.
GeoTours Trip to Turkey – June 11 – June 28, 2011
IT WAS AN OUTSTANDING TRIP - THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WAS PART OF IT! (Matt Ebiner 7/9/11)
Cost = $1590 for hotels, private tour bus, one domestic flight, entries/activities, breakfasts, professional Turkish guide
OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO CYPRUS AFTER TURKEY (JUNE 28-JULY 1)
Cyprus has an interesting mix of Greek, Roman, French, Venetian, Turkish, and British influences. We will see some great Roman ruins at Salamis with very few other tourists around, we’ll stay near the beach and picturesque harbor town of Kyrenia, and see the old castle at St. Hilarion. The most fascinating part of Cyprus is the “dead (buffer) zone†between the Turkish and Greek parts of the island, along the cease-fire line of 1974. The capital city of Nicosia and the old beach resort town of Varosha have a no-man’s land where there are abandoned buildings, with 10-foot high weeds, stray animals, decaying signs, but not a soul around. We will visit Nicosia and Varosha (with views from the edge of the zone) to see these modern ghost towns. There is also the opportunity to just take it easy around the hotel swimming pool and nearby beach if you want to do that. Cost will be $495 including Airfare (round-trip from Istanbul), 3 nights of hotel accommodations in North Cyprus, 1 night of hotel accommodation in Istanbul, transportation, and entries. Matt Ebiner will accompany the group throughout Turkey and to Cyprus.
Sat 6/11 Depart USA
Turkish Airlines flies nonstop from LAX to Istanbul
(convenient and the cheapest tickets as of 7/29/10)
Sun 6/12 Arrive Istanbul
Stay in Istanbul for 2 nights
Mon 6/13 Istanbul
Explore various monuments of this unique city which lies partly in Europe and partly in Asia. Highlights include the Blue Mosque with its magnificent interior, and Haghia Sophia, one of the oldest churches in the world (6th century), with stunning Byzantine mosaics.
Tue 6/14 Istanbul and evening flight to Kayseri
Visit Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman rulers for 400 years. Take a boat excursion on the Bosporus, the strait separating Europe and Asia. In the evening fly to Kayseri. Three nights in Goreme in the heart of the Cappadocia region.
Wed 6/15 Goreme (Cappadocia region)
Cappadocia has a surreal landscape of very soft volcanic material, carved by water to create cones, fairy chimneys, and canyons. There are cave dwellings, underground cities and rock-cut churches, many richly decorated with frescoes. We see this up close on a long, scenic walk in the Goreme area. Go to an outstanding viewpoint in Uchisar. Attend a whirling dervish ceremony in the evening.
Thu 6/16 Goreme (Cappadocia region)
Take an optional hot-air balloon flight at sunrise over the Cappadocian landscape. Further exploration of Cappadocia with a walk through the impressive landscapes of Pasabag and Kizilcukur valleys to the village of Cavusin. See ancient cave dwellings and frescoed churches.
Fri 6/17 Goreme to Konya
We leave Cappadocia and stop at the underground city of Derinkuyu, a labyrinth up to 85 meters underground, dating back to the Hittite period and used as a refuge during invasions. Short walk in the beautiful Ihlara Valley. One night in Konya.
Sat 6/18 Konya to Antalya
Visit the Mevlana Museum in Konya, devoted to the founder of the whirling dervishes. Cross the Taurus Mountains and descend to the Mediterranean coast. Visit Aspendos, with an excellently preserved Roman theatre. Two nights in Antalya’s old quarter, with cobblestone streets and a charming harbor.
Sun 6/19 Antalya
Visit Termessos, the most dramatically situated ancient city of Turkey on the edge of a precipitous gorge. Option to attend a music performance at the ancient Roman theatre in Aspendos.
Mon 6/20 Antalya to Fethiye
Visit the eerie ghost town of Kaya Koyu, once a thriving town of Greeks, but emptied in the 1920s when the people were all deported to Greece. Hike a short section (90 minutes) of the famous Lycian Way down to Oludeniz beach. Two nights in Fethiye on the Turquoise Coast.
Tue 6/21 Around Fethiye
Early boat ride on the Mediterranean to Butterfly Valley. Hike up a limestone canyon to a waterfall ; plenty of time to lounge on the beach.
Wed 6/22 Fethiye to To Pamukkale
En route to Pamukkale we visit Aphrodisias, named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. It is one of the most beautifully located archeological sites in Turkey and one of the greatest Roman cities in the eastern Mediterranean. One night in Pamukkale.
Thu 6/23 Pamukkale to Selcuk
Visit Pamukkale, a spectacular natural phenomenon of hot springs, natural pools, and cream-colored travertine terraces. See the ancient ruins of Hieropolis, founded over 2000 years ago.
Drive to Selcuk and visit Mary’s House, believed to be the last home of the Virgin Mary. Then visit St. John’s Basilica, built over the burial place of St. John the evangelist. Two nights in Selcuk.
Fri 6/24 Ephesus
Visit Ephesus, one of the greatest ancient cities of the Mediterranean region. Ephesus was founded over 3000 years ago and flourished under Greek and Roman rule. The Greek Temple of Artemis was one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We visit the vast amphitheatre, walk the marble streets, and marvel at the gymnasium, baths and wonderfully restored Library of Celsus.
Sat 6/25 Selcuk to Ayvalik
Drive to Bergama to visit the ancient ruins of Pergamon with its dramatic setting. Continue to the charming fishing town of Ayvalik with picturesque old Greek houses. One night in Ayvalik.
Sun 6/26 Ayvalik to Troy to Canakkale
Visit the famous archeological site of Troy. See the remnants of the ancient city walls as well as a replica of the famous wooden horse. Continue to Canakkale with the afternoon free to wander around this vibrant waterfront town. One night in Canakkale.
Mon 6/27 Canakkale to Gallipoli to Istanbul
We cross the Dardanelles Strait from Asia to Europe and visit the Gallipoli Peninsula. Now quiet and serene, it was a major battleground in 1915 during World War I. We visit the battlegrounds, cemeteries, and memorials related to the war. Return to Istanbul for one night.
Tue 6/28 Departure day from Istanbul
CYPRUS EXTENSION - JUNE 28 - JULY 1 (+$495 including flight ISTANBUL-CYPRUS-ISTANBUL, hotel, transportation, entries)
Tue 6/28 Fly ISTANBUL (GOKCEN) – CYPRUS (ERCAN)
We arrive in Northern Cyprus at 10:20 am and then we explore the excellent ancient ruins of Salamis along the coast. Then we see the mixture of Venetian, French and Turkish influences in Famagusta, with the Venetian city walls which are among the best medieval fortifications of the Mediterranean. We visit the St. Barnabas monastery, now a museum. Then we go to the edge of Varosha ghost town, formerly Cyprus’ premier beach resort town but now abandoned and unoccupied following Cyprus’ civil war of 1974. It is a bizarre sight to see 30 decaying high-rise hotels and weeds reaching 10 feet tall in this no-man’s land. We then go to Hotel Sempati near Kyrenia for 3 nights.
Wed 6/29 Northern Cyprus
We visit St. Hilarion Castle, a bit dilapidated but with a fantastic mountaintop location with bird’s eye views down to the coast. Then we go to Bellapais Abbey, a beautiful French gothic monastery. We spend the afternoon in Kyrenia, a picturesque old harbor town with an opportunity to go on a short boat cruise.
Thu 6/30 Nicosia and the (Greek) Republic of Cyprus
We explore Nicosia, the world’s last divided capital city and very similar to how Berlin used to be. We visit the Turkish side (North Nicosia) and then cross into the Greek side (South Nicosia). We see the “dead zone†separating the two parts of Nicosia and the UN peacekeeping forces, but hostilities have been virtually non-existent since 1974. There is an opportunity to explore more of the Greek side of Cyprus at added expanse (hiring a taxi, for example). One last night in northern Cyprus.
Fri 7/1 Cyprus to Istanbul to USA
Fly back to Istanbul in the morning (arriving Istanbul Gokcen airport around 8:30 am). Spend the day exploring and experiencing Istanbul.
Sat 7/2 Istanbul to USA
Taxi to main airport (IST) for flight back to USA.
|
Turkey, June 2011
