TURQUOISE TURKEY

TURQUOISE TURKEY WITH MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE – 13 DAYS

Day 1 Departure

Departure from the USA with an overnight flight to Istanbul.

Day 2 Arrival to Istanbul

Upon arrival, a company representative will meet us at Ataturk International Airport and escort us to the hotel.  We will have the opportunity to rest or start exploring the city until a meeting with our tour director at dinner at the hotel.

(Dinner)Klas Hotel

Day 3 Istanbul City Tour

Today our tour will start with Topkapi Palace which was the residence of the Ottoman Royal Family for four centuries.  The crown jewels, kitchen complex, holy relics and the Sultans’ costumes are some of the exhibits that we will see in the palace.  The next stop will be the Grand Bazaar where you can have an interesting bargaining experience.  The building was constructed in the 15^th Century on top of the old forum of Constantine.  The rest of the day will be at your leisure or you will have the opportunity to join some optional tours.

(Breakfast) Klas Hotel

Afternoon Optional Tour: Bosphorus Cruise  $49 USD

The tour will start with Rustem Pasha Mosque which houses the best samples of Iznik tiles.  Then, our tour bus will take us to the port where we will take the boat to cruise on the Bosphorus Strait that separates Asia from Europe. Enjoying the wonderful view cruising between the two continents, you will also see the 19^th century Baroque Ottoman Palaces and the historic mansions of the Ottoman nobles.

Evening Optional Tour: Belly Dancer Show & Dinner  $69 USD

Tonight we will have the opportunity to join the optional tour and see three different belly dancers as well as the best samples of Turkish folk dances and singers. The show includes dinner which is a chance to taste many different kinds of Turkish food.

Day 4 Istanbul –Kusadasi

We will take a morning flight to Izmir.  We will then meet our tour bus at Izmir Airport which will take us to Ephesus.  Ephesus is known to be one of the best preserved Greco-Roman cities of antiquity.  Traveling along the marble paved main road, some highlights we will see include the Odeon, Roman Baths, Temples of the Emperors, Celsus Library and the largest Greco-Roman theater in Asia Minor.  Our next stop will be the Basilica of St. John, which was built on the burial site of the apostle in the 6^th century.  From this high point, you can also see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Artemis.

(Breakfast/Dinner) Tatlises Hotel

Day 5 Kusadasi – Bodrum

We will follow the Aegean Coast south for Bodrum where we will visit the Crusaders’ Castle which also contains the Underwater Archeology Museum.  The next stop will be one of the Seven Wonders of Antiquity, the Mausoleum.  This monumental tomb of King Mausolus gave the word “mausoleum” to the world literature.  We will then have some free time to spend in this charming Mediterranean town.  Overnight in Bodrum.

(Breakfast/Dinner) Hotel Grand Yazici, Torba

Day 6 Bodrum – Marmaris – Cruise

After checkout from the hotel, we will drive through the pine forests of the Taurus Mountains and arrive in Marmaris to spend some free time to explore the town. In the afternoon, we will embark our gulet which is a Turkish style cruise boat, to start enjoying the turquoise waters along the Mediterranean coast.  During the cruise, we will have a lot of time to relax, swim in the crystal clear waters, and take hikes that end up with surprise ruins.

(Breakfast/Dinner) Gulet

Day 7 Cruise

This morning we begin our cruise along the Mediterranean coast.  Upon arrival to Ekincik Cove we will embark a small riverboat so we can cruise on the Dalyan River. Passing by Iztuzu Beach, you can see the seasonal Loggerhead Turtles which have been nesting in this area since the time of dinasours.  On the way, we will be able to see facades of the Mausoleums of the Lycian Kings carved out in the rocks on the hills.  We will disembark to visit the Lycian city of Caunus. After an enjoyable hike through the ruins, we will take a boat to go back to our gulet for lunch on board.  The afternoon will be at leisure for swimming.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 8 Cruise

In the morning, we will cruise to Aga Limani where we will have some time for a swim before we begin today's hike through forests, meadows, and spectacular coastal scenery to the Greco-Roman ruins of Lydea.  While we walk down the hills, enjoying the magnificent view of the lagoon, our gulet will cruise around the hills and meet us at the sunken Baths of Cleopatra, built for her by Mark Antony.  After lunch on board, we will have the afternoon free to enjoy the waters of the Mediterranean.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 9 Cruise

Today we will land on a small beach in the Bay of Gemiler, and drive to Kayakoy, a Greek ghost town that was abandoned after World War I.  Leaving Kayakoy, we will hike down a winding path to a cove at Soguk Su, where our gulet will be waiting for us.  After lunch on board, we will cruise to nearby Gemiler Island, where we will see a sixth-century Byzantine monastery with ancient churches and refectories.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 10 Fethiye – Kas

In Fethiye, we will disembark our gulet and drive to Kas.  We will visit another Lycian city, Xanthos, en route.  We will see the impressive ruins including the Byzantine Church with adorable mosaic pavings, and listen to the amazing stories of the city.  When we arrive to Kas, you will have some free time to explore this beautiful town which is listed in the book, “A Thousand Places You Should See Before You Die”.   We will spend the night in Kas.

(Breakfast/Dinner) Kayhan Otel

Day 11 Kas – Antalya

In the morning we will leave Kas and drive to our first stop Demre to visit the Church of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors and children.  Because of the miracles that the locals believed he performed for children, he is thought to be Santa Claus.  Then we go to the pier and take a boat to Kekova to see the sunken city of Dolikisthe and the surrounding islands.  During the boat trip we will be able to see the ruins and the artifacts still under water.  After a scenic drive along the coast, we will arrive to Antalya.

(Breakfast/Dinner) Hotel Khan Best Western

Day 12 Antalya – Istanbul

Today we will return to Istanbul with the morning flight.  Upon arrival we will continue sightseeing in the old city with the Hippodrome Square where all the major public events were held during the Roman times.  Our next stop will be the Blue Mosque, one of the most famous mosques in the world because of its interiors, decorated with exquisite Iznik Tiles.  Our tour will conclude with the most well-known cathedral of the world, St. Sophia.  Then you will have some time to rest until our farewell dinner at a local restaurant

(Breakfast/ Farewell Dinner) Klas Hotel

Day 13 Back to USA

After Breakfast, our tour director will escort us to Ataturk Airport for our flight back to the USA.

(Breakfast)

2012 Departure Dates  (Departure – Return)*

            1. May 27^th – June 8^th 

            2. June 24^th – July 6^th

            3. July 4^th – July 16^th

            4. September 9^th – September 21^st

* Pre and post stays and trips are available and highly recommended for all the tour dates.

Prices:

*If you are traveling alone but don’t want to pay the single supplement, just sign up for our room-mate program.

What’s included?

• Domestic airfare (including taxes and fees)
• All hotel accommodations mentioned in the itinerary
• All the meals shown in the itinerary and the meals offered during the flights
• Entrance fees to the sites and museums mentioned in the itinerary
• English speaking licensed tour guide throughout the entire trip in Turkey
• Air-conditioned deluxe vehicle
• Airport transfers in Turkey
• Porter tips at the hotels
• Two bottles of water daily during the drives
• Water at dinners

What’s excluded?

• Tips to the driver and tour guide
• International airfare
• Turkey entry visa fees ($20 USD pp)
• Excess baggage fees
• Drinks at breakfasts and dinners
• Anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
• Any expenses personal in nature
• Travel insurance

Important notes:

• You can sign up with $200 USD per person deposit.
• You can pay the remaining balance with an installment plan of your choice until no later than 60 days before the departure date.  If the sign up date is closer than 60 days to the departure date, the payment must be in full.
• Checks must be payable to Avan Travel Services.
• A travel protection plan is highly recommended.  Very reasonable group deals are provided by Avan Travel Services.  i.e. $99 USD buys you the Gold Coverage Plan of Travel Guard for the land tour mentioned above.  To include your international airfare in the protection plan, contact with us to learn about the group specials.

Al Avan

Director of Operations

714.458.0715

al@AvanTravelServices.com

www.AvanTravelServices.com

CST# 2100673-40