• 15 nights & 16 days - tour starts and ends in Istanbul

• Istanbul's Old Town, listed in the Unesco World Heritage sites
• Capital city of modern Turkey, Ankara
• Goreme Valley in Cappadocia, a Unesco World Heritage site
• Ancient Ephesus, capital city of the Asian Province of Rome
• Hellenistic Pergamon that rivaled Athens' Acropolis
• Aesclepion, ancient medical center dedicated to god Apollo
• Ayvalik, land of olive groves and stately houses
• Gallipoli Peninsula, stage of a fierce battle during WW1
• Legendary Troy in Homer's epic, the Illiad

• Career building from a female professional - Ms. Elvan Oktar, Founding Partner of ERA Research & Consultancy
• Influence of traditions on the current form of religious practice - tba
• History of Turkish Republic & Reforms - tba
• Tour of Ephesus by an archaeologist - Mr. Cengiz Icten, Archaeologist
• Tour of Troy by a historian - Mr. Mustafa Askin, Historian, Author of Troy book
• Gallipoli tour with a specialist - Mr. Kenan Celik, leading expert on Gallipoli Battle

• Accommodations in centrally located hotels/pensions - twin share - 13 nights
• All tours/excursions, and entrance fees to sites and museums listed in the itinerary
• All land transportation, including airport-hotel transfers
• Cruise on the Bosphorus, and a boat trip in Ayvalik
• International round-trip airfare; JFK-Istanbul-JFK
• Domestic flight; Cappadocia-Izmir
• Lectures/tours by local experts as indicated in the itinerary
• Services of a certified guide throughout the tour
• All meals
• All tips, including your guide and driver
• Pre- & post-tour consultancy

Day 1 - June 15 - Wednesday
Arrive in Istanbul --- You will meet your guide at the airport.
Your hotel is located in the historical peninsula, at the heart of Istanbul's Old Town.
Robert College students, your local hosts and hostesses, and their teachers will join us for the welcome meeting.
During the meeting, your tour guide will give you a brief introduction of the tour. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions to your guide and Robert College students and teachers.
We will then walk to a nearby restaurant for our first dinner together.

Overnight in Istanbul’s Old Town - 3 nights
Walking: Light
Bus: 45 min. - transfer

Day 2 - June 16 – Thursday
On our first day in Istanbul, we will enjoy an introductory tour of the Old Town.
After an orientation walk, we will visit; the Hippodrome, once the heart of the city and home to grand gatherings, the 17th century Blue Mosque, famous for it’s priceless Iznik tiles, the 6th century Hagia Sophia, the greatest temple of Christendom for centuries, and the Underground Cistern, a forest of recycled Roman columns, built as a water reservoir.
Later in the day, and time permitting, we will walk the back streets of Old Town, from Grand Bazaar to the Spice Market.

Walking: Moderate to strenuous

Day 3 - June 17 – Friday
This morning, we will visit Topkapi Palace, residence of Ottoman Sultans, and the seat of government for almost 400 years. Our tour includes the Harem, the Royal Treasury and the Sacred Relics exhibit.
In the afternoon, we will drive to the border of past-time Constantinople to see the massive, 5th century walls that rank among the most impressive city walls in the world.
We will continue our tour on to the Church of St. Saviour in Chora, to appreciate some of the finest Byzantine wall mosaics anywhere.
Today’s meeting will be with a professor of theology. We will learn more about Islam, discuss influence of traditions on the current religious practice in Turkey, and how it affects women of the country.

Walking: Moderate to strenuous
Bus: 2 hours

Day 4 - June 18 – Saturday
This weekend, you will be hosted by students of Robert College and their families.
We will check out from our hotel after breakfast and load our bags on group vehicle. With the company of our hosts, we will enjoy a scenic cruise on the Bosphorus, the strait that runs through Istanbul and separates Asia from Europe.
After the cruise, we will go to the Robert College campus, to meet the families of hosting students. Later on, we will meet with a female professional who will share her career experience with us.

Home stay - 2 nights
Walking: Light
Bus: 1 hour
Boat: 1.5 hours

Day 5 - June 19 – Sunday
You will spend the day with hosting students and their families.

Day 6 - June 20 – Monday
Your hosts will bring you back to the campus to unite with the rest of your group. And after we say good-bye to our local “families”, we will be on our way to Ankara, capital of modern Turkish Republic.
As we arrive in Ankara, we will tour the highlights of the city. We will first visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, for an excellent summary of the history of Asia minor. Later on, we will drive to the Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of Turkish Republic. The Mausoleum incorporates the Museum of Independence that tells the story of the republic's foundations.

Overnight in Ankara - 1 night
Walking: Light
Bus: 6 - 7 hours

Day 7 - June 21 – Tuesday
In the morning, we will be joined by a historian to discuss the history of Turkish Republic, and the reforms that carried this nation on to the 21st century.
In the afternoon, we will drive to the Cappadocia region. En route, we will visit a 13th century caravanserai on the ancient Silk Road.
Cappadocia is slightly smaller than Yellow Stone National Park. It includes three cities, several towns and villages, as well as several valleys with unusual volcanic formations, and early rock carved churches.
In Cappadocia, we will stay in a small town called Mustafapasha, under preservation by state law to keep its authenticity. Upon arrival in Mustafapasha, we will check in to our historic pension, and then follow our local host for an orientation walk.

Overnight in Mustafapasha - 3 nights
Walking: Light to moderate
Bus: 4 - 5 hours

Day 8 - June 22 – Wednesday
Today, we will visit the Open Air Museum in the Goreme National Park to see the early Christian churches carved in the rock, and appreciate wall paintings and frescoes.
For lunch, we will be hosted by a local family. We will take our shoes off as we enter their carpeted guest room, and sit on pillows crossing our legs. After lunch, we will have a chance to talk to our hosts, and ask them questions about their life.
In the afternoon, we will visit a pottery workshop to watch a demo on the traditional kick wheel. We will have a chance to throw our own pottery!
We will have dinner at a small pide (Turkish pizza) restaurant in Mustafapasha. Either before or after lunch, we will make a small presentation to villagers about our lives in the United States.

Optional activity: Hot Air Balloon ride
Walking: Moderate
Bus: 2 hours

Day 9 - June 23 – Thursday
This will be an active morning. We will take a walk through an off the beaten path valley to enjoy nature, rock dwellings of the past and pigeon lofts.
After a bbq lunch, we will visit Kaymakli Underground City that could accommodate approximately 5,000 people at times of danger.
Fellow villagers will join us tonight for a simple village style entertainment after dinner. We will listen to music, sing and dance along with them.

Walking: Moderate
Bus: 2 hours

Day 10 - June 24 – Friday
With an early start this morning, we will fly to the Aegean coastline of Turkey, to Adnan Menderes Airport in Izmir. Flight is via Istanbul.
Upon arrival, we will drive to Ephesus area for an extensive tour of the ancient city. During our tour, we will also see the Slope Houses, Roman villas of the rich Ephesians, that reached our day with their original frescoes and mosaics. Tour will be led by an archaeologist who worked in the excavations for more than 20 years.

Overnight in the resort town of Kusadasi - 2 nights
Walking: Moderate
Bus: 3 hours
Flight: 2 hours

Day 11 - June 25 – Saturday
Day at leisure, on the beach to enjoy the Aegean.
Early evening, we will drive to the mountain village of Sirince, overlooking the olive and fruit rich fertile lands that surround Ephesus. Just like Mustafapasha earlier on this tour, this village is also under state protection to preserve its authenticity. The village center is quite lively with stands and shops that sell the local produced wine, olive oil, handicrafts, etc.

Walking: Light
Bus: 2 hours

Day 12 - June 26 – Sunday
Today, we drive north to Ayvalik.
On the Yunt Mountain we will visit a remote, carpet weaving village, to learn more about the DOBAG project, realized to support weavers to hold on to their traditional methods and materials. DOBAG weavers take pride in producing the best wool carpets of the world. We will see the looms at homes, as well as the entire process that starts with spinning and dying the wool.
En route to Ayvalik, we will visit the impressive acropolis of Pergamon, the capital city of Pergamon Kingdom, the leading power of the Hellenistic era in Asia Minor.

Overnight in Ayvalik - 2 nights

Day 13 - June 27 – Monday
Earlier in the day, we will walk the narrow, picturesque streets of Ayvalik to witness a colorful life-style. A pleasant boat ride by the archipelago will follow the tour. Those interested can swim off the boat.
After the boat ride, we will visit an olive oil pressing unit, to learn the essentials of olive farming, and the criteria that make the oil good or bad.

Day 14 - June 28 – Tuesday
Today, our destination is the city of Canakkale on the Dardanelles.
En-route, we will visit a small village to get to know the life in the north Aegean. This will be a valuable experience, to better understand the cultural diversity of Turkey.
Our village walk will be lead by an ex-lawyer who chose to retire in his mountain cottage after an ambitious career in a big city. Before we depart for Troy, we will have a delicious lunch prepared by his wife.
A historian will lead our tour in the ancient city of Troy.
In the evening, we will watch the movie Gallipoli, and stroll along the Dardanelles.

Overnight in Canakkale - 1 night

Day 15 - June 29 – Wednesday
We will cross the Dardanelles back to Europe and visit Gallipoli Peninsula, stage of a fierce battle during WW1. Our tour will be led by an expert.
After lunch, we will drive to Istanbul through the rolling hills of fertile Thrace.

Overnight in Istanbul - 1 night

Day 16 - June 30 – Thursday
Transfer to the airport.