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Discover the Treasures of & Including the Greek Cities of & ! October 14-25, 2021

Dear Travelers: We invite you to join us to see the cultural We will then fly to ancient Cappadocia, wonders of with a superb archaeo- a city of caves, and one of the oldest cities logical leader. in the world. We will stay in a cave-like hotel carved in the rock cliffs while we It is a good time to visit Turkey. Non-stop explore the ancient sites of the Goreme flights are available to Istanbul from the Valley and the Kaymakli Underground City. United States and visitors are exempt from COVID restrictions. The archaeological sites A short flight will take us to the Aegean are open for visitors and are uncrowded. Coast where we can ramble among the superb Greco Roman ruins of Ephesus Our expedition will begin in the enchant- and the Temple of () ing international city of Istanbul, situated which was one of the Seven Wonders of on the Bosporus Strait (the route to the the Ancient World. ) and a bridge between Europe and ! Here we will visit the out standing The following day we will visit Topkapi Palace, which once housed Pergamum, famous for inventing Sultans who ruled much of the Middle East. parchment paper. It had a large library, We will also walk under the dome of the , the altar of , and the 10,000- great Blue Mosque, and see priceless seat amphitheatre. We will then follow a treasures from around the world. winding road to the picturesque village of Asclepion, a fourth century shrine to the God of Medicine. LEADERSHIP Leading our expedition will be Bulent Sahan. Other adventures will await us in Bulent has been guiding cultural tours renowned Troy, one of the oldest throughout Turkey in English and German based discovered sights along the Aegean Coast, on Archeology and Art for the last 10 with nine different settlements and 30 years. He has led trips for the US Embassy in outlying cities with its centerpiece the Ankara, and looks forward to showing you the symbolic wooden . wonders and fascinating sites in Turkey. We invite travelers with an appetite for adventure and discovery to explore the wonders of Turkey with our popular archaeological guide! Sincerely,

Margaret M. Betchart President, Betchart Expeditions Inc. For AAAS Travels, Sigma Xi & ACS Expeditions Sultan Ahmet. The interior walls are covered RESPONSIBILITY with twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles. B,D Day 1 Depart for Istanbul Day 4 Istanbul to Cappadocia Depart New York’s JFK International Airport For the morning of Day 4, we will visit the on a nonstop flight to Istanbul. Istanbul Museum which includes Day 2 Istanbul the sarcophagus of the Great. We will Upon arrival in Istanbul, meet your guide also visit the spice bazaar where the scent of at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Time hundreds of spices permeates the air. We will for rest and leisure. In the evening enjoy a then take a short flight from Istanbul to Welcome Dinner. Amethyst Hotel, Istanbul Cappadocia. Utopia Cave Hotel, Cappadocia (2 nights). D (3 nights). B,D Day 3 Istanbul & Topkapi Palace Day 5 Cappadocia We will devote the entire day to sightseeing in Our sightseeing will include the fascinating Istanbul. This morning, we’ll explore the Göreme Valley. The lunar-like landscape of this of St. , which has inspired region is eerie, yet beautiful. Over thousands of architects and religious leaders for over 1,500 years, the rain has eroded this landscape to give years. We will then stop at the Topkapi Palace, rise to strange rock formations known as “Fairy once home to the great Sultans. It is filled with Chimneys.” Many of these have homes and treasures and antiquities including twelve churches carved into them. Some of the thousand pieces of fine Chinese porcelain. grottoes are magnificently decorated with We’ll see the Hippodrome, the colorful frescoes depicting biblical scenes. We stadium for horse racing and chariot races. And will also visit the monastic valley of Pasabagi then visit the Blue Mosque, built in 1609 by which has a large number of carved rock houses and a municipal carpet cooperative, where you can explore the district from a cultural perspective. We will also visit Asikli Hoyuk, the earliest settlement in , dating to around 8200 BC. B,D Days 6/ 7 Cappadocia to Kusadasi We will depart to visit a typical Turkish village, Avanos, to see the techniques of ceramic art dating from the 12th to 3rd Century BC. We will watch the villagers make pottery, which is quite interesting! We will also enjoy a tour of the Underground City of Kaymakli built by the Christian inhabitants of this region tunneling into the soft volcanic rock of a large hill. On day 7 transfer to site. Discover Airport for a the Temple direct flight of , to Izmir on the Aegean Coast. Charisma Hotel the 5,000 seat Hellenistic Theater, and gaze out to in Kusadasi (3 nights). B,D the sea from on top of its Acropolis. We’ll also stop Day 8 Kusadasi & Ephesus at and to see the theaters,, Today’s excursion goes to Ephesus, the baths, and the Temple of the third largest largest ancient city uncovered in Turkey. temple of the ancient Greek world.B,D Ephesus was also a port city linking to Day 10 Pergamum, Asclepion & Troy Susa. Once populated with three hundred Today our road will take us to the ancient thousand people, it has an enormous amphi- city of Pergamum. Famous for the invention theatre, which can still hold 24,000 spectators. of parch ment paper, Pergamum had a library As we walk down the covered streets, containing two hundred thousand . We we’ll see the (Diana) which will visit the Acropolis, the alter of Zeus and the was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient ten thousand-seat amphitheatre. World. We will also see the Ephesus Museum At the Pergamum Museum see the with some world-famous works and the 4th Century BC kuros, an early example of Basilica of St John. B,D realism of the sculpted human form. Then visit Day 9 Kusadasi, , Miletus, Didyma marvelous Asclepion, a 4th Century BC shrine We’ll take a full day trip to the major sites of to the healing God Asclepios. A winding road Priene, Miletus, and Didyma today.Built in 334 BC will take us to the sacred center of Asclepion. on the slopes of Mt. , Priene is a spectacular We will also visit Troy, one of the oldest discovered sights in Asia Minor with 9 different settlements and 30 related cities, including the symbolic wooden Trojan horse commemorating the legendary war. Spend the night in the charming ancient stone Kolin Hotel, Canakkale (1 night). B,D Day 11 Canakkale to Istanbul Canakkale overlooks the , the narrow straits that were so important for travelers and armies as the crossing point from Europe to Asia Minor. King of Persia crossed here on a bridge of boats in 481 BC, as did . The Campaign of WWI was an attempt to take the strait. We will • • • THE SIGM SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHA X SOCIETYI ACS The Planetary Society #1640 ___ assign a roommate Turkey 2021 Turkey Treasures Treasures of Betchart Expeditions Inc. Montebello Road 17050 Cupertino, CA 95014-5435 ESERVATIONS R Please reserve ______space(s). As a deposit, I/we ______Age______Treasures of Turkey, of Turkey, I/we want to join the Treasures AAAS Travels, Sigma Sigma offered by AAAS Travels, 2021, October 14-25, Xi & ACS. per person) enclose a check for $______($500 Account. payable to Betchart Expeditions Inc. Trust Yes! Yes! Name(s) ______Age______Address ______State City Zip ______Phone: ______Home (______) ______Email Address Work ______(______) Membership: ___ AAAS ___ Sigma Xi ACS ______Planetary Society Accommodations Preference: ___ Twin ___ Single ___ Nonsmoker ___ Smoker ______Date ______Signature Share: Twin ___ with a friend or Signature ______Date ______Please Mail To: CST# 2036304-40 CST# that the air ticket when issued shall constitute ESPONSIBILITY R 2 Istanbul to USA 1

©2021 Betchart Expeditions Inc. All rights reserved. ©2021 Commons. John Ryan & Wikipedia Photos courtesy of Map by April Milne. the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance. Betchart Expeditions Inc., the American Association for the Advancement of Science the American Chemical Society (AAAS), Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, and The Planetary(ACS), with respect to Society act only as agents for the passenger we can assume tation and hotels, and exercise every care possible. However, transpor in connection with loss, accident or irregularity damage, delay, no liability for injury, coach, or any other conveyance used in the services of any airplane, ship, motor cannot accept any responsibility for We carrying out the arrangements of the tour. losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, quarantine, terrorism, acts of God, or other causes strike, war, sickness, weather, beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, reserve the right to ments only for the time stated. We vide for arrange as tour rates pro substitute another leader of similar expertise or reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case the entire payment will be refunded with no further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any per- No refund will be made for the unused portion of any son as a member of the tour. avoid penalties. The price of ments are made in sufficient time to tour unless arrange the program is based on current tariffs and rates, and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, or fuel increases will be passed on to participants. Baggage is carried at It is understood the owner’s risk entirely.

arriving the same day. B arriving the same day. Day to New York, Ataturk Airport for our return flight dinner in celebration of our journey. B,D dinner in celebration of our journey. transfer to Istanbul’s After a farewell breakfast Enjoy a farewell Amethyst Hotel, Istanbul. Enjoy a farewell cross by ferry and then return to Istanbul. AAAS Travels ACS & Sigma Xi Expeditions The Planetary Society BETCHART EXPEDITIONS Inc. 17050 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435

FIRST CLASS

Discover the Treasures of Istanbul & Cappadocia Including the Greek Cities of Ephesus & Troy! October 14-25, 2021

Accommodations: Are in comfortable first class hotels, COSTS & CONDITIONS twin share with a private bath. Limited single accommoda tions are available for a supplement of $795. Expedition Fee: $,3,995 per person twin share + air fare Reservations, Deposits, and Payments: of approximately $1,195 from New York’s JFK International Please mail a deposit of $500 per person with the Airport to Istanbul, round trip + in-tour air of approximately completed reservation form to: $400 per person. Istanbul & Cappadocia 2021 Expedition Fee Includes: Betchart Expeditions Inc. Group transfers; transportation by coach; 17050 Montebello Road accommodations based on twin share in first class Cupertino, CA 95014-5435 country-style hotels with private bath which reflect the The balance is due 60 days before departure. heritage of Turkey; meals as indicated; entrance fees; tips at hotels; baggage handling; tour leadership by an Questions: Please call Betchart Expeditions Inc. excellent guide; administration. Telephone: (800) 252 4910 (USA) or (408) 252 4910 (International) Expedition Fee Does Not Include: Fax: (408) 252 1444 International and in-tour air fare (quoted separately); Email: [email protected] independent transfers; lunches; tips to your guide and drivers; beverages at meals; alcoholic beverages, snacks, Look on the Web: sodas, bottled water, laundry, internet use, phone, fax, www.betchartexpeditions.com passport, Turkish visa, travel insurance, or other Cancellations personal expenses. and Refunds: What to Expect: This expedition is for the travel enthusiast The initial deposit is who would like to explore the treasures of Turkey. Led refundable up to 60 days by an excellent guide on the history and archaeological before departure less a sites of Turkey, we will explore sites which are important handling fee of $100 per to all of Western Civilization, including early cave villages person. There is no refund in central Turkey and Greco-Roman sites along the coast, after that period unless such as Ephesus and Troy. Typically it will be in the 60’s your place is resold, then to 70’s with nights in the 50’s. (No smoking in bus or vans, only the $100 per person during lectures or meals, please.) handling fee is withheld. There are no refunds for Air Fare & Airline Ticketing: Please phone unused meals or other Taunya at Betchart Expeditions, (800) 252-4910 expedition features. for information about the recommended flights. AIR FARES Travel insurance is ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL TICKETED. recommended.