In Turkish we call the steam train " The Black Train" . The Black Train always brought excitement to the people where they heard her tooting. The train was either going to take a loved one away from them, taking the young men of the village to the next big city where they could find job or bring them a good news in a letter mailed from  the other side of the mountains.
But the Black Train was too slow to cope with the changing world. The people were impatient. A faster train, a bus or better a plane could do what the Black Train did for these people. 
Nobody asked the massive locos if they wanted to retire.
They were just put aside where they rust and and fade away. 
On this tour , we will pay a respect to the tired locos and give them a 
chance to feel good as they did  in our childhood.

Tour Dates
Cost of this tour is GBP 890 Single room supplement GBP 180
 See below for details.
Reserve seats on any tour without obligation

ORDER VIC ALLEN's VIDEO ON OUR PREVIOUS STEAM TRAIN TOURS 

VIC ALLEN
I have organized and run steam train tours all over the world since 1975 including several to Turkey in Mid 1980's.I thought it was about time to visit Turkey again. So we teamed up with Meli of Melitour to organize and promote this tour. 
All of our previous tours were famed for allowing the
photographers to enjoy  film or photograph  excellent shots  of the steam locomotives with the backdrop of the superb scenery that Turkey offers. . This time, we have decided  not to be satisfied just with the locations where we can reach on the track but include  some of the classic archaeological sites of Anatolia's rich heritage.We believe this will permit  spouses to enjoy the tour just as much as their steam enthusiast partners or those who simply chooses the train as a civilized mean of transportation

Arrival Suggestions:

VISA:
US citizens and the citizens of UK need a visa to travel in Turkey. You may obtain this visa upon your arrival at the Istanbul airport. The fee is $20 for the Americans and  GBP  10.-  for the British . The visa is valid for three months.

TRANSFER:
The group transfer is included in our price. However, if you are arriving on your own and need a transfer from the airport to the hotel We can arrange individual transfers at an extra cost of US$20 . Please let us know your arrival information.At the airport after you leave the customs area , look for a MELITOUR sign .

If you plan to arrive a few days before the tour to get over jet lag we can reserve a room at Hotel Ayasofya Single US$50, Double US$70)

We can suggest itineraries for those who want to explore on their own or with a guide before or after the tour. Simply send us an e-mail with your request.

In case of unexpected delay or change of flight, should there be a problem in meeting the person who should be waiting for you at the airport please call Hotel Ayasofya at 0212-51694-46 or take a taxi to Hotel Ayasofya. Your taxi fare will be refunded.

Hotel Ayasofya
Kucuk Ayasofya Mahallesi
Demirci Resit Sokak
Sultan Ahmet Meydani Alti

ITINERARY    Please check the tour hand book for more detail
 
DAY 01   Istanbul
Full day Istanbul Tour
Our day will start with an astonishing site, the underground Basilica Cistern, built 1,500 years before our time. The Turkish Islamic Art Museum will be our first exposure to the crafts of a Muslim Culture.Carpets, woodwork, copper, gold, mother of pearl engraved works of art will give a different dimension to esthetics.The role of women in different socio-economic groups of Anatolia will come alive in the displays of the ethnographic part of this museum which was given the Best Museum of Europe Award.After lunch visit St. Sophia, the 6th century church dedicated to the wisdom of Jesus. 
Dinner on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Overnight train to Ankara leaving from Haydar  Pasa at 22.30 (10.30 PM)

Day 02  Cappadocia
Breakfast on the train. In Ankara, visit the most beautiful museum of Turkey, the Anatolian Civilization Museum. The 15th century building houses the museum which was given the "Best Museum Of Europe Award." It contains the displays of 23 civilizations of Anatolia going back 2,300,000 years before our time.
 After lunch visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of the Turks.
4.5 hrs bus ride to Cappadocia.
Dinner & Overnight at Irmak Hotel in Cappadocia

Day 03  Cappadocia/ Special Train From Kayseri Kayseri / Nigde / Ulukisla
In Cappadocia the Creator and man competed in creating the most unusual and the most beautiful. Enjoy the moon-like terrain of Cappadocia with endless forms of work of art. The colors of the frescoes of the twelve hundred year old churches are just as fresh as the colors of the carpets woven in the region. The rock formations are just as striking as the local pottery made of the clay obtained from the old river beds. In the morning easy hike to Zelve to see the 10-11th century churches, monasteries and houses carved in the rocks. Visit villagers at their rock dwellings. Visit the astonishing GOREME monastary to see how each monk had interpreted in their wall paintings the history of Christianity St Paul had visited the region, Ceaseria, to pass the word of God in his 1st Missionary Journey. As one visits the colorful 
"churches" of Cappadocia, he/she will have no doubt in his/her mind that what is surrounding you in forms of thrilling art form buried in nature, is the ideas and teachings of St. Paul that had sproughted into the life style of the Cappadocians for two thousand years.

Late afternoon Transfer to Kayseri for Special sleeping and restaurant car train Our private train will be waiting for us in Kayseri 90 km away from Cappadocia. By the time we get over the excitement of settling in our compartments we will  Ulukisla,at the foot of the Toros Mountains.

Day 04 Cumra (Catalhoyuk) / Konya

The grandeur of the mountains explains why they are called "toro" the bull the Anatolian symbol of power.  In our "MIDNIGHT BLUE EXPRESS",  we will slowly savoir the grandeur of the mountains. When we finally descend to the endless valley of Central Anatolia ,we will get a chance to visit the oldest city on earth, CATALHOYUK, where the neolithic people of Anatolia had worshiped in Mother goddess  Cyble.
Our journey today will end in 
Konya, the home of the 13th century philosopher RUMI.
Dinner and overnight at Sifa hotel in Konya

Day 05 Oct. 01,2003 Wednesday
Leave Konya behind the much waitied steam loco.46052 a 1937 Henschel 2-8-2 . Konya /Afyon is 270Km and all day today,  we will have the opportunity of taking pictures of our ''Black Train". The meals,lunch and dinner will be served on the train .Overnight will also be on our special train behind deisel

Day 06 Pamukkale
 Arrive Burdur  around mid-day.Depot Visit. We will take on another  steam loco 44071 a 0-8-0   1907 ex-Prussian State Railways )   to Egridir for the classic shot of the viaduct and the fabulous view of the mountains and the lake behind it.
We will take our bus to Pamukkale to spend the evening at Yoruk Hotel

Day 07  Alasehir/ Esme /Usak
Visit the site of Magical Pamukkale and Hierrapolis.Drive to Alasehir.The steam loco will be anxiously waiting for us.
( 56508 "Krieglok" of 1943) climb the mountains of Esme letting the loco be proud of it self to be climbing the steep hills.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Usak

Day 08 Sardes /Selcuk
Visit Sardes,one of the 7 Churches of Revelation and the capital of Lydia on the way to Selcuk Overnight at Selcuk,
HOTEL KALEHAN

Day 09 Ephesus 
Camlik Loco Museum
We will start the day with our special train British Robert Stephenson  2-8-2 No 46105 of 1932 ( Izmir - Selcuk) Half  day excursion to Ephesus . Certainly the climax of the day will be at the city of Ephesus. Sitting in the theater visualizing 24,000 Ephesians, following the silversmith Dimitrius shouting "Great is Artemis of Ephesians" in reaction to St. Paul's preaching, "there should be no man made gods.". 
Apprx. at 17: 30 board our cruise ship by Royal Olympic for overnight sailing with cabins and dinner to Pireaus, Greece
Ephesus
Those of you who might finish this dream like tour in a more relaxing atmoshphere are invided to take our 4 day yacht tour to enjoy the blue and warm waters of the Mediterranean around Fethiye. 

FACILITIES ON THE TRAIN

Compartment at bed time

Hot Showers are also available

Compartment during the day

TOUR PRICE

Included in the price

•  accommodations ( hotel & train)

• All the expenses of the Special Train

• Transfer from the Istanbul airport  upon arrival.

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day 

• A guide throughout the tour

• All entrance fees at the ancient sites and Museums

• All tips at hotels and resturants( The tips on the train are not included)

Not included in the price

• Drinks

• cancellation insurance

• Flight back to Istanbul

Optional Expenses
   

• Flights in and out Turkey

•   We strongly recommend that you buy cancellation insurance.

Hotel Chart