Turkey

Aghia Sofia, Whirling Dervishes, Chimney Houses,
Caravansaries, Ephesus, Wonderful Food,
Excellent Wines, and Good Company

Day 1 : 

Istanbul is the start of our journey, where for over 2500 years east has met west.  Join us on the roof top of our hotel as we enjoy a drink and sample some of Turkey's favorite olives while we look in wonder at the minaret-studded sky line.  We'll have introductions before going to a traditional meyhane (taverna) for our first meal together. Dinner together.  Overnight Istanbul.

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Day 2 : 

We will head out early for our  tour of Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents. We'll start at Aghia Sofia, with it's massive dome and beautiful mosaics, as we talk about its role as a church, then a mosque and now a museum.   

The Blue Mosque  will be our next stop, one of the most famous sites in the city. We'll have lunch together, sampling traditional Turkish kebab. Be ready in the afternoon as we visit the Spice Bazaar, a wonderful place to pick up some goodies to take home.

Breakfast included.  Lunch together. Dinner on own.  Overnight Istanbul. 

Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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Day 3 : 

After breakfast we'll walk together to the Topkapi Palace, for centuries the political home of the Ottoman Empire and the sultan's residence.  Afterwards we will hit the Grand Bazaar. With over sixty streets and four thousand shops, it is a shopper's paradise.  Lunch will be on you own and in the afternoon you can continue your shopping, take a Golden Horn Cruise or experience a hammam (Turkish bath) .  Either way, join us in the evening as we cross the Bosphorus to the Asian side of Istanbul to take in the city views and enjoy a special dinner together. 

Breakfast included. Lunch on own. Dinner together. Overnight Istanbul. 

One UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Day 4 : 

We leave Istanbul this morning and travel across the Dardanelles to visit Gallipoli. Here Allied troops fought the Ottoman Turks, resulting in the battle whose memorials still dot this stunning area.  We'll visit a seaside restaurant and dip our feet in the Aegean before making our way to Troy. 



Breakfast included. Lunch together.  Dinner on own.
Overnight Island of Bozcaada.


One UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Day 5 Here we visit Troy - we get up early and make our way to Troy and have a good good guide!
Until 1871 when amateur archaeologist Henrich Schliemann started his digs, Troy was thought to have existed only in legend.  Based on the writings of Homer, Schliemann began excavating, finding such treasures as Priam's gold and debateable evidence that the Trojan war did take place.  We will take some time exploring the site. 

Later, we are off by ferry to the lovely island of Bozcaada where you can stroll seaside along the quay. ​

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Day 6 : 

This morning you have your choice of a coffee by the quay, a stroll around town or a swim at a nearby beach. Whatever your choice, we will be on hand to facilitate it. Lunch on your own.

In the evening we will walk to one of the vineyards that Bozcaada is famous for.  Here we will have a special wine tasting scheduled and afterwards we will head to a local restaurant for dinner together.

Breakfast Included. Lunch on you own. Wine tasting & dinner together. Overnight Island of Bozcaada

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Day 7

After our short ferry ride across we'll set out for the ruins of Alexandria Troas and ancient city founded by Alexander the Great's general Antigonos  in 300 B.C  We'll roam this site before heading into Assos, one of the most well preserved medieval villages in the area.  We'll visit the Acropolis there and the Temple to Athena as we enjoy views across the strait to the Greek island of Lesvos.

After enjoying a late lunch we are off to Bergama (Pergamon), known as one of the most beautiful cities of the ancient world.  Join us for an orientation walk before going to dinner together.  Breakfast included.  Lunch on you own.  Dinner together. Overnight in Bergama.

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Day 8

The  architects and sculptors of Pergamon were considered among the finest in the Hellenistic world. We'll visit  the temple of Athena,  the theater, the temple of Dionysus,  and the altar of Zeus.

The Asclepion here, was one of the most famous shrine and therapeutic centers in the ancient world. We take some time visiting this large site.  Later we'll have a Turkish cooking lesson on the balcony of our hotel and afterwards, lunch sampling some local delicacies.

You'll have some free time in the afternoon for exploring on your own. There is a hamman in town and some quaint carpet shops. Breakfast included. Lunch together.  Dinner on your own.   Overnight Bergama.

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Day 9

We'll depart for Izmir one of the largest cities in Turkey, where Ancient Ionia begins.  We will have a tour of the Agora before enjoying lunch on your own.

We are off to the quaint town of Selcuk (the burial place of St. John the Evangelist)  and our jumping off point for Ephesus. We will visit the Basilica of St. John and theHouse of the Virgin Mary before checking  into our hotel.  Join us for dinner at a special spot!  Breakfast Included.  Lunch on your own.  Dinner together.  Overnight in Selcuk.

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Day 10:

You can have a leisurely morning before we meet up and visit the old Greek village of Sirince.  Here we will visit the town and break for lunch on your own.  

Then after the crowds have gone, we will catch our tour of the ruins of Ephesus.  With the exception of Pompeii, Ephesus ranks as one of the best preserved and largest ancient city in the Mediterranean..

Boasting  one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world, the impressive structures we will see include the Library of Celsus, Baths of Skolastikia, Fountain of Trajan, and the Temple of Hadrian.  We will return to our hotel and Selcuk to our rooftop restaurant for dinner together.  Breakfast included.  Lunch on your own.  Dinner together.
UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Overnight Selcuk.

Day 10 Day off in Selkuk 

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Day 11-

We'll have an early breakfast before our drive to Pammukkale (The Cotton Cliffs).  Pammukkale (UNESCO World Hertiage Site) a natural wonder of the world, was formed by salt deposits.  

On the way we will have several stops, one of them for lunch on your own. You will have time to check into our hotel and have a soak in the hot spring pool before meeting to go to the site.  While there,  we will also visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its basilica, theater and Roman Baths.   We will have a lovely buffet dinner at the hotel together. Breakfast included.  Lunch on own.  Dinner together . UNESCO World Heritage Site.   Overnight Pammukkale

Day 12 Pamukale overnight again

Day 13.Join us as we head to the region of Anatolia and Konya. We'll shuttle to the city of Konya, the home for the last 800 years to the whirling dervishes and one of Turkeys most revered religious sites. 
Here we will visit the the Mevlana Museum which shelters the tomb of Jelaleddin Rumi ( considered as one of the greatest spiritual thinkers and teachers of all time).

Lunch on your own on the way to Konya.   Join us in the evening for dinner together. Overnight Konya (NOTE-.no alcohol served in Konya due to religious observances. We will not offer wine or beer with dinner this night)

Day 14
Our drive today takes us to Goreme and the area of Cappadocia, known for it's chimney-like rock formations and houses.  We will visit several sites on our way to our hotel-built into the local rock.  Dinner together at a well known local restaurant. Breakfast included, lunch on your own, dinner together.  Overnight Goreme.

Day 15
We will be up early for our hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia** , and area unique in the world.  After we get our feet on the ground we will have a tour of the national park of Cappadocia.  During our tour we will stop for lunch (on your own) before continuing our tour.  
We will be back to the hotel for a rest before our farewell dinner!
Overnight Goreme
**this is an extra charge so that people that do not want to do it will not have to pay for it

Day 16

After breakfast, we leave for our flight back to Istanbul.  We bid you Gule Gule (good bye in Turkish) and we hope to see you again on another one of our Olive Odysseys!

You should stay one more night in Istanbul near the airport for your flight the next day out...

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Trip Cost - 

This tour includes the following:

• 10 full Breakfasts

• 3 multi-course lunches with wine or beer
  

• 8 Multi course dinners with wine or beer included
•  1 wine tasting  
  
•  1 cooking demonstration 
  

• 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• Aghia Sofia

• The Blue Mosque

• Topkapi Palace

• Bosphorus Trip

• The Grand Bazaar

• The Memorials at Gallipoli

• The Dardanelles
  

• Troy

• The Aegean island of Bozcaada

• Ruins of Alexander Troas

• Pergamon

• Ephesus

• Pammukkale

• Olive oil & Olive taste testing

• Local guides

• visits with the locals

• Cooking lesson

• Wine tastings

• Comfortable transportation

• Comfortable hotels

What is your responsibility?

• Airfare
  
• Transportation from the airport to the starting hotel and from the ending hotel to the airport
• Any expenses arising from trips costs such as medications, phones expenses, Internet expenses, passport and visa requirements, etc.
• Trip insurance

By popular demand!

Turkey Addition-

Join us for this four day/ three night trip into the heart of Turkey.  Balloon rides over Cappadocia and whirling dervishes await us!

Day 1 :

Day 2:

Day 3:

• All inclusive -
• meals as noted
• comfortable hotels in central locations
• all transportation (will include bus & air flights)
• guides where indicated
• entrance into sites where indicated
• does not include optional balloon ride

* At the time of this writing,  a balloon ride with a certified
provider was running-----

Single Supplement charge (this is if you want your own room, no roommate) is $975.

Who are Your leaders?

Manolis and Patricia

Patricia Hajifotiou:
A native of the U.S.A., Patricia has been leading tours in Greece, Italy and Turkey for 16 years. She lives on the island of Evia, Greece with her husband Manolis. When she is not on tour, she lives off the grid in a rock house, powered by the wind and sun. There she likes to spend her time tending her olive trees and digging in the garden. She is currently finishing up on a 60k word manuscript set in Greece. She looks forward to showing you the places she likes the best - as a traveler, never a tourist.  Hiram College class of 1984.

Manolis Hajifotiou:
A native of Greece, Manolis has been leading tours in Europe for 16 years. Besides traveling, his passion is playing his guitar and creating his own music. Designing one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry (using olive kernels!) takes up some of his spare time besides trimming olive trees and keeping up the stone house he shares with his wife, Patricia. He looks forward to showing you his favorite places and making sure you feel right at home.