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

DAY 3,  TUESDAY:  Full day “BOSPHORUS & ASIA” Tour; starting with a short visit to the EGYPTIAN SPICE MARKET, followed by the BOSPHORUS BOAT TOUR, viewing the picturesque beauty of the European and Asian shorelines on each side. After lunch cross to the Asian side to visit the CAMLICA HILL (or the NAKKAS HILL) to observe a panoramic view of Istanbul, and then tour the BEYLERBEYI PALACE (or DOLMABAHCE PALACE).  Overnight in ISTANBUL. ( B, L )

DAY 4,  WEDNESDAY:  “HISTORICAL ISTANBUL” Tour (see Page 12); visit the TOPKAPI PALACE, the St. SOPHIA MUSEUM, the BLUE MOSQUE, the HIPPODROME, the SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE, and then the GRAND COVERED BAZAAR.  Overnight in ISTANBUL. ( B, L )

DAY 5, THURSDAY:  FREE DAY to explore Istanbul on your own. (You may take one of our optional tours [see Page 12], such as the “JEWISH HERITAGE" tour, or you may visit the  “St. SAVIOR” Church in CHORA, and/or the UNDERGROUND CISTERN and/or the TURKISH AND ISLAMIC ARTS MUSEUM). Transfer to Istanbul Airport for your evening flight to ANTALYA on the “Turquoise Coast”. Transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in ANTALYA. ( B, D )

DAY 6,  FRIDAY:  Full day excursion to the ancient Pamphylian cities of "PERGE"  (which dates back to 1000 B.C.)  and "ASPENDOS" (with its well preserved theater of 15,000 seats). After lunch, visit the ancient harbor town of “SIDE” (its ancient Theater, Agora, Temple, and Baths) and the MANAVGAT WATERFALLS.  Dinner and overnight in ANTALYA. ( B, L, D )

DAY 7,  SATURDAY:  FREE DAY to enjoy ANTALYA at your leisure. We suggest an optional Antalya Daily Tour, as described on Page 13.  Overnight in ANTALYA. ( B )

DAY 8,  SUNDAY:  Transfer to Antalya Airport for your morning flight to Ankara. After meeting at the Ankara Airport, visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk. Then proceed to CAPPADOCIA, where nature has scoured surrealistic moonscape shapes. Visit the underground city of KAYMAKLI, extending several stories below ground, built by the early Christians during the 9th Century. Dinner and overnight in CAPPADOCIA. ( B, L, D )

DAY 9,  MONDAY:  Full day touring in CAPPADOCIA; visit GOREME Open-Air-Museum with its fairy chimneys and cave churches, see the natural Citadel of UCHISAR, visit the ZELVE Valley and the pottery town AVANOS, with opportunity to shop for local handicrafts, such as carpets, ceramics, pottery, etc.  Dinner and overnight in CAPPADOCIA.  ( B, L, D )

DAY 10,  TUESDAY:  After breakfast, depart to visit the Sultanhan Caravanserai located on the “Silk Road”. Proceed to KONYA  to visit the Mevlana Museum (the 13th Century “Whirling Dervish” Monastery). Continue to PAMUKKALE “Cotton Castle”, the ancient  HIERAPOLIS. Tour the beautiful snow-white “solidified waterfalls”.  Dinner and overnight in PAMUKKALE. (Optionally, you may enjoy a hot therapeutic bath in the mineral spring waters of your hotel’s pool). ( B, L, D )

DAY 11, WEDNESDAY:  Visit HIERAPOLIS, including the magnificently preserved Necropolis, the Main Street and Gates, the Thermal Baths, and the masterpiece Theater. Then tour APHRODISIAS, the city of Aphrodite, visiting the Odeon, the Palace of Bishops, the Agora, the Baths, the Theater, and the Stadium. Then continue, for dinner and overnight, to the Aegean Coast town of KUSADASI. ( B, L, D )

DAY 12,  THURSDAY:  Visit the HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY, and tour EPHESUS, the best preserved and major Ionian city dating back to the 13th Century B.C.; including the Celsus Library, the Church of Virgin Mary, the Arcadian Road, the Gymnasium, the Fountains, the Roman Baths, the Agoras, and the Theater (where St. Paul preached). Then tour the Basilica of St. John (the evangelist who accompanied Virgin Mary to Ephesus, and also wrote a gospel), and then, visit the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus in Selcuk, which includes the original “Ephesian Artemis” statue. Dinner and overnight in KUSADASI. ( B, L, D )

DAY 13,  FRIDAY:  Full day trip to the ancient city of PERGAMUM  (where parchment was invented). Tour the ACROPOLIS, the city built on four terraces perched upon a hill overlooking the Bergama Plain, with the “Steepest Theater of the Ancient World”, and visit the ASCLEPION (the famous ancient medical center where Galen, the famous surgeon, taught). Then proceed to the “Pearl of Aegean” and the birthplace of Homer,  IZMIR, for overnight. ( B, L )

DAY 14, SATURDAY:  FREE DAY in IZMIR at your leisure. (Suggest an optional Izmir Daily Tour, as described on Page 13). Overnight in IZMIR. ( B )

DAY 15, SUNDAY:  After breakfast, transfer to the Izmir Airport to fly  to Istanbul, to connect to your Transatlantic flight back to the USA, for same day arrival. ( B, L )