Guided Walking and Sightseeing Holidays in
Turkey
2010 Dates: Oct 3 - Oct 18 (starts Oct 4 in Istanbul)
Oct 4 - Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul. Check into the four-star Hotel Arcadia in the old section of the city. Welcome dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.
Oct 5 - Day 2: Morning walking tour to see the major sites of Istanbul. Much of this is on cobblestone streets so hiking boots are a good idea. We start at the Haggia Sophia, a vast Byzantine church turned into a museum and then to the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome which was the centre of sporting and political activity during the Roman and Byzantine periods. Monuments decorating the Hippodrome include the 3500-year-old Egyptian Obelisk brought to Constantinople by Emperor Theodosius in 390 AD. This is followed with a visit to the Grand Bazaar with its intriguing maze of shops. Lunch included. In the afternoon there is an optional Bosphorus Cruise and visit to the underground cistern of Yerebatan. Overnight in Istanbul.
Oct 6 - Day 3: Morning short flight to Nevsehir and transfer to a hotel in the nearby Cappadocia region. Cappadocia is generally regarded as the plains and the mountainous region of Anatolia. It was here that several ancient highways (including the Silk Road) crossed and different cultures came into contact with each other. It was also the land of the Hittites. Over the millenia, forces of erosion shaped an incredible and unique tuff-coned landscape and for thousands of years men dug into the soft but firm tuff to create dwellings, monasteries, churches and underground cities. The Open Air Museum contains early Christian churches hewn out of the rock and decorated with colourful frescoes. Many are in good condition after two thousand years because of the dry climate. Basilius the Great (329-379 AD) Bishop of Caesarea inspired many religious colonies and for a thousand years an active monastic way of life endured throughout Cappadocia. This is a wonderful area for walking with many canyons and footpaths and on foot we explore the Kizilvadi and Dervent Valleys. Dinner included. In the evening there is an optional Whirling Dervish performance. Overnight in Cappadocia at the Hotel Peri Tower.
Oct 7 - Day 4: Walking in the spectacular Cappadocia regions filled with canyons, vineyards and orchards. Dinner included. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Oct 8 - Day 5: Depart from Cappadocia by private bus and head for Konya. Along the way we stop to see the underground city of Kaymakli which was carved by early Christians who escaped to these underground dwellings as a safe place to carry out their worship. This is followed by a two hour hike in the lovely Ilhara Gorge which contains almost 100 churches carved into the rock cliffs from the early Christian era. We continue on to see the old Sultanhani Caravanserai where camel caravans once stopped along the Silk Route from the east. On arrival in Konya, home of the mystic sect of Whirling Dervishes, we visit the Mevlana Mausoleum. Dinner included. Overnight in Konya.
Oct 9 - Day 6: Morning departure by private bus through the Taurus Mountains heading for Antalya. En route we stop to explore the grotto of Tinaztepe in the mountains and then another stop to visit Aspendos which is the best preserved Roman theatre in existence in Turkey and is still used for concerts and operas. The theater was built in the 2nd century A.D. and was periodically repaired by the Seljuks who used it as a caravanserai. After that we visit Perge, one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Turkey. Late in the afternoon we reach the charming Mediterranean walled city of Antalya where we stay in a boutique hotel in the heart of the old quarter. Dinner included. Overnight in Antalya at the charming Hotel Aspen.
Oct 10 - Day 7: In the morning we visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum followed by a walk through the lovely harbour area. In the afternoon there is a choice of exploring this lovely old town on your own or an optional tour to hike to a site outside Antalya in a lovely mountain setting at Termessos. This is an interesting old Psidian city built at a height of 1050 meters in the Taurus Mountains. Alexander the Great surrounded Termessons in 333 B.C. but failed to conquer it. Dinner included. Overnight in Antalya.
Oct 11 - Day 8: Depart for a drive along a spectacular route through forests with snow-capped Taurus mountains on one side and the turquoise Mediterranean on the other. Soon we reach Olympos where we spend one night in a hotel located in a remote canyon. It was from here that came the ancient legend of the Chimera, the dragon that terrorized Lycia and was was slain by Bellerophon. The legend says that on the site where the chimera was slain a flame came from the ground and has burned eternally. The flame is still burning although it seems that there is a scientific explanation. The afternoon is free to enjoy the lovely beach. Dinner included. Overnight in Olympos at the charming Hotel Canada.
Oct 12 - Day 9: We have a morning walk through a lovely canyon near Olympos to see ruins of the ancient city. At the end of the walk we continue to the sea-side village of Kas (pronounced Kash) on the Lycian coast. Along the way we stop briefly at Demre to see the tomb of Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus). The town of Kas was founded on the ancient town of Antiphellos and the Lycian style sarcophagus at the beginning of the avenue running down to the port is the symbol of this lovely town and there is a chance to stretch our legs and see this town. Dinner included. Overnight at nearby Kalkan at the exquisite Patara Prince.
Oct 13 - Day 10: In the morning we drive to the village of Simena. Here we board a private boat for a short ride in a quiet bay to see the remains of the ancient sunken city of Kekova. Little is known about this Lycian city except that it probably sunk into the sea at least three thousand years ago. We also hike on an ancient Lycian road to a Byzantine castle built around the ruins of an ancient Greek theatre Dinner included. Overnight at Kalkan.
Oct 14 - Day 11: We continue by private bus along the Lycian coast stopping at the ancient ruins of Patara and from the monumental gate we walk to the magnificent Patara Beach. Patara was a very wealthy city due to trade and was one of the six principal cities of Lycia. Following its capture by Alexander the Great it became an important naval base as well. Patara’s oracle at the temple of Apollo was said to rival that at Delphi. From here we go on to the remote ruins of the village of Kayakoy. This town played a part in more recent Turkish history. In 1923 there was an "Exchange of Population" between Greece and Turkey. With little notice, Turkish (Anatolian) Christians were deported to Greece while Muslims were sent from Greece to Turkey. We see the sad remains of a Christian ghost village that today has become a conservation site. We walk to a cove that was once a stop for Crusaders on their way to the Holy Land then continue to the town of Fethiye where we stay at a lovely hotel on the harbour. Dinner included. Overnight at Fethiye.
Oct 15 - Day 12: We start late this morning because the hotel is so lovely and the quaint town of Fethiye interesting to explore. In the afternoon we travel to Gocek where we board a private boat that will take us to the cove of Cleopatra baths where we begin our 3 hour hike. The scenery is spectacular with the blue Aegean on one side and dramatic mountains on the other. Along the way we see Lycian tombs hewn into the rockfaces and we see the ruins of the ancient city of Lydea. This is off the beaten track with only a few shepherds in the remote area. At the end of the hike our bus awaits to take us on to the town of Kusadasi where we stay in a lovely hotel on the harbour. Dinner included. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Oct
16 - Day 13: Today is one of the highlights
- the ruins of the Ionian City of Ephesus. Walking
through Ephesus with a guide takes several hours and after this we walk to see the
remains of the Temple of Artemis, a massive Hellenistic structure
that was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
In the afternoon we start our hike at the House of the Virgin Mary in the hills
above Ephesus and from here we hike through pretty countryside before
returning to Kusadasi for the night. Dinner included.
Oct 17 - Day 14:
Drive
to Izmir Airport (about an hour) for a short flight back to Istanbul.
Here we transfer to our
hotel and then visit the
fascinating Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans, including the
vast treasury filled with jewels, imperial robes and priceless objects that were gifts
to the sultans. We also see the mysterious harem where women were trained in the
art of being royal wives. The visit includes seeing some of the sacred
relics of Islam which are on display in a room where the Koran is read
aloud 24 hours a day. Tonight we have a farewell dinner. Overnight in
Istanbul.
Oct 18 - Day 15: Tour ends after breakfast - transfer to Istanbul airport.
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