20 Alpha Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Tel: 301-571-0980 (Washington, DC office)

Website: www.turkishculturalfoundation.org E-Mail: director@turkishculture.org

SPRING TOUR 2007May 12 - 28, 2007

TOUR OF ISTANBUL – THRACE - MARMARA9 Days

May 12 - 20, 2007ISTANBUL – EDIRNE – CANAKKALE - BURSA – IZNIK – ISTANBUL

Day 1 12 May 2007 / Saturday

ISTANBUL

Arrival in Istanbul, transfer to your hotel. Boat trip on the Bosphorus.Welcome cocktail and dinner. Overnight at our hotel.

Day 2 13 May 2007 / Sunday

ISTANBUL

After breakfast, we will visit the Turkish Cultural Foundation IstanbulOffice. Then we will depart for full day tour of Istanbul. Istanbulembraces two continents, one arm reaching out to Asia, the other toEurope. In the city's heart, the Bosphorus Strait, connects the Black Seato the Sea of Marmara and creates the famous Golden Horn. The formercapital of three successive empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman -today Istanbul honors and preserves the legacy of its past while lookingforward to its modern future. We will visit St. Sophia, Blue Mosque, theHippodrome and Museum of Turkish & Islamic Arts. Late afternoondrive to Uskudar cross the Bosphorus Bridge, there you will have achance to see a performance of an artist practicing an ancient Turkish artof “Ebru” (Marbling). Later you are invited to a dinner party at home byour host in Istanbul. Overnight at our hotel.

Day 3 14 May 2007/ Monday

ISTANBUL

After breakfast, departure for full day Istanbul tour. Our city tour will startwith the Topkapi Palace. On a finger of land at the confluence of theBosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara stands the TopkapiPalace, that maze of buildings that was the focal point of the OttomanEmpire between the 15th and 19th centuries. In these opulentsurroundings, the sultans and their court lived and governed. During thetour, lunch will be served at Konyali Restaurant, which is located insidethe palace overlooking the marvelous Bosphorus. In the afternoon, ourtour will continue with visits to the Suleymaniye Mosque. Then we driveto Fener & Balat area, the group will visit the Greek OrthodoxPatriarchate, The Ahrida Synagogue, Surp Hiresdagabad ArmenianChurch. Dinner at Asitane Restaurant in Edirnekapi. Live Turkishclassical music called fasil will accompany the authentic Turkish kitchentastes. Overnight at our hotel.

Day 4 15 May 2007/ Tuesday

ISTANBUL

Our excursion begins with a walking tour of the old town; visit to theIstanbul Archaeological Museum. Then we will have the chance to listento the “Mevlit” a Turkish versed hymn that praises the ProphetMuhammed at the Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Mosque in Kadirga. InEminonu visit the Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Market). After lunch, we willpay a visit to Istanbul Modern Museum, Turkey's first museum dedicatedto displaying contemporary art. Visit the Dolmabahce Palace. Dinner at afish restaurant by the Bosphorus. Overnight at our hotel.

Day 5 16 May 2007/ Wednesday

ISTANBUL – EDIRNE – CANAKKALE

After breakfast, we will depart for a day trip to Edirne, the second capitalcity of the Ottoman Empire. Our walking tour will include masterpiecesof Turkish architecture, the Selimiye, and Sultan II. Bayezid Külliyesi/Complex Health Museum, which was awarded as the best EuropeanMuseum in 2004 by the European Union. We will enjoy listening toTurkish music, used for therapeutic purposes performed by a ney play.We will walk through the Arasta Bazaar of Edirne and visit historicalbridges over the Meric River. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant inEdirne serving traditional dishes. After lunch, we drive to Canakkale.

Day 6 17 May 2007 / Thursday

CANAKKALE-BURSA

Early morning departure to visit Troy. After lunch, drive along theMarmara Sea to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Dinner.Overnight at our hotel.

Day 7 18 May 2007 / Friday

BURSA

Bursa is rich in religious monuments, mosques, and tombs (turbes),traditional Turkish baths and was a center of Ottoman silks, a traditionstill enduring, as well as home to the famous “Turkish towel”. It is alsothe hometown of the famous Traditional Turkish shadow theatre,Karagoz and Hacivat. Our visits will start with the beautiful GreenMosque and Tomb, and continue with the Great Mosque, Koza Han, thehome of the silk trade, and Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi Tombs, thefounders of the Ottoman Empire. After these visits, our guests will viewa Hacivat/ Karagoz play at the Karagoz House. Dinner and overnight atour hotel in Bursa.

Day 8 19 May 2007 / Saturday

BURSA – IZNIK - ISTANBUL

After breakfast, we depart for Iznik, famous with its Lake, visit GreenMosque, St. Sophia. The town has witnessed many civilizations whichhave left their marks on every corner. It’s was the Center of tileproduction in the 16th century, producing tiles for famous architecturallandmarks. The Tour will visit to the Iznik Foundation, an organizationreviving the tradition of the Turkish tile “Cini” (www.iznikvakfi.org).After lunch we proceed to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight at our hotel inIstanbul.

Day 9 20 May 2007/ Sunday

ISTANBUL – HOMEBOUND or ISTANBUL – SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY

After breakfast, transfer to airport for homebound flights.ORAfter breakfast, departure for Southeastern Turkey Tour

HOTELSCity O/N Hotel Web

ISTANBUL 4 nights Swissotel Istanbul (5*) www.swissotel.com.tr

CANAKKALE 1 night Kolin Hotel (5*) www.kolinhotel.com

BURSA 2 nights Celik Palas Hotel (5*) www.celikpalasotel.com

ISTANBUL 1 nights Eresin Crown (Boutique Hotel) www.eresincrown.com.tr

All Meals/Beverages on the Tour included

20 Alpha Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824 Tel: 301-571-0980 (Washington, DC office)

Website: www.turkishculturalfoundation.org E-Mail: director@turkishculture.org

TOUR OF SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY10 Days

May 19 - 28, 2007ISTANBUL – DIYARBAKIR – MARDIN – SANLIURFA – GAP – ADIYAMAN –

GAZIANTEP – ANTAKYA – ISTANBUL

Day 1 19 May 2007 / Saturday

ISTANBUL

Arrival in Istanbul of guests who are taking the Southeastern Turkeytour. Transfer to your hotel. Welcome cocktail and dinner. Overnightat our hotel.

Day 2 20 May 2007 / Sunday

ISTANBUL – DIYARBAKIR

Early morning departure for flight to Diyarbakir, on TK 630 at 07:15am arrival in Diyarbakir at 09:10 am Diyarbakir is located on thebanks of the river Tigris in the southeastern Turkey. There we willwalk the huge basalt city walls that are second only to China’s GreatWall. Next we will visit the Great Mosque, 11th century Seljukmosque built by Sultan Melik Shah. It was built in the style of theUmayyad Mosque in Damascus without a dome and was decoratedwith beautiful Kufic script. We will visit Mesudiye Medrese, theHouse of Cahit S tk , Ataturk’s Command Headquarters (Gazi Kosku),and Ten Eyed Bridge over the Tigris, Dag Kapi (Mountain Gate), YeniKapi (New Gate), Mardin Kapi and Urfa Kapi. Overnight inDiyarbakir.

Day 3 21 May 2007/ Monday

DIYARBAKIR – MARDIN

Drive to Mardin, the castle and the mosques of Hasankeyf and departfor Midyat. The region around Mardin was once populated by SyrianOrthodox Church. As we make the drive to Midyat you will see theabandoned monasteries and hermitages that dot the mountainouslandscape. Midyat is a small village with extraordinary carved stone,

honey-colored houses lining alleyways. Time will be spent walking thestreets and visiting the local handicraft shops. In Mardin, we will visitthe Jacobite Monastery of Deryulzafaran. A monastery hascontinuously occupied this location since the 5th century. Inside themonastery you will see a structure that once was part of a temple to thesun and predates the monastery by hundreds of years. Dinner andovernight in Mardin.

Day 4 22 May 2007 / Tuesday

MARDIN - SANLIURFA

Mardin, a beautiful, mystical ancient town crowned with a castle,overlooking the Mesopotamian Plain. Centuries old, you will see theinfluence of many different cultures. It was one of the most importantcenters of the Artuqids. Mardin is home tothree religions, and we willsee mosques, and churches side by side. It is also the home ofTurkey’s Assyrian community. We will visit the 11th century UluCamii with its unique, heavily carved cylindrical minaret set on a highsquare base. Near the mosque, we will climb to the KasimiyeMedrese. This is a wonderfully preserved complex built in the 15thcentury by Ak Koyunlu, Turkmen. Continue with the visits to theMardin Museum, Zenceriye Medrese, and Forty Martyrs Church(Kirklar Church). Finally, we will spend time in the Mardin bazaar.The bazaar is a rabbit warren of shops and the atmosphere has littlechanged in the last couple of centuries. Then, we will drive to S. Urfafor dinner. We will experience a traditional Urfa night after dinner.Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5 23 May 2007 / Wednesday

SANLIURFA – HARRAN - SANLIURFA

S. Urfa (ancient Edessa and modern Sanliurfa), the land of Prophetsmentioned in the holy books, has strong historical ties to Judaism,Islam and Christianity. In Sanliurfa, we will visit Golbasi park that isthe location of the famous confrontation between Abraham and theAssyrian king Nimrod. Legend has it that the Assyrian king burnedAbraham on a pyre and that God saved Abraham from certain death.Nearby is the Dergah complex that contains the cave in whichAbraham was born. The “Balikli Gol” a lake and connecting canalswith thousands of fish, the pool of sacred carps near Halil IbrahimMosque. We will next visit the Sipahi bazaar. The bedesten, anancient caravanserai, in the bazaar is where you will find rugs, kilimsand other textiles. Time permitting, we will trek to the fortress thatoverlooks Urfa and take in its spectacular views.

Leaving Urfa we will make a short stop at Harran, one of the oldestcontinuously inhabited places in the world. It is famous for itsbeehive houses. This style of home building is thought to haveoriginated in the 3rd century BCE. We will also see the 8th centuryUlu Camii that is the oldest mosque in Anatolia. Ovenight in Urfa.

Day 6 24 May 2007 / Thursday

SANLIURFA - GAP - ADIYAMAN - KAHTA

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from the hotel for Atatürk Dam(GAP), the Southeastern Anatolia Project is the largest and mostmultifaceted development project in Turkey as well as one of thelargest development projects active farming with extensive irrigationsystem and electricity production. It will also benefit the tourism,mining petrol, education, health, communication, and industry andtransportation sectors. Lunch at the Atatürk Dam which will speciallyorganized for you. Drive to Kahta for Mt.Nemrut, the site of the tinySelucid state of Commagene was made world-famous by themonumental heads on Mt.Nemrut commemorating its ruler AntiochusI. Visit old Kahta known as Arsameia and new citadel, inc. KarakasTumulus and Statue, Cendere (Roman) Bridge. Climb to the top ofMt.Nemrut are the famous heads, the ruins of the tubules of Antiochusand watch the sunset from Nemrut by the statues of the gods of theCommegene civilization, the view is breathtaking. This site is knownas the Eight Historical Wonders of the World. Dinner and overnight inKahta.

Day 7 25 May 2007 / Friday

KAHTA – ADIYAMAN - ANTAKYA

After breakfast drive to Gaziantep, located between Mesopotamia andthe Mediterranean Sea has been an important crossroads in everyperiod of history. On arrival, we will visit the ArchaeologicalMuseum, famous for its Roman mosaic collections excavatedrecently in Zeugma. The garden contains with a hodgepodge oldstatues and relief’s standing unmarked in the weeds. Museum,opportunity to discover the Artisans of Gaziantep specialize incopperware and furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Gaziantepcuisine, for many years, has held a privileged place among thecuisines of the world and in our country due to its traditional andregional richness of flavor. The very special feature of Gaziantepcuisine is in the careful use of the ingredients in the preparation of themeals. All the ingredients are chosen with great care. Plentifulquantities of spices, tomato pastes and different mixtures givedifferent tastes and flavors to the dishes. For the excellence of theflavor and the taste of Gaziantep meals the skills of the personpreparing them are just as important as the quality of the materials.Gaziantep is world famous for its pistachio nuts and baklava and wewill have a chance to taste these delicacies. Drive to Antakya andovernight in at the hotel Savon Antakya.

Day 8 26 May 2007 / Saturday

ANTAKYA

After breakfast drive to Antakya. Drive to Antioch, the headquartersof Paul s missionary journeys. Drive to Seleucia from where Paulsailed to Cyprus. We drive to Harbiye where Apollo fell in love withDaphne. Dinner and overnight in Antakya.

Day 9 27 May 2007 / Sunday

ANTAKYA - ADANA - ISTANBUL

Antakya is where St. Peter , St. Paul and Barnabas had organizedthe first church of the Christians. Visit the mosaic Museum ofAntakya which reveals the wealth and grandeur of the city at St.Paul's time. Visit where Fly to Istanbul from Adana on TK 0465 at04:45 pm arrive in Istanbul transfer to your hotel.

Day 10 28 May 2007 / Monday

ISTANBUL

Transfer to the Atatürk Airport for homebound flights.

HOTELSCity O/N Hotel Web

ISTANBUL 1 night Eresin Crown (Boutique Hotel) www.eresincrown.com.tr

DIYARBAKIR 1 night Grand Kervansaray Hotel (Boutique hotel) www.dunyainsanlarininevi.com

MARDIN 1 night Erdoba Mansions (Boutique hotel) www.erdoba.com.tr

SANLIURFA 2 nights Hotel El Ruha (5*) www.hotelelruha.com

ADIYAMAN 1 nights Kahta Zeus Hotel (4*) www.zeushotel.com.tr

ANTAKYA 2 nights Savon Hotel (Boutique hotel) www.savonhotel.com.tr

ISTANBUL 1 night Polat Renaissance (5*)www.polatrenaissance.com/isten/default.asp

All Meals/Beverages on the Tour included