Date

Day

Activities

Overnight in

Aug 07

Sat

Istanbul (Tour begins at 5 pm in the hotel lobby) Visit the Blue Mosque before dinner.

Istanbul

Aug 08

Sun

Istanbul - Enjoy the timelessness of the city underground and overground. Byzantine cistern, Turkish Islamic Art Museum, St. Sophia, Topkapi Palace. See how Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture has been woven in this city like a beautiful tapestry.

Istanbul

Aug 09

Mon

Istanbul - Visit the covered bazaar, chora, Byzantine mosaics of the 10th century. Cruise the Bosphorous in a private boat. After dinner catch the train with sleeping car to Ankara.

On the
Train

Aug 10

Tue

Ankara - Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Private bus to Tokat.

Home Stays
in Tokat

Aug 11

Wed

ECLIPSE DAY! Locate ourselves on a hilltop near Tokat  for a spectacular view from the center line of the shadow. Drive to Hattusas to see the capital of the Hittite Empire. Perseid meteor shower tonight!

Bogazkale

Aug 12

Thu

Cappadocia - Amazing formations. Fairy chimneys, ancient cavelike dwellings. A city carved in the rocks. Goreme Monastery. Private home visits. Private folklore show. Perseids again tonight!

Cappadocia

Aug 13

Fri

Cappadocia - Soganli Valley, Kaymakli underground city. Enjoy a fascinating carpet demonstration.

Cappadocia

Aug 14

Sat

Visit Avanos, the pottery center of Anatolia for the past 4,000 years. See the most beautiful colors of the Kilims. Visit a village to see work-a-day village life. Visit the local houses and join the villagers for tea.

Guzelyurt

Aug 15

Sun

Leave Guzelyurt after lunch and stop at a Karavansai en route to Konya.

Konya

Aug 16

Mon

Konya - Home of the whirling dervishes and Rumi. Learn about 13th century Moslem philosophy based on humanism and ecumenism.

Pamukkale

Aug 17

Tue

Visit the Temple of Apollo, the largest Hellenistic temple on earth. Swim in the Aegean Sea. Miletus, Dydyma, overnight Kusadasi.

Kusadasi

Aug 18

Wed

Visit the famous site of Ephesus and the Museum.
Meli has written a book about Ephesus.

Kusadasi

Aug 19

Thu