Tip for the driver
Cancellation and Payment
When you decide to book the tour, we will ask you to give a non refundable deposit.of US$ 250
The rest of the payment can be devided in 2 instalments on
February 10th and
March 10th
Meli will accept your checks for the Feb 10th payment when she visits
your photo club.
If cancelled 60 days before the tour 80% of your payment will be
refunded.
If cancelled with in 30 days of the
tour I am sorry I will not be able to refund
I strongly recommend you get a tour
cancellation insurance
ITINERARY
Day 1 - April 20, 2005
Wednesday ISTANBUL
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to Hotel Ayasofya. Hotel
Ayasofya is almost as it was 200 years ago. It is situated within
walking distance of the must-see places in Istanbul. The tour starts at
5:00 pm in the lobby of the hotel. After a short introduction we will
visit the Blue Mosque and have dinner. Overnight at Hotel Ayasofya.
Day 2 -April 21, 2005
Thursday ISTANBUL
Photograph old Ottoman Houses, Bosphorus, Cemetery, Sinan's
mosque interiors and much more.Overnight at Hotel Ayasofya.
Day 3 - April 22, 2005
Friday Istanbul, flight to Cappadocia
Be ready for some fantastic photo ops. Aya Sophia, street shots, market
interior shots, mosaics in the Chora Church, etc. Note: Flash is not
allowed. Carry fast film and/or a fast lens.
Overnight at Irmak Hotel in Avanos.
Day 4 - April 23, 2005
Saturday Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a land where nature and man have competed with each other
to create the unusual and the most beautiful landscape. A hike takes us
to 10th and 11th century churches, monasteries, and houses carved into
the rocks, and where we visit a family who live in one of the ancient
rock dwellings.
The moonlike terrain of Cappadocia with its endless
natural artwork is a photographer's delight. Since Cappadocia is also
the carpet center of Turkey, we have scheduled a visit to see how the
world-renowned art of Turkish carpet making by hand along the use of
natural dies is kept alive. If you are game, hop on one of the magic
carpets and see where it will take you.
Overnight at Irmak Hotel in Avanos.
Day 5 - April 24, 2005
Sunday Cappadocia
We will visit home(s) in Cappadocia. Visit the most stunning, today
abandoned, cliff dwelling town with its spectacular monumental
monasteries, churches, mill and more. On the program is a visit to a
vineyard where shots of blooming vines along with discovering some local
Turkish liquid history is in store for us.
Overnight at Irmak Hotel in Avanos.
Day 6 - - April 25,
2005 Monday Guzelyurt
Start the day with a pleasant three to five mile hike into the depths of
Cappadocia at an altitude of about 4,200 feet. Our next stop, Avanos, is
renowned as the place where pottery making can be traced back to the
time of the Hittites (3rd century BC). We will visit a potter who keeps
the ancient art alive. A visit to the underground city of early
Christians is also on our program. Here we will have our best village
shots.
Overnight in Guzelyurt in a hotel that was built as
a Christian girl's school in 1853.
Day 7 - April 26, 2005
Tuesday Konya
We will start the day with a short walk to the most scenic location of
Guzelyurt, where we will capture 10,000 years of history. After our
morning hike we have breakfast at a home in the village. Hikers can take
a morning hike to the oldest monastery valley in Christian history. If
you do not hike, you can stay in town and enjoy locals absorbing the
local atmosphere meeting with the locals with whom you can easily make
friends.
Departing for Konya, stopping en route at a 12th
century Caravanserai. Konya is the first capital of the Selcuks, the
oldest Turkish Empire in Anatolia. It is also known for being the
homeland of Rumi, a 13th century poet-philosopher and one of the
earliest humanists. The ambiance of the city has not changed much for
the past 800 years.
Overnight at Hotel Sifa - walking distance to the
Rumi Mausoleum and the market.
Day 8 -April 27, 2005
Wednesday Egirdir
In the morning a stop at the mausoleum of philosopher and the poet, Rumi,
a place made for great people and art shots. Then, time for market shots
in the thousand-year-old market place of Konya.
We get to Egirdir in time to see how the fading sun
makes this lake and mountains a photographer dream of dramatic effects
unfolding right in front of the lens.
Overnight stay by the lake.
Day 9 - April
28, 2005 Thursday Egirdir
We spend today in a canyon where we take in as much spring air as our
lungs and scenery as our eyes can handle. A picnic lunch adds to the
days outing.
Overnight stay by the lake.
Day 10 - April 29, 2005
Friday Pamukkale
The afternoon drive takes us to Pamukkale where we catch the setting
sunlight magically illuminating the white cliffs as well as yellow
travertine walls of tombs and monuments. Pamukkale (ancient Heirapolis)
is singularly the most unusual natural phenomenon of Turkey. The Turkish
name literally means - "cotton castle" - and refers to the extraordinary
surface of the snow-white cliffs, shaped over millennia by accumulation
of calcium deposited by mineral springs. Visit the Hot Springs and swim
in a spa amid Roman columns. Bring your swim gear.
Overnight at Yoruk Hotel
Day 11 - April 30, 2005
Saturday Selcuk
Aphrodisias The city of Love and I dare you to try the local wine. This
is also the place where we have the unique opportunity to see men
painstakingly weave on their wooden looms.
Overnight at Kalehan Hotel
Day 12 – May 01 Sunday,
2005 Ephesus
Ephesus, is the best-preserved classical city in the eastern
Mediterranean and today ranks among the best places in the world to get
a feel for what life was like in Roman times. While sitting in the
theater of ancient Ephesus you can visualize 35,000 Ephesians listen to
silversmith Demetrius shout..."great is Artemis of Ephesians"… in
reaction to St. Paul's preaching… "there shall be no man-made gods."
Overnight at Kalehan Hotel
Day 13 - May 02
Monday, 2005 Selcuk / Kusadasi/
Sirince village
Transportation will be arranged for those who are interested in going to
Ephesus, others can have alternative short itineraries or visit the well
known and historic Kusadasi. Or they can go to sirince. Transportation
will be available for different choices.
Overnight at Kalehan Hotel
Day 14 –May 03 Tuesday
Tire market/ Istanbul
A visit to the Saturday Selcuk farmer's market is followed by a late
flight from Izmir (7:00 pm) to Istanbul.
Transfer to and overnight at Hotel Ayasofya
Day 15 – May 04
Wednesday Flight home
The tour officially ends after transfer to the international airport for
the connecting flight out of Istanbul returning to USA
Please check the itineraries offered for pre or after tour options
