from istanbul to the turquoise coast - Columbia Alumni Association

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Tour membership limited to 28 alumni and friendsBYZANTINE ODYSSEY:FROM ISTANBUL TO THE TURQUOISE COAST16 days from $4,595 — land, air, & cruise inclusiveExotic sights, scents, and sounds reign in this fascinating land whereEurope and Asia meet. From Istanbul, magnificent “Empress of theWorld,” to ancient ruins, stunning landscapes, and the dramaticTurquoise Coast where we board privately chartered yachts for a distinctivefive-day voyage, Turkey engages and beguiles, offering us an unparalleledsmall group travel experience.Aegean SeaIstanbulAssos/TroyBlack SeaTURKEYAnkaraDestinationMotorcoachGulet Yacht CruiseExtension (motorcoach)Entry/DepartureCappadociaDay 1: Depart U.S. for Istanbul, TurkeyDay 2: Arrive Istanbul We arrive in Turkey’scultural and spiritual heart late this morning andtransfer to our hotel. After time to relax, wehave a briefing on our journey then take a shortwalking tour. Tonight we enjoy an authenticTurkish dinner at a local restaurant. DKusadasiGöcekFethiyeTurquoiseCoastAntalyaMediterranean SeaAvg. High (°F) Apr May JunIstanbul 60 69 77Antalya 70 79 87Your Small Group Tour HighlightsExclusive small group of 28 guests maximum ... ExoticIstanbul, including Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, HagiaSofia ... Private Bosphorus cruise ... WWI battlefield ofGallipoli ... Ruins at ancient Troy, Pergamum, Ephesus ...Lunch in home of Turkish villagers … 5-night “BlueVoyage” aboard privately chartered gulet yacht ... Cruisingto secluded coves and hidden sites that few visitors see ...Opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, hiking ... SunkenBaths of Cleopatra … 6 th -century Byzantine monastery onGemiler Island ... Ancient sites of Perge, Aspendos, Myra ...Three-night stay in Mediterranean resort of AntalyaDay Itinerary Hotel Rating1 Depart U.S. for Istanbul2-4 Istanbul Hilton Istanbul Sup. First Class5 Assos/Troy Nazlihan Hotel Not rated6-7 Kusadasi Kismet Hotel First Class8-12TurquoiseCoast cruiseGulet yacht Not rated13-15 Antalya Divan Talya Sup. First Class16 Depart Antalya for U.S.Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travelindustry standard reference. Unrated hotels may be too small,too new, or too remote to be listed.Day 3: Istanbul Here where the waters of theMarmara, Bosphorus, and Golden Horn meet,Europe greets Asia; past and present collide.We begin with a tour of the Roman Hippodrome,the Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sofia. After lunchat a local restaurant, we tour splendid Topkapi,medieval palace of sultans. B,LDay 4: Istanbul This morning we encounterbeautiful Dolmabahce Palace, built by SultanAbdülmecid; the vast Grand Bazaar, housing4,000 shops selling goods of all kinds; and theSpice Market, with exotic spices, nuts, and driedfruits from around the world. Next: a visit tothe renowned Museum of Turkish & IslamicArt, housed in a restored palace. Then we takea private cruise on the Bosphorus Strait. Westop in the village of Ortakoy, where there'stime to explore and have lunch on our ownbefore returning to our hotel mid-afternoon. BDay 5: Istanbul/Gallipoli/Troy/AssosLeaving Istanbul this morning, we travel tothe northern Aegean Coast for a brief visit toGallipoli, haunting site of 31 Allied cemeteriesfrom World War I. Then we ferry across theDardanelles to Troy. The present site was discoveredin the 1870s. After touring here wecontinue south to Behramkale, ancient Assos,where we spend the night. B,L,DCover photo: We spend five days aboard our privately chartered gulets on the stunning Turquoise Coast.
The spectacular ruins at Ephesus, which we visit on Day 7.Day 6: Assos/Pergamum/Kusadasi Todaywe explore one of Turkey’s most spectacularancient sites: windswept Pergamum, a majorpower in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, with awealth of Greco-Roman ruins. Then we continueon to Kusadasi. B,L,DDay 7: Kusadasi/Ephesus Today we visitEphesus, the world's best-preserved classicalcity. Dating to at least 1300 BC, Ephesus wasAsia Minor’s largest metropolis and principalport. We also visit the acclaimed EphesusArchaeological Museum housing relics fromthe ancient site. Then we share lunch witha Turkish family in their home. B,L,DDay 8: Kusadasi/Göcek Today we journeysouth to coastal Göcek, stopping along the wayat a carpet factory to watch a demonstrationof this age-old craft, then in a local village forlunch. Late afternoon we board our gulets andenjoy the first of our meals freshly preparedon board. B,L,DDay 9: Cruising – Aga Limani/CleopatraBaths Our route for the next five days is alongthe stunning coastline Antony is said to havegiven Cleopatra as a wedding gift. We beginour “Blue Voyage” today, as we cruise thismorning to the hidden cove of Aga Limani,where an optional hike along herb-scented trailsbrings us to Lydea, a little known Greco-Romansite. Later we relax at the breathtaking inletsheltering the Sunken Baths of Cleopatra. B,L,DDay 10: Cruising – Dalyan River Thismorning we disembark and drive to Dalyan,where we board a small skiff for a trip throughan intriguing maze of channels. At the Lake ofKoycegiz, we see our first Lycian rock tombs.After lunch in a local restaurant, we meet upwith our gulets and cruise to a secluded covefor the remainder of the evening. B,L,DDay 11: Cruising – Yassica Isles/Bedri RahmiCove/Tersane Island This morning we sail tothe sheltered cove at Bedri Rahmi for a day of hiking,swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing. B,L,DDay 12: Cruising – Gemiler/Kayakoy Wecruise today to Gemiler Island to tour its 6thcenturyByzantine monastery. After lunch onboard we drive to Kayakoy, the Greek “ghosttown” abandoned after World War I. Aftertouring the town and its two churches, wereturn to our gulets. B,L,DDay 13: Fethiye/Demre/Myra/AntalyaThis morning we sail to Fethiye, disembark,Post-Tour Extension: June 14-18, 2009CAPPADOCIA & ANKARA5 days/4 nights for $695Single Supplement: $165We explore the bizarre rock formations andunderground cities of Cappadocia and the GoremeValley; and also tour Ankara, Turkey’s capital.Your Tour Price Includes• 4 nights accommodations: 3 nights in Cappadocia atUchisar Kaya Hotel (First Class); 1 night in Ankara atAnkara Hilton (Deluxe)• 11 meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners• Extensive included sightseeing• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director• Private motorcoach transportation• Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotelporters, and all drivers
Page 1: Byzantine Odyssey:FROM ISTANBUL TO
Page 5 and 6: Dear Columbian,We invite you to dis

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