Secrets of Turkey

• All entrance fees

• Accommodations based on double and triple occupancy at comfortable and distinctive tourist level hotels

• Most meals; we leave off a couple so your family can explore on your own.

• Travel in groups of 15 to 25 people

• Services of a bilingual guide who will accompany you throughout your trip

• Land transportation, airport transfers and internal air

• All excursions

• Bottled water and snacks

• Travel insurance – Travel Insured International policy

• Groups of 8 or more will be accompanied by a mentor whose primary jobs will be to provide kid-friendly enrichment activities for up to an hour each day that enhance the overall trip experience; to provide organized fun for kids that helps them get to know each other; to provide things for kids to do during delays, flights and long bus trips (our teen trips don’t include mentors)

• Ages 6 to 16 will be matched with pen pals with whom they can correspond and then meet in country (our cruises of Inside Passage of Alaska and our teen trips don’t include penpals)

• There may be slight variations to this listing for certain adventures

DAYS 1 AND 2 – DEPART U.S. / ARRIVE ISTANBUL
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, where your Turkey family vacation begins.

DAY 3 – ISTANBUL
A crossroads of East and West that straddles two continents, it’s no surprise that Istanbul is a cultural and ethnic melting pot steeped in historical legends that go back thousands of years. You will get a chance to breathe in some of the flavorful culture at the famous Spice Market, where you can buy countless kinds of spices, seasonings, teas and candy.

Blue Mosque

Spice Market

Topkapi Palace

DAYS 4 AND 5 – CAPPADOCIA
Located in a once active volcanic region, Cappadocia is known for its exceptional rock formations and valleys. As unusually beautiful as these are above ground, the limestone rock formations are even more impressive below the surface, as you and the kids will discover when you climb down four stories into one of the largest underground cities ever built – Kaymakli.

Hike the Valley of the Spears

Göreme open-air museum

Terra cotta pottery workshop

Underground City of Kaymakli

DAYS 6 AND 7 – TAURUS MOUNTAINS
Turkish culture is rich in the villages of the Taurus Mountains, especially in the summer when the locals escape the heat of their towns for the shade of the forests here. Your family will have a blast exploring the region and kicking the soccer ball around with the local neighborhood kids.

Sultanhan Caravanserai

Museum of Rumi

Hike Grotto of the Golden Cradle

Soccer game with locals

DAYS 8 AND 9 – ANTALYA
Where the Taurus Mountains recede from the shore, set high up on the cliffs, you’ll find the picturesque seaside town of Antalya. En route you’ll stop at Koprulu Canyon National Park for some ideal whitewater rafting. The Koprulu River has crystal clear waters and towering canyon walls that reach up to 1,300 feet high.

Whitewater rafting

Free time

Hike to Termessos

Friends Across Borders meeting (pen pals)

DAYS 10 TO 13 – YACHTING ALONG THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST
Over the next four days, we will meander slowly along the Turquoise Coast, dropping anchor at quiet coves, sheltered beaches and small harbor towns. We’ll have opportunities to swim (kids love jumping off the side of the boat for a splash landing!), snorkel, hike and explore. It’s a relaxing, carefree life with surprise encounters and lots of choices for family activities.

Hikes to a Crusader Castle and Roman ruins

Church of Saint Nicholas (a.k.a. Santa Claus)

Explore Gemiler Island

Explore Kayaköy

DAYS 14 AND 15 – ISTANBUL
You can see its dome for miles and miles, it has been rebuilt three times in 200 years and is the last relic of Constantinople. The Haghia Sophia museum remains Turkey’s most staggering landmark, and your family can explore this marble masterpiece inside and out. Make sure to listen to your echo upon entering the enormous main chamber.

Haghia Sophia

Free time

DAY 16 – DEPART ISTANBUL / ARRIVE U.S.

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
6/12/2010 - 6/27/2010	$4,840
6/26/2010 - 7/11/2010	$4,840
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Wow, what a history! Turkey is one of the oldest continually inhabited areas of the world and home to some of the earliest settlement in the world. From empires that date back to well before the 10th century BC, to settlements and invasions by Greeks, Romans and Mongols to the great Ottoman Empire, you’ll experience the great history of Turkey. You’ll also learn about Turkey’s Whirling Dervishes and other religious history such as the clashes with the Holy Roman Empire during the crusades.

Sitting astride the continents of Asia and Europe, Turkey is home to one of the world’s most unique and intriguing cultures. A blend of various elements of Ottoman, Anatolian, Oguz Turkic and western peoples, the unique culture was born from being located at the gateway for migrations from the east and west for centuries.

Istanbul is one of Europe’s most populated cities and is Turkey’s financial and cultural capital. Discover firsthand why Istanbul is the coolest city in the world. At the crossroads of history for three millennia, Istanbul’s narrow streets are home to the Spice Market, Covered Bazaar, the historical Sultanahmet District, and such architectural treasures as the Basilica Cisterns, Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome. Istanbul was the last stop on the ancient Silk Road, and this Spice Market was the final destination for Asian goods. That means this market has been in business for almost 4,000 years!

Tour recommended for ages 6+

All tour prices are per person, in US dollars, based on double occupancy.

Teen Rate (12-17)= $4740
Child Rate (<12)= $4640
Internal Air = $250

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