Some Program Examples to discover this sacred places:
Sardis
Day 1 : ISTANBUL
Arrival in Istanbul. Airport transfer to the hotel. Check into the hotel and have some time to relax. An
orientation of the city will be given shortly afterwards,
with the remainder of the day free to spend at your
own leisure about the city. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 : ISTANBUL
After breakfast, visit Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia.
Lunch break at an authentic Turkish restaurant before
visiting the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern
and Grand Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3 : ISTANBUL
After breakfast, visit the Spice Market and Rustempasa
Mosque, followed by a cruise by ferry through the Bosphorus,
by which you will also be served lunch, at a fisherman's
village named Ortakoy. In the afternoon, explore the
opulent 19th century Dolmabahce Palace. Overnight in
Istanbul.
Day 4 : ISTANBUL
After breakfast, visit Pera, the Galata quarter and
Galata Tower, Neve Shalom Synagogue, Ashkenazi Synagogue
and the Zülferis Synagogue and Museum. Following a lunch
break in Galata, reach the Golden Horn to visit Ahrida
Synagogue in Balat, Chora Church and Pierre Loti Hill
in Eyup. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 5 : ISTANBUL - IZMIR
Morning departure to the airport. Fly to Izmir and transfer
to the hotel. The sightseeing begins on Havra Sokak
(better known as the street of synagogues); visit the
200 years old active Seniyora Synagogue. Continue on
to the Karatas quarter to see the Beth Israel Synagogue,
in Ottoman-Victorian style. Next, take a ride on the
Asansör, a 19th century hilltop funicular, before stepping
into the Archaeological & Ethnographic Museum. Drive
up to Kadifekale hill overlooking the city and the bay,
to enjoy a coffee. Overnight in Izmir.
Day 6 : IZMIR - SARDIS
Excursion to Sardis, once the capital of the Lydian
kingdom, where a large and prosperous Jewish community
resided in its heyday as a Roman city. Visit the ruins,
including the enormously rich Roman Synagogue. After
lunch return to Izmir. Overnight in Izmir.
Day 7 : IZMIR - EPHESUS
Excursion to Selcuk, where you will visit the ancient
Greco-Roman city of Ephesus, including the Artemis Temple,
Archeological Museum and the formerly Greek picturesque village of Sirince. Return
to Izmir. Overnight in Izmir.
Day 8 : IZMIR - ANKARA
Transfer to Izmir airport. Fly to Ankara and transfer
to the hotel. The day's sightseeing covers the Anatolian
Civilizations Museum, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, Angora
Castle and the Jewish quarter of Samanpazari. Overnight
in Ankara.
Day 9 : ANKARA - CAPPADOCIA
Depart for Cappadocia. The day's sightseeing includes
Göreme Open Air Museum, Avanos, Uchisar, Monks' Valley
and Urgup. Overnight in Urgup.
Day 10 : CAPPADOCIA
Explore Cappadocia further, by hiking in the Red and
Rose Valleys, followed by a visit to Kaymakli Underground
City, Mustafapasa Village, Ortahisar Village and Castle.
Complete the sightseeing with a stop-off at the old
local Turkish Bath for a relaxing traditional massage.
Overnight in Urgup.
Day 11 : CAPPADOCIA - KAYSERI - ISTANBUL
Transfer to Kayseri airport. Fly to Istanbul and transfer
to the hotel. Spend a free afternoon at your own leisure.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 12 : ISTANBUL
Transfer from the hotel to the airport. Departure from
Turkey back home.
Tour Price Includes :
Hotel Accommodations including breakfast and dinner,
All transportation in Turkey by private a/c tour coach,
All meals as stated in itinerary,
Economy Class domestic flight ticket with Turkish Airlines
Welcome cocktail,
All entrance fees to the sites and to the museums mentioned on the programs,
Comprehensive sight-seeing as itinerary,
Special pre-departure information pack,
English speaking professional guide throughout,
Tips to the hotels and restaurants,
All Portage,
DID YOU KNOW ?
that we may arrange all tour programs in our web pages completely
independently of the number of the participants!
Some Program Examples to discover this sacred places:
Sardis
The Story of Turkish Jews 500 Years of Peace & Harmony
Start after breakfast for a full day tour in centuries-old Jewish neighborhood, Galata, with its tower built by the Genoese.
Visit Neve Shalom Synagogue & Ashkenaz Synagogue, drive to Balat along the Golden Horn where the Star of David appears on the facades of some buildings.
Visit to Ahrida Synagogue, built in the 15th century. If required, lunch at
Jewish Hospital (Or-Ahayim). Visit to the special "Exhibition of the Quincentannial
Foundation" about the Jews in Türkiye, upon private rendezvous, and the Jewish Cemetery,
where the martyrs of Neve Shalom are buried. Last stop at Ortaköy, first disembark point of Sepharads,
welcommed by the Ottoman Sultan, and visit to Etz-Ahayim Synagogue.
This Program is available as a Full Day or Half Day tour!
Another Program Example:
DAY 1 : ARRIVAL - ISTANBUL (D)
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer from airport to the hotel. Check in to the hotel. After a break, welcome cocktail with a briefing about Turkey. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2 : ISTANBUL (D)
Morning visit to a Jewish neighborhood, Galata. You will see the Galata tower built by the Genoese in 1303. Visit the local synagogues, Neve Shalom and the Askenazy Synagogue. After lunch, visit the Hippodrome, a 3rd century site, where chariots raced during the Roman period. Visit the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue tiles and six minarets. Visit St. Sophia, a world heritage site built in the 6th century.
DAY 3 : ISTANBUL (B - D)
Visit the Topkapi Palace, its priceless collection of jewels, and the Grand Covered Bazaar.
DAY 4 : ISTANBUL (B - D)
Visit of the Balat neighborhood where you will see the star of David appearing on building facades. Visit the 15th Ahrida and the Yanbol synagogues. Visit the Jewish home for the elderly along the Golden Horn.
DAY 5 : ISTANBUL (B - D)
You may walk to the synagogue to attend morning Shabbat services. The day is at leisure.
DAY 6 : HOME ( B )
Transfer from hotel to Istanbul airport for homebound flight.
B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner
DAY 1 TUESDAY : ARRIVAL - ISTANBUL (D)
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer from airport to the hotel. Check in to the hotel. After a break, welcome cocktail with a briefing about Turkey. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2 WEDNESDAY : ISTANBUL (D)
Morning visit to a Jewish neighborhood, Galata. You will see the Galata tower built by the Genoese in 1303. Visit the local synagogues, Neve Shalom and the Askenazy Synagogue. After lunch, visit the Hippodrome, a 3rd century site, where chariots raced during the Roman period. Visit the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue tiles and six minarets. Visit St. Sophia, a world heritage site built in the 6th century.
DAY 3 THURSDAY : ISTANBUL (B - D)
Visit the Topkapi Palace, its priceless collection of jewels, and the Grand Covered Bazaar.
DAY 4 FRIDAY : ISTANBUL (B - D)
Visit of the Balat neighborhood where you will see the star of David appearing on building facades. Visit the 15th Ahrida and the Yanbol synagogues. Visit the Jewish home for the elderly along the Golden Horn.
DAY 5 SATURDAY : ISTANBUL (B - D)
You may walk to the synagogue to attend morning Shabbat services. The day is at leisure.
DAY 6 SUNDAY : ISTANBUL - CAPPADOCIA ( B. D. )
Transfer from Hotel to Istanbul airport. Morning flight to Kayseri and drive to Cappadocia to see the rock-cut churches and monasteries. Drive also to Pasabag and Zelve where you will enjoy the most unusual types of "Fairy Chimneys'' and rock formations. After lunch visit the spectacular Cappadocian valleys and villages such as Uchisar, Goreme and Ortahisar. Overnight in Nevsehir.
DAY 7 MONDAY : CAPPADOCIA ( B. D. )
Drive to the underground city of Kaymakli. Visit this amazing complex with its fascinating tunnels, dwellings and storage rooms. After Kaymakli, drive to old Sinassos (Mustafapasa) which is famous for its unrivaled houses with painted facades. After lunch at Sinassos, drive to Avanos to see the pottery makers.
DAY 8 TUESDAY : KONYA- PAMUKKALE ( B. D. )
Drive to Konya, ancient Seljuk capital, with its huge monastery complex and shrine of the mystic Mevlana, inspiration of the rite of whirling dervishes. After lunch, Drive to Pamukkale, with its strangely formed natural thermal baths and hot springs. Relax this afternoon in this "natural" spa.
DAY 9 WEDNESDAY: EPHESUS ( B. D. )
Spend a full day exploring the jewel of Turkey's ancient past, the ruins of Ephesus. Archaeological excavations begun in 1869 have uncovered well-preserved main streets, squares, temples, theaters and houses. Visit the Great Amphitheater, and stroll down the Marble Way to the magnificent Library of Celcus. Drive to Izmir for overnight.
DAY 10 THURSDAY : IZMIR ( B. D. )
This morning visit the Senora Synagogue (if possible) and Havra Street in Izmir where Jewish immigrants settled in 1492. You'll continue on to Sardes, where you'll visit one of the important historical cities of western Anatolia, the capital of the Lydian State. Sardes has rich architectural works reflecting its magnificent past. You'll see the Temple of Artemis, the mint house where coins were made, the gold purifying center, shops, gymnasium and the synagogue which was once one of the largest in history, built first in the 4th century BC and rebuilt in the 3rd century AC to its present day size after being destroyed by an earthquake.
DAY 11 FRIDAY : ISTANBUL ( B - D)
Flight to Istanbul. Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel and overnight.
DAY 12 SATURDAY : ISTANBUL ( B - D )
Free day in Istanbul.
DAY 13 SUNDAY : HOME ( B )
Transfer from hotel to Istanbul airport for homebound flight.
B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner
