Exotic Turkey!
                            September 23 – October 4, 2010                                 

Come join us on this incredible journey to exotic Turkey and you’ll discover a country that is revered for its contribution to world culture and the arts. On your vacation to this fascinating country you’ll encounter a country brimming with beauty and grandeur for which it is world famous. We’ll explore Turkey -- from the history-filled streets of Istanbul –noted as one of the most exotic destinations in the world and its’ famous bazaars, to Ankara in Central Anatolia, to the very interesting moon-scape landscapes of Cappadocia; to the chalk-white array of fantastically shaped limestone in Pamukkale, to the ancient sites of Ephesus…. you’ll see a lot!

Visiting this exotic country will expose you to the wonder of Turkey and its rich and diverse culture, people and culinary delights and all at a very affordable price and with other singles to share it with!

                                                Come join us on this great adventure to exotic and fascinating Turkey!

Price Includes all of the following!

• 10 Nights accommodations in First Class Hotels
  • With private bath or shower, hotel taxes and service charges, porterage of 1 piece of luggage per person
    • 3 nights Istanbul (2 nights beginning of tour, 1 at the end of tour)
    • 1 night Ankara
    • 2 nights Cappadocia
    • 1 night Pamukkale
    • 2 nights Kusadasi
    • 1 night Canakkale
• Deluxe A/C Private Coach and Driver
• Licensed English speaking  tour guide throughout the trip
• Entrance Fees to included sights as outlined
• Total 17 meals
  • 10 Buffet Breakfasts
  • 7 Dinners    
• Free roommate matching if desired
• Single Travel Company Tour Representative (restrictions apply)
• Sightseeing and explorations as follows:
  • Istanbul: city sightseeing-Topapi Palace (exc Harem), Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar
  • Ankara: see the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations which includes wonderfully preserved wooden furniture from the tomb of the Phrygian King Midas. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey
  • En route to Cappadocia: tour a 13^th century caravan inn
  • Cappadocia: tour Goreme’s “Caves of God”, a UNESCO world Heritage site. See Monasteries & churches hewn into the volcanic rock, see Zelve’s cliff-side Byzantine monastic complex & Uchisar’s citadel; see the underground city of Serhatli
  • En route to Pamukkale: visit the mausoleum of Sufi philosopher Mevlana, founder of the mystic cult of the Whirling Dervishes
  • Pamukkale: see the unique Cotton Fortress- the white calcium cascades; visit one of the first spa centers of the ancient world, Hierapolis
  • Kusadasi: tour the famous ruins of Ephesus-see the Great Roman Theatre, Library of Celsus & Temple of Hadrian. See the House of Virgin Mary
  • Pergamum:  visit the ancient kingdom of Pergamum- see the Temple of Athena and famous library.
  • Troy: travel through this city known for its famous wooden replica of the Trojan horse
  • Gallipoli: battlefields of Gallipoli; visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine cemetery, & the Gabatepe War Museum
• Sightseeing areas: Canakkale, cross the Dardanelles, see the Aegean Sea 

   Itinerary

Available: Download Itinerary Now
(Acrobat Reader required - Please allow time for file to download completely)

Thur, Sept 233              Depart USA for Istanbul, Turkey!
            Today you leave your hometown on your overnight flight to begin your wonderful Turkey Adventure!

Fri, Sept 24                 Arrive Istanbul
After arrival in Istanbul, transfer to the hotel. Depending on your flight arrival time you can start exploring or relax and then enjoy our welcome get together later today. Balance of the day and evening are at leisure.

 Sat. Sept 25                 Istanbul
             Today we begin our trip with a tour of fascinating Istanbul, one of the world’s greatest historical cities and the only city to actually be in two continents-Asia and Europe!  Most of the historical sites are in the old city. The highlights today include Topapi Palace (excluding Harem), Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar. (B)

 Sun, Sept 26                Istanbul to Ankara
               After breakfast, leisure time to continue exploring or you’ll have the opportunity to take an optional tour of St. Sophia Museum and Bosphorus before our mid afternoon departure for Ankara with a late arrival at Ankara.

Dinner tonight is together at our hotel to exchange adventures so far! (B,D)

 Mon, Sept 27               Ankara-Cappadocia
 This morning we visit and see Hittite artifacts (Hittites were an ancient Anatolian people) at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the exhibit includes wonderfully preserved wooden furniture from the tomb of the Phrygian King Midas. We’ll also visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey.
Then we continue our journey to Cappadocia in eastern central Anatolia, but taking time to tour a 13^th century caravan inn en route. Then dinner together again tonight and we overnight in Cappadocia (B, D)

Tues, Sept 28              Cappadocia

                Cappadocia is known for its large quantities of volcanic material that has been around for centuries and the erosion over the years has formed very interesting and unique tuff-coned landscape designs. Over hundreds of years man has made dwellings, including churches and underground cities in the formations.  So we are in for a very interesting day today….we tour Goreme’s “Caves of God” a UNESCO world Heritage site. We’ll see the Monasteries and churches hewn into the volcanic rock decorated with 6^th century frescoes; see Zelve’s cliff-side Byzantine monastic complex and Uchisar’s citadel, as well as the underground city of Serhatli. Dinner together and another night in Cappadocia (B, D)

Wed, Sept 29               Cappadocia- Pamukkale
After breakfast we drive to Pamukkale, famous for its chalk-white array of fantastically shaped limestone. En route we visit the famous mausoleum of the Sufi philosopher Mevlana, founder of the mystic cult of the Whirling Dervishes. We arrive in Pamukkale for dinner and overnight (B, D)

 Thurs. Sept 30                           Pamukkale- Kusadasi
              After breakfast, in this famous city of hot springs and travertines, we pay a visit to the unique Cotton Fortress (or castle), the white calcium cascades that are formed from the flowing water.  We also visit one of the first modern spa centers of the ancient world, Hierapolis. Next stop is to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

 Fri, Oct 01                    Ephesus & St Mary’s House - Kusadasi
 Today we visit the famous ruins of Ephesus including the Great Roman Theatre, Library of Celsus and Temple of Hadrian and then onto the House of Virgin Mary where it is believed she spent the last year of her life under the care of St. John the Theologian. Dinner is included and we overnight in Kusadasi.

 Sat. Oct 02                    Pergamum- Troy- Canakkale
This morning we visit the ancient kingdom of Pergamum to see the Temple of Athena and famous library.
Continuing on we see Troy with its well-known wooden replica of the Trojan horse and then continue on to Canakkale for overnight and dinner. (B, D)  

 Sun. Oct 033                       Dardanelles- Gallipoli- Istanbul 
This morning we drive along the Aegean Sea to the battlefields of Gallipoli visiting Anzac Cove, Lone Pine cemetery, Chunuk Bair, and Gabatepe War Museum before we drive on to Istanbul for our last overnight. (B)

 Mon. Oct 04                  Istanbul – USA
            Yes, our fascinating Turkey vacation has come to a close and time to say good-bye to new friends. This morning transfer to the airport in Istanbul for your flight home returning home the same day.  (B) 

Hotels:First Class

 Istanbul-Hotel Hilton Parksa; Ankara-Crowne Plaza Hotel; Cappadocia-Dedeman Hotel; Pamukkale-Pam Hotel; Kusadasi-Charisma Hotel; Canakkale-Kolin Hotel

 Price
$1499  per person, land only, based on double occupancy, (roommate matching available).
$499    add to above for a room to yourself. (VERY limited availability)

 Airfare is additional and you need to fly into and out of Istanbul, Turkey (IST).  We will try and coordinate air flights for those that want to fly with others and to help with airport transfers.

Transfers are $35 one way ($70 roundtrip). 

Travel Insurance is highly recommended.  Please request more information at time of reservation.

Passport (current and not expiring for up to 6 months after the trip date) is required for U.S. citizens. A visa is required and it can be bought upon arrival into Istanbul airport for approximately $20 US and you should have it ready in cash for payment upon arrival.  Non U.S citizens please check with your respective consulates for entrance requirements. 

Price does not include:  airfare, airport transfers, insurance, items of a personal nature, meals not specified in itinerary, tips to drivers, guides, phone calls, and Turkey visa on arrival into Istanbul-approx $20 U.S., etc.

Activity Level Please note our singles are active and there will be a lot of walking, walking on uneven surfaces, and stairs to access some areas.  Expect to be ‘out and about’ and active! Also note you should expect that some facilities may not be to the standards you are accustom to (our hotel accommodations are nice though!) or some standards may be different than found at home, but this adds to the adventure of this wonderful vacation to this great destination.

Weather will be cooling down as they are entering into the fall season and cold/cooler in mornings and nights.  

 Fine Print—Exotic Turkey-September 23-October 4, 2010

Your payment for a reservation on this trip constitutes consent and acknowledgement of all the provisions in this Fine Print listed below and in the Singles Travel Company General Terms and Conditions.  Please make sure you read both of these important pieces of information and call us with any questions. Per our tour operator the hotels are subject to change and will be the ones listed or similar.

Deposit of $300.00 by check (payable to Travel Advisors) or credit card is due with your reservation. 

Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure date. 

Cancellation Fees and Refunds     All cancellations must be in writing.  You’ll receive a full refund of your deposit minus a $50 administrative fee if you cancel 91 days or more from the departure date of the trip.  No refunds within 90 days of departure date or on unused portions of the tour.  Cancellation fees also apply to additional accommodations reserved prior to and after the tour booked with the tour operator of the trip.   After airline tickets are issued, airline cancellations are per the airline’s policy and are usually non-refundable, changeable with a fee, and will be the price of the new ticket purchased depending on the new date of travel.