20 APRIL TO 05 MAY 2007

  Escorted by ELDA BERNARDO

TURKEY, is a land of beauty, magnificent landscapes, archaeological sites, great cities, quaint villages, mountains, forests, fertile valleys, azure seas, infinite variety of museums, ancient churches, palaces, great mosques and incredible History. It's the homeland of Turks, a proud people with a great heritage, friendliness, traditional hospitality and a smile for every visitor. Walk the streets of ancient Istanbul, the only city in the World built in two continents, guarding the precious relics of the three empires, of which she has been the capital, feel the warmth of the calcium-rich warm waters of Pamukkale, explore the eerie moonscape of Cappadocia, wonder through Ephesus, the veritable cradle of Christianity, indulge your palate in the succulent national dishes, delicious Turkish wine or seafood fresh from the blue waters of the Aegean, the Mediterranean, the Black and the Marmara sea.

20 APRIL FRIDAY/CANADA/ISTANBUL

Depart Canada to Istanbul as per your flight itinerary.

 21 APRIL SATURDAY / ARRIVE ISTANBUL

Airport assistance on arrival, short orientation tour of the city, transfers to hotel and welcome briefing. Istanbul, known as the capital of capital cities, has many unique features, the only city in the world on two continents, and the only one to have been a capital during two consecutive empires; Christian and Islamic. Istanbul still remains the commercial, historical and cultural pulse of Turkey, and its beauty lies in its ability to embrace its contradictions. Ancient and modern, religious and secular, Asia and Europe, mystical and earthly all co-exist here. Evening is free, overnight in Istanbul.

 22 APRIL SUNDAY / ISTANBUL

Discover the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of Istanbul. Visit the Royal TOPKAPI PALACE , home of the Ottoman Sultans, the BLUE MOSQUE , unique with six minarets, the Roman HIPPODROME SQUARE and the ST.SOPHIA CHURCH , which is considered one of the world's greatest architectural marvels. Return to the hotel. Evening at leisure. (B)

 23 APRIL MONDAY / ISTANBUL - TROY - CANAKKALE Drive to GALLIPOLI , through the European lands of Turkey. Cross the Dardanelles Strait by ferryboat. Visit ancient TROY ; Troy is famous for different reasons. First, it is associated with the sagas of the Trojan War told by Homer in the "Iliad" and the “Odyses". Second, it is linked with the German excavator Schliemann, who dug the ground the first time. See its legendary walls and the replica of the wooden horse, dinner and overnight in Canakkale. (B,D)

 24 APRIL TUESDAY / PERGAMON - IZMIR

Drive to Bergama, is one of Turkey's oldest civilized settlements and it has been inhabited from pre-historic times. It has yielded archeological treasures of which importance is recognized World-wide. Visit the ACROPOLIS , the steepest theater of the ancient world, the Temple of Trojan and the, Library, lunch at a local restaurant. Visit ASCLEPION , the ancient healing center and the RED BASILICA, which is one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. Evening at leisure, overnight in Izmir. (B,L)

 25 APRIL WEDNESDAY / EPHESUS – IZMIR

Visit EPHESUS , cradle of early Christianity, the best-preserved classical city on the Mediterranean, and perhaps the best place in the world to get the feeling for what life was like in Roman times. As a strategic coastal gateway to the Eastern World, it grew to be the second largest city in the Roman Empire. Visit the HOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY , l egend has it that the Virgin Mary, accompanied by St. John came to Ephesus at the end of her life, circa 37-45 AD. Also the Basilica of St. John is located near Ephesus. St. John is said to have lived the last years of his life here and after his death, a shrine was located over his grave. Visit the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM and the TEMPLE OF DIANA; which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Return to Izmir, evening at leisure, overnight in Izmir. (B,L)

 26 APRIL THURSDAY / SARDES – PAMUKKALE

Drive to SARDES capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, a Roman city, and one of, the Seven Churches of Revelation . During Roman times, Sardis had a very large and prosperous Jewish community , which may have been established here much earlier. Visit the Temple of Cybele , See the Golden River Pactalos . Lunch en route. Proceed to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

 27 APRIL FRIDAY / HIERAPOLIS - APHRODISIAS - ANTALYA

Morning tour of PAMUKKALE , from a distance this whitish mass brings to mind enormous stretches of cotton. On approaching these incredible terraces, one discovers the existence of basins full of mineral water flowing into other natural basins below, in the form of fantastic stalactites. Visit a carpet-weaving workshop. Drive to APHRODISIAS , the city of the Goddess of Love. See the well-preserved stadium, the Odeon, the theater and the agora. Continue to Antalya for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

 28 APRIL SATURDAY / ANTALYA

Excursion to the ancient cities of PERGE, a Hellenistic settlement, it developed into a thriving Roman city, it has a long legacy to narrate with its initial inhabitants being the Hittites. Its importance also lies in the fact that the ruins of the Roman city provide a very complete picture of the past. ASPENDOS , the theater was built in the 2nd century A.D. It is one of the best-preserved theaters to be found today, it holds 7500 spectators. Visit the ANTALYA ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM , d inner and overnight. (B,L,D)

 29 APRIL SUNDAY / ANTALYA - KONYA - CAPPADOCIA

Early departure to KONYA, visit the Mevlana Museum, 13th century Whirling Dervish Monastery. After lunch continue to CAPPADOCIA ; a region known for its curious volcanic landscape that has been relentlessly carved by nature and by the people who have lived here. 'Fairy chimneys,' cones and strange rock formations have been sculpted by wind and rain while subterranean towns were excavated by those seeking shelter from the conquerors, who crisscrossed the Central Anatolian Plateau and by the persecuted Christians that dug underground cities and churches in the 9th century, dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. OPTIONAL Folk and Belly Dance Show at one of the cave restaurants in Cappadocia. (B,L,D)

 30 APRIL MONDAY / CAPPADOCIA

Full day in Cappadocia visiting; Goreme , Open Air Museum, Avanos the pottery town, the natural citadel of Uchisa r and the underground city of Kaymakli , Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. (B,L,D)

 01 MAY TUESDAY / CAPPADOCIA - ANKARA

Sightseeing in Cappadocia. After lunch, visit Agzikarahan Caravanserai from the Selcuk period. Drive to Ankara , the capital city of Turkey. Evening at leisure, overnight in Ankara. (B,L)

 02 MAY WEDNESDAY / ANKARA - BURSA

Visit the ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATION MUSEUM and the MAUSOLEUM OF KEMAL ATATURK in Ankara. Drive to BURSA . was the Ottoman capital before Edirne. Today, it is a city of 1.5 million people and is a rapidly developing into an industrial and commercial center. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

 03 MAY THURSDAY / BURSA - ISTANBUL

Visit the Green Mosque , the Green Tomb and Bursas colorful Silk Bazaar . Drive to Istanbul. rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)

 04 MAY FRIDAY / ISTANBUL

Free day at leisure (B)

 05 MAY SATURDAY / ISTANBUL – RETURN FLIGHT

Escorted transfer, to Istanbul airport for the flight to Canada. B

 INCLUDED:

-Airfare from Canada to Istanbul

-14 nights hotel accommodation at 4 & 5 star hotels

-Daily breakfast (B), 7 lunches (L), 7 dinners (D)

-Transportation by a/c bus or a/c van depending on size of group

-English speaking professional tour guide throughout

-Entry fees to sites and museums mentioned in the program--All transfers

-Portage at hotels-Tips to hotel and restaurant staff --Service charges & local taxes

NOT INCLUDED: -Drinks and meals, which are not listed in the itinerary -Personal expenses --Turkish visa fee –Airport departure taxes-Tips to tour guide and driver of 6.00 US per day

PRICE PER PERSON IN CAD SHARING DOUBLE ROOM

Winnipeg $2569.00 Toronto , $2469.00

Calgary, Saskatoon Vancouver - $2769.00

PRICES FROM OTHER CANADIAN CITIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Deposit of $400.00 at time of booking, Final payment 16 March 2007