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2006 Solar Eclipse - 15 day tour
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Animation showing the path of the eclipse. |
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Overnight Stop |
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Tour Route |
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< Key:- (B) - Breakfast, (L) - Lunch, (D) - Dinner >
Sunday 26th March : Arrival Day: Welcome to IstanbulPrivate transfer to your hotel located in the heart of the old city, Sultanahmet.
Monday 27th March : Istanbul City Tour (B)Soak up the sites of Istanbul this morning on a fully guided tour of the Blue Mosque, the Saint Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, the Underground Cistern and the Hippodrome. Overnight Istanbul.
Tuesday 28th March : Istanbul to Cappadocia (B + D)After breakfast, we head for the nation's capital in Ankara. We stop for lunch and visit the award winning Ancient Civilisations museum. This afternoon we continue for the surreal land of Cappadocia where we rest for the night. Overnight Cappadocia.
Wednesday 29th March : Cappadocia (B+L+D) - Solar EclipseToday, we drive to one of the best spots to watch the Solar Eclipse. After the eclipse we will be visiting the old village of Cavusin, we have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we take a 5km hike along the Red Valley, one of the most breathtakingly and mysteriously beautiful valleys in the region. The valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations, is in the heart of Cappadocia but well away from the mainstream tourist haunts. The little chapels of the hermits, carved out of the valley walls, lend a spiritual dimension to the beauty. At the end of the hike, we drive back to the start point to watch the sunset with Cappadocian wine. Overnight Cappadocia.
Maximum eclipse: 11:04 UT / 13:04 local time
Duration: 3:38 min:sec
Thursday 30th March : Cappadocia (B)Today we visit the Goreme and Zelve open-air museums, Pasabag, Uchisar castle (Cappadocia's highest point) and Derinkuyu underground city. We will have several photo opportunities; so don't forget your cameras! This evening we have the option of a traditional Turkish folklore evening featuring folk and belly dancers … a night not to be missed! Overnight Cappadocia.
Friday 31st March : Cappadocia to Konya (B+D)We follow the route of the Camel Caravans on the ancient silk trail and visit a Caravanseray. Afternoon trek through the wildly beautiful Ihlara Valley, a region once favoured by Byzantine monks. Then we visit Mevlana Museum. The Mevlevi order of whirling dervishes is a mystic group whose members are followers of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi. Overnight Konya.
Saturday 1st April : Konya to Olympos via Perge and Aspendos (B+D)A tour of the ancient ruins of Perge will impress you with the Seleucid walls which have survived remarkably well over time. Close by, we also tour Aspendos, which is known for its theatre. One of the best preserved theatres of Asia Minor, this impressive theatre is still used today. Its galleries, stage decorations and acoustics all testify to the architect's success. Overnight Olympos.
Sunday 2nd April : Olympos (B+D)After breakfast our jeep safari takes you into the mountains and valleys surrounding Olympos, driving along roads clinging precariously to the hillsides. We visit the ancient ruins of Lymra and Arykanda with swimming breaks in cool springs welling up from the ruins, secluded beaches and sparkling waterfalls. As we continue through villages that time has forgotten, you will see villagers go on with their daily life in a manner not much different from 200 years ago. Overnight Olympos.
Monday 3rd April : Olympos (B+D)Get back to nature on a one day trekking adventure into the rugged terrain of Olympos. Walk through peaceful pine forests along the old King's Trail and discover the ancient Lycian Lost City. See Turkey's untouched wilderness away from the crowds. Our guides will explain all points of interest to you along the way. Overnight Olympos.
Tuesday 4th April : Olympos to Fethiye via Demre (B)Today we visit Demre, home of the original St. Nicholas (aka Santa Claus), where he lived as Bishop of the area. We visit his church and tomb before heading to Fethiye. Overnight Fethiye.
Wednesday 5th April : Fethiye to Kusadasi via Pamukkale (B+D)Today we visit the ruins of Hierapolis, an ancient health spa, just above the calcium terraces then the magnificent white calcium terraces of Pamukkale. Overnight Kusadasi.
Thursday 6th April : Kusadasi (B+D)Tour the best preserved classical city in Turkey as we visit the ancient ruins of Ephesus. Here you will see the Celsus Library, Grand Theatre and the world's first advertisement. We also visit the Selcuk Museum before a Leather goods display. Turkey produces some of the finest leather goods in the world and many are made here before branding in Italy. Overnight Kusadasi.
Friday 7th April : Kusadasi to Canakkale via Pergamum and Troy (B+D)Today we drive along the Aegean coastline to the ancient city of Pergamum and marvel at its impressive temples, library, and the steepest amphitheatre in the world. We then visit Troy where we witness first hand what Homer's Iliad was all about. Overnight Canakkale.
Saturday 8th April : Canakkale to Istanbul via Gallipoli (B+L)Today we visit the WWI Battlefields of Gallipoli including Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, the Nek, Johnston's Jolly and the Kaba Tepe Gallipoli Museum. Overnight Istanbul.
Sunday 9th April : Istanbul (B)After breakfast our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends.
Tour includes
o Inbound and outbound airport transfers to/from your hotel
o Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
o Professional English-speaking tour guide
o 8 nights accommodation in 4 star hotels with breakfast
o 3 nights accommodation in 3 star hotels with breakfast
o 3 nights accommodation in tree houses with breakfast
o 14 breakfasts, 9 dinners and 2 lunches
Tour does not include
o Entrance fees to various sites
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