DAY 2:  Arrival in ISTANBUL, the only city in the World spanning two continents. After clearing Passport and Customs Controls on your own, meet and transfer to your hotel. Free afternoon to rest. Overnight in ISTANBUL. ( B )

DAY 3:    FREE DAY to explore Istanbul on your own. (You may take one of our optional [see Page 12] Daily Tours, such as the “Istanbul JEWISH HERITAGE" tour, or the “DOLMABAHCE & GOLDEN HORN” tour, or the “BOSPHORUS & ASIA" tour, or the "BURSA” tour, or you may visit the “Princes' Islands”). Overnight in ISTANBUL. ( B )

DAY 4:   “HISTORICAL ISTANBUL” Tour [see Page 12]; visit the TOPKAPI PALACE (Imperial Residence of Ottoman Sultans, the oldest and largest of remaining palaces; with priceless World-class collections of artifacts and rare porcelain on display), the St. SOPHIA MUSEUM (a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, originally built by Emperor Constantine the Great, and rebuilt by Emperor Justanian, was once the largest Christian Church), the BLUE MOSQUE (unique with its six minarets, and famous for its more than 20,000 colorful “blue” Iznik tiles), the HIPPODROME, and the majestic SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE built by the great architect Sinan. Then visit the famous GRAND COVERED BAZAAR (most fascinating shopping center in the World, with nearly 4000 shops). Overnight in ISTANBUL. ( B, L)

DAY 5:  Transfer to Istanbul Airport for early morning flight to Ankara. Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey. After lunch, proceed to CAPPADOCIA, with surrealistic landscapes, and where during the 9th Century  the early Christians built underground churches and cities, extending several stories below ground including living quarters, cisterns, storage spaces, wine cellars, and tombs). Dinner and overnight in  CAPPADOCIA. ( B, L, D )

DAY 6:  Full day touring in CAPPADOCIA; visit the GOREME Open-Air-Museum with its fairy chimneys and dozens of cave churches, see the PIGEON Valley, the natural Citadel of UCHISAR, visit ZELVE Valley and the pottery town AVANOS, with opportunity to shop for local handicrafts. Dinner and overnight in CAPPADOCIA.  ( B, L, D )

DAY 7:   After breakfast, proceed to visit the underground city of KAYMAKLI (built by the early Christians to evade invading armies). Then visit the Seljuk period Agzikarahan Caravanserai located on the Ancient Silk Road, on the way to ANKARA.  Transfer to the Ankara Train Station for overnight SLEEPER TRAIN to IZMIR. ( B, L )  

DAY 8:  Meet at Izmir Basmahane Train Station, and start the tour of the ancient city of EPHESUS, visiting the Theater where St. Paul preached, the Church of Virgin Mary, the Celsus Library, the Arcadian/Harbor Road, the House of Love, and  the Roman Baths. Tour The House of Virgin Mary. Thereafter, visit the Basilica of St. John (the evangelist who accompanied Virgin Mary to Ephesus), and admire the statue of “Ephesian Artemis” while touring the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus in Selcuk. Overnight in IZMIR. ( L )

DAY 9:  FREE DAY in IZMIR at your leisure. (We suggest an optional daily tour, as described on Page 13; such as the “PERGAMUM”, or the PAMUKKALE”, or the “PRIENE-MILETUS-DIDYMA” Tour, or the “SARDIS & IZMIR JEWISH HERITAGE“ Tour). Overnight in IZMIR. ( B )

DAY 10:  Transfer to Izmir Airport for your flight to Istanbul, to connect to your NON-STOP flight back to USA, for same day arrival. ( B, S )