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TURKEY
AT LEISURE TOUR
21
Day / 20 Night or 20 Day / 19 Night
Istanbul - Istanbul or Istanbul - Gocek including
5 night Gulet Cruise
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Departures
on 02 May and 12 Sep 2008
Minimum
6 persons
A
delightful deluxe tour, taking in the primary
highlights of Western Turkey at a leisurely
pace, with stays of 3 or 4 nights in most
locations.
Begin
in Istanbul, one of the richest cities historically,
as well as one of the most beautiful, enchanting
and vivacious cities in the world. Traverse
the incredible landscapes of Cappadocia, the
wonder of natural forces creating a totally
unique vista. Enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean
coastline with its quaint cities such as Antalya
and Kas, and marvel at the immense wealth
of historic treasures throughout the journey.
This
tour includes visits to Istanbul, Ankara,
Cappadocia, Antalya, Mediterranean Coast,
Kas, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Assos and Gallipoli.
Please
see the regions
page for more details.
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CAPPADOCIA
& COASTAL SPLENDOURS TOUR
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Day / 12 Night
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Departures
on 7 May, 4 June, 3 Sep, and 1 Oct 2008
Minimum
6 persons
As
well as the ever popular inclusions of Cappadocia,
Antalya, Ephesus and Gallipoli, explore some of the
lesser known places of Turkey on this excellent 13
day/12 night tour, staying in some charming little
hotels in small villages.
Some of the highlights of this tour are:
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The
famous Cappadocia region with its amazing rock
formations including Fairy Chimneys, beautiful
frescoed cave churches hewn into the tufa sandstone,
and underground cities which once housed up to
15,000 Christians evading persecution.
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The
picturesque city of Antalya with its ancient Roman
walled port, and the lovely Old Town, Kaleici,
with its beautifully restored Ottoman mansions and
Hadrians Gate.
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The
impressive ruins including an amphitheatre and a
gymnasium of Termessos, perched at an altitude
of over 1000 metres up a mountainside. Even
Alexander the Great found this remarkable site,
known as the eagle's nest, impregnable. The mountain
vistas from here are spectacular.
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The
very pretty site of Phaselis with its ruins and 3
harbours set amidst pine trees
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The
fascinating ruins of Olympos
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The
mysterious eternal flames of Chimaera
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Arykanda,
a spectacular Lycian city dramatically set high
on the mountain, built upon five large terraces
ascending a mountain slope
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Demre
with its Church and statue of St. Nicholas Santa
Claus, and site of many splendidly carved Lycian
Rock Tombs overlooking an amphitheatre, all-dating
back to 600 B.C.
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Kekova,
a peaceful group of picturesque islands well
scattered with very distinct rock sarcophagi, some
even out in the sea.
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Saklikent
the hidden gorge a long (18kms) and narrow
water-sculpted limestone canyon.
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Aphrodisias,
one of the most beautiful ancient sites in Turkey,
famous throughout the ancient world for her Temple
of Aphrodite, and which enjoyed great prosperity
during the Roman period.
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The
charming little village of Sirince
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Ephesus,
which was undoubtedly one of the most important
cultural centres of the ancient world.
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The
hauntingly beautiful Pergamon, once one of the
richest and most powerful small kingdoms in the
Middle East.
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Assos,
considered the prettiest small harbour in the
northern Aegean, with its impressive Hellenistic and
Byzantine fortifications and the Temple of Athena on
the summit, affording spectacular views of the
Aegean Sea and the Greek island of Lesvos.
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Click
here to request detailed itinerary & price
>>
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GRAND
EAST ANATOLIA TOUR
22
Day / 21 Night
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Departures
on 15 May, 19 Jun, and 18 Sep 2008
Minimum
6 persons
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The
breathtakingly beautiful alpine lake of
Golcük.
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Charming
"olde worlde" Safranbolu, a UNESCO
World Heritage site, with some of the most
beautiful traditional old Ottoman mansions
in Turkey
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The
marvellous ancient Hittite sites of Yazilikaya
and Hattusas
The very picturesque town of Amasya, set
in a narrow gorge and surrounded by high
cliffs where impressive Pontic tombs are
illuminated at night.
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The
ancient towns of Tokat, Sivas and Erzurum,
which were important cities on the famous
Silk Road during the Middle Ages. The superb
13th century Seljukian architecture is said
to be the finest in the world.
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The
attractive Black Sea coast towns of Giresun,
Ordu, Unye and Amasra
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The
unforgettable sight of the Sumela Monastery,
clinging to the sheer rock face, at an altitude
of 1250 metres above sea level
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Beautiful
yaylas (mountain plateaux), alpine villages,
and hot springs
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Stunningly
beautiful 10th century Georgian churches
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The
spectacular scenery including mountains,
valleys, and dramatic gorges, between Artvin
and Erzurum
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The
ruined Armenian city of Ani with its great
walls. This city once had a hundred gates
and a thousand churches, and was considered
the 4th most magnificent city in the world
in the 10th century, after Constantinople,
Baghdad and Cairo.
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The
superb 17th-18th century Ishak Pasa Palace,
with its mixture of Seljuk, Persian, Georgian,
Armenian and baroque Ottoman architecture.
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The
very large bright blue lake of Van surrounded
by mountain peaks, with its picturesque
10th century Armenian church on Akdamar
Island.
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The
massive black basalt city walls of Diyarbakir,
a superb example of mediaeval military architecture.
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Mardin,
the most Arab town in Turkey, with its lovely
Syrian-influenced architecture, and the
wonderful vistas over the ancient Mesopotamian
Plains, seen from the town’s citadel.
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The
Syrian Orthodox monasteries surrounding
Mardin. During the Middle Ages, this region
was the centre of the Syrian Orthodox Church,
with 4 bishoprics and 80 monasteries.
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The
extraordinary beehive-shaped houses in Harran
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The
breathtakingly beautiful 17th century architecture
in the holy city of Sanliurfa, where Abraham
was born.
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The
stupendous statues, lions and eagles on
top of Mt. Nemrut at sunset
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The
fascinating open-air museum of Hittite sculptures
at Yesemek
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The
Antakya Mosaic Museum which houses one of
the best collections of Roman mosaics in
the world.
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St.
Peter’s Grotto, the earliest Christian
church ever built, and where the word Christianity
was first introduced.
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Tarsus,
where St. Paul was born, and where Marcus
Anthony reputedly met Cleopatra
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The
romantic Byzantine crusader castles of Kolykos
and Kiz Kalesi (Maiden’s Castle)
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The
Caves of Heaven and Hell, with the ruins
of a 5th century Byzantine chapel at the
foot of the Cave of Heaven.
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The
tiny museum of Narlikuyu, with its attractive
mosaic of the Three Graces – Aglaia,
Thalia and Euphrosyne (4th century AD).
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The
impressive ruins of Uzuncaburc (Diocaesarea)
with ruins dating back to the 3rd century
BC., a very interesting mixture of Corinthian,
Roman, Byzantine and Hellenistic architecture.
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The
mediaeval castle of Anamur, the largest
and best preserved on the southern coast
of Turkey, with all its walls and 36 towers
still intact, situated right on the water’s
edge.
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Ancient
Anamurium, a Byzantine city deserted in
the 7th century when the Arab armies stormed
and pillaged the area. Today it is an authentic
Byzantine ghost town, with houses, churches,
aqueducts, baths, a necropolis, and the
city walls still standing largely intact.
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BLACK
SEA & UNTOUCHED EAST TOUR
9
Day / 8 Night
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Departures
on 20 May, 24 Jun and 23 Sep 2008
This
tour is from Trabzon to Van, taking
in the following highlights:
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The
unforgettable sight of the Sumela Monastery,
clinging to the sheer rock face, at an altitude
of 1250 metres above sea level
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The
terraced tea plantations coming right down
to the Black Sea
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Beautiful
yaylas (mountain plateaux), alpine villages,
and hot springs
-
Stunningly
beautiful 10th century Georgian churches
-
The
spectacular scenery including mountains,
valleys, and dramatic gorges, between Erzurum
and Artvin
-
The
ancient town of Erzurum, which was an important
city on the famous Silk Road during the
Middle Ages. The superb 13th century Seljukian
architecture is said to be the finest in
the world; View also the Yakutiye Madrasa,
built in 1310 by the Mongol rulers of Persia,
with its splendid turquoise tiled minaret
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The
ruined Armenian city of Ani with its great
walls. This city once had a hundred gates
and a thousand churches, and was considered
the 4th most magnificent city in the world
in the 10th century, after Constantinople,
Baghdad and Cairo.
-
The
superb 17th-18th century Ishak Pasa Palace,
with its mixture of Seljuk, Persian, Georgian,
Armenian and baroque Ottoman architecture.
-
The
very large bright blue lake of Van surrounded
by mountain peaks, with its picturesque
10th century Armenian church on Akdamar
Island.
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HIDDEN
GEMS OF SOUTH EASTERN TURKEY TOUR
5
Day / 4 Night - Sanliurfa to Adana
8 Day / 7 Night - Sanliurfa to Antalya
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Departure
on 28 May, 02 Jul and 01 Oct 2008
Minimum
6 persons
This
tour is from Sanliurfa to Antalya, taking
in the following highlights:
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The
extraordinary beehive-shaped houses in Harran
-
The
breathtakingly beautiful 17th century architecture
in the holy city of Sanliurfa, where Abraham
was born.
-
The
stupendous statues, lions and eagles on
top of Mt. Nemrut
-
The
fascinating open-air museum of Hittite sculptures
at Yesemek
-
The
Antakya Mosaic Museum which houses one of
the best collections of Roman mosaics in
the world.
-
St.
Peter’s Grotto, the earliest Christian
church ever built, and where the word Christianity
was first introduced.
-
Tarsus,
where St. Paul was born, and where Marcus
Anthony reputedly met Cleopatra
-
The
romantic Byzantine crusader castles of Kolykos
and Kiz Kalesi (Maiden’s Castle)
-
The
Caves of Heaven and Hell, with the ruins
of a 5th century Byzantine chapel at the
foot of the Cave of Heaven.
-
The
tiny museum of Narlikuyu, with its attractive
mosaic of the Three Graces – Aglaia,
Thalia and Euphrosyne (4th century AD).
-
The
impressive ruins of Uzuncaburc (Diocaesarea)
with ruins dating back to the 3rd century
BC., a very interesting mixture of Corinthian,
Roman, Byzantine and Hellenistic architecture.
-
The
mediaeval castle of Anamur, the largest
and best preserved on the southern coast
of Turkey, with all its walls and 36 towers
still intact, situated right on the water’s
edge.
-
Ancient
Anamurium, a Byzantine city deserted in
the 7th century when the Arab armies stormed
and pillaged the area. Today it is an authentic
Byzantine ghost town, with houses, churches,
aqueducts, baths, a necropolis, and the
city walls still standing largely intact.
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WALKING
TOUR
17 Day / 16 Night
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Departure
on 16 May, 19 Sep and 03 Oct 2008
Minimum
6 persons
This
walking holiday is of exceptional interest
to photographers, and a wonderland for lovers
of nature. Plunge into the heart of Anatolia,
to the famous Cappadocia region with its spectacular
canyons where erosion gave birth to amazing
rock formations including “fairy chimneys”.
In ancient times this was the home of fugitive
civilisations including Christians, and the
7th century Christians added a wealth of beautiful
frescoed cave churches hewn into the tufa
sandstone. Underground cities once housed
up to 15,000 Christians evading persecution.
Today orchards, vineyards and footpaths, where
veiled peasants continue their unchanged life,
all blend into a realm of solid fantasy for
ramblers. Surrounding heights and ridges complete
the panorama.
From
this wonderland, the tour continues with a
drive down through the Taurus mountains to
the Mediterranean Coast. Some of the highlights
along the Mediterranean will be:
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the
picturesque city of Antalya with its ancient
Roman walled port, and the lovely ‘old
town’, Kaleici, with its beautifully
restored Ottoman mansions and Hadrian’s
Gate.
-
the
impressive ruins - including an amphitheatre
and a gymnasium - of Termessos, perched
at an altitude of over 1000 metres up a
mountainside. Even Alexander the Great found
this remarkable site, known as the eagle's
nest, impregnable. The mountain vistas from
here are spectacular.
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the
magnificent canyons of Koprulu and Selge
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the
ancient sites of Perge and Aspendos which
boasts one of the best preserved amphitheatres
in the world
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the
very pretty site of Phaselis with its ruins
and 3 harbours set amidst pine trees
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the
fascinating ruins of Olympos
-
the
mysterious eternal flames of Chimaera
-
Demre
with its Church and statue of St. Nicholas
- Santa Claus, and site of many splendidly
carved Lycian Rock Tombs overlooking an
amphitheatre, all dating back to 600 B.C.
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Kekova,
a peaceful group of picturesque islands
well scattered with very distinct rock sarcophagi,
some even out in the sea.
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A
walk along the mountain ridge above Kas,
offering superb sea views, and the ruined
Lycian town of Phellus
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The
spectacular ancient site of Tlos, the home
of Pegasus, with its excellent rock-cut
tombs, the tomb of Bellerophone, the castle
of notorious Chief Bloody Ali, and amphitheatre,
and a picturesque bath complex overlooking
the fertile Xanthos valley.
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