Day 1: Meet “Morocco” at JFK airport for check-in & orientation, then onto our Turkish Airlines jet for our overnight flight. Dinner, movie, nap. Wake up in
Day 2: ISTANBUL!! Passport control, get your bags & we meet our Istanbul agency rep for our transfer to the lovely Nippon Hotel, next to the heart of Taksim district. Unpack & wash up a bit, then “Rocky” will take you to change some money, so you can walk around Taksim & buy dinner: there’s lots of cheap, cafeteria-style places right near our hotel. Early to bed, because we start in earnest tomorrow morning!
Day 3: Buffet breakfast in the hotel & onto our private bus for a great morning tour of Topkapi Palace, Blue & Suleymaniye Mosques & St. Savior in Chira Museum. Lunch on our own (great cafeteria across from hotel), then come with “Rocky” for our first visit to the costumers. Back to the hotel & dress up, our bus is waiting to take us to the Orient House night club for dinner & show, with Turkish-style Oryantal Dansi.
Day 4: Buffet breakfast, then our bus will leave us at the Covered Market & Morocco will take you straight to the 2nd costumer! The rest of the day to enrich the Turkish economy, then back to the hotel on your own. Early evening departure to the Gar Gazinosu night club for dinner & show with Folk & Oriental Dance.
Day 5: Buffet breakfast & to our bus to the Spice Market (the “Egyptian Bazaar”). Rest of the day to shop & balance the national budget. Back to the hotel to change clothes & off to the Kervansaray night club for dinner & show with Folk & Oriental Dance.
Day 6: Buffet breakfast, then off to the airport for our flight to Ankara. While in Ankara, we will visit a fabulous historical museum: see some of the oldest goddess statues & artifacts. Onto our bus for the drive to Cappadocia (lunch enroute). Visit the underground city of Derinkuyu. Delicious buffet dinner at our hotel, then Folkloric & Oriental Dance show & soft drink at a nearby Taverna.
Day 7: Buffet breakfast, then a full day tour to the Citadel of Uchisar & Goreme & Zelve Valleys. Lunch included. Back to the hotel to swim, relax, whatever. Buffet dinner & overnight.
Day 8: Buffet breakfast. Drive to Konya. Lunch & visit the Mevlana Museum (founder of Turkish Whirling Dervishes). Dinner, Dervish Sema & overnight at our hotel. (BTW: there’s a Turkish supermarket that’s open till 11:30p.m. right down the street, where you can get apple tea & those adorable tea sets much cheaper than at the bazaars….)
Day 9: Buffet breakfast, then onto our bus for the scenic route to Pamukkale, lunch enroute. Tour of the Chalk Terraces of Pamukkale. Buffet dinner & overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Buffet breakfast. On our bus to visit to Ancient Hierapolis. Lunch in Aphrodisias, then visit this city dedicated to Aphrodite. Drive to Kusadasi for dinner at our hotel, soft drink & show with Oriental & Folk Dance at the Kervanseray night club. Overnight at our hotel.
Day 11: Buffet breakfast, then a tour of Ephesus: visit the ruins of the ancient city. Lunch will be served during the tour. Late afternoon transfer to Izmir airport for our return flight to Istanbul. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner & Gypsy musicians at Kumkape. Get up & dance to the music & watch their eyes light up in astonishment!!!
Day 12: Buffet breakfast, then onto our bus for a morning tour of the St. Sophia, Turkish & Islamic Art Museums & Underground Cistern. Lunch on our own & then, for those who need it: back to the costumers. For the rest: time to explore. Early evening departure for dinner & show at Galata Towers night club, featuring Folk & Oriental Dance.
Day 13: Buffet breakfast. Final costume fitting for some, free morning to enrich the Turkish economy for the rest. Don’t stray too far, because we’re going to the Military Museum, with its fabulous Janissary Band Concert early in the afternoon. Make those last-minute purchases. Farewell Dinner at the hotel, with a surprise!
Day 14: Buffet breakfast. Transfer to airport for our flight home. Bon Voyage. Gule Gule.
