Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Morning, you will meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 09:00 am & embark on a full day sightseeing tour of Istanbul.

Sitting at the crossroads of Europe, Africa & Asia, Istanbul has always been a trading hub & the city’s trade legacy can be explored at over 200 markets, some operating weekly & others year-round, where you can find great bargains, fresh produce & of course, hidden treasures.

First stop will be at the Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian Bazaar or Spice Bazaar), the 2^nd largest covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar. About a quarter of the size of the Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar smelling of exotic East fragrances, is an L-shaped covered market filled with the aroma of spices & other edibles. Lokum (Turkish Delights) are everywhere. Immerse yourself in the colourful sights of the Bazaar as you wander through the stalls that feature lines of hanging dried herbs & fruits, boxes of brightly coloured spices, nuts & dozens of teas, oils, plants & seeds.

The back streets behind the Bazaar are also a delight to discover. Take a nostalgic walk through stalls that sell old cassettes, posters & radios at the Ferikoy Antique Market on a shopping trip through Turkey’s cultural capital. Walk along Hasicilar Street to Tahtakale running along the Golden Horn to discover arcades & shopping plazas where locals shop for pots & pans, stationery, baby supplies, clothing and textiles, electronics, beauty products, toys etc.

After spending an hour there, proceed to Eminonu Ferry Terminal in front of the Yeni Cami (New Mosque) just a stone’s throw away where you board a Ferryboat for a cruise on the Bosphorus Straits.

Are you ready to feel the history of Istanbul - the capital of 3 different Empires - Ottoman, Byzantium, Roman? Cruising on the Bosphorus is a great opportunity to see the living remnants of these Empires at the both Asian & European sides.

From the embarkation point on of the European side of Istanbul, the 2.5 hour cruise sails through the cool water of Bosphorus to the Asian side of Istanbul. You can sense the history with intense emotions as you cruise amongst among the historical attractions in the open-air Museum illustrating the old & new face of Istanbul.

The shimmering expanse of the 32 km long Bosphorus Strait which joins the Sea of Marmara to the south with the Black Sea in the Aegean & Mediterranean to the north of Istanbul dividing the city’s European & Asian sides. The Strait has been of great importance in the economic & geopolitical context for centuries as it was the only sea route connecting the coastal countries to the high seas.

Spanned by 3 awe-inspiring suspension bridges including the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge which connects to Europe, linking the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, the vibrant Bosphorus waterway is a busy commercial shipping route, yet one that is also crossed constantly by passenger ferries & tourist vessels.

Viewing this mesmerising city from seaside, aboard one of the many ferries & tour boats that continually cross the Bosphorus, offers arguably the finest panorama of this amazing city, bringing to life Asian & European vistas on a shore that is lined with fabulous palaces, ancient castles, stunning mosques as well as fine centuries-old seaside residences & imposing public buildings from the Byzantine & Ottoman periods, as well as small inlets & fishing villages as you head further away from the metropolis.

You will get to see the domes & minarets of Old Istanbul, Leander's Tower (Kız Kulesi), the magnificent façade of Dolmabahçe Palace, the sprawling new districts of office towers, Anatolian Fortress, Anadolu Kavagı, Beylerbeyi Palace, Maiden's Tower, Ortakoy, Ciragan Palace, Rumeli Fortress, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia & many other historical monuments.  

You would also be passing though the City Walls of Istanbul, Halic - Golden Horn, Egyptian / Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi), Camlica Hill. Glance at the spectacular pieces of authentic civic architecture on both the shorelines at the same time.  

Before turning back to the start point, you may have a stopover at the incredibly beautiful 19^th century Kuçuksu Palace which served as a hunting lodge of the Ottoman Empires.

Come back to shore, disembark & continue on with your sightseeing.

You will visit the the main historical sites which illustrate the art & culture of the Ottoman, Roman & the Byzantine Empire. Ancient ruins, Museums, Mosques, bazaars & Turkish Hamaams of Istanbul could keep you happily occupied - an eyeful of breathtaking architecture here, a good-natured haggle over a carpet there.

First, head over the Hippodrome to the internationally known Blue Mosque (also known as Sultan Ahmet Mosque), the culmination of 2 centuries of both Ottoman Mosque & Byzantine Church development and observe Ottoman architecture at its finest. Turn 360 degrees to see 6 imposing spires & 260 luminescent windows that scatter brilliant sunlight over the mosque’s 20,000 Iznik tiles.

Continue to Hagia Sophia & learn how this civil engineering wonder was once the largest Church in the world, then a Mosque, the Saint Sophia Museum & now from 2021, a Mosque again. Enjoy perusing through this enormous dome structure admiring the beautiful Byzantine mosaics which depict the Virgin Mother, Jesus, saints, Byzantine emperors & empresses and biblical scenes.

Next, delve under the famous peninsula of Sarayburnu into the largest ancient cistern in Istanbul, Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayı). Located a mere 500 feet southwest of the Hagia Sophia, Experience its sheer size & learn how it was built under the rule of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6^th century & is the largest cistern in a city of hundreds.

Rise above ground & take a short walk to Topkapi Palace, the oldest & largest Palace on the planet, with its ornate rooms & stories about the treasure held within its walls. It was the official & primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years. The Palace is also home for the most holy relics of the Muslim world such as the Prophet Mohammed’s cloak & sword. Stroll around its buildings to a spectacular vantage point of the Golden Horn & learn why it is considered the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire. Visit Rustem Pasha Mosque, which is famous for its large quantities of exquisite Iznik tiles.

Continue onward to the center of Constantinople’s sporting & political heart at the Hippodrome. Go back in time 500 years when the Ottoman empire was in power & imagine a place ruled by games & riots. The Hippodrome is full of monuments & the most well-known is the ancient Egyptian granite Serpent Column, Obelisk of Theodosius & hear how it was transported in 390 AD to Constantinople by Emperor Theodosius. Also notable are the Walled Obelisk & German Fountain. Nowadays, this civic park carries on the Ottoman tradition in its name only known as the Horse Grounds (At Meydanı).

Finally, enjoy the hustle & bustle of the famous Grand Bazaar. Discover the world’s largest canopied market as you stroll along peering into shops known for jewelry, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, leather, embroideries, pottery, spices & antique shops. With more than 4,000 shops on 58 streets (city blocks), you will be astounded that this market has been operating since the 14^th century.

Depending on the time, you can also visit a carpet shop / factory & learn how carpets are made by hand.

Return to the hotel by late afternoon.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps try one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Today, you will have the full day at leisure to enjoy as you want (we would be happy of course, to offer suggestions & make arrangements for any optional activities).

Early morning, you will be met by a Journeys Rep who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Istanbul Sabiha Gokçen Airport for the short 1 hour + flight to Ankara.

Arrive in Turkeys’ capital, Ankara.

Turkey's 'other' city may not have showy Ottoman palaces or regal facades, but Ankara thrums to a vivacious, youthful beat unmarred by the tug of history. Drawing comparisons with İstanbul is pointless - the flat, modest surroundings are hardly the stuff of national poetry - but the civic success of this dynamic city is assured thanks to student panache & foreign-embassy intrigue.

Turkey’s capital has made remarkable progress from a dusty Anatolian backwater to today's sophisticated arena for international affairs. Turkey's economic success is reflected in the booming restaurant scene around Kavaklıdere & the ripped-jean politik of Kızılay's sidewalk cafes, frequented by hip students, old-timers & businessmen alike. And while the vibrant street life is enough of a reason to visit, Ankara also boasts 2 extraordinary monuments central to the Turkish story - the beautifully conceived Museum of Anatolian Civilisations & the Mausoluem Anıt Kabir, a colossal tribute to Ataturk, modern Turkey's founder.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Ankara Esenboga Airport, you will be welcomed by a Journeys Rep / Tour-guide (holding a placard with your Name) who will ensure your comfort & discuss the program for the next few days.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes after you exit in the Arrivals Hall, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer. 

You will immediately proceed for a sightseeing tour of the city, checking out a couple of main landmarks.

First stop will be Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the best place in the country to get to grips with the complex weave of Turkey's history.

The chronologically arranged exhibits here house artefacts cherry-picked from just about every significant archaeological site in Anatolia. The Central Hall houses reliefs & statuary with displays of Roman artefacts unearthed at excavations in & around Ankara, consisting of a staggering amount of intricately carved stone slabs, principally from the sites of Arslantepe, near Malatya, Alacahoyuk, near Hattuşa & Kargamıs, south of Gaziantep.

The surrounding halls take you on a journey of staggering history from Neolithic & Chalcolithic, through the Bronze Age Assyrian & Hittite eras, to the Iron Age's Phrygian & Urartian periods. The exhibits start with the Palaeolithic & Neolithic displays to the right of the entrance, then continue in an anticlockwise direction to the

Items discovered at one of the most important Neolithic sites in the world - Catalhoyuk, southeast of Konya - are displayed in the first hall, including the most famous mother goddess sculptures & the wall mural thought by some experts to be the world's first town map.

Some of the most interesting exhibits are in the early Bronze Age section where the fascinating finds unearthed during excavations of the Assyrian trading colony Kultepe (near Kayseri, in Cappadocia) are displayed. These include cuneiform tablets that date to the beginning of the 2^nd millennium BC, disk-shaped idols & cult objects. The Hittite collection follows, with Hattuşa's haul of cuneiform tablets (including the famed letter of friendship sent by Naptera, wife of Pharaoh Ramses II, to Puduhepa, wife to Hittite King Hattusili III) & striking figures of bulls & stags.

Most of the objects from the Phrygian capital Gordion, including incredible inlaid wooden furniture, are displayed in the last hall. The exhibits also include limestone blocks with still-indecipherable inscriptions resembling the Greek alphabet, and lion & ram-head ritual vessels that show the high quality of Phrygian metalwork. Urartian artefacts are displayed at the end of the final hall. Spurred by rich metal deposits, the Urartians were Anatolia's foremost metalworkers, as the knives, horse-bits, votive plates & shields on display demonstrate. There are displays of neo-Hittite artefacts & terracotta figures of gods in human form, some revealing their divine powers by growing scorpion tails.

After the brief Museum tour, proceed to Anıt Kabir, the monumental Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881 - 1938), the founder of modern Turkey.

It sits high above the city with its abundance of marble & air of veneration. The Tomb itself actually makes up only a small part of this Complex, which consists of Museums & a ceremonial courtyard. For many Turks, a visit here is virtually a pilgrimage, and it is not unusual to see some people visibly moved.

The main entrance to the complex straddling a hill, is via the Lion Road, a 262 metres walkway (for folks not wanting to walk, there is free shuttle zipping up and down the hill from the entrance) lined with 24 lion statues - Hittite symbols of power used to represent the strength of the Turkish nation, that leads to a massive courtyard, framed by colonnaded walkways, with steps leading up to the huge Tomb on the left.

As you approach the Tomb itself, look left & right at the gilded inscriptions, which are quotations from Ataturk's speech celebrating the Republic's 10^th anniversary in 1932. Remove your hat as you enter & bend your neck to view the ceiling of the lofty hall, lined in marble & sparingly decorated with 15^th - 16^th century Ottoman mosaics.

At the northern end stands an immense marble Cenotaph, cut from a single piece of stone weighing 40 tonnes. The actual Tomb is in a chamber beneath it. To the right, the extensive Museum displays Ataturk memorabilia, personal effects, gifts from famous admirers & re-creations of his childhood home & school. Just as revealing as all the rich artefacts are, his simple rowing machine & the huge multi-lingual library, which includes tomes he wrote.

Downstairs, extensive exhibits about the War of Independence & the formation of the republic move from battlefield murals with sound effects to over-detailed explanations of post-1923 reforms. At the end, there is a Gift Shop selling Ataturk items of all shapes & sizes.

After spending a couple of hours exploring the Museum & the Mausoleum, get ready to depart for Cappadocia driving on a picturesque route along Tuz Golu (a Salt Lake. also called Tatta).

Although it is the 2^nd largest lake in Turkey, it doesn’t contain a large amount of water, due to its shallowness (its deepest part does not exceed 2 meters). The closed-end lake surrounded by plateaus & with a surface area of 1,500 square km & 80 km long can get reduced to around a 1,000 square km in summers because of evaporation. In winter, the water gets collected again.

As one of the world’s lakes with highest level of salinity at 33%, it is impossible to farm in the surroundings. In summer, the shallow lake dries into a 30 centimeters layer of salt covering the mud. Tuz Golu generates 60% of the total salt production in Turkey, about 300 thousand tons of salt per year. This salt can only be collected in the months of July & August when the lake dries. To ensure that it would be clean, the salt is collected only from the areas in which the layer is more than 6 centimeters thick. Once excavated it, the rag layer is removed & separated clean mounds are loaded manually on to the mini-train wagon conveyors.

Reach Cappadocia by late afternoon.

Whether you are wooed here by the hiking potential, the history or the bragging rights of becoming a modern troglodyte for a night, it is the lunarscape panoramas that you will remember. This region's accordion-ridged valleys, shaded in a palette of dusky orange & cream, are an epiphany of a landscape - the stuff of psychedelic daydreams.

Cappadocia was known as Hatti in the late Bronze Age & was the homeland of the Hittite power centered at Hattusa. After the fall of the Hittite Empire, with the decline of the Syro-Cappadocians (Mushki) after their defeat by the Lydian king Croesus in the 6^th century BC, Cappadocia was ruled by a sort of feudal aristocracy, dwelling in strong castles & keeping the peasants in a servile condition, which later made them apt to foreign slavery. It was later included in the 3^rd Persian satrapy in the division established by Darius but continued to be governed by rulers of its own, none apparently supreme over the whole country & acting as more or less tributaries of the Great King.

After the ending the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great tried to rule the area through one of his military commanders - Ariarathes who was previously a Satrap of the region. He declared himself king of the Cappadocians (332 – 322 BC). A successful ruler, he extended the borders of the Cappadocian Kingdom as far as to the Black Sea & the Kingdom lived in peace until the death of Alexander. Subsequently, the Empire was divided into many parts.

As if plucked from a whimsical fairy tale & set down upon the stark Anatolian plains, Cappadocia is a geological oddity of honeycombed hills & towering boulders of otherworldly beauty. The fantastical topography is matched by the human history here.

People have long utilised the region's soft stone, seeking shelter underground & leaving the countryside scattered with fascinating cavern architecture.

The semi-arid Cappadocian Region located in the center of the Anatolia with its valley, canyon, hills & unusual rock formation created as a result of the eroding rains & winds of thousands of years of the level, lava-covered plain located between the volcanic mountains Erciyes, Melendiz & Hasan as well as its troglodyte (cave dwellers) dwellings carved out of the rock & cities dug out into underground, presents an otherworldly appearance.

The eruptions of these mountains which were active volcanoes in geological times lasted until 2 million years ago. A soft tuff layer was formed, 150 meter in thickness, by the ensuing lava in the valley surrounded by mountains. The rivers, flood water running down the hillsides of valleys & strong winds eroded the geological formations on the plateau, formed with tuff layers, thus creating distinctive bizarre tall mushroom shaped, pinnacled, capped & conic shaped rock formations called ”Fairy Chimneys” clustered around Monks Valley, Goreme & elsewhere.

This area with its usual topographic characteristics was regarded as sacred & called, in the Scythian / Khatti language, as Khepatukha, meaning "the country of the people of the chief god Hepat", although there are more poetic claims on the origin of the region's name, such as the Old Persian Katpatuka, which allegedly means "the land of beautiful horses".

Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls & later used as refuges by early Christians. The 100 meter deep Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face Churches. The fresco-adorned rock-cut Churches of Goreme Open-Air Museum & the subterranean refuges of Derinkuyu & Kaymaklı are the most famous sights. The pre-historic settlements of the area are Koskhoyuk (Kosk Mound) in Nigde, Aksaray Asikli Mound, Nevsehir Civelek cave &, in the southeast, Kultepe, Kanis & Alisar in the environs of Kayseri.

The sub-terranean cities in Cappadocia have become famous worldwide, just as much as the unusual Fairy Chimneys that characterise the landscapes in the region. It is believed that the underground cities were initially built during the 7^th - 8^th centuries BCE by the Phrygians, who carved their living spaces into the region’s soft volcanic rock. There are around 200 cities in total in Cappadocia and the most popular where entry is allowed by the government are Derinkuyu & Kaymakli.

The idea behind the sub-terranean cities was to protect the inhabitants from foreign invasion, allowing thousands of people to live their lives in total secrecy. During the 14^th century, the Caves provided Christians with a safe haven from the threat of the Mongolians during the assaults on Timur. Even during the 20^th century, they enabled people to save themselves from persecution during the Ottoman Empire.

Before the Roman Empire accepted Christianity as the official religion, early Christians took shelter in these underground cities to avoid from pagan persecutors.

It was not until 1923, after the population exchange between Greece & Turkey, that the underground cities were completely abandoned & then, not rediscovered until 1963. The story goes that a resident found a strange room behind a wall inside his house, and the rest is history.

Immediately on arrival, proceed to visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed Kaymakli Underground City, dug as early as Hittite times & expanded over the centuries as various armies plundered the area in search of loot. Note before entering, that is not recommended if you are claustrophobic.

Originally named Enegup in ancient times, Kaymakli Underground City was also used as a shelter for local inhabitants for several centuries throughout the Arab-Byzantine wars. During this time, it was significantly expanded to the point where it, eventually, became the widest underground city in Turkey. It is estimated that, at its peak, the population of Kaymakli grew to around 3,500 people.

After being opened to the public in 1964, it offers a fascinating window into the past, descending 8 levels deep - although only the first 4 floors which lie at around 20 meters below ground, are allowed to accessed.

As a general rule, the wealthiest families lived closer to the surface. While exploring, you will pass by stables, storage rooms (some of which are still used today), former homes, a Church & communal Kitchens, where meals were once cooked en masse for the city’s entire population.

In comparison to its neighbouring underground city - Derinkuyu, these Tunnels are noticeably narrower, lower & more steeply inclined. As you meander through the sub-terranean labyrinth, you will also notice plenty of large, round boulders, which used to be rolled in front of doorways as barricades to protect the local inhabitants from potential attacks. Remember to pay attention to the red arrows, which guide you down & the blue arrows, which guide you up, to avoid getting disorientated. A 9 km Tunnel actually connects the 2, but it is not accessible to visitors.

Spend an hour here before proceeding to the hotel. Simply bedding down in one of Cappadocia's cave hotels is an experience in 21^st century cave living without any hardship, unlike ancient times.

Many dwellings & Fairy Chimney Chapels have been converted into boutique hotels, where you can live the troglodyte life in relative luxury with cave hamaams (Turkish baths), rock-cut arches, walls patterned with volcanic colour-banding & panoramic terraces surveying the valleys. You will quickly discover what the locals have known for centuries: the tuff rock keeps rooms cool in summer & warm in winter.

Check-in & relax.

Balance of the evening is at leisure (we will be happy to offer suggestions for optional activities & make arrangements).

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the lobby at 08.00 am & embark on a full day tour. 

Stop at Monks Valley to see some of the most striking Chimneys in Cappadocia with twin & even triple rock caps.  

Pasabag or Pasha's Vineyard or Monks Valley is where you can find spectacular cone topped rock pillars known as Fairy Chimneys standing tall throughout the expansive Vineyard, right next to the road.

Pasha was an important military officer in Ottoman times when the region was captured. However, the Monks Valley, earned its name from the many Monk refuges carved into the soft rock cones.

The Valley contains some of the most striking mushroom-shaped Chimneys in Cappadocia depict a style unique even for other Chimneys in the area. Some 15 meters tall pillars are split into twin Chimneys & some even support triple rock caps. The mushroom-shaped pillars were formed due to the effects of wind & rain on the soft rock. Legends say they were built by the fairies for their underground homes.

By the 4^th century, Cappadocia was largely inhabited by Monks & many of their excavated homes can be found in this valley. The Hermits of Cappadocia distanced themselves from the world by cutting into Chimneys rather than living on top of columns. They were able to hollow out the soft volcanic tuff from bottom to top creating rooms at a height of 10 -15 meters inside the Pillars & create narrow staircases leading up to the cone-shaped shelters which they used as living quarters. Some of these Cones split into smaller cones in their upper sections, in which stylites & Hermits once hid.

St. Simeon was living in seclusion near Aleppo in the 5^th century, when rumors that he made miracles started to spread. Disturbed by all the attention, he was one of the many Monks to take refuge in Cappadocia, attracted by the solitude & isolation that the region provided. He built his home 15 meters above the ground in one the Chimneys, descending occasionally to collect the offerings of food & water that his followers brought by his disciples. A Chapel dedicated to St. Simeon & a Hermitage is built into one of the Fairy Chimneys with 3 heads. The entrance of the cell is decorated with antithetical crosses.

For fantastic views of the area, visitors can crawl inside the rock & climb the staircases in the abandoned hermit cave homes to gaze out over the moon-like landscape.

After an hour here, continue on to Avanos, a well-known traditional town on the banks of the longest river in Turkey, the Kizlirmak (or Red River). The name of the Red River derives from the large amounts of clay deposits, which have been used for centuries in the town for Pottery. The Pottery tradecraft here dates back to the Hittites & you can view the Potters in action.

Avanos also features a few interesting Churches worth visiting (if time & Tour-guide permits) including Cavusin Church with its tunnel vaults, a high nave & 3 apses dating back to 964 - 965 AD & the 6^th century Gulludere Church, located at the top of a steep slope. It also offers a base for river rafting & horse riding. There is an ancient Sejuk Caravanserai – Sarihan (or Yellow Caravanserai) built in 1249, with an elaborate gateway & a small Mosque above. It was renovated in the 1980s & now serves as a Cultural Centre offering Whirling Dervish performances in the evenings.

After Lunch, drive on to UNESCO World Heritage listed Goreme open-air Museum, which comprises of the finest rock-cut Churches, with beautiful frescoes (wall paintings) whose colors still retain all their original freshness.

Goreme, an important Christian center in the Middle-ages, was a Bishopric administered by Mokissos near Aksaray in the 11^th & 13^th centuries. Despite the vast number of Monasteries, Churches & Chapels in the vicinity, there are not many inscriptions bearing dates. Consequently, these religious buildings are mainly dated according to the iconography or architectural features.

The Museum resembles a vast Monastic complex composed of scores of Refectories & Monasteries placed side-by-side, each with its own fantastic Church belonging to 10^th, 11^th, 12^th centuries. The area forms a coherent geographical entity representing historical unity & presents unique examples of rock hewn architecture including rock-cut tables & benches and frescoes technique.

There are numerous Churches & you will have time to see a couple.

The 6-7 storey rock mass to the left of the Museum entrance is known as "the Nunnery". The dining hall, kitchen & some rooms on the 1^st floor, together with the ruined chapel on the 2^nd level, can still be visited. The Church on the 3^rd storey, which can be reached through a Tunnel, has a cruciform plan, a dome with 4 Columns & 3 Apses. The Templon on the main apse is rarely found in Goreme's Churches. Besides the fresco of Jesus, painted directly onto the rock, designs painted in red can also be seen. The different levels of the Monastery are connected by Tunnels & "millstone doors", such as those found in the underground cities & were used to close off these tunnels in times of danger.

The 11^th century St. Barbara Church is situated behind the rock housing Elmali Church. The north, south & west arms of the cruciform are barrel vaulted & the east corners are domed. The walls & the dome are decorated in a variety of stonework motifs including geometrical patterns, mythological animals & military symbols. painted in red directly onto the rock.

One of the most prominent is the Elmali (Apple) Church with its vivid colors, a groin-vaulted structure with cross-in-square plan, with 4 Columns & a central Dome. The building derives its name from the apple orchard that collapsed a long time ago, in front of the main entrance. It features beautiful 11^th & 12^th centuries frescoes narrating scenes from the Bible & the life of Christ, the Hospitality of Abraham & Three Hebrew Youths and there are also some simple red-painted ornaments from the iconoclastic period.  

The other monumental buildings are Snake (Yilanli) Church, Dark (Karanlik Kilise) Church, Carikli (Sandals) Church, Buckle (Tokali) Church.

After 2 hours here, you can proceed to Guvercinlik Vadisi (Pigeon Valley), located between Goreme & Uchisar, earned its name from the countless man-made dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) that have been carved into the soft volcanic tuff.

Since ancient times, Pigeons have been used in the Cappadocia region for food & fertiliser for the infertile soil. While Pigeons no longer play such an important role in the area, their rocky homes have still been maintained by locals & can be found atop rock pillars & inside excavated cave houses & Churches throughout the region. However, they are particularly numerous in this Valley.

The Valley is one of the best spots for walking in the marvelous Cappadocia region. A great way to see Pigeon Valley is from above via a hot air Balloon flight (not included – extra payment). Tours leave every morning just before sunrise so you will already be floating above the stunning landscape as the sun comes up. It also offers horseback or jeep safari.

And finally, it is time to go home.

Reach the hotel by evening.

Balance of the day is at leisure (we will be happy to offer suggestions for optional activities & make arrangements).

Early morning, depart for Pamukkale, enroute stopping at Konya.

Konya, a city south of Ankara, is a pilgrimage destination for Sufis as it was the final home of the famous mystic / Sufi thinker Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi & who is buried here. In 1273, his followers in Konya, established the Mevlevi Sufi Order of Islam which later became known as the Whirling Dervishes. Consequently today, Konya is one of the more religiously conservative metropolitan centers in Turkey with more women covering their heads with headscarves (though visitors will notice that the number of women covering is perhaps slightly above 50%).

The Konya region has been inhabited since the 3^rd millennium BC & was ruled by various civilizations such as Hittite, Phrygian, Persian, Hellenistic & Romans.

Konya has protected its name for centuries. Legend says that Perseus killed a dragon that had been ravaging the town. The people set up a special monument to honor him, a stone obelisk with an icon of Perseus carved in it & consequently as a Roman city, Konya was known as Iconium during classical antiquity.

However, among Muslims, another legend is told. Two dervishes, friends of Allah, were making an excursion through the skies from the far away countries of Horasan toward the west. When they flew over the lands of central Anatolia, one asked the other, "Shall I land?" ("Konayim mi?"). The other answered, "Sure, land." ("Kon ya!") So, they landed & founded the city of Konya.

Konya was / is also an important place for Christians because St. Paul & St. Barnabas came to the city on one of their journeys in Asia Minor around 50 AD. St. Paul preached in Konya but they angered both Jews & Gentiles so they had to leave the city & move to Derbe & Lystra.

The first exposure to Islam happened during the time of the Caliph Muaviya. But, Konya's real meeting with & adopting of Islam began sometime after the victory of Seljuks at Malazgirt in 1071, in the time of Kutalmisoglu Suleyman. The attacks of the Crusaders from 1076 to the end of the 12^th century could not wrench the city from Islam.

In the 11^th century the Seljuk Turks conquered the area & began ruling over its Rum (Byzantine) inhabitants making Konya the capital of their new Sultanate of Rum. Under the Seljuks, the city was the capital of Seljuk Empire between 1071 – 1308 when it reached the height of its wealth & influence. In 1220 Alaeddin Keykubad I built the city wall & with guard towers. Then, the city became involved in a power - struggle between the Seljuks, Karamanoglu, Mongols & Ilhan and it changed hands a few times.

Following the demise of Rum, Konya came under the rule of the Karamanids, before being taken over by the Ottoman Empire in the 15^th century. After the Turkish War of Independence, the city became part of the modern Republic of Turkey.

The city lies on a totally flat ground, with the sole exception of a small hill called Alaattin Tepesi in the very center of the city -which is actually a man-made hill, erected during the Seljuk period so noble residents could easily watch the city below from their Palaces which are all gone.

Today, it is an economic powerhouse that is religiously inspired & a busy University city that is as conservative as they come. It treads a delicate path between its historical significance as the home town of the Sufi Orders, a bastion of Seljuk culture & its modern importance as an economic boom town. The city derives considerable charm from this juxtaposition of old & new. Ancient Mosques & the maze-like market district rub up against contemporary Konya around Alaaddin Tepesi, where hip-looking university students talk religion & politics in the tea gardens.

You will explore one of Turkey's most compelling & iconic cities and the most important place to visit for Muslims & non-Muslims alike is the Museum & Mausoleum of Mevlana Rumi, the famous Sufi mystic, thinker & poet and the inspiration in the founding of the Whirling Dervish Order.

One of the biggest pilgrimage centers in Turkey, the building's fluted dome of turquoise tiles is one of the most distinctive sights. For Turkish Muslims, this is a very holy place & more than 1.5 million people visit the Tomb. You will see many of them praying for Rumi's help.

After walking through a pretty garden, visitors pass through the Dervişan Kapısı (Gate of the Dervishes) & enter a courtyard with an ablutions fountain in the center. At the entrance to the Mausoleum, the Ottoman silver door bears the inscription, 'Those who enter here incomplete will come out perfect'. Once inside, look out for the big bronze Nisan tası (April bowl) on the left. April rainwater, vital to the farmers of this region, is still considered sacred & was collected in this 13^th century bowl. The tip of Mevlana's turban was dipped in the water & offered to those in need of healing.

Continue through to the part of the room directly under the fluted dome. Here, you can see Mevlana's Tomb dating from Seljuk times (the largest), flanked by that of his son Sultan Veled & those of other eminent dervishes. They are all covered in velvet shrouds heavy with gold embroidery, but only those of Mevlana & Veled bear huge turbans, symbols of spiritual authority; the number of wraps denotes the level of spiritual importance. Bahaeddin Veled's wooden tomb stands on one end, leading devotees to say Mevlana was so holy that even his father stands to show respect. Also on the left are 66 sarcophagi, not all visible, belonging to Bahaeddin Veled's supporters who followed him from Afghanistan.

The Mosque & semahane (the hall where whirling ceremonies were held), were added later by Ottoman sultans. Mehmet the Conqueror was a Mevlevi adherent & Suleyman the Magnificent made charitable donations to the order. Selim I, conqueror of Egypt, donated the Mamluk crystal lamps. The semahane to the left of the sepulchral chamber contains exhibits such as the original copy of the Mathnawi, a 9^th century gazelle-skin Christian manuscript, a copy of the Koran so tiny that its author went blind writing it. Also displayed is Mevlana's cape & other clothing. In the middle of the room, there is a display case holding a casket that contains strands of Mohammed's beard.

The small Mosque in front, is reserved for prayers but as you exit the building, look to the left of the Mihrab for a seccade (an extremely fine silk & wool prayer carpet made in Iran, bearing a picture of the Kaaba at Mecca, with some 3 million knots (144 per sq cm)).

The matbah (kitchen) in the southwest corner of the courtyard is decorated as it would have been in Mevlana's day, with mannequins dressed as dervishes. The dervish cells (where they live) run along the northern & western sides of the courtyard. Inside the cells are a host of ethnographic displays relating to dervish life. In particular, one room contains personal items belonging to Şems of Tabriz including his hat & a manuscript of the Makalat, his most famous work. Look out for the wooden practice board, used by novice dervishes to learn to whirl.

The items on display in the Museum range from old manuscripts, hand written copies of the Koran to some of Rumi's belongings. Also on display are musical instruments used in his time, as well as numerous art works dating from the Seljuk era.

Also of interest to the curious traveler, especially for those looking for scenic photographic opportunities or a short walk through an authentic neighborhood, are the parts of the city that surround the Mevlana Museum. Since this neighborhood hasn't quite kept up with recent times, it still maintains an authentic feel from older days with narrow streets & historically significant houses of old architecture.

After spending an hour or 2, drive around Konya for a short orientation tour before leaving the for your final destination.

Arrive in Pammukkale by evening & Check-in at the hotel.

UNESCO World Heritage listed Pamukkale, a town in western Turkey, is a traveler's delight & a geological phenomenon, made eternally famous by the gleaming white so-called ‘Cotton Castle' (pamuk means 'cotton' in Turkish), getting its name from the numerous cascading gleaming white calcite travertines (terraces) overrunning with warm, mineral-rich bright turquoise thermal waters that flow down the bright white terraces of a steep valley side, on the mountain above the village.  

From a distance, the white limestone walls seem to resemble an immense castle of fluffy cotton Walking down the glistening bluffs of the travertines remain one of Turkey’s singular experiences.

Considered today the 8^th wonder of the world, it is presumed that the travertines were formed in the course of a process which lasted 15 thousand years. The water, having a temperature of 68 degrees Celcius with iron, magnesium & sulphur contents, gushing from the underground springs at an elevation of 160 meters off the plain of Menderes, with calcium bicarbonate content, flows down the hillsides, carbon monoxide gas emanates & the calcium bicarbonate, dissolving thereby, is sedimented, thus forming the white-coloured travertines. Therefore, the area is called Pamukkale (Cotton Castle).

Today, the area is one of the foremost tourism resorts thanks to its travertines, accommodation facilities, thermal baths and natural & historical assets.

Balance of the day is at leisure.

Alas, like all good things, the wonderful experience comes to an end. Time to say good-bye to this enchanting city & go home.

Check-out of the hotel by 11:00 am (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the use of the hotel facilities & leave the luggage at the Bell Desk if you have the time to walk out). 

 Experiencing the legacy of the Romans, Byzantines & Ottomans takes you from the closeted quarters of the Sultan & his harem in İstanbul's sprawling Topkapı Palace to the wider horizons. This is the land where Alexander the Great slashed the Gordion Knot, where Achilles battled the Trojans in Homer’s Iliad & where the Ottoman Empire fought battles that would shape the world. History buffs can immerse themselves in marvels & mementos stretching back to the dawn of civilisation.

And, we are sure that will entice you come back & discover a bit more of this ‘old’ new ultra-modern country which goes back centuries. Republic of Turkey will be waiting to host you again….

“Travel is like knowledge. The more you see the more you know you have not seen” - Mark Hertsgaard

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Istanbul Kemal Ataturk International Airport, for your onward journey.  B

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