Cultural Interactions in Turkey with Şerif Yenen

In the footsteps of St. Paul & the Seven Churches of Revelation Tour Program (April 2-15, 2015)

Day 1; April 2nd, Monday: Arrive in İstanbul, Turkey

• Arrival
• Transfer to the hotel.
• Welcome dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Richmond Hotel (İstanbul)

Day 2; April 3rd, Tuesday: Highlights of İstanbul

• Hagia Sophia
• Topkapı Palace
• A visit to one of the important mosques
• Grand Bazaar
• Chora Church
• Lunch and dinner on own
• Overnight at Richmond Hotel (İstanbul)

Day 3; April 4th, Wednesday: İstanbul – Fly to Hatay ✈- Antioch

• Flight to Hatay (Antioch) with Turkish Airlines at 09.40 AM, arrive in
• Antioch at 11.25 AM.
• Antioch: Cave-Church of Saint Peter, Antioch Mosaic Museum
• Included lunch and dinner at local restaurants
• Overnight at Çankaya Konakları (Antioch)

Day 4; April 5th, Thursday: Antioch – Tarsus – Cappadocia

• Tarsus: St. Paul’s Well and House
• Pozantı: Cilician Gates
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• Dinner and overnight at Lykia Lodge (Cappadocia)

 

 

Day 5; April 6th, Friday: Cappadocia

• Full day sightseeing in Cappadocia
• An underground City
• Avanos Pottery Village
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• Whirling Dervishes ritual
• Dinner and overnight at Lykia Lodge (Cappadocia)

Day 6; April 7th, Saturday: Cappadocia

• Optional Hot-Air Balloon Ride
• Full day sightseeing in Cappadocia with valleys and rock-cut churches
• Lunch on own
• Dinner and overnight at Lykia Lodge (Cappadocia)

Day 7; April 8th, Sunday: Cappadocia – Konya – Pamukkale

• Rumi (Mevlana) Museum of Whirling Dervishes in Konya (Iconium)
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• Dinner and overnight at Richmond Hotel (Pamukkale)

Day 8; April 9th, Monday: Pamukkale

• Laodicea
• Aphrodisias
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• Dinner and overnight at Richmond Hotel (Pamukkale)

Day 9; April 10th, Tuesday: Pamukkale – Kuşadası

• Hierapolis
• Alaşehir (Philadelphia)
• Sardis
• Lunch on own
• Dinner and overnight at Charisma De Luxe Hotel (Kuşadası)

Day 10; April 11th, Wednesday: Kuşadası – Ephesus –

• Kuşadası
• Ephesus with Terrace Houses
• The house of the Virgin Mary
• The Basilica of St. John
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• Dinner and overnight at Charisma De Luxe Hotel (Kuşadası)

Day 11; April 12th, Thursday: Kuşadası – İzmir

• Sightseeing in the old city of Smyrna and İzmir
• Lunch on own
• Dinner and overnight at Double Tree by Hilton İzmir

Day 12; April 13th, Friday: İzmir – Assos

• Thyatira
• Pergamum
• Lunch on own
• Dinner and overnight at Albena Club (Assos)

Day 13; April 14th, Saturday: Assos – Çanakkale – İstanbul

• Assos
• Troy
• Lunch on own
• Farewell dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Richmond Hotel

Day 14; April 15th, Sunday: İstanbul & Departure

• Transfer to the airport

* Included Services:

• Accommodation for 13 nights in above mentioned hotels or similar
• Airport transfers for arrival and departure
• Professional tour guide services in English by Şerif Yenen
• Air conditioned deluxe vehicle with a driver all along the tour
• Vehicle expenses (i.e. parking, tolls, highways)
• Domestic flight ticket from İstanbul to Hatay (Antioch)
• 13 breakfasts at the hotels
• 6 lunches at local restaurants
• 3 dinners at local restaurants and 9 dinners at hotels
• All visits stated in the itinerary
• All entrance fees to the sites, museums and religious places indicated in the itinerary
• Ferry ride from Çanakkale to Eceabat (from Asia to Europe)
• Tips to the hotels with porter services
• Tips to the restaurants for included meals
• Local taxes and service charges

* Services not included:

• International Flights to/from Turkey
• Meals not stated
• Beverages with meals
• One hour hot-air balloon ride in Cappadocia (optional)
• Personal expenses,
• Gratuities for the guide and driver
• Insurance
• Any airfare unless specified above
• Departure and airport taxes and fees (No similar taxes or fees are required for Turkey)
• Passport and visa services and fees
• Other than mentioned above

* Hotels:
Richmond Hotel in İstanbul;
Çankaya Konakları in Antioch;
Lykia Lodge in Cappadocia;
Richmond Hotel in Pamukkale;
Charisma De Luxe Hotel in Kuşadası;
DoubleTree by Hilton Izmir Alsancak;
Albena Club Hotel in Assos;

* Depending on availability there may be hotel changes. C.I.P travel assures to accommodate you at the hotels with same standards.

Important notes:

• Travel on an intimate, expert-led luxury small group journey.
• Pre or post trip extensions can be tailor made upon request.
• Women should bring scarves with them to cover their head, when visiting religious sites and mosques.
• All foreigners must obtain their Turkish visas from Turkish missions abroad or from the e-visa application system, depending on eligibility. Please note, e-visas are easier to get.
  Information regarding Turkish e-visas and the application process can be found at: www.evisa.gov.tr/en
  General information on Turkish visas can be found at:
  www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa
• CIP Travel has always the right to modify the program according to the upmost satisfaction of the clients.
• We will disclaim any responsibility and shall not pay any indemnity or reimbursement in the event of certain museums or monuments included in the program could not be visited with any reason beyond our control.