Baylor in Turkey and Greece Professor: Douglas Henry MAY 13 – JUNE 9, 2015 – 29 Days
May 13 Wed Depart DFW for Istanbul.
May 14 Thu Arrive Istanbul (mid-afternoon), check into hotel Istanbul. Evening free. (D)
May 15 Fri Guided tour of Sultanahmet area; Blue Mosque, Then visit the 6th century St. Sophia‘s (Hagia Sophia) built by the emperor Justinian, to be the grandest church of Christianity, it is now a museum, Visit the Underground Cistern Basilica. Afternoon free. (B, D)
May 16 Sat Enjoy a morning boat ride on the Bosphorus seeing both the European and Asian shores. Take the funicular from Kabatas to Istiklal Street. Visit St. Antoine Church. Have free time for lunch and strolling on the street. Meet with the group later, visit Galata Tower then return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
May 17 Sun In the morning visit the archaeological museum containing the greatest treasures of Greek and Roman antiquities discovered in Turkey. After lunch on own, visit Topkapi Palace home of the Ottoman rulers for 400 years. It is now a museum housing a world renowned collection of jewelry and porcelain. (B, D)
May 18 Mon Morning visit to Patriarchal Church of St. George. Afternoon visit to the famous Grand Bazaar and then free late afternoon in Istanbul. (B, D)
May 19 Tue Depart Istanbul. Cross the Dardanelle Straight by ferry and visit Troy to see the legendary city and the replica of the wooden horse. On to Assos for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
May 20 Wed Visit Temple of Athena and the statue of Aristotle in Assos. Overnight in Assos. (B, D)
May 21 Thur Leave for Pergamon. Visit the Acropolis with the steepest theater of the ancient world and the Temple of Trajan. Then visit the Red Basilica which was an Egyptian Temple, later converted to a church in the 1st century. It is also considered as one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation. Continue to Izmir. (B,D)
May 22 Fri Visit ancient Smyrna agora, its newest excavations, and St. Polycarp Church, the national monument and Kemeralti. Overnight in Izmir (B, D)
May 23 Sat Drive to Sardes capital of the ancient Lydia where first coin of the world is invented. See the ruins of the 1st century Synagogue, gymnasium, and Temple of Artemis. Tour of Hieropolis, an ancient healing site of thermal waters and spectacular travertine terraces. Visit the Temple of Apollo and Necropolis. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B, D)
May 24 Sun Drive to Laodicea and see its newly excavated early churches. Stop in Ephesus at carpet school for lunch and viewing of the making of beautiful, handwoven carpets. Continue to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
May 25 Mon Visit the famous ancient city of Ephesus, walk its marble streets, and visit the magnificant Terrace houses, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and the Basilica of St. John. The visit of the House of Virgin Mary is optional. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B, D) May 26 Tue Visit the Greco-Roman city of Priene. Then visit Miletus theater where Paul spoke to the locals and then the new museum. Lastly, visit the Apollo Temple in Didyma, the famous oracle center of Asia Minor. Return to Kusadasi. (B, D)
May 27 Wed Enjoy a relaxing boat tour along the Turkish coast with a privately chartered Gulet Boat Tour. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B, D)
May 28 Thur Morning departure from Kusadasi to Bodrum by bus. After lunch in the charming seaside town of Bodrum, visit Halicarnassos. Check into hotel, dinner and overnight in Bodrum. (B, D)
May 29 Fri Take the morning ferry to Rhodes from Bodrum (current schedule is dep at 9:30 . After lunch, afternoon tour of Old Town and Palace of the Grand Master. Dinner and overnight in Rhodes (B, D)
May 30 Sat Morning tour of Rodini Park and Saint Stefanos Hill. Afternoon free in Rhodes. Dinner and overnight in Rhodes (B, D)
May 31 Sun After breakfast, transfer to the airport for morning flight to Athens. Transfer to hotel. Panoramic tour to see: Panathenian Stadium, Lycabettus Hill, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, Constitution Square, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament House, the Academy, the University of Athens, the National Library. Dinner and overnight in Athens. (B, D)
Jun 1 Mon After breakfast we enjoy a tour of the famous Acropolis. We visit the temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon and Erechtheion and we see the Odeon, the theatre of Dionyssus, and Philopappou Hill. We then walk down to Plaka for free time. At 5 p.m. return to hotel. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Athens. (B, D)
Jun 2 Tue Morning visit to Acropolis Museum. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on its feet, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. It also lies on the archaeological site of Makrygianni and the ruins of a part of Roman and early Byzantine Athens. It was opened to the public in 2009. Nearly 4,250 objects are exhibited over an area of 14,000 square meters. After the tour either we return to hotel or spend some more time in Athens on our own. Dinner and overnight at hotel. (B, D)
Jun 3 Wed Morning drive to Eleusis, which was an ancient centre of religious devotion that culminated in the annual Eleusinian mysteries. Continue on to Ancient Corinth. We stop at the historic Corinth Canal before visiting the ancient city and Acrocorinth (the citadel of Corinth). After the visit we drive to Nauplion, a picturesque seaside town for check-in at hotel. Dinner at hotel. Overnight. (B, D)
Jun 4 Thur After breakfast we drive to Mycenae, to visit the remains of the prehistoric citadel fortified with the Cyclopean Walls, the Lionesses' Gate, the remains of the Mycenaean Palace and the Tomb of King Agamemnon in which we will actually enter. After a short lunch break we continue on to Epidaurus the Sanctuary of Asclepeios, ancient god of healing. After the tour return to hotel in Nauplion for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
Jun 5 Fri Depart Nauplion for Olympia. Visit the archaeological site in Olympia. We will see the Temple of Zeus, built by Livon, which contained the 12 meter high statue by Phedeas, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Temple of Hera where the Olympic flame was lit from the sun and taken by runners to light the torch wherever the games were being held. We will also visit the museum across the road. Check-in at hotel in Olympia for dinner and overnight. (B, D) Jun 6 Sat After breakfast we drive towards Patras, the second largest port of Greece and cross over the bridge from Rion to Antirrion. Passing by Nafpaktos we arrive at Delphi. Visit archaeological site, Sanctuary of Apollo, and the Treasury of the Athenians. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Delphi. (B, D)
Jun 7 Sun Morning visit to Delphi’s archaeological museum containing such masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture as the bronze Charioteer and the famous athlete Aghias. Afternoon free in Delphi for final exam study or leisure. Dinner and overnight in Delphi (B, D)
Jun 8 Mon Morning final exams. Depart Delphi late morning or early afternoon for return to Athens. Possible stop at Hosios Loukas along the way. Afternoon and evening free in Athens. Dinner and overnight in Athens. (B, D)
Jun 9 Tue After breakfast at hotel our escort will assist with transfer to Athens International Airport for departure flight back home. (B)
LAND RATES (Net in US$) : $4,990 per person in Double/Triple Occupancy You need to arrange your international flights arriving Istanbul on May 14 & departing Athens on June 9. $1,150 Single Room Supplement
INCLUDING: TURKEY HOTELS (15 Nights); • 5 Nights at 4 star Blue House Hotel in Old City Istanbul http://www.bluehouse.com.tr or similar • 2 Nights at 4 star Dove Hotel in Assos www.assosdovehotel.com or similar • 2 Nights at 4 star Ege Palas Hotel in Izmir www.egepalas.com.tr or similar • 1 Night at 5 star Colossae Hotel in Pamukkale www.colossaehotel.com or similar • 4 Nights at 4 star Onder Hotel in Kusadasi www.onderhotel.com or similar • 1 night at 4 star Marina Vista Hotel in Bodrum http://www.hotelmarinavista.com/en/homepage or similar GREECE HOTELS (11 Nights); • 2 Nights at 3 star hotel in Rhodes • 3 Nights at 3 star Philippos Hotel in Athens www.philipposhotel.gr or similar • 2 nights at 4 star hotel in Nauplion • 1 night at 4 star hotel in Olympia • 2 nights at 3 star Parnassos Hotel in Delphi http://www.parnassos.org or similar • 1 Night at 3 star Parthenon Hotel in Athens http://www.airotel.gr/hotel/parthenon or similar • Sightseeing as per the itinerary • Bodrum-Rhodes ferry tickets • Rhodes-Athens domestic flight • All escorted transfers • Daily breakfast and dinner as in the itinerary (B: breakfast, D: dinner) • Transportation by private A/C bus with driver throughout the tour • Tolls, parking fees, gasoline • Licensed English speaking professional tour guides during all sightseeing • Entry fees to the sites & museums • Service charges & local taxes
EXCLUDING: • Lunches and all drinks • Turkish Visa fee ($20 per person for US citizens) • Personal expenses • Any other service which is not mentioned above • Travel insurance • Tips to tour guide ($5 per person per day) and to the driver ($2 per person per day)