DOBAG, a Turkish acronym for Natural Dye Research and Development Project, is responsible for weaving some of the finest carpets in the world today. This highly successful Cultural Survival Project was started in 1982 by  in the villages south of Troy, Turkey.  Since its inception, The DOBAG Project has produced superior carpets with natural plant dyes and traditional Turkish motifs. They accomplish this by using only the finest weaving materials and techniques from start to finish. Beginning with sheep’s wool, which is gathered during the spring shearing when the wool is most resilient and lustrous. The wool is then hand-carded and hand-spun before it is vegetable dyed with locally cultivated plant matter. The luster of this wool and the care that goes into making each rug has allowed DOBAG to boast that their rugs are the antiques of the future. Each woman creates her rug in her own home while tending to family needs. She uses the motifs and symbols of her ancestors and sells her rug to the cooperative. The cooperative is under the supervision of the University of Marmara, in Istanbul and each carpet must achieve an excellence in color, construction and overall design before receiving the DOBAG stamp of approval.Each woman creates her rug in her own home while tending to family needs. She uses the motifs and symbols of her ancestors and sells her rug to the cooperative. The cooperative is under the supervision of the University of Marmara, in Istanbul and each carpet must achieve an excellence in color, construction and overall design before receiving the DOBAG stamp of approval.


ITINERARY

Meals,hotels,transportation,entrsance fees,guiding....

 Day 1: Sept 22, 2005
Leave Selcuk after breakfast. drive to Pergamum. visit the Acropolis and the Ancient hospital
overnight in Ayvalik

DAY 2: Sept 23, 2005
Visit the Alter of Zeus, the ancient site of Assos where St Paul had preaached
Overnight in Assos 

DAY 3: Sept. 24, 2005
Visit the museum in the mountain village of Tahtakuslar. It's the
very first village museum of ethnography.
Visit DOBAG villages  Overnight in Assos

DAY 4: Sept. 25, 2005
Visit the legendary city of Troy. Continue
driving to Bursa Overnight in Bursa

Day 5: Sept
Visit Bursa, Iznik ( Ancient Nycea ) and visit doll makers at Azize Hanim's work shop in a beautiful English Garden by the lake. The village women are making these dolls and I am sure you would all love the project named Antolian Project.Ferry to Istanbul. Overnight at Hotel Ayasofya

The tour will be over the next morning.