MINARETS, MOSAICS AND

Ferry boats in Istanbul

Marble Streets
Our 8-day adventure tours the sights of Cappadocia, Istanbul, and Ephesus.

DAY 1: ISTANBUL
Nabila staff escorts you from the airport to your hotel.

DAY 2: ISTANBUL
(BLD) Your visit to this imperial city begins at Topkapi Palace, where we explore the fabulous Treasury, the Ceramics Section, and the Harein. Right next door, we visit the great basilica of Sancta Sophia, built by Justinian in 548. We then go next door to compare the architectural grace of the Blue Mosque, built a thousand years after Sancta Sophia. Walking a few steps across the Hippodrome, we descend to the Sunken Palace Cistern, a mysterious subterranean reservoir with 336 columns. Finally, we penetrate the Grand bazaar to look for treasures before returning to our hotel.

DAY 3: ANKARA
(BLD) We fly to Ankara for a visit to the world-famous Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, filled with Hittite treasures. Then we drive to the impressive mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern Turkish Republic..

DAY 4: CAPPADOCIA
(BLD) We start early for the drive to the moon-like landscape of Cappadocia. First we visit the Goreme Valley, now an open-air museum with dozens of beautiful cave-churches cut from the living rock. Then we visit the monastic valley of Zelve, with more rock-cut churches, and drive through the Valley of the Fairy Chimneys.

DAY 5: CAPPADOCIA
(BLD) We take a short drive and descend into the labyrinth at Kaymakli, a veritable underground city carved from the soft volcanic rock by early Christians. Then we drive back to Ankara for our flight to Izmir.

Take a tour of the ancient remains of Hadrian's Temple

DAY 6: IZMIR & EPHESUS
(BLD) Our full-day tour of Ephesus takes us along the city’s marble streets to the beautiful Library of Celsus, the grand agora, the Temple of Hadrian and the fine marble odeon. Next we drive up to a pine forest on a nearby mountaintop to visit the House of the Virgin Mary. Then it’s on to the Basilica of St. John, after which we return to Izmir for the night.

DAY 7: ISTANBUL
(BD) After a morning flight to Istanbul, the day is yours to enjoy as you explore on your own, with helpful suggestions from our staff.

DAY 8: ISTANBUL/U.S.A.
(B) After breakfast, Naggar staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home.