WESTERN TURKEY

WESTERN TURKEY TOUR – 8 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 the group to the hotel.  We will have the opportunity to rest or start exploring the city on our own until we meet with our tour director at dinner.

(Dinner) Klas Hotel or similar 4*

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 or similar 4*

Afternoon Optional Tour: Bosphorus Cruise 

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 board 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 

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 – Canakkale

After checking out of the hotel, our tour bus will drive us to Canakkale.  On the way, we will visit the battlefields of the Gallipoli Peninsula which witnessed one of the most tragic battles of World War 1, the Anzac War.  After a pleasant ferry ride across the Dardanelles, we will pass to the Asian part of Turkey to see the ruins of Troy, where the epic war took place in the 13^th century B.C. We will spend the night at a charming hotel in the woods, near the seaside.

(Breakfast/Dinner) Tusan Hotel or similar 4*

Day 5 Canakkale – Kusadasi

We will leave Canakkale and drive by the beaches, through the pine forests, among the olive trees.  On the way, we will stop at Pergamum to visit the Acropolis of the antique city.  Driving through Izmir, which is the ancient Smyrna, we will arrive to Kusadasi, a very popular resort town, where we will stay for two nights.

(Breakfast/Dinner)  Tatlises Hotel or similar 4*

Day 6 Kusadasi

In the morning, we will start our tour with the House of Virgin Mary.  A major part of the Christian world believes that, Mother Mary spent the last years of her worldly life here before the ascension.  On the outskirts of the same hill, we will visit Ephesus which is one of the best preserved Greco-Roman cities of antiquity. Our next stop will be the Basilica of St. John, where you can also visit the burial site of the apostle.  From this high point, you will see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Artemis.

(Breakfast/Dinner) Tatlises Hotel or similar 4*

Day 7 Kusadasi – 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.  You will then have some time to rest until our farewell dinner at a local restaurant

(Breakfast/ Farewell Dinner) Klas Hotel or similar 4*

Day 8 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. March 31^st – April 7^th

2. April 15^th – 22^nd  

3. May 27^th – June 3^rd

4. June 24^th – July 1st

5. July 4^th – 11^th

6. September 9^th – 16^th

7. October 14^th – 21st

* 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?

• International airfare
• Tips to the driver and tour guide
• 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 $100 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. $69 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