| Total
Solar Eclipse 2006 - Turkey tour details |
|
Observe
the solar eclipse on March 29, 2006 from the shores of the
Mediterranean Turkey ...
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| Ancient
historian Heredotus says that, once upon a time, a total solar
eclipse deeply affected the people of Asia Minor, and ended
a war between two major powers, the Lydians and the Medes.
On the same soil, ages later, you can join the amazement of
our forefathers!... |
|
-
Accommodations
in centrally located hotels and pensions
- All breakfasts, and half the
lunches and dinners
- All entrance fees to sites
and museums listed in the itinerary
- All tips, including your guide
and driver
- Domestic flight/s - as indicated |
Maximum
enrolment is limited to 20 participants
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Alternative
1
--- Istanbul - 4 nights & Antalya - 2 nights
--- USD
1,155.-
-
Starts in Istanbul on March 25, ends in Istanbul on March 31
-
Includes
2 domestic flights -------------------------------------------------------
»
details |
|
Alternative
2
--- Aegean & the Mediterranean - 10 days
--- USD
1,395.-
-
Starts in Istanbul on March 22, ends in Istanbul on March 31
-
Includes
1 domestic flight, and a night in Istanbul at either end --------------
»
details |
|
Alternative
3
--- Istanbul, Aegean & the Mediterranean - 12 days
--- USD
1,650.-
-
Starts in Istanbul on March 20, ends in Istanbul on March 31
-
Includes
1 domestic flight --------------------------------------------------------
»
details |
|
Full
itinerary
--- with Cappadocia extension -14 days ---
USD
1,950.-
-
Starts in Istanbul on March 20, ends in Istanbul on April 02
-
Includes
1 domestic flight |
|
| day
1 - March 20 - Istanbul
--- Arrive in Istanbul. Dinner will follow the welcome get
together and briefing. |
day
2 - March 21 - Istanbul
--- Byzantine Istanbul
Hagia
Sophia Cathedral - 6th C - the main cathedral of Constantinople.
The masterpiece of the Byzantine Empire.
Underground Cistern - 6th C - incredible water reservoir to
the royal palaces has more than 300 columns. Hippodrome -
2nd C - see the monuments that decorated the horse track from
the Roman times.
Chora Church - 14th C - the very best examples of Byzantine
wall mosaics.
Spice Market - 17 C - Free time to explore and enjoy the market
built to house the spice traders on the Silk Road. Still used
as a spice market, very colorful, lots of local activity,
great place to observe daily life besides shopping for spices. |
day
3 - March 22 - Istanbul
--- Ottoman Imperial Istanbul
Topkapi
Palace - 15th C - the royal residence and the seat of the
Ottoman government for 400 years. Holds several very important
exhibits like the royal treasury, Chinese porcelain, armors,
the Harem (ladies quarter), sacred relics of Islam, etc...
Blue Mosque - 17th C - the imperial mosque of Sultan Ahmet
I, decorated with priceless 17th C tiles.
Turkish - Islamic Arts Museum - in a 16th C Grand Viziers
palace - for a better understanding of the Turkish culture
and arts along with the Islamic arts.
Boat trip on the Bosphorus - on a private boat for the group,
narrated tour of the strait, a chance to observe architecture
of centuries.
Grand Bazaar - 15th C - Free time to enjoy the biggest of
all bazaars built
on the Silk Road. |
day
4 - March 23 - Gallipoli & Troy
--- from Homer to 21st c.
Drive
to Gallipoli peninsula on the Dardanelles Strait. See the
scene of the battle and learn the history, share the spirit
of the battle that caused the realization of three great nations
after the WWI, Australia, New Zeland and Turkey. Later in
the day, discover the several levels of civilization in Troy,
establish a link between the past and today. See "Schliemann"
trench where the treasury of King Priam was found towards
the end of the 19th C.
sleep
in Canakkale |
day
5 - March 24 - Pergamum
--- Acropolis & the Aesclepion
Visit the Acropolis of Pergamum, the breathtaking Hellenistic
Acroplolis perched on a mountain top. The cityof the kings
that controlled the trade of the Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean
for 150 years. See the impressive Temple of Trajan, altar
of Zeus, an actual Hellenistic theatre and the library of
Pegamum.
sleep
in Kusadasi |
day
6 - March 25 - Ephesus
--- capital of "Provincia Asia"
An extensive visit of the Ephesus, the most complete ancient
city in the world. See the colonnaded streets, great theatre
where St. Paul preached once, library of Celcus, site of Temple
of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
sleep
in Kusadasi |
day
7 - March 26 - Dydima
--- ancient Soothsayers
En route to Bodrum, visit Temple of Apollo in Dydima - 6th
C BC- for the best preserved marble temple of archaic period,
excellent state of preservation. Swim in comforting waters
of Aegean in the Didim golden sand beach.
sleep
in Bodrum |
day
8 - March 27 - Bodrum
--- start of modern history
Hometown of historian Heredotus, ancient Halicarnassus, dwelling
of contemporary artists and intellectuals. See one of the
best preserved crusader castles that houses the most important
underwater archeology museum of the world. Full size Roman
and Byzantine shipwrecks were excavated and rebuilt in the
museum with their original cargo, amazing. The museum was
started by Prof. George Bass (he dives with a Rolex in commercials!).
See the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders
of the World.
sleep
in Bodrum |
day
9 - March 28 - Aphrodisias
--- powerfull Mother Goddess
Drive to Aphrodisias to see the city of the Mother Goddess.
Aphrodisias, off the beaten path, used to be a city for sculptures
and philosophers. We will see the delicate architecture and
statues of the school of Aprodisias.
sleep
in Antalya |
|
day
10 - March 29 - Antalya
--- the Solar Eclipse
4 minutes and 7 seconds of totality! Enjoy an unusually long
lasting total solar eclipse from the shores of the Mediterranean.
After the Mediterranean breakfast in our hotel, we will travel
east of Antalya to Side or Manavgat, about 1 hour driving
distance to get to an ideal place for viewing the eclipse.
11:38:24
am - first contact, the partial phase begins
12:55:00 pm - totality begins, second contact, lasting for
almost 250 seconds
12:58:45 pm - the third contact, totality ends
14:13:35 pm - the fourth, partial phase ends
In the late afternoon, visit Aspendos to learn more about
the architectural talent of the Romans and to see the best
preserved theater in the world - 2nd C-.
sleep
in Antalya |
|
| ---
Cappadocia extension --- |
|
day
11 - March 30 - Antalya to Cappadocia
--- on the Silk Road
Drive to Cappadocia. En route, we stop in the city of Konya
to visit the Museum of the Whirling Dervishes. Later in
the day visit a 13th C caravanserai on the Silk Road.
sleep
in Cappadocia |
day
12 - March 31 - Cappadocia
--- fairy land
Explore Cappadocia all day long. We will visit is the Goreme
Open Air Museum, a Unesco World Heritage site, Pasabag Valley
with hundreds of fairy chimneys and Avanos, the pottery
village. Enjoy spectacular views at Avcilar Valley and Three
Graces.
sleep
in Cappadocia |
day
13 - April 01 - Cappadocia to Istanbul
--- early Christians
Discovery of underground city of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu, will
be followed by the famous weaving town of Ortahisar. Photo
stops at Valley of Dreams and Red Valley will continue. We
take the late afternoon or evening flight back to Istanbul.
The day will end with the farewell dinner. |
| day
14 -April 02 --- Tour
is over after breakfast. |
Individual
pre- & post- tour extensions are available to alternative
destinations
This tour is physically demanding |
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