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Home , Konya, Lost city, Pera Palace Hotel, Urfa, Zeugma (Commagene)

EASTERN TALES OF

ISTANBUL, , , , &

KER & DOWNEY | 6703 HIGHWAY BLVD | KATY, TX 77494 | PHONE: 281.371.2500 | FAX: 281.371.2514 | RESERVATIONS: 800.423.4236 KER & DOWNEY // EASTERN TALES OF TURKEY

SUGGESTED ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

DAY: ITINERARY: ACCOMMODATION: MEALS:

DAY 1 PERA PALACE HOTEL DAY 2 URFA MANICI HOTEL B DAY 3 ADANA ADANA HILTON HOTEL B,L DAY 4 CAPPADOCIA MUSEUM HOTEL B DAY 5 CAPPADOCIA MUSEUM HOTEL B DAY 6 CAPPADOCIA DEDEMAN HOTEL B DAY 7 ANKARA DIVAN HOTEL B DAY 8 ANKARA DIVAN HOTEL B DAY 9 ISTANBUL PERA PALACE HOTEL B DAY 10 DEPARTURE B KER & DOWNEY // EASTERN TALES OF TURKEY

HISTORIC, EXPERIENTIAL TURKEY

DAY 1 - DAY 2 URFA

DISCOVER THE ANCIENT TALES OF URFA. After spending the first night in Istanbul, head to the ancient of Urfa in southeastern Turkey. Here guests encounter one of the most startling archaeological discoveries of our time: Gobekli Tepe. Consisting of massive carved stones about 11,000 years old, crafted and arranged by prehistoric people who had not yet developed metal tools or even pottery, Turkey’s stunning Gobekli Tepe upends the conventional view of the rise of civilization.

Continue to , a city that seems to be as old as the , if not older. The most distinctive aspect of Harran is its mud beehive houses, and when accompanied by the Balikligol is believed to be the place owner you may tour inside one of these unconventional homes. where was born, in a cave, and this area is considered sacred by Return to Urfa and visit the legendary Balikligol, translated to “fish pool,” a great piece followers of Judaism, Christianity of architecture and Turkey’s closest equivalent to the Taj Mahal. Shop Urfa’s bazaar, an and . authentic and exotic place filled with savory local cuisine and hidden treasures. KER & DOWNEY // EASTERN TALES OF TURKEY

THE OF TURKEY

ADANA DAY 3

JOURNEY TO ANTEP, TURKEY’S “PARIS OF THE EAST.” The secret to the richness of Antep is that this is an eclectic region that has been home to many different ethnicities and cultures, forming a rich that has left imprints in all aspects of Antep culture.

On your journey today, witness the story of , founded in the 3rd-4th century B.C. by Seleucus Nicator I, one of ’s commanding generals. The city is situated at one of the easiest fording places on the , perhaps inspiring its name which means “bridgehead” or “crossing place.” The of the city have since This city is most famous for three been covered by waters from a nearby , but prior to the flooding Zeugma yielded one of the richest troves of Roman ever uncovered. Now exhibited at Gazian- things: history, kebap, and pastry tep Museum in downtown Antep, the well-preserved mosaics depict a wide variety of desserts, especially Baklava. mythological scenes and individuals.

Following a lunch of delicious local cuisine you will continue to Adana. Turkey’s fourth largest city is a fast-growing agricultural and industrial boom town, the commercial capital of the eastern Mediterranean coast. Indulge in Adana’s unique cuisine, sampling kebap made from minced meat and unique to the city, and take in the views of the city’s medieval architecture. KER & DOWNEY // EASTERN TALES OF TURKEY

OF FAIRY CHIMNEYS AND PHILOSOPHERS

CAPPADOCIA DAY 4 - DAY 6

NOW YOU ENTER THE LAND OF FAIRYTALES. Cappadocia, the world- renowned home of the Fairy chimneys, displays amazing geological formations born from a natural phenomenon creating cave-like spaces and networks of tunnels that have hosted countless civilizations throughout history. Visit Kaymakli Underground City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by early Christians to protect them from religious persecution. Kaymakli is an elaborate labyrinth of tunnels and caves and is probably the widest of the un- derground . Continue to Uchisar, where the Castle provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area with Mount Erciyes in the distance.

Walking the streets you will come The following day, explore Devrent Valley. Though never inhabited, this valley is famous for its incredible lunar landscape anmd formations that resemble animals. Travel next to the across pigeons’ nests carved into the Pasabag, home to highly remarkable earth pillars with twin and even triple rock caps. Visit cliffs and land formations. According Goreme and the Goreme Open-Air Museum, one of the first two UNESCO sites in Turkey. to legend, fairies and humans used Visit the Chez Galip studio, in the Avanos Village, where Galip himself will teach you the to live here together, but when tricks of his pottery trade. the humans decided to do away with the fairies, they transformed into Leave Cappadocia and continue to , one of the oldest cities of Turkey. The city still holds remnants of life from the prehistoric era and is considered the epicenter of the pigeons and began to live in the nests Mevlevi Sufi order. Mevlana devotees from all around the world flock to Konya to listen to in, the Valley of Pigeons. the teachings of the philosophers and watch the incredible performances of the whirling each year. KER & DOWNEY // EASTERN TALES OF TURKEY

MYSTERIES OF THE PAST

DAY 7 - DAY 8

ANKARA SEE ONE OF THE GREATEST DISCOVERIES OF ALL TIME: Catalhoyuk, the remains of a town dating back 9,500 years. At a time when most of the world’s people were wandering hunter-gatherers, as many as 8,000 people lived at Catalhoyuk. The site rapidly became famous internationally due to its large size, as well as the spectacular wall paintings and other art that was uncovered inside the houses. Many objects of daily life were found, including exceptional flint daggers with decorative bone handles, and clay or stone figurines depicting human figures and animals. Much is still unknown about this significant find, and an international team of archaeologists and other specialists continue to work the site and discover more about this ancient community.

The city was built where the You will continue travelling to Ankara, the capital of Turkey with a historical foundation Phrygian kind Midas is said to have even older than Istanbul. Visit the Anatolian Museum of civilization and step back in time found an anchor, leading to its to the era of the . After the museum travel to Alacahoyuk, the site of pre-Hittite naming from the word “ancryna” royal tombs dating from 2500 BC, and the “City of a Thousand Gods” at , the politi- meaning anchor. cal and religious capital of the Hittite Empire. KER & DOWNEY // EASTERN TALES OF TURKEY

BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS OF ISTANBUL

DAY 9 - DAY 10

ISTANBUL

SPEND YOUR FINAL DAY IN THE CAPITAL OF TURKEY. Located on the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul lays near the natural harbor known as the , in the northwestern region of the country. It has an exceptionally long history as the capital of vari- ous empires, and its historic areas were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

Visit the Hippodrome, the heart of ’s political and sporting life, and the world famous - the great Byzantine Basilica built in the 6th century. In the afternoon visit the Grand Bazaar and experience the spectacle of shopping in Turkey with hundreds of stalls and a myriad of treasures on display. What is unique to Istanbul is that it extends both on the European and Asian of the Bosphorus and is the only in the world that is sitting on two .