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| Daily Itinerary: |
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| Day 1 | - 2 Mon. - Tues., March 16-17 Fly to Istanbul, Turkey For A Four-Night Stay (D)
Fly overnight to Istanbul, Turkey, staying four nights at the Kent Hotel Istanbul located in the heart
of old city center. Early evening arrival into Istanbul on Tuesday, March 17th transfer to our hotel. |
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| Day 3 | Wed., March 18 Tour Istanbul, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia & Tokapi Palace (B)
Today visit some of the highlights of Istanbul, including the Blue Mosque, the single most
recognizable monument along the Istanbul skyline, the Church of Divine Wisdom - Hagia Sophia,
Topkapi Palace, the center of the Ottoman Empire, and the Basilica Cistern. |
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| Day 4 | Thurs., March 19 Tour Istanbul, Galata Bridge and The Grand Bazaar (B)
This morning our tour of Istanbul continues with a stroll on the Galata Bridge watching the rush of
ferry boats and fisherman. Visit the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world. |
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| Day 5 | Fri., March 20 Tour Istanbul, Spice Bazaar, Cruise the Bosphorus Strait (B)
Our tour of Istanbul will conclude today with a tour of the Spice Bazaar, the Ortakoy Fishing Village
and a cruise along the Bosporus Strait that divides the continents of Europe and Asia. |
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| Day 6 | Sat., March 21 Travel To Kusadasi, A Resort Town Along The Aegean Sea (B, D)
Fly to Izmir and enjoy a scenic ride to the seaside town of Kusadasi on the Aegean Sea. Enjoy an
afternoon of leisure to rest up after our adventure in Istanbul. |
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| Day 7 | Sun., March 22 Tour of Ephesus, Visit Sultankoy/Selcuk Cultual Experience (B,L,D)
Tour Ephesus, perhaps the world’s best-preserved ancient city. In Roman times, Ephesus was the provincial capitol
of Asia. Tour the amphitheater, walk along the Sacred Way and visit the Temple of Hadrian. |
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| Day 8 | Mon., March 23 Basilica of St John, Isa Bey Mosque & House of the Virgin Mary (B,D)
Today our Kusadasi visit continues with a tour of the Basilica of St. John, built over the Apostle
John’s burial site. Then head to the town of Sirince, an old Greek Orthodox village that will give
us a taste of rural life. The end of this exciting day will be a visit to the House of Vigin Mary. |
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| Day 9 | Tues., March 24 Aphrodisias Tour, Pamukkale Tour and Isparta (B,L,D)
Travel to Aphrodisias, decicated to the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, home to the Temple of
Aphrodite and the Baths of Hadrian. Continue on to Pamukkale, known for its coutless hot springs.
Soak in the soothing waters of Cleopatra Pool. Spend the night in Isparta, known as the rose garden. |
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| Day 10 | Wed., March 25 Tour the City of Konya, Mevlna Museum & Alaeddin Mosque (B,D)
This morning drive to Konya in the plains of Anatolia, home of the whirling dervishes founder. Tour
the Mevlana Museum and the Alaeddin Mosque. Continue on to Cappadocia, and what is perhaps
the most magical landscape in all of Turkey. Whirling dervish performance this evening. |
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| Day 11 | Thurs., March 26 Cappadocia Tour, Monk’s Village, Gorene Open-Air Museum (B,L,D)
Today embark on a full day tour of Cappadocia. The biblical realm of Cappadocia is a wonderland
of unusual geographic formations sprinkled with green vineyards,
fruit orchards and frescoed churches. Wind and rain have eroded
the brittle volcanic rock and formed rock cones, capped pinnacles,
and fretted ravines. Cappadocia is known for its fairytale
landscape and most of all, its “Fairy Chimneys”. |
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| Day 12 | Fri., March 27 Fly to Istanbul Then On To San Francisco (B)
Fly to Istanbul, then on to San Francisco with motor coach transfers to Manteca, Stockton and Lodi. |
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