Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour TC2 Itinerary

Tour Code:	TC2	Begins in:	Istanbul
Tour:	Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus	Ends in:	Ercan
Length:	17 days	Check Price	Click here!

Day 1 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Arrive in Istanbul

Today we arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our hotel.

Although thousands of years have passed, Istanbul still retains its geographical importance. Today Istanbul is a huge metropolis connecting continents, cultures, religions and is home to eleven million people. It is one of the greatest business and cultural centers of the region.

Overnight in Istanbul. Dinner if required.

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Day 2 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Istanbul: Topkapi Palace

This morning we visit the Topkapi Palace, the great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the mid-15th to the early 19th century. It was from this vast complex of buildings that the mighty Ottoman empire was administered. Today it is a huge museum containing ceremonial robes in silk and gold thread, Japanese and Chinese porcelain, European clocks, miniature paintings depicting Ottoman courtly life and one of the largest jewellery collections in the world. Highlights of the jewellery collection include one of the world's largest diamonds, the Spoonmakers diamond, and the Topkapi dagger with three enormous emeralds in the handle.

The afternoon is free for you to explore Istanbul, a city crowded with beautiful mosques, churches and palaces. You may want to visit the Topkapi Harem (optional entrance fee, approx 9 USD) before leaving the palace; the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar beckon for shopping. Alternatively, you may take an optional ferry ride up the Bosphorous to the Black Sea. Along the shores of the Bosphorous are many summer palaces and old wooden houses dating from Ottoman times.

Overnight in Istanbul. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 3 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Istanbul: Hippodrome & Agia Sophia

Istanbul has been the capital of two of the world's greatest empires, the Byzantine and the Ottoman. We start today's walking tour at the legendary Blue Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616 by Mehmet Aga. The inside is covered by more than 20,000 Iznik tiles.

At the Hippodrome you will see the remains of the great sports stadium where chariot races were held in Roman and Byzantine times. We will also see an Egyptian obelisk, a giant needle of stone carved for the Pharaoh Tutmoses III around 1500 BC and brought to Constantinople by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius in AD 390.

We continue to the church of St Sophia (Agia Sophia), built by the Emperor Justinian in 548 BC. It was the largest church in the Christian world for nearly 1000 years. When the Ottoman Turks conquered the city in 1435 one of the first things they did was to convert St Sophia into a mosque. Today it is a museum featuring many beautiful Christian mosaics.

Outside St Sophia we descend underground to the gigantic cisterns that contained the vast water supply which allowed Constantinople to withstand so many long sieges. Here the many columns are reflected in the water while classical music plays quietly.

Balance of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Istanbul. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 4 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Istanbul - Gallipoli - Troy - Canakkale

After breakfast we drive along the Sea of Marmara through the small European part of Turkey known as Thrace. Only 3% of Turkey is in Europe, the other 97%, known as Anatolia, is in Asia. One of the fascinations of Turkey is the huge number of peoples and empires that have occupied this land; Turkey is known as the "Crossroads of Civilizations" due to its position between Europe, Asia and Arabia.

Before leaving Europe we visit Gallipoli. Called Gelibolu in Turkish, this narrow, mountainous peninsula on the northwestern side of the Dardanelles has seen more than its share of history with countless civilizations having battled for control over these straits for over 3000 years. This is the historic World War I battleground where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, father of the Turkish Republic, first rose to prominence. Under the direction of Winston Churchill, an unsuccessful naval and land campaign failed in its attempt to capture Gallipoli, open up the Dardanelles, and seize Constantinople. This battleground is now marked with over 30 memorials.

We then cross the Dardanelles waterway by ferry from Europe to Asia, and visit the ruins of Troy where Greek and Trojan heroes fought for the beautiful Helen. Troy had been accepted as a lengendary city for ages, but very few people believed in its true existence. Heinrich Schliemann excavated here at this own expense in the 1870s and discovered the spot where a sophisticated settlement had existed for centuries. As you stand on the ancient hilltop you can look out over the plain of Troy and feel the famous cool north wind blowing from the Dardanelles.

Overnight in Canakkale. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 5 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Canakkale - Pergamon - Kusadasi

We have an early start today. After breakfast we travel down the rugged Aegean coast and turn inland to the typically Turkish rural town of Bergama. Here we visit the Akropolis and Asklepion of the Roman city of Pergamon, said to be one of the first hospitals in the world. We see a carving of two snakes wrapped around a drinking cup (a modern symbol of the medical profession), and a theatre where the mentally disturbed would allegedly act out their emotions (a forerunner of today's psychoanalysis?).

Later we travel through Izmir, Turkey's most important port. Here the blind poet Homer was born when the city was known as Smyrna. Also here In 1922 the Turks expelled the invading Greeks from Turkish soil during the Turkish War of Independence.

We continue to Kusadasi, a beautiful port city with a small island fortress. The island, attached to the mainland, gives the city its name: Kusadasi, "The Island of Birds."

Overnight in Kusadasi. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 6 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Kusadasi: Ephesus

Today we visit Ephesus, one of the highlights of any visit to Turkey.

During its Golden Age, the city was adorned with splendid monuments, theatres, agoras and libraries. The protectress of the city was the goddess Artemis whose temple, dating back to 1300 BC, was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. As a prosperous trade and banking centre, Ephesus had a cosmopolitan population. It has been recorded that St John brought the Virgin Mary to Ephesus where she spent her last days after the death of Christ. On our tour of Ephesus we see a 24,000 seat amphitheatre, the Library of Celsus, and the marble-paved Arcadian Way.

In addition to the main site of Ephesus we will visit the superb Ephesus Museum. We also visit the traditional town of Selcuk with its many beautiful buildings, including the Isa Bey Mosque (built in 1307), remains of old Turkish Baths, and a hill crowned by the Ayasoluk Fortress.

Overnight in Kusadasi. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 7 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Kusadasi - Aphrodisias - Pamukkale

After breakfast we leave the Aegean coast and drive along the winding Menderes River Valley which gives its name to the geographical term referring to a winding, or meandering river.

We visit the impressive Roman site of Aphrodisias, named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Much of the site's excavation has been funded by the National Geographic Society. Aphrodisias is the location of one of the greatest schools of sculpture in antiquity; the museum here contains some magnificent pieces.

We continue to Pamukkale where mineral-rich water breaks through the earth's surface and cascades down the hillsides creating terraces of white chalk-like stone. We visit the ruins of Hierapolis before checking in to our hotel.

Overnight in Pamukkale. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 8 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Pamukkale - Konya

We have a morning departure for the mystical city of Konya, birthplace of the Whirling Dervishes and capital of the Seljuk Empire. En route we pass by Lake Egirdir. Two islands, connected by a causeway to the mainland, extend the town of Egirdir far out into the lake's fish-filled waters.

During the sightseeing tour of Konya we will visit the Mausoleum and Museum of Mevlana, home of the famous Whirling Dervishes; and the ceramics museum of Karatay, once an Islamic School, built in 1251.

Overnight in Konya. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 9 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Konya - Cappadocia

Today we drive across the flat Anatolian Plateau to Cappadocia. Along the way we visit the caravanserai of Sultanhani. Caravanserai were fortified, medieval inns located one day's journey apart, for the protection of travelling merchants. This encouraged merchants and their caravans of silks and spices travelling the "Silk Route" to trade in Turkish lands, thus promoting commerce.

Overnight near Cappadocia. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 10 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Cappadocia Area

Today we will spend a full day exploring this unique and fascinating lunar landscape with its fairy chimneys and conical towers topped with huge, delicately balanced rocks. Here the elements have weathered layers of volcanic dust into giant cones and mushrooms 9m (30 feet) high! Most of the chapels date from the Byzantine period of the 10th and 11th centuries. In the Goreme Valley we will see the many churches carved into this landscape with their wonderful paintings and frescoes. This monastic complex of rock chapels covered with frescoes is one of the best known sites in Central Anatolia. We will visit the underground city of Kaymakli one of the many cities dug into the soft rock of Cappadocia. At Kaymakli there are at least eight levels in the underground city, four of which are currently open to the public. The city is an elaborate network of tunnels, stairways and chambers hollowed out of the rock. It served as a safe haven during times of unrest and protected its citizens from marauding armies.

This evening, those who wish may attend a performance of Turkish traditional dances from Turkey's many regions (optional).

Overnight near Cappadocia. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 11 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Cappadocia - Adana

We drive south and stop at the eski GA¼mA¼sler Monastery near Nigde. Then we continue our journey and crossing the scenic Taurus Mountains we arrive in Tarsus, the birthplace of St Paul. Among the few monuments of interest are St Paul's Well and the Cleopatra Gate, through which Mark Anthony and Cleopatra passed when they had their famous meeting in Tarsus.

We continue the journey to Adana, Turkey's fourth largest city, set in the heart of the Cukurova (Cilician) gate. Adana is at the center of the rich agricultural region and a thriving textile industry. The Taskopru (Stone Bridge) built by Hadrian and repaired by Justinian spans the River Seyhan, which bisects the town; only 14 of the bridge's original 21 arches still stand.

Overnight in Adana. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 12 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Adana - Tasucu, Turkey - Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus

Today we travel 155 km (96 mi) to the port of Tasucu, just south of Silifke, located at the junction of the coastal highway and the road north up to the Anatolian plateau. It's also the place to catch a ferry to Northern Cyprus.

Founded by Seleucus I Nicator (one of Alexander the Great's generals) in the 3rd century BC, Silifke has a few interesting historic sights, such as the Byzantine fortress commanding the town from a hilltop; the Tekir Ambari, an ancient stone cistern; and the ruins of the Roman Temple of Jupiter.

We take the fast ferry to Kyrenia (Girne). For the first half hour or so of the two-hour crossing the hydrofoil travels close to the shore providing passengers with a superb view of the spectacular coastline.

Overnight in Kyrenia. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 13 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Kyrenia Castle & Bellapais Abbey

This morning we make a sightseeing trip to include Kyrenia Castle and the fascinating Shipwreck Museum. Situated on the north coast of Cyprus, Kyrenia (Girne), with its 6,000 year long history, hold the remains of countless civilizations, miles of natural beaches, calm sea, and a mild climate. Bounded to the north by the sea and to the south by the Besparmak Mountain range, it offers the benefits of both sea and mountain air.

The beautiful harbour is dominated by a majestic castle which houses a museum containing the remains of an ancient ship salvaged from the sea. She sank in open waters less than a mile from the anchorage of Kyrenia. Evidence points to her being taken by rough seas around the year 300 BC, during the lifetime of Alexander the Great and his successors, when she was already rather old.

This will be followed by a visit to Bellapais Abbey. This 12th century Lusignan Abbey is one of the most beautiful Gothic structures in the Levantine. On a clear day, the Taurus Mountains of Turkey are visible from the North facing windows of the Abbey Refectory. The abbey comprises of a church, refectory, dormitory and storage rooms grouped around an inner courtyard. It was originally occupied by a French brotherhood, the Order of Premontre, and was known to them as the "Abbaie de la Pais".

We then travel through the Alevkaya Forest and visit the Armenian monastery of Sourp Magar, or the Virgin Mary, first established in about 1000 AD as a Coptic monastery and dedicated to the Egyptian hermit, St. Makarios of Alexandra. Its location at the edge of the cliff and the beginning of a deep ravine is very picturesque. It was also used as a summer resort by the Armenian Church in the early 15th century and became a favourite pilgrimage spot for Armenians on their way to and from the Holy Land until 1974. Outside a wall on the eastern side a pillar with an inscription in the Armenian language. The balance of the day at leisure.

Overnight Kyrenia area. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 14 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Hilarion Castle & Lefkosia

Today we visit the unforgettable Crusader Castle of Hilarion. The castle is named not after St. Hilarion the Great, the founder of monasticism in Palestine who died near Paphos about AD 371, but after a later saint of whom little is known. He is counted among the three hundred saints who according to local tradition, sought refuge in Cyprus when the Arabs overran the Holly Land. His relics were preserved in the castle and "kept right workshipfully," according to an English visitor in the 14th century. It may be presumed that he retired to this hill-top to live the life of a hermit and that as the hermitage of St Neophytos near Paphos, a monastery was established to shelter those who should follow his example, as well pilgrims to his tomb.

We then continue to Lefkosia (Nicosia) where we will visit the Selimiye Mosque. This mosque was commissioned by Sultan Selim II and was built by Architect Sinan between the dates 1568-1574. This grand mosque stands at the centre of a kulliya, which comprises a medrese, a timekeeper's room, and an arasta (row of shops). We also visit the Bedestan (covered market), the Dervish Museum, and the Dervish Pasha Konagi (Folk Art Museum). We will have free time to explore Nicosia before returning to our hotel.

Overnight Kyrenia area. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 15 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Salamis

We have a morning departure to visit the ruins of Salamis. It was built in the 11th century BC by Achaean and Anatolian settlers. The most impressive remains are the theatre and the gymnasium. The others are the palaestra (vast exercise ground with marble columns), the sudatorium (or sweating room), and the calderium. The excavations are scattered over a square mile of scrub and acacia.

This is followed by a visit to the old town of Gazimagusa (Famagusta) with the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque (St. Nicholas Cathedral), Othello's Tower, and the Palazzo del Provveditore. The Archaeological Museum and The Monastery of St. Barnabas is at the opposite side of the Salamis-Famagusta road, by the Royal Tombs. It was built to commemorate the foremost saint of Cyprus, whose life was so intertwined with the spread of the Christian message in the years immediately following the death of Christ.

Overnight Kyrenia area. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 16 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Republic of Cyprus Day Trip

Today we have a full day excursion to the Republic of Cyprus (bring your passports!).

Today we discover Paphos, one of the most beautiful parts of the island. En route we drive through the vineyards of Phassouri to Aphrodite's Rock, the birthplace of the Goddess of Love who, according to the legend, arose from the foaming waves at this very spot. Just outside Paphos is the charming village of Yeroskipou, famous for its "lokoumi" (Turkish Delight). Here you will visit the Byzantine Church of Ayia Paraskevi, one of only two churches in Cyprus with five domes and local pottery. Arriving in Paphos we take you first to the House of Dionysos, with its stunning mosaics- some of the finest in the Mediterranean. We then pass by the Odeon amphitheatre, St. Paul's Pillar, and the Byzantine Castle of Forty Columns to reach Paphos harbour. After a stroll round this picturesque part of the town, we'll head back across the border.

Overnight in Kyrenia area. Breakfast and dinner.

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Day 17 of Western Turkey & Northern Cyprus Tour
Depart

Departure from Ercan Airport.

Breakfast.

IYI YOLCULUKLAR! GULE, GULE!

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