Turkish hospitality, Turkish tea, Turkish baths, loving Turkish children, and the delicious Turkish food would be enough to make your travel experience rich and happy. But Turkey has far more to offer. The timelessness of its history, the richness of its spiritual  wealth inspired by the goddesses, St. Paul and Rumi , the inviting blue waters of the Mediterranean, stunning ancient sites, the philosophies of all ages and the diversity of nature will make your stay in Turkey a life changing experience.
This tour will be the best introduction to the Turkish culture and the History of Turkey, Anatolia. 

TOUR DATES:

• 1st Tour : May 24, 2008. Saturday - , June 05, 2008 Thursday
   

• 2nd Tour :  Sept 24, Wednesday -  October 6, 2008 Monday

 Please click here for a  Journal / Poem 

For More information please click here - TOUR HAND BOOK

DAY 1     ISTANBUL  24 May 2008 Saturday/ Sept 24, Wednesday
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to Hotel Ayasofya. The tour members will be given individual transfers to the hotel from the airport. Please check the arrival info for the details in the tour hand book . Hotel Ayasofya isin a neighborhood which is  almost as it was 200 years ago and is situated within walking distance of all the see-must sites of  Istanbul. The tour starts at 5.00 pm. After a short tour introduction at the lobby of the hotel. We will visit the Blue Mosque and have dinner
Dinner is included

DAY 2     ISTANBUL   25 May 2008 Sunday/Sept 25, 2008 Thursday
Start the day with a short walk to the Basilica Cistern. The next visit will be to  the Turkish Islamic Art Museum. After lunch visit Aya Sophia, and Topkapi Palace.
The visit to the Turkish Islamic Museum, especially the ethnographic section, makes a perfect introduction to what we will see in the countryside. Dinner will be at a seafood restaurant much favored by the locals, Kumkapi.
Breakfast Lunch Dinner included

 DAY 3    ISTANBUL OVERNIGHT TRAIN  26 May 2008 Monday ,  Sept. 26  2008 Friday
Our first visit will be to the Grand Bazaar. We will visit the Chora Church to see the exquisite Byzantine mosaics from the 12th century. If you are interested in early Christian art and Christian dogma, you will be overwhelmed by this museum. Visit Suleymaniye Mosque . Lunch will be at a small side walk restaurant which is famous for home made food. We will end the day with a cruise on the Bosphoros aboard our own private boat. The views of the city at dusk with its 600 mosques are unforgettable. Train to Ankara. In Turkey, trains are regarded as the most civilized mean of transportation. Your luggage will be with you in your compartments. Unless you chose to be single 2 people to a compartment. The train leaves at 10.30 Pm and arrives Ankara the next morning at 08.00 AM. Breakfast Lunch and  Dinner included   

DAY 4   ANKARA OVERNIGHT  at CAPPADOCIA UCHISAR CAPPADOCIA  
27 May 2008  Tuesday  /  Sept. 27, 2008 Saturday
In Ankara, visit the most beautiful museum of Turkey, the Anatolian Civilization Museum. This is a one of a kind museum, displaying 26 different civilizations. It was given the "Best Museum of Europe " award.
Seeing it will give us a better understanding of the cultural and historic layers of  Turkey. After lunch we visit the mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of the Turks, then take a bus to Cappadocia over a beautiful country road for a taste of lovely Turkish landscapes and farms.
Overnight at Lale Saray Hotel at heart of Cappadocia. Waking up in the morning
to magnificent sights is one of the unique aspects of this fabulous hotel.
Breakfast Lunch Dinner included

** Sept.24 group will not visit Ataturk's Mausoleum of Ataturk. We will drive to Cappadocia via Hattusas

DAY 5    CAPPADOCIA  28 May 2008 Wednesday/ Sept. 28,  2008 Sunday
Cappadocia is a land where nature and man have competed with each other to create the most unusual and the most beautiful. We will hike to 10th and 11th century churches, monasteries, and houses carved in the rocks, We will visit a family living in one of these rock dwellings.  The moonlike terrain of Cappadocia with its endless artwork is a photographer's delight.
Since Cappadocia is the carpet center of Turkey, we will schedule a  demonstration at a factory where the art of carpet weaving by hand and dying with natural dies is being kept alive. We will see Turkish folk dancing this evening at dinner. Overnight in Cappadocia
Brekfast Lunch Dinner included

DAY 6  GUZELYURT  29 May 2008 Thursday / Sept. 29,  2008 Monday
Avanos will be our next stop. People have been making pottery here since the time of the Hittites (3rd century BC). We will visit a local potter who is keeping this art alive.We will also learn about kilims. After visiting the underground city of the early Christians, we will drive to Guzelyurt.  The hotel that was built in 1853 as a Christian girls school. You will be given the option of home stay at this small town,
Brekfast, Lunch, Dinner included

DAY 7   KONYA Friday  May 30  2008 Friday / Sept 30  2008 Tuesday
Breakfast at a village house. Visit a church which is now a mosque built in 385 AD The oldest monastery of Christendom We then depart for Konya, stopping en route at a 12th century Caravanserai. Konya is the first capital of the Selcuks, the oldest Turkish Empire in Anatolia. It is also known for being the homeland of Rumi, a 13th century poet-philosopher and one of the earliest humanists. The ambiance of the city has not changed much for the past 800 years. Overnight at a hotel in the center of Konya.
Breakfast  Lunch Dinner included

Day 08 Antalya 31 May 2008 Saturday / October   1, 2008 Wednesday
Rumi and his philosophy will be the topic of our morning lecture. We'll then visit the Mevlana Museum, which is dedicated to him. Next comes the most scenic drive of our trip -- five hours to Antalya. You will be able to see how the flora changes as we drive over the grand Taurus Mountains. Poised between these jagged mountains and the shimmering sea, Antalya is the principal city on Turkey's central Mediterranean coast. In this beautiful city we will stay at a 200-year-old stone house that has been renovated as a pension. You'll be "on your own" for dinner.
Brekfast Lunch included  . Dinner not included

Day 09 Antalya 01 June 2008 Sunday/ October 2 , 2008 Thursday
Weather permitting, we will take a five-hour cruise on the Mediterranean to the ancient site of Phaselis, located on a peninsula with ancient harbors on both sides. This will be our first Roman site. The ancient stones are scattered among the reed pine trees, which grow right out from the sea in an incomparably romantic setting. Tonight you'll have the option of going to a Turkish bath (included in the trip cost). We'll overnight in Antalya, with dinner on your own.
Brekfast Lunch included  . Dinner not included

DAY 10    Pamukkale  02 June 2008 Monday / October 3 , Friday 2008
Via a wonderful lake drive to Pamukkale .
Today we visit Pamukkale (ancient Heirapolis), the most unusual natural phenomenon of Turkey. The Turkish name  literally "cotton castle" - refers to the extraordinary surface of the snow-white cliffs, shaped over millennia by the accumulation of calcium deposited by mineral springs. Visit the hot springs and swim in a spa amid Roman columns.  We will have dinner and overnight in Pamukkale
Brekfast Lunch Dinner included 

DAY 11   KUSADASI/Selcuk      03 June, 2008 Tuesday / October 4, Saturday 2008
Selcuk (Ephesus)  Drive through the valley of Meander Valley . Visit the temple of Appollo ,the oracle center and Visit Miletus the last stop of St Paul in him home country Enjoy the pleasure of hiking in an ancient city. Overnight at Kusadasi
Brekfast Lunch Dinner included 
* Sept 24 group today will go to a weaving village of Kizilcaboluk and Aphrodisias instead of Dydima and Miletus

DAY 12   KUSADASI / Selcuk  04 June, 2008 Wednesday / October 5, Sunday 2008
Selcuk (Ephesus) This will be our big day in Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city on the eastern Mediterranean and among the best places in the world to get a feel for what life was like in Roman times. Certainly, the climax of the trip will be at the city of Ephesus, sitting in the theater visualizing 35,000 Ephesians following the silversmith Demetrius shouting "...great is Artemis of Ephesians..." in reaction to St. Paul's preaching "there should be no man-made gods." Overnight in Kusadasi
Lunch at Meli's farm
Brekfast Lunch Dinner included 

DAY 13  END OF THE TOUR June 05, 2008 Thursday / October 6, Monday 2008
The trip ends after breakfast, and transfer to Izmir Air port

You may extend your stay on your own if you wish. There are many options available, such as a yacht tour on the Turkish Riviera at very reasonable rates or the Greek island of Rhodes (only a one-hour boat ride away). Otherwise, you may return directly to Istanbul by bus or air for more sightseeing before your departure. You may also return to Istanbul via a 3-day bus ride visiting other sites in western Anatolia, such as Pergamum and Troy. 

IF YOU WANT  SEE OUR AFTER THE TOUR OPTIONS PLEASE CHECK OUR
*  TOUR HAND BOOK         * YACHTING WITH A GULLET BOAT

Tour Price US$  2.450.- Single room supplement US$ 280.- THE PRICE INCLUDES * 11 nights hotel, double occupancy * Train ride * Private boat in Istanbul * Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day     except 2 dinners in Antalya * All entrance fees * Tips at the hotels and the restaurants * All transportation *Water with the meals   NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE * Flights to and from Turkey * Domestic flight * Beverages and drinks * Cancellation insurance * Tip to the Driver * 2 Dinners in Antalya

CANCELLATION POLICY  & PAYMENT SCHEDULE
 WE RECOMMEND YOU TO  BUY A TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE

Arrival Suggestions:
     VISA
US citizens need a visa to travel in Turkey. You may obtain this visa upon your arrival at the Istanbul airport. The fee is $ 20 in US currency for the USA citizens. The visa is valid for three months.
When you come out of your plane please proceed to the Visa  Booth. They only accept cash.
POLICE CHECK AND LUGGAGE /MEETING MELITOUR REPRESENTATIVE FOR TRANSFER
After paying for your visa please proceed to police control. Baggage claim is immediately down the ramp after the police check. If you need a cart, you will need to pay one US dollar cash to a person who stands by the carts. It will be nice if you have a change. The Melitour representative for transfer to the hotel will meet you out side the custom area.
After you  leave the customs gate turn LEFT . Ignore the crowd holding up the name cards .Walk pass the information booth. you will see a MEETING POINT#1 sign hanging from the ceiling. The person who will assist you with your transfer will be waiting for you with a  MELITOUR sign.

EMERGENCY INFO FOR TRANSFER
In case of unexpected delay or change of your  flight, should there be a problem in meeting the person who should be waiting for you at the airport please call Hotel Ayasofya at 0212-51694-46 or take a taxi to Hotel Ayasofya. Your taxi fare will be refunded.

Hotel Ayasofya
Kucuk Ayasofya Mahallesi
Demirci Resit Sokak
Sultan Ahmet Meydani Alti

PRE TOUR ARRANGEMENTS
If you plan to arrive a few days before the tour to get over jet lag we can reserve a room at Hotel Ayasofya (Single Room US$60, Double Room US$85 Tax Included)

We can suggest itineraries for those who want to explore on their own or with a guide before or after the tour. Simply send us an e-mail with your request.