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This 14-day small-group
tour by Argeus
Tourism & Travel begins
in Istanbul and
visits
Ankara, Antalya, Şirince and Pamukkale,
as well as biblical Cappadocia,
Konya,
and the ancient cities of Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Didyma, Hierapolis,
Miletus, Priene,
Perge, Aspendos and Phaselis. The price includes a one-hour hot-air balloon flight over the moonscape of Cappadocia.
Really, you see all
the high points of Turkey in only two weeks.
The touring party is limited
to 10 travelers—more
like a group of friends than
a "tour group." Enough fellow travel
enthusiasts to promote camaraderie,
not enough to bog you down.
The boutique hotels you'll
stay in are among my favorites:
small, charming, historic,
perfectly
located. You benefit from Argeus's
ability to reserve rooms in these choice
places even at preferred travel
times.
May , early June, September and early October are the best times to
travel in Turkey. Here are departure dates for 2017 (all Sundays):
(Departures on other dates are possible;
rates vary depending on the number
of persons in the group.)
Tour fee
is about $313 per person per day, all in, a very reasonable
rate for this high-quality tour. (See
below for details.) Argeus's high-quality tours offer excellent
value for money, but to realize this you
need to know how
to judge tours. Please read
this.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Istanbul
Transfer to the Acra Hotel in Sultanahmet.
Wander and browse
until the evening cocktail reception and briefing by your guide. (D)
Day 2: Istanbul
Blue
Mosque, Topkapı
Palace & Harem, Rüstem
Pasha Mosque, Egyptian
(Spice) Bazaar, Grand
Bazaar. (BLD)
Day 3: Istanbul
Byzantine
Hippodrome, Hagia
Sophia, Basilica
Cistern, Chora
Church Museum. (BLD)
Day
4: Istanbul & Kuşadası
Dolmabahçe
Palace, Bosphorus
Cruise. Fly
to İzmir,
then drive to Kuşadası and
the La Vista Hotel. (BLD)
Day 5: Ephesus
House
of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus,
St
John's Basilica, Temple
of Artemis, İsa Bey Mosque. (BLD)
Day 6: Priene, Miletus & Didyma
Priene, Miletus, Didyma. (BLD)
Day 7: Aphrodisias & Pamukkale
Aphrodisias,
Hierapolis, Pamukkale. Richmond
Thermal Hotel Pamukkale. (BLD)
Day 8: Phaselis & Antalya
Phaselis,
Antalya, Antalya
Museum, and the Tuvana Hotel. (BLD)
Day 9: Perge & Aspendos
Perge, Aspendos,
afternoon at leisure (Lara Beach). (BLD)
Day 10: Antalya & Konya
Drive to Sagalassos, Beyşehir and Konya, Mevlana
Museum and
tomb of Rumi. Hich Hotel Konya. (BLD)
Day 11: Silk Road, Ihlara
& Cappadocia
Silk
Road, Sultanhan, Cappadocia,
Ihlara
Valley, Kale Konak boutique hotel
with cave rooms. (BLD)
Day 12: Cappadocia
Hot-air balloon flight, Cappadocia, Dervent
Valley, Zelve
Open Air Museum, Paşabağı
Fairy Chimneys Valley, Avanos, Göreme Open
Air Museum, Uçhisar. (BLD)
Day 13: Cappadocia
Soğanlı
Valleys, Taşkınpaşa, Mustafapaşa (ancient
Sinasos), Underground
City at Kaymaklı. (BLD)
Day 14: Flight to Istanbul
Flight to Istanbul. Extend your stay in the city of the sultans if you wish. (B) Read on:
Here's
the full, detailed itinerary.
Tour Details:
—Minimum 6, maximum 10 persons on
guaranteed departure dates
—Tour fee:
US$4365 per person double occupancy
(single supplement: US$1000) (contact
Argeus for fees for other dates)
—Infants 0-2 years free; children
2-12 years 50% discount; student (13
to 17 years) discount 10%
Your Tour Includes:
—Accommodation as described
in the tour itinerary
—All meals, as shown in the
tour description (B= buffet breakfast;
L = lunch; D = dinner) Breakfast is the hotel's rich buffet. Lunch and dinner are à la carte: order whatever you like from the menu. Soft drinks are included.
—Transportation within Turkey,
including flights (but international
transport to Turkey is NOT included),
and ground transport in a luxury air-conditioned
minivan
—Licensed professional multilingual
guide
—All admission fees to museums
and sights
—All taxes
Your Tour Does NOT Include:
—International airfares (ie,
to/from Turkey)
—Visa
fee on arrival in Turkey (details)
—Personal travel insurance
—Alcoholic drinks (which are available; order and pay as you wish)
—Gratuities (tips), which are
customary, but voluntary at your discretion
You may wish to stay several more
days in Cappadocia (optional, at extra
cost), perhaps to take a hot-air
balloon flight, to hike in
the lovely valleys, sample ithe region's wines,
or explore the local markets.
If so, we can arrange additional hotel
nights, a guide, car-and-driver, rental
car, or any other activities you might
desire. Just let us know.
If you wish, we'll be happy to arrange
additional nights at your hotel in Istanbul
(optional, at extra cost) so you can
do last-minute
shopping or see even more
of the imperial city, perhaps the Great
Palace Mosaic Museum,
or the Archeological
Museums, or the Museum
of Turkish and Islamic Arts.
They're all just a few minutes' stroll
from the hotel.
For more information, the full itinerary, and availability,
please contact
Argeus. When you do,
please
mention
TTP. Here's why.
—by Tom Brosnahan
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