Arrive in Istanbul the next day before noon and continuing to Ankara the same day.

Arrive to Ankara, Turkey's capital, by plane and then proceed to check-in to our hotel. The tour starts with checking-in to the hotel in Ankara. The welcome dinner will be at the hotel.

Early in the morning, you will visit the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Republic of Turkey. You will visit the magnificent Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The museum of Anatolian Civilizations is one of the most beautiful and richest museums in the world with regard to its exhibits.
Afterwards, you will depart for Cappadocia. Cappadocia is a strange region, created by vulcanoes and erosion, with beautiful sights. In Cappadocia you will visit the unique landscapes of wind and rain eroded, volcanic rock formations and visit the amazing underground churches carved into the rocks by early Christians.

OPTIONAL: Hot air balloon rides over Cappadocia is optional. A balloon ride in Cappadocia (for people of all ages) is safe and nothing less than spectacular.

You will cross the beautiful Toros Mountains on the way to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. In Tarsus, you will visit St. Paul's well and the foundations of his house.
Your next day will start with visits to the underground cistern in Tirtar, the huge chasm in Kanlidivane (Neopolis) with the world’s first legally built churches from the 4th century around the chasm and other photo opportunities in this little visited coast. Here, you will see a 2,300-yearold temple of Zeus, which is the oldest example of Corinthian order in Turkey, visit the Temple of Tyche, a small Greek theatre, the monumental Gateway and the ancient Nymphium, a water fountain.

You will take a drive, following the virgin southern coast of the Mediterranean to Antalya. Situated on a cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is surrounded b y m o u n t a i n s . Developments in tourism, starting in the 1 9 7 0 s , h a v e transformed the city into an international resort. With its airport and central location, Antalya is a gateway for the Turkish Riviera and many historical sites. In the 1st century BC, the Pergamum king Attalos II ordered his men to find "heaven on earth". After a long search all over the world, they discovered this land and said "This must be 'Heaven' " and King Attalos founded the city giving it the name "Attaleia" which later became Adalia and then Antalya. During your stay in Antalya, you will tour the city as well as visit the ruined sites of Aspendos and Perge. Aspendos dates back to the time of the Hittites, yet the only visible remains are left over from the Roman Period. The restored theatre at Aspendos is said to be the best in all of Turkey. Perge is the best example of a complete Roman city in the Pamphylian plain.

You will depart Antalya early and drive to Aphrodisias, the city of art dedicated to the Goddess Aphrodite. Octavian once said that “of all the cities in the world, Aphrodisias is my f avorite.” The marble theatre is beautiful and the stadium that seats over 35,000 is immense. It is also the largest in the world and the best preserved.
After Aphrodisias you will continue to Pamukkale. Another Greco-Roman city "Hierapolis" is visited here. It has an incredible necropolis (city of the dead) and you will see many sarcophagi (burial monuments). You will visit the snow-like travertine of calcium for which Pamukkale is famous. Pamukkale is one of the natural wonders of the world with strikingly beautiful mineral springs clinging to the hillsides that will amaze you.

Today you will drive to Sardis, where money was first minted. You will see one of the w o r l d ' s o l d e s t synagogues in Sardis as well as the excavations, the gymnasium, and the Artemis temple. Then you will drive two hours to Kusadasi.
The next day you will see the incredible city of Ephesus and its colossal Greco-Roman Theatre where St. Paul preached. This particular theatre is still used for performances today. The Marble Road, the Celsus Library, and the Temple of Diana are just a few of the sites you will visit. You will also visit the house where St. Mary lived her final days.

During a scenic two-hour drive up the Aegean Coast,you will stop in Pergamon to see the Asklepion, an ancient hospital complex. You will then visit the legendary city of Troy. Troy is a legendary city and center of the Trojan War, as described in the Epic Cycle, and especially in the Iliad, one of the two epic poems attributed to Homer. Trojan refers to the inhabitants and culture of TroAncient Greek historians placed the Trojan War variously in the 12th, 13th or 14th century BC: Eratosthenes to 1184 BC, Herodotus to 1250 BC, Douris to 1334 BC. Here, you will have the opportunity to see a replica of the Trojan Horse. To date nine different Troy's have been discovered, all built one on top of the other.

You will start your tour in Istanbul in the morning. Istanbul is Turkey's most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. The city covers 25 districts of the Istanbul province. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait, and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the country. It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) side of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world which is situated on two continents.

In its long history, Istanbul served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330-395), the Byzantine Empire (395-1204 and 1261- 1453), the Latin Empire (1204- 1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922). The city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. The historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

Early in the morning, you will be taken to the airport for your return flight to the United States, arriving the same day.

Teo6/WT and Teo7/WT tours do not include the city of Mersin and 2 (two) days shorter than Teo4/WT and Teo5/WT tours.

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