Walking Through History  in Turkey -  May 2005

Itinerary: Dardanelles, Aegean coast and Lycia  

Last revised 15 jan n2005

Day 1- (May 9) Leave home /US.  

Day 2- Arrive at Ataturk International Airport, obtain visa, clear customs and transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner .  Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3- . Full day Istanbul walking tour: Visit Topkapi Palace, including the Harem, St. Sophia, a masterpiece of architectural design constructed 16 centuries ago, Blue Mosque (with its shimmering interior of blue-patterned tiles), and the Basilica Cisterns.  Our afternoon ends at the Grand Bazaar, an exciting, bustling maze of more than 4,000 shops covering 50 acres. The guide will accompany anyone interested in shopping, or it’s a short, straight walk back to the hotel.  Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4-  Returning to the Grand Bazaar, we visit the nearby Hans, centuries old, smaller covered markets, walking down via  the Sahaflar Market (old books, maps, and calligraphy), copper merchants, sporting goods stores down to the Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar).  After lunch, drive towards Gallipoli and  crossing by ferry to Gokceada Turkish Island.Dinner and overnight in Gokceada.

Day 5- Gokceada is the one of the two main islands controled by Turkey. Island has very nice old houses and walking will be between 2 villages overnight in Gokceada.

Day 6- After Breakfast morning Feryy to Main Land Gallipoli and Full day hiking in Gallipoli, the World War I battlefield where the Turkish army defeated the Allied forces, including many Australian and New Zealand troops.  The site is well preserved, and evocative of the futility of war. Ferry to Asian side of Canakkale and dinner and overnight in Canakkale.

Day 7- After breakfast walking around Guzelyali and visit the canan remained from First War I. After lunch Walking tour of Troy: Homer immortalized Troy in his stories of King Priam, Hector, Paris and beautiful Helen. Archeological excavations have revealed nine separate levels of cities. A symbolic wooden Trojan horse commemorates the legendary war. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale.

Day 8- After one and a half hour drive to assos waking down to Behramkale,  after lunch  visit Cunta Irland and  short walk among the olive trees and old village houses.  Continue to Bergama. Dinner and overnight in Bergama.

Day 9- Morning walking around Yunt mountain: drive through Yeni Sukran village to Koseler village and aorund 4 hours walking to visit Aegea ancient sites. After lunch drive back to Bergama and Starting with the upper part of Pergamum, we’ll walk downhill from the most dramatic acropolis in Asia. We’ll then visit the Asclepieum, an ancient medical center at the base of the hill.  Dinner and overnight in Bergama.

Day 10 – Drive to Sardes the capital of Lydians And Pamukkale  after visit the white colored formations and  relaxing in termal water pool. Drive down to Kusadasi dor dinner and overnight.

Day 11- Hike downhill to the ancient city of Ephesus. Originally a commercial center of the ancient world, Ephesus was built on a natural harbor at the mouth of a river, but over the centuries the river has silted up. ruins still include a theater, gymnasium, agora and baths, as well as the Library of Celsus, one of the 3 largest in the ancient world. Short walk to sirince village, after lunch Artemis Temple, included into the list of 7 Wonders of the Ancient  World, dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 12- drive up to Bafa (Latmos) Lake and walk around the Heraklia ancient sites for full day. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.  

Day 13- early departure and visit Priene in the morning and Then the second biggest Appollo Temple of ancient world in Didyma, drive down to Fethiye and check-in Hotel

Day 14- Visit Kayakoy and walk in Kayakoy among the nice egean houses and 5 km long walking to Oludeniz. Lunch and free time to enjoy the see. overnight in Fethiye.

Day 15- walking around Kelebek (butterfly) valley and late afternoon flight to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul. (those who continue embark Gulet in Fethiye)

Day 16- Transfer to Airport for flights home.

Gulet Extention

Day 15- Fethiye. Board the Gulet (boat) in Fethiye harbour. Evening meal and overnight in Fethiye Horbour.

Day 16- Fethiye-Tersane Island- Ag Limani. After Breakfast and briefing, you set off along the coast in the time for lunch at Tersane Island, Where you can see the reamins of a Roman and Greek Shipyard on the beach. Overnight is spent in the natural bay at Ag Limani.

Day 17-Ekincik (Dalyan& Caunos), an Early start for the beautiful Ekincik Area. After dropping anchor in a peaceful bay, you will have choice of either staying on board, or taking an optional trip to Dalyan and Caunos, where you can take a river boat trip to see millennia old tombs built high in the rock face, explore the ancient city of Caunos, take a mud-bath, and relax on Turtle beach.

Day 18-Paradise Island-Marmaris.setting sail after breakfast, there will be time for swimming and leiurely lunch at Turunc Buku or at beautiful Cennet (paradise) Island, before arriving in Marmaris for dinner and the night.

Day 19-Marmaris.After breakfast in Marmaris, it is time to bid farewell to your shipmates, gulet and crew. Fly to istanbul overnight in Istanbul

Day 20- transfer to airport.