ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY (D)

Upon arrival today at Istanbul's Ataturk airport, you'll meet the TrailFinders representative and transfer to the hotel in the ancient Sultanahmet district of old Istanbul.

For those who would prefer to arrive prior to the first day of the tour, we can arrange one or more pre-tour nights at the starting hotel according to your wishes. We would be pleased to discuss details of the various options available.

With its strategic location on the Bosphorus peninsula between the Balkans and Anatolia, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, Istanbul has been associated with major political, religious and artistic events for more than 2,000 years. Among its masterpieces are the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the Basilica of St. Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and the Hippodrome, all of which we visit during our stay.

Join the tour leader at the hotel before dinner for a casual happy hour and a short orientation to Turkey. Afterwards, enjoy a welcome dinner.

Overnight at the Armada Hotel.

ISTANBUL (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning we embark on the first day of our two-day exploration of the sights and sounds of Istanbul.

We'll begin by boarding our boat for a leisurely cruise on the Bosphorous, sailing between two continents. This is a wonderful opportunity to observe the differences between the European and Asian sides of this magnificent city and to take photographs of the marble palaces, the ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture as well as the modern residences.

We'll pass by Rumeli Fortress, a unique example of military architecture and a historical armament built to control and protect the Bosphorus. You'll also pass the world-famous and easily recognizable Dolmabahce Palace, the last residence of the Ottoman Sultans and the Ciragan Palace, now a major hotel.

We'll also sail past impressive mosques and pass under the Bosphorus Bridge, which offers a unique means to travel by road from one continent to another in a matter of minutes.

After the boat cruise, we'll visit the interior of the amazing Dolmabahce Palace with its 285 rooms, 43 halls, six Turkish Baths and a great collection of European antiquities and furniture including chandeliers weighing up to 4.5 tons.

Then we'll cross back into old Istanbul and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we'll visit the Spice Bazaar where we find special spices from around the world, fragrances of the exotic East and every kind of Turkish culinary delight.

Of course, no visit to this area would be complete without a wander through the fabulous Grand Bazaar, a 'mecca' for shoppers and photographers alike with its rich collection of local characters and precious handmade carpets, jewellery, leather and other Turkish goods.

Then we'll return to the hotel to freshen up before departing for an authentic experience at one of the oldest and most famous Turkish Baths in Istanbul. While this visit is included in the tour activities, it is entirely optional, so you can certainly pursue other interests if you wish.

For dinner this evening we cross into Asia for a unique experience.

Overnight at the Armada Hotel.

ISTANBUL (B, L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today is a full day of activities related to Byzantine and Ottoman relics. We'll explore some of the most interesting sites in Istanbul's old city including Hagia Sophia, the magnificent Byzantine Church which has inspired architects and religious leaders for centuries.

Constructed in the sixth century, it was the largest church in the world for a thousand years until the Ottomans converted it to a mosque around 1453. This magnificent building is now a museum and remains one of the finest and largest architectural works of art in the world.

We'll also visit the Blue Mosque, a unique structure with six minarets and twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles that cover the interior walls. It's one of the largest mosques in Istanbul and one of the principal adornments on its skyline.

During the visits today, we'll stop for lunch at an appropriate time.

Continuing on with the tour, we'll visit the Hippodrome, the former center of sports and political activities of old Constantinople where we'll see the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column from Delphi and the fountain of Willhelm II.

We'll also visit Topkapi Palace, the former Imperial residence from which the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled. Today, it's a spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and the very famous treasury of the Royal Family.

Finally we'll visit the famous Underground Cistern before returning to the hotel.

Overnight at the Armada Hotel.

ISTANBUL - TROY - YESILYURT (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Early this morning we drive to Troy where the decade-long Trojan War was fought in the 13th century BC.

With its 4,000 years of history, Troy is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. The first excavations at the site were undertaken in 1870. Its extensive remains are the most significant evidence of the first contact between the civilizations of Anatolia and the Mediterranean world. Moreover, the siege of Troy by Spartan and Achaean warriors from Greece in the 13th century B.C., immortalized by Homer in the Iliad, has inspired great creative artists throughout the world ever since.

Lunch along the way.

Afterwards, continue on to the village of Yesilyurt and check in for a two-night stay.

Join us for happy hour followed by dinner at the hotel.

Overnight at Manici Kasri Hotel.

YESILYURT (B, D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

The village of Yesilyurt is situated in an olive producing area at the foot of Mount Ida, overlooking the Aegean Sea. The region has seen many civilizations including Trojan, Persian, Roman and Ottoman and their influence can be seen in the local architecture.

The fresh and unpolluted air of the village along with the peace and tranquility provides a welcome escape from busy city life. The village is surrounded by olive and pine trees and many of the villagers produce olives and olive oil for a living. The quality of the olive oil from the region is outstanding and is known worldwide.

The region is also well-known for its honey, herbs and local cheeses, all of which can be sampled in the food served at the hotel.

This morning is free for exploring the surrounding countryside on your own or enjoying a short stroll into the village where you'll discover small shops offering the best of local produce.

Free for lunch.

At an appropriate time today we'll have an opportunity to visit the local olive museum to learn about the growing of olives and the production of olive oil. The tour leader will have other suggestions for local activities as well.

Join us for happy hour if you wish followed by dinner at the hotel.

Overnight at Manici Kasri Hotel.

YESILYURT - KUSADASI (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today, enroute to Kuşadasi, we drive to the ancient Aegean city of Pergamum (Bergama), once ruled by Alexander the Great. Famous for parchment paper, Pergamum had a library containing two hundred thousand scrolls.

We also explore the splendid Acropolis with the Altar of Zeus, the ten thousand-seat amphitheatre and the marvelous Asklepieion, a fourth century B.C. shrine to the healing God Asklepios.

Lunch at a local restaurant at an appropriate time.

Afterwards, we continue on to the coastal town of Kuşadasi and check in for a two-night stay.

Happy hour, dinner and overnight at the Charisma Hotel.

KUSADASI (B, L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today’s excursion includes Ephesus, the largest ancient city ever uncovered. Once populated with three-hundred thousand people, it has an enormous amphitheatre, which can still hold twenty-four thousand spectators.  As you walk down the marble covered streets, you'll see gymnasia, bath-houses, public latrines, the library of Celsius and the Temple of Artemis. This temple, which was considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is situated on the edge of the town and the entire area has survived sufficiently enough to enable you to visualize and understand the ancient way of life in Ephesus.  It is one of the cities that played an impressive role in the beginnings of Christianity and during the period of its proliferation.

We'll have lunch at an appropriate time and we'll stop along the way at the House of the Virgin Mary, where she is believed to have stayed in her final days.

This afternoon, for those interested in learning more about carpets there will be an opportunity to attend a demonstration of the processes involved in the creation of Turkish kelims and carpets.

Join us for happy hour if you wish. Free for dinner.

Overnight at the Charisma Hotel.

KUSADASI - BODRUM (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast we depart towards the seaside town of Bodrum. Upon arrival, we check in for a two-night stay.

Bodrum, formerly Halicarnassus, is located on the southern coast overlooking the Greek island of Kos and is currently an international center of yachting. The Mausoleum of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was located here.

Bodrum Castle, situated at the harbour entrance, was built by the Crusaders in the 15th century and includes a Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

This Mediterranean town is easily and pleasantly explored on foot, so please enjoy your visit.

For those of you who wish to visit a local school, we may have an opportunity to do that late this afternoon.

Overnight at El Vino Hotel.

BODRUM (B, D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning is free to enjoy the Mediterranean sunshine or to continue to explore the town on your own. Free for lunch.

This afternoon we climb aboard our private Gulet (a local Turkish yacht) for an afternoon of sailing in the beautiful waters of the Mediterranean.

Happy hour and dinner on board. Afterwards, we return to our hotel.

Overnight at El Vino Hotel.

BODRUM - ANTALYA (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today we begin the first part of our journey towards Cappadocia by driving eastward to the city of Antalya. Here, we check in to our hotel in ancient Kaleiçi for an overnight stay.

This small, historic section of the sprawling modern city was at one time Roman, then Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman Turkish. It has massive stone walls, meandering streets and picturesque old houses built so close together that they often overshadow the narrow lanes.

This afternoon is free for enjoying the streets and sites of the old town on your own. You can visit the Roman harbour, Hadrian's gate, the Broken Minaret Mosque, the old stone tower and the local markets, narrow alleys and cafes.

Overnight at Mediterra Art Hotel.

ANTALYA - CAPPADOCIA (B, D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today we fly from Antalya to Kayseri airport and drive about 45 minutes to the Cappadocia region where we check into our hotel for a three-night stay.

A luxurious property, carved into a mountainous cliff, the hotel includes eight cave houses with a total of 27 rooms dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries. The hotel is an ideal base for exploring the elaborate underground cities, hidden cavernous churches and enchanting rock terrain of the area.

Join us for happy hour if you wish. This evening, we enjoy dinner together at the hotel and after dinner we drive to the ancient Sarihan Caravanserai to witness a performance of the famous Whirling Dervishes.

Overnight at Yunak Evleri Cave Hotel.

CAPPADOCIA (B, L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today we devote the entire day to sightseeing in the atmospheric Cappadocia region.

We visit the fascinating Goreme Valley with its lunar-like appearance. Over thousands of years the rain and wind have eroded the landscape to give rise to strange rock formations known as "fairy chimneys". Many of these have homes or churches carved into them and some of the grottos are magnificently decorated with colourful frescoes depicting biblical scenes.

At an appropriate time we'll stop for lunch.

Today we also visit the Underground City of Derinkuyu. Around the sixth century the Christian inhabitants of this region began to tunnel into the soft volcanic rock hills and built an enormous underground city where thousands of people lived. There are eight levels of passages and some are as deep as two hundred seventy five feet.

We return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Free for dinner either in town or at the hotel.

Overnight at Yunak Evleri Cave Hotel.

CAPPADOCIA (B, L)

This morning we leave the hotel early and have breakfast at a remote site prior to enjoying a spectacular hot air balloon ride over the valley.

Afterwards we return to the hotel for a short rest before heading out to visit Red Valley and explore the famous rock-cut churches. If you wish, you can join us for a leisurely 5 km hike through the Güllüdere Valley, then visit Çavuşin Village, famous for the houses and churches of the Christian clergymen.

After lunch, we drive to the Pigeon Valley and visit the natural castles at Ortahisar.

Overnight at Yunak Evleri Cave Hotel.

CAPPADOCIA - ISTANBUL (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

At an appropriate time today we transfer to the airport for our flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel in the new part of the city and check in for a two-night stay.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free to explore the fascinating Pera area on your own. This is the home of the famous and busy Istiklal Caddesi, the social centre and entertainment area of modern Istanbul.

Free for dinner. There are hundreds of restaurants in this area.

Overnight at Marmara Pera Hotel.

ISTANBUL (B, D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

An entire day at leisure for last minute museum visits, sightseeing, shopping or simply getting organized for your flight tomorrow.

Join us this evening for happy hour and our farewell dinner together.

Overnight at Marmara Pera Hotel.

ISTANBUL DEPARTURE (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport at an appropriate time for your flight back to Canada.

For those continuing on to Jordan, you have the option of staying in Istanbul for one more night tonight or proceeding to Amman today, one day prior to the start of the Jordan tour. We would be pleased to discuss details of the various options available.