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The Trip

Our trip begins in fabled Istanbul and continues into Anatolia (classical Asia Minor). We will admire artifacts and architecture from the many civilizations that have flourished here. These include extensive Greek and Roman archeological sites, impressive mosques, and underground cities where early Christians eluded persecution. History comes alive as we wonder at the remains of the Greek, Roman Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires and appreciate the emergence of a modern republic under their great hero, Ataturk.

We will see breathtaking scenery -- mountains, valleys, plains, and seas -- take pleasant walks among the wildflowers, and enjoy delicious Turkish food. We'll enjoy long days and pleasant temperatures. We'll travel chiefly by private bus, but also by foot and on two internal flights. Along the way we'll meet and be welcomed by the friendly Turkish people and stay in unique, charming hotels.

Itinerary

Day 1: Magnificent Istanbul! You will be met upon arrival and transferred to our hotel in the old part of the city and within easy walking distance of most of the must-see places. The hotel's style reflects both Ottoman and Byzantine elegance with modern touches throughout. The welcome dinner will be the first meal of the trip.

Day 2: We'll enjoy a morning visit to one of Istanbul's smaller mosques, the Rustem Pasa Mosque, famous for its exceptionally fine tiles. Later, we'll cruise up the Bosphorus on a private boat gliding past opulent palaces, exquisite mosques, imposing fortresses, and traditional wooden Ottoman mansions.

After our luncheon overlooking the harbor, we'll explore the Spice Market with the enticing displays of Turkish delight, barrels of spices and herbs, pistachios soaked in honey (one of many Turkish aphrodisiacs), fine linens, and hundreds of other exotic items. Then we'll continue on to the Topkapi Palace, built in 1453, which was the lavish home to the sultans for many centuries. In the treasury section we can see the jewel-encrusted thrones, the world's largest emerald, and the famous Topkapi dagger. Dinner will be in a small, typical restaurant in the old city.

Day 3: Another full day of sightseeing will include the Roman Hippodrome, the Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum and the cool, serene Underground Cistern, built in A.D. 375 to provide water storage for the ancient city. We will then visit the monumental Hagia Sophia Basilica, jewel of the Byzantine Empire, which was opened by Emperor Justinian in A.D. 537. It was used as a Christian church for 916 years, as a mosque for 481 years, and by order of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Ataturk, was made into a museum in 1934. After a luncheon in the garden of a restored Ottoman mansion, we'll explore the Grand Bazaar. There are 18 entrances and over 4,000 shops in this, the world's largest covered market. We'll make an evening visit to the Blue Mosque to appreciate its intricate, delightful interior. Dinner will be at a restaurant frequented by locals.

Day 4: Today we leave Istanbul, traveling southwest along the shore of the Sea of Marmara to cross the Dardanelles into Asia at Canakkale. We continue to the legendary city of Troy, where Greek and Trojan heroes fought the Trojan War (13th century B.C.) for the honor of the beautiful Helen. We will spend the night in Guzelyah, a seaside village that is surrounded by deep green woods with a pleasant pine smell in the east. To the west, we will be on the Canakkale Strait (the Dardanelles) with its completely deep blue sea in the west. The population of this town is about 500 in the winter and about 5,000 in the spring and summer seasons. We will be there at the end of the winter season. Optional activity: body massage.

Day 5: Our visit to the hilltop ruins of Pergamum brings us to one of the most dramatic sites in the ancient world. It boasted the largest library with 200,000 scrolls, most of which were given to Cleopatra by Mark Anthony. The theater, which held 10,000 people, is still fairly intact. Nearby Asklepion was one of the leading medical institutions of the Roman age. We'll go on to Kusadasi for the next four nights. Dinner will be at one of the waterfront restaurants.

Day 6: Today we'll visit three smaller, but exquisite, archeological treasures. Priene is one of the most intact Hellenistic settlements to be seen, with the superb Temple of Athena a highlight. It is the earliest example of urban planning. Militius is impressive for its gigantic theater and Didyma for its Temple of Apollo, built to honor the god of prophecy and oracles. Dinner will be at one of the waterfront restaurants.

Day 7: Perhaps you've heard the words, "a reading from St. Paul to the Ephesians." Today you can sit in the same theater where St. Paul preached. Ephesus is overwhelming, yet still the best-preserved Roman city (and perhaps the best place in the world) to get the feeling for what life was like in Roman times. Here we will also see luxurious terrace houses decorated with mosaics and frescoes rivaling those of Pompeii. After lunch in the pastoral village of Sirince, we'll visit the house where the Virgin Mary spent the last years of her life, and also the Sel Cuk Museum. Dinner will be on your own tonight.

Day 8: Today we'll drive to the delightful "frozen waterfalls" and healing hot mineral springs of Pamukkale and the nearby ruins of Hierapolis. We'll explore lovely Aphrodisias, the city and temple dedicated to the goddess of love and one of the finest ancient stadiums ever built. Dinner will be in our hotel.

Days 9-12: From the Izmir airport, we'll fly to Kayseri in the land of bewitching geological wonders that is Cappadocia. Early traders called these formations, "Fairy Chimneys." Here Byzantine Christians formed communities and carved churches in the rock. Some are beautifully painted and now ours to appreciate. We'll visit Zelve Valley with elaborate cave shelters carved into the rocks centuries ago, the amazing underground city of Kaymakli, and the dwellings and early churches in the Goreme open-air museum. Cappadocia is perfect for getting out and walking. On our three- to four-mile hikes we can better appreciate this magical countryside. This is the center of carpet- and pottery-making, so we'll learn how these traditional arts are still alive. We'll visit a Caravansary and imagine the camel caravans of old stopping for rest here during their trek across the "Silk Road." For those interested, there is an optional balloon ride. (Not included in the trip cost.) Our hotel for these nights is one of the "cave hotels" as most rooms have been carved out of the surrounding rock. Dinner will be on your own one night.

Day 13: From the airport in Kayseri, we will fly to Istanbul. There will be time for some last-minute shopping before our farewell dinner.

Day 14: After breakfast you will be transferred to the Istanbul airport for your flight home.

Accommodations and Food

Our accommodations are very comfortable and modern. Every room has private bath facilities. The trip price is based on double-occupancy. Singles are very welcome and will be assigned a roommate of the same gender. For anyone preferring a single room, the leader will make that request. If it is possible to provide the single room, there will be an additional cost.

Turkish food is very tasty and healthy, with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables. Vegetarians are easily accommodated. For any special dietary requirements, inquire to the leader.

All breakfasts and lunches are included except for two lunches. Most dinners are included except for three dinners. Lunches are formal meals.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is designed for anyone in above average condition. No special athletic ability is required, but you must be able to walk a mile or two without difficulty. The hikes are optional, do not entail climbing, and are not more than four miles in length. Everywhere elevations are below 5,000 feet.

You'll need stamina for museum and historic-sight touring. The ground at the archeological sites is uneven and rocky. Temperatures in mid-spring should be very pleasant. The daytime highs range around 70 F on the Aegean and inland. But in Cappadocia the nighttime lows could be around 50 degrees.

References

Here are a few to get you started. The leader will provide participants with a more complete list of her favorites.

Books:

• Armstrong, Karen, Islam: A Short History.
• Atl, Esin, Turkish Art.
• Bilgen-Reinart, Porcelain Moon and Pomegranates: A Woman's Trek Through Turkey.
• Kinzer, Stephen, Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds.
• Lewis, Bernard, The Emergence of Modern Turkey.
• Pope, N & H, Turkey Unveiled.

Guidebooks:

• Eyewitness Travel Guides, Turkey.
• Lonely Planet: Turkey.

Conservation

Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers, aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward environmentally understanding parallel concerns at home and abroad.

Ancient archaeological sites are a natural attraction to tourists whose spending supports the economy of nearby residents. However, the settlements become vulnerable to population growth as everyone wants a share of this growing economy. It is difficult to achieve a balance between protection of the sites and the development of the economy.

Air pollution is a real blight, especially in winter because of burning of lignite for heating. A special problem for Turkey, again related to energy, is the use of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits as a tanker route to transport Caspian oil from Russian ports to Western Europe. There have been several major accidents over the past few years in these narrow channels.

Turkey is far ahead of the United States in the use of solar power. We'll learn how almost every home in Turkey heats its water, and the other uses of solar power.

Trip Price

This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader.

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.

Staff

Marti Greason began leading Sierra trips in Florida a dozen years ago. Since that time she has led folks to different areas of the world such as the Grand Canyon, US Virgin Islands, Austria, Czech Republic, and Turkey. She enjoys presenting new lands and different cultures to travelers. Most of all she likes to encourage participants to touch the ground and marvel at Mother Nature, especially in one of the most photographed place of all, Pamukkale, where the delightful frozen waterfalls remain ever so still. Her mode of travel ranges from backpacking to business travel. Her love of the outdoors started when she joined the Girl Scouts. Marti resides in Arizona. She looks forward to accompanying you to springtime in Turkey!

E-mail: marti-ann@comcast.net

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback