TURKISH TREASURES

With Dr. Jennifer Tobin

Stereotypical images of Turkey recall bazaar stalls filled with vibrant silks and flashy jewels...or perhaps sumptuous palaces filled with veiled belly dancers, accompanied by insistent, hypnotic music. A treasure house of history, culture and food (Turkish cuisine is considered one of the world's greatest), Turkey offers much, much more.  A country that can truly lay claim to the title "Crossroads of Civilization," it has seen the footprints of nine major civilizations - Hittite, Urartian, Phrygian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman Turk - and each has bequeathed a magnificent legacy. Turkey is a varied land with seaside towns, forested mountains and fertile plains bathed in almost constant sunshine.

Far Horizons offers 12 participants only a personal view of Turkey's archaeology, history and culture. Explore well-known and seldom-visited ancient cities and meet with archaeologists and other specialists for private lectures about their projects.  Highlights include visits to remote but spectacular sites and specially arranged meetings with a member of the excavation staff of several archaeological projects –Aphrodesias, Sagalassos, and Hattusas. In keeping with the historic theme of the trip, hotels are chosen to depict the charm characterizing the Turkish culture.

ITINERARY: (B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner

Day 1: Depart the USA on Turkish Airlines non-stop flight to Istanbul.

Day 2: Arrive in UNESCO World Heritage site-filled Istanbul. In the afternoon, explore the historic area of the city.  Visit Aya Sofya, the first church of Christianity, begun in the 2nd century AD by Constantine the Great.  One of the great buildings of the world, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople and was the center of the Byzantine Empire for almost a thousand years.  Walk to the Hippodrome (scene of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory celebrations and executions). Built partly on the site once occupied by the Byzantine imperial palace stands the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I, known to foreigners as the Blue Mosque. It took seven years to build the mosque and its associated buildings.  The building has an enormous central dome supported by four huge freestanding pillars, and six fluted minarets. Overnight for the next two nights in an Ottoman house that has been transformed into a charming bed-and-breakfast hotel within walking distance of the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofya. (L)

Day 3: Begin in Suleymaniye, the mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent, considered the finest creation of Sinan, the greatest of the Ottoman architects. Lunch will be true Ottoman cuisine served within a restored 16th-century imaret, or public soup kitchen, built by Sinan upon order of Suleyman the Magnificent.  At Saint Saviour in Chora Monastery, or Kariye Museum, view mosaics and frescoes that are masterpieces of the “Renaissance" of Byzantine art. Lunch will be held at Darüzziyafe, built by Sinan between 1550-1555 upon order of Suleyman the Magnificent as an imaret, or public soup kitchen, within the dependencies of Suleymaniye Mosque.  This building was used as a banqueting room until the latest years of the Ottoman Empire.  It was restored in 1991, and now is a restaurant offering rich samples of true Ottoman cuisine. Explore Topkapi Sarai, built in 1468 as a summer palace for Mehmet the Conqueror. The estate includes lovely gardens, the council chambers of government, and the harem. In the Grand Bazaar, see thousands of shops, a mosque, a school, a post office and police station are all housed underneath a vast roof. Dinner tonight in Kumkapi, a delightful, boisterous neighborhood where seafood restaurants abound and musicians entertain with lively music. (B/L/D)

Day 4: A scenic drive through Thrace and a trip by ferry across the Dardanelles Straits leads to Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Late 19th-century excavations revealed nine principal levels of occupation covering a period of over 3000 years. Possibly founded by the Hittite King Tudhaliyas IV, it is encircled by more than two miles of imposing 4th century BC walls. Overnight in the Hotel Tusan in Çanakkale. (B/L/D)

Day 5: Begin in Alexandra Troas, founded by one of Alexander’s generals in 300BC. The remains of buildings covering a vast area surrounded by city walls, once more than six miles long, are witness to the city’s importance. Drive over a 14th-century Ottoman bridge to view Assos, a picturesque village clinging to the side of the ancient acropolis. The magnificent ruins of the city dominate the top of a mountain overlooking the Aegean Sea. The oldest part of the city was Hellenistic, and the stunning basaltic walls encircling the site date from this period.  Down the cliff-face from the ruins is the port with charming buildings dating from the last century when the town was Greek. Overnight in a restored caravanserai, an inn for camel trains, with spectacular views across the Aegean Sea.  Dinner is on ourr own to explore the village restaurants.  (B/L/D)

Day 6: Created by the heirs of Alexander, Pergamum was a Hellenistic city that rivaled Ephesus. Climb to the ancient metropolis that stands majestically on an acropolis rising precipitously to a height of nearly a thousand feet above the modern city of Bergama. Overnight for two nights in the Hotel Kismet, owned by the granddaughter of the last sultan.  (B/L/D)

Day 7: Of all the cities of ancient Turkey, Ephesus is the best preserved and the most often visited. Dedicated to the virgin goddess of the chase, the city is the site of the Temple of Diana (Artemis), one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and The Church of Saint John, where the disciple spoke. During Christian times, it was one of the Seven Churches of Revelations, and was where Paul wrote the Philippians and perhaps other letters now in the New Testament. In the morning, walk through the church where St. John spoke, and view the Temple of Artemis (Diana), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  In the afternoon, visit the classic city of Ephesus and the nearby Selcuk Museum containing marvelous artifacts found in the nearby excavations. Dinner tonight will be in a local restaurant, renowned for its fresh seafood. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Today’s tour takes us to Aphrodesius, one of the most exciting recent discoveries in Turkey. Within this ancient city, dedicated to the goddess of love, have been found monuments of great beauty, many of Aphrodite herself.  Here, if onsite, a member of the archaeological staff will open the storage building that is closed to the public to show us the lovely marble statues that have been found during the excavations. Pamukkale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a dazzling white plateau that rises 400 feet in a curtain of stalagmites and shallow ponds forming an immense frozen cascade. The towering cliffs have been formed by calcium in the hot mineral water that solidifies as it gushes from countless underground springs.  Just as today, the people of the ancient site of Hierapolis constructed spas around the healing waters, and at least three Roman Emperors came to enjoy them. The grandeur of the 2nd century baths show the importance of the site. Overnight in Denizli. (B/L/D)

Day 9: Today's explorations take us to several memorable sites rarely visited by tourists. Cavdarhisar, the ancient Aizanoi, has one of the best preserved Roman temples in Anatolia - the Temple of Zeus. Dating back to the time of Hadrian, it was built for the worship of Zeus and also the Anatolian fertility goddess Kybele. The city also contains a beautiful Roman stadium and a theater. Aslantas, located high on a lush, forested hilltop, has been inhabited for almost 4000 years. Dating from the 13th century BC, this was the summer retreat for the neo-Hittite royalty of Cilicia. Continue to the nearby site of Aslankaya where Phrygian rock-cut monuments are protected by magnificent lion reliefs. Overnight in Afyon. (B/L/D)

Day 10: By the 8th century BC, the Phrygians had formed a centrally organized kingdom dominated by two cities. Midas City, or Midaeion, was dedicated to the goddess, Kybele, and is noted for its 65-foot high inscription.   Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, housed within a splendid restored bazaar and containing a unique and priceless collection of Hittite art. Located within the 7th-century citadel above the city is one of the best surviving Byzantine forts. Overnight in the Hotel Gordion in Ankara.  (B/L)

Day 11:  From 1750 to 1180 BC, Hattusas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the capital of the proud and warlike Hittites, whose empire stretched from the Black Sea to Syria.  Nearby is the outdoor rock art shrine of Yazilikaya where incised Hittite gods march across the cliff face. If available, the director of the excavations will show us his team's latest discoveries. Spend the next three nights in the Kelebek Hotel, a whimsical hotel that depicts the charm of the area with rooms that have also been cut from the living rock.  Each of the rooms has been individually and elegantly decorated with Ottoman furniture, antiques and crafts of the region.  (B/L/D)

Day 12: Millions of years ago, a volcano near Cappadocia spewed out molten lava and dust. Since then, wind and weather have reshaped the soft rock, leaving cones and "fairy chimneys."  Here, early Christians carved out churches, monasteries, and huge underground cities where they could hide from persecutors. Explore the rock-cut churches and monasteries of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Goreme Valley, and Zelve, a natural amphitheater at the junction of three canyons where the cliff faces are riddled with openings to houses and churches, many with frescoes still visible. (B/L/D)

Day 13: After a climb to the top of the natural rock citadel of Uchisar, continue to the underground city of Kaymakli and walk through a maze of tunnels and rooms at least eight stories deep. We will enjoy a carpet demonstration with time to shop for that perfect carpet. Before returning to our hotel, stop in Mustafapasa, the former Anatolian Greek village of Sinassos.  After finding the gatekeeper to unlock the door, walk down steps carved hundreds of years ago to see a church , Ayios Vasilios, still containing painted frescos of St. Basil. (B/L/D)

Day 14: Travel along ageless caravan trails, and stop to examine Agzikarahan, a beautifully-carved, 13th-century caravansary built by Seljuk Turks. In Konya, we will visit Mevlana Tekke, the tomb of the mystic Jala ad-Din ar-Rumi, better known as Mevlana, the founder of the whirling dervishes. Continue to the Hittite spring sanctuary monument at Eflatun Pinar.  A pastoral scene greets us on our drive into the Taurus Mountains. Rocky crags jut up from high valleys to create a dazzling sight, and the icy waters from melting snow rush from the mountains peaks to form the spectacular, crystal-clear lakes of Egirdir. (B/L/D)

Day 15: A drive over the Taurus Mountains reveals terrain ranging from pastoral valleys to spectacular snow-crested peaks. Explore the magnificent ruined city of Sagalossos clinging perilously to the southern granite slopes of the Taurus Mountains.  Originally inhabited by Pisidians, the pirates of the central Anatolian world, this was the highest city in the Roman Empire. Here we will meet with the director of excavations or a member of his staff for a private tour of the project's excavations. Then it's on to the Roman port of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast, now one of the loveliest cities in Turkey, where we will spend two nights in a restored 19th century Ottoman mansion, now an elegant hotel, in the old port section of town.  This picturesque quarter with its narrow winding streets and lovely Ottoman homes has won architectural awards for its beautiful restoration. Dinner is on our own to enjoy one of the city's wonderful restaurants. (B/L)

DAY 16:  Travel to Perge, founded by Greek settlers following the Trojan War, to see the great theater, stadium, enormous Hellenistic and Roman gates, and a colonnaded street.  Continue to Aspendos, containing a fine Roman theater restored by Ataturk in 1932, and to the Antalya Archaeological Museum, an architectural delight housing artifacts from many nearby sites. The afternoon is free to explore the old section of the city. Tonight's dinner party is in an elegant seafood restaurant frequented by Antalyans. (B/L/D)

DAY 17:The Antalya Archaeological Museum is an architectural delight; the artifacts contained within are from the many nearby ancient cities.  In the afternoon, fly back to Istanbul. In the 17th and 18th centuries it became fashionable for high-ranking people of Istanbul to own a summer home on the Bosphorus, the sinuous straits separating Europe from Asia. These wooden yalis, as they are called, were extremely beautiful and elegant, of a perfection of structure and a refinement of decoration that are the supreme examples of their architects’ and painters’ genius.  This afternoon, we will travel by private boat up the Bosphorus to view these lovely wooden villas and elegant marble palaces along the shore.  We will leave the yacht to dine in one of the excellent seafood restaurants along the shore.  (B/L/D)

DAY 18: Return to the U.S.A. (B)

(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner

STUDY LEADER:  Dr. Jennifer Tobin received her BA in Classical Studies from Stanford University and her PhD in Classical Archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. From 1992-97, she was Assistant Professor at Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey. In 1997, she returned to the United States and is now Assistant Professor and head of the Classics Department at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She worked on archaeological projects in Italy, Greece and Turkey and since 1994 has been the director of the Küçük Burnaz Project in southern Turkey. Dr. Tobin speaks Greek and Turkish.

TRIP DATES:  August 15 – September 1, 2008

TRIP COST:  $9,295.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes roundtrip air from New York and one Turkish domestic flight on Turkish Airlines, all hotels, and most meals (as noted in brochure). 

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: The separate donation check for $150.00 (per person) to "American Friends of the German Archaeological Institute' (please put on the check - 'to be used wholly for the Hattusas Project'), passports or visa fees, airport or departure taxes; beverages or food not included on regular menus; laundry; excess baggage charges; personal tips; gratuities to guides and drivers; alcoholic drinks; telephone, email and fax charges; or other items of a personal nature.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $695.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.

REGISTRATION:  A deposit of $500.00 is required along with your registration form, along with a separate check for $150.00 to "American Friends of the German Archaeological Institute' (please put on the check - 'to be used wholly for the Hattusas Project'). Final payment is due 75 days before departure. Upon receipt of your deposit and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information.  An information book designed for this trip, including maps of archaeological sites and articles of pertinent interest will be sent upon receipt of final payment.

CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS: Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before departure will result in an administrative fee of $250.00. Cancellations received less than 75 days before departure will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the tour, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Registrants are strongly advised to buy travel insurance that includes trip cancellation.

AIRLINE NOTE: The fare requires that tickets be issued 60 days prior to departure. Participants who register after 60 days before departure may be charged an additional fee due to price changes. Please note that if participants arrive and depart Istanbul on flights other than the Turkish Airline group flights, additional transfer costs may be charged.

HOTELS: In keeping with the theme of our trips, hotels are chosen to depict the charm characterizing the Turkish culture. Where available, they are restored historical buildings - elegant Ottoman mansions furnished with period antiques; bed-and-breakfast style inns filled with lovely weavings, carpets and kilims, and handmade crafts; beautiful cut-stone Selcuk caravanserai originally built for camel caravans, and other unique accommodations too small for "tour groups".  Of course, all rooms have private bathrooms.

MEALS: Wherever possible, meals will be in charming restaurants instead of in your hotel.  Breakfast is Continental (fresh bread, cheese and coffee or tea).

PRIVATE TOURS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES:  The private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts.  However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be onsite when our groups arrive due to other commitments. 

DONATION CHECKS: The cost of the trip does not include the separate donation check for $150.00 (per person) to "American Friends of the German Archaeological Institute' (please put on the check - 'to be used wholly for the Hattusas Project'). As a tour company that benefits from the historical, cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to scholars, archaeological and cultural projects, and museums in each of our destinations. This has created a bond with the academic community that allows you to gain an 'insider's view' of work being done in each country.