Archaeological
Odyssey 2

Remote Turkey 21 Days

Day 1 Flight Day
Flight from the United States.

Day 2 Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to hotel. Dinner in town and overnight at the Sultanahmet District of Istanbul. (D)

Day 3 Nicaea / Bursa
Drive to the lakeside town of Iznik, ancient Nicaea, which was the center of the famous ceramic tiles. Visit Iznik Lake before continuing on to Bursa. Dinner and overnight at the Otantik  Bursa Hotel. (B/D)

Day 4 Uludag / Bursa
Drive up to Uludag National Park (Mt. Olimpos of Mysia). Hike in the forest and visit the thermal baths. Dinner and overnight at the Otantik Bursa Hotel. (B/D)

Day 5 Gallipoli / Canakkale
Drive to Manyas Lake Bird sanctuary, where over 200 species of birds have been recorded. Continue on to Gallipoli Peninsula and visit the war memorials, erected to honor the soldiers who died during World War I. Stop at Canakkale, situated on the Canakkale Straits which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean. Dinner and overnight at the Canakkale Tusan Hotel. (B/D)

Day 6 Assos / Assos
Visit Alexandria Troas, dating back to the 2nd century B.C., then on to the ancient city of Chryse, the modern village of Gulpinar, where we will visit the 2nd century B.C. Apollo Smitheus temple. Continue to Assos and enjoy the beautiful view from the temple of Athena built in the 6th century B.C. Dinner and overnight at the Kervansaray Hotel Assos. (B/D)

Day 7 Sardis / Izmir
Drive to Sardis, the capital of the Lydian Empire and the city of King Croesus, where the first coins were minted. See the "thousand mounds" of the Lydian royal cemetery. Stop at Akhisar, Magnesia at Mount Sipylus, the mourning rock of Niobe, and Sipylus National Park. Continue to Izmir where the historian Homer is believed to have lived. Dinner and overnight at the Kaya Prestige Hotel in Izmir. (B/D)

Day 8 Teos / Kusadasi
Drive to the ancient Ionian cities of Teos, Colophon, and Claros. Continue to Kusadasi for a free afternoon. The local stores are great for shopping. Dinner and overnight in at the Kismet Hotel Kusadasi. (B/D)

Day 9 Gerga / Kusadasi
Visit Alinda and nearby villages. Continue to Alabanda and Gerga. Dinner in town and overnight at the Kismet Hotel in Kusadasi. (B/D)

Day 10 Herakleia / Bodrum
Drive to peaceful Bafa Lake and the ancient city of Herakleia. Visits to Mylasa, Labranda, the Corinthian Temple of Zeus, and the ruins of Iasos. Continue to Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, well-known for its lively nightlife. Dinner at a local sea food restaurant and overnight at the 4 Reasons Hotel in Bodrum. (B/D)

Day 11 Gulf of Gokova / Datca
Visit the ancient cities of Stratonikeia and the village of Eskihisar. Drive to Gokova over a winding road and enjoy the beautiful views of the bay. After a refreshing swim in Gokova, continue on to Datca, one of Turkey's major sailing centers. Dinner and overnight at the Old House Hotel in Datca. (B/D)

Day 12 Knidos / Dalyan
Visit Knidos, founded in the 4th century B.C. and built around a double harbor. Stroll among the ruins including the remains of the Sanctuary of Demeter and the Temple of Aphrodite. Visit the small town of Datca. Drive along the mountain road to the ancient city of Kaunos via Koycegiz Lake. Continue to Dalyan. Dinner and overnight Dalyan (B/D)

Day 13 Dalyan / Fethiye
 See the impressive Lycian rock tombs and a Carian castle at the acropolis. Stop in the small village of Dalyan. The beach nearby is a protected breeding ground and one of the few beaches left where the giant sea turtles, Caretta Caretta, lay their eggs during the summer. Continue on to Fethiye along the coastal road. Dinner and overnight in Fethiye. (B/D)

Day 14 Oenoanda / Fethiye
Visit Oenoanda, Tlos, and the hidden canyon at Saklikent, then return to Fethiye. Dinner and overnight at the Montana Pine Resort in Fethiye. (B/D)

Day 15 Pinara / Kalkan
Visit the ancient city of Pinara, one of the largest Lycian cities. See the interesting rock carved tombs on a steep hillside. Visit Sidyma and nearby villages. Continue on to Kalkan, a small village on the coast that offers a great taste of unspoiled Mediterranean village life. Dinner and overnight at the Pirat Hotel in Kalkan. (B/D)

Day 16 Kyaneai / Antalya
Visit the mountain villages and ancient settlements of the Lycians as well as Bezirgan village. Visit Kyaneai, and Trysa, then continue on to Antalya. Dinner and overnight at the Dogan Hotel in Antalya. (B/D)

Day 17 Antalya / Alanya
Drive to beautiful Beskonak Canyon National Park, which is up to 1000 feet deep in places. Visit ancient Selge, the village of Zerk, for marvelous views of the valley below. Drive to Alanya on the Mediterranean coast, once a Cilician pirate strong-hold. Dinner and overnight at the Bedesten Hotel in Alanya. (B/D)

Day 18 Alanya / Tasucu
Enjoy the beautiful view from Alanya Castle followed by a refreshing cruise around the bay. Drive to Anamur and visit Mamure Castle, an impressive fortress on the coast constructed by crusaders and restored by the Ottomans. Continue to Silifke. Dinner and overnight at the Tasucu Best Resort. (B/D)

Day 19 Tarsus / Adana
Drive to Olba Diocaeseria at Uzuncaburc village. Visit Kanlidivane where most of the ruins are Roman and Byzantine although it dates back to the Hittites. Drive to Adana via Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. Dinner and overnight at the Adana Hilton Hotel. (B/D)

Day 20 Karatepe / Istanbul
Morning visits to the Hittite sites of Karatepe, located in a national forest along a reservoir of the Ceyhan River, and Yilanli Castle, which dominates the Cilician plain from its perch overlooking the river. Afternoon flight to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight at the Richmond Hotel in Istanbul. (B/D)

Day 21 Departure Day
Transfer to the airport for return flight to the United States. (B)