggage handling for one bag per person

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Itinerary

Day 1

Depart the USA for Turkey. Your overnight flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for the journey

Day 2

Arrive in Istanbul this morning and connect for your flight to Gaziantep, among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. There will be time to rest after your journey, and later today you may join your fellow travelers for a welcome briefing and dinner; includes stay at Anatolian Hotel and dinner.

Day 3

After breakfast, set out on a walking tour of the old town, past old coppersmith shops and down ancient narrow lanes. Stop at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, home to finely preserved tiles from an old Roman settlement. Later, journey to Zeugma itself, a military post of the Roman Empire.; includes stay at Anatolian Hotel, breakfast, and dinner

Day 4

After breakfast, depart for Sanliurfa, a remarkable museum city. Stop in Birecik, a tiny town that once controlled river crossings on the fabled Euphrates. Visit a breeding farm for the endangered bald ibis and at Halfeti. A boat ride passes cave dwellings and the Rumkale fortress. Join a local family for a home-prepared lunch. Arrive at your hotel in Sanliurfa and celebrate your arrival with a traditional “Sira Gecesi” dinner and performance; includes stay at El-Ruha Hotel, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 5

Begin today at Gobekli Tepe, stone pillars believed to be the oldest religious structure in the world. Stroll around Balikli Lake and Harran. Visit the medieval castle and the caravansary, see remains of the oldest Islamic university, and visit a family in their bee-hive house; includes stay at El-Ruha Hotel, breakfast, and dinner.

Day 6

After breakfast, we drive to Ataturk Dam. After lunch at a local restaurant in Kahta, we ascend by minibus up Mount Nemrut, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll also view the New and Old Castles and Arsemia along the way. For the final stretch to the summit, we go on a 45-minute hike with spectacular views of Anatolia province; includes stay at Zeus Hotel, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 7

Drive to Cappadocia one of Turkey’s most captivating regions. Our first stop is Ucguzeller and views of the famous “fairy chimneys,” conical tufa-rock formations. Ascend to the city of Uchisar for a panorama of the Goreme Valley, then explore the city’s namesake castle. This evening, enjoy a sunset party in a special locale, and a Whirling Dervish performance at an old caravansary; includes stay at Gamirasu Hotel, breakfast, and dinner.

Day 8

Exploration begins at the Goreme Open Air Museum, a rock-cut assembly of monasteries, churches, and colorful frescoes. Next, explore Kaymakli Underground City, a vast complex carved under a rock hill. Visit Ayvali, a white-washed village where our four-course dinner is prepared in a tandir, a traditional cooking pit; includes stay at Gamirasu Hotel, breakfast, and dinner.

Day 9

Transfer to Konya today and explore the 13th-century Sultan Han caravansary, a classic example of “traveling merchant” stations. Head to the Mevlana Museum, where the mystic Rumi is entombed, then visit the Karatay Medrese, a 13th-century theological school. Enjoy dinner at the hotel; includes stay at Dedeman Hotel, breakfast, and dinner.

Day 10

En route to Pamukkale, pass Egirdir Lake in the tranquil Turkish Lakes region. Meet the Egirdir Fisheries faculty of SD University for an interesting talk about the lake as an important natural resource. Arrive in Pamukkale later, with time to enjoy the thermal pool at our hotel; includes stay at Pam Thermal Hotel, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 11

Explore the beautiful “cotton castles” of Pamukkale, natural terraces formed from salt deposits. Later, marvel at the ruins of Hierapolis. After lunch, visit the ruins of Aphrodisias, and later arrive at our hotel; includes stay at Kordon Hotel Pasaport, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 12

Explore Ephesus, a remarkable city important to early Christianity. Lunch is in the village of Sirince, a charming snapshot of the 1920s Greco-Turkish culture. This evening, fly to Istanbul; includes stay at Ottoman Imperial Hotel, breakfast, and lunch.

Day 13

Full-day tour of Istanbul reveals the glories of the city’s Ottoman past. Visit Hagia Sophia, the cathedral-cum-mosque and the world’s largest cathedral for 1,000 years; the 17th-century Blue Mosque with its striking interior tile work; and the open-air Hippodrome. After lunch, cruise along the famed Bosphorus Strait; includes stay at Ottoman Imperial Hotel and breakfast.

Day 14

After breakfast, tour Topkapi Palace. Then peruse the endless byways of the Grand Bazaar, a maze of 61 covered streets and 3,000 shops. Tonight, gather for a festive farewell dinner in the Asmalimescit district; includes stay at Ottoman Imperial Hotel, breakfast, and dinner.

Day 15

Transfer to the airport for your flight home; includes breakfast.

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