Updated Itinerary

This is our daily schedule at a glance. Our tour staff will make daily announcements with specifics and times during the trip. Note that our itinerary may shift due to the weather or to take advantage of unexpected opportunities.

A typical day’s activities begin with a continental buffet breakfast. We then set out around 8:00 a.m. for our day's excursion, armed with rain gear, an extra layer (sweater or wrap), sunscreen, sunglasses, water, hat and our comfortable walking shoes. There will be some coach travel, with up to 3 miles of walking and perhaps climbing stairs without handrails. We stop along the way to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we are off again for an excursion before returning to our hotel. On arrival at our hotel, we have time for a shower and some rest, then perhaps a lecture before dinner. This will be balanced by a more relaxing schedule on our gulets.

Meals included in the program are indicated next to the hotel name with the following designations:

B = Breakfast          L = Lunch                D = Dinner              R = Reception

Monday, June 9  

Depart U.S. ✈ Arrive Ankara, Turkey                                                   

Upon exiting the customs area at the airport, look for a local guide who will be holding a large sign with “Stanford Travel/Study” written on it. You will then transfer to the hotel. If you have any issues with your transfer please contact the local staff.

Check-in at the hotel begins at 2:00 p.m. Luggage can be left with the bell captain if you arrive before your room is ready.

4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Meet your tour manager, Annie Darrow, '87, in the lobby at a hospitality desk in the lobby of the hotel. She will have a welcome letter, nametags and luggage tags available for you.

6:30 p.m. 

Gather for a welcome orientation and reception in the Marco Polo room on the first floor of the hotel. 

Hilton Ankara*  (R)

*The group is booked in executive floor lounge rooms. During specific hours there are complimentary local and international alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, snacks and nuts.

Tuesday, June 10

Ankara

Breakfast is served in Greenhouse Restaurant of the hotel starting at 7:00 a.m.

Morning:

Professor Christophe Crombez will give his first lecture in the Cankaya Saloon. Afterwards, depart the hotel to begin exploring Ankara, starting at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. After our visit, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, Divan Curkurhan Hotel.

Afternoon:

Visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey and pending confirmation, we will have a briefing at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. You will need to take your passport for entry into the Embassy.

This evening, enjoy a festive welcome dinner at Marco Polo Saloon at the hotel.

Hilton Ankara* (B, L, D) – Please remember to settle any bills with the hotel this evening.

*The group is booked in executive floor lounge rooms. During specific hours there are complimentary local and international alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, snacks and nuts.

Wednesday, June 11

Ankara / Cappadocia

Breakfast is served at our hotel starting at 7:00 a.m.

Morning:

Depart the hotel for our 4.5-hour drive to Cappadocia. Enjoy lunch at Old Greek House restaurant in Cappadocia.

Afternoon:

Visit the Uchisar Fortress and stop for photos of Pigeon Valley. Continue to the underground city of Kaymakli, followed by a visit to a ceramic cooperative for a demonstration by a local pottery maker.  Depart this evening for a whirling dervish performance followed by dinner at the hotel.

Alden Hotel Cappadocia (B, L, D)

Thursday, June 12

Cappadocia                                                            

Breakfast is served in our hotel starting at 7:00 a.m. at Main Restaurant near the entrance.

Morning:

Professor Christophe Crombez will give his second lecture in the Maccan Meeting Room. Then we will visit the Göreme open-air museum to see exquisite Byzatine and medieval frescoes. Please note that some churches require climbing up and down narrow stairs. Following our visit, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon:

Visit Zelve, a beautiful area with a narrow valley full of cliff dwellings and rock-hewn churches. Please note walking will be all outdoors with some dirt paths and slippery up-and-downhill slopes. We then go to Pasabagi, which has some of the best examples of Cappadocia’s famous “fairy chimneys,” followed by a visit to a carpet cooperative for a demonstration of carpet weaving.

Dinner tonight is at our hotel at the buffet open from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. also in the Main Restaurant.

Alden Hotel Cappadocia (B, L, D) – Please remember to settle any bills with the hotel this evening.

Friday, June 13

Cappadocia / Konya                        

Breakfast is served in our hotel starting at 7:00 a.m.

Morning:

Depart our hotel for a 4.5-hour drive across farmland to Konya, where the philosopher Celaleddin Rumi founded the mystical sect of whirling dervishes in the 14th century. Stop along the way at the 13th century Sultanhani Caravansary for a guided tour.

Afternoon:

This afternoon,  take a quick visit to Catalhoyuk, a Neolithic site first discovered in the late 1950s. Since 1993, an international tam of archaeologists, led by Stanford professor Ian Hodder, has been conducting new excavations and research to shed light on the people who inhabited the site.

Enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant tonight. 

Ramada Konya (B, L, D) – Please remember to settle any bills with the hotel this evening.

Saturday, June 14

Konya / Perge / Aspendos / Antalya

Breakfast is served in our hotel starting at 7:00 a.m.

Morning:

Professor Christophe Crombez will give his third lecture. Afterwards, depart the hotel for a scenic 5-hour drive over the Toros Mountain range to Antalya, a beautiful resort town founded in 158 B.C.E. around a natural harbor on the Mediterranean Sea.

Afternoon:

Antalya is surrounded by the wild landscapes of the Taurus Mountains and some of Turkey’s most impressive archaeological sites. We visit a few on our way today: the best-preserved ancient theaters of Anatolia in Aspendos and Perge, formerly one of the most important cities in Pamphylia. It is a very large site, all outdoors, with lots of uneven, rocky paths. Enjoy a buffet lunch at a local restaurant.

Continue west toward Antalya and check in.  Enjoy a buffet dinner at the hotel this evening; you can go anytime between 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. 

Akra Hotel Lara (B, L, D)

Sunday, June 15

Termessos

Breakfast is served in our hotel's Panora Restaurant starting at 6:30 a.m.

Morning:

This morning enjoy both history and nature with a hike through ancient Termessos, a Pisidian city perched dramatically on a mountaintop. There will be at least 30 minutes of uphill walking during this visit. Those not interested in walking this much may stay at the bottom and still enjoy lovely views. The entire area in protected national park land and one of the loveliest settings of the entire trip.

Afternoon:

Drive about 1 hour to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, 7 Mehmet, and visit the Archaeological Museum to see excellent Greco-Roman statuary from some of the sites in Perge and Aspendos.

Tonight enjoy dinner independently. The hotel and tour staff are on hand to offer recommendations.

Akra Hotel Lara (B, L) – Please remember to settle any bills with the hotel this evening.

Monday, June 16

Antalya / Fethiye / Embarkation             

Breakfast is served in our hotel's Panora Restaurant starting at 6:30 a.m.

Morning:

Drive about 3 hours to Kas for lunch a local restaurant. Enjoy glorious mountain vistas and dramatic views of the Turquoise Coast as we make our way to Fethiye.

Afternoon:

Following lunch, drive for about 1 hour to see the ancient city of Xanthos. Arrive in Fethiye this afternoon and board the gulets. Please note no shoes are allowed on the gulets. Sandals are fine on the outside deck; otherwise, bare feet are required elsewhere aboard the boats.

Enjoy dinner onboard the gulets tonight.

ABOARD GULETS (B, L, D)

Tuesday, June 17

Fethiye / Olu Deniz / Gemiler Island

Breakfast is served on board the gulets.

Morning:

Enjoy breakfast while at anchor in Olu Deniz, within sight of Mt. Bab Dag. Depending on weather conditions, it may be possible to take a morning swim if interested. Following breakfast, sail to Gemiler Island for a dry landing onto rocky shore. It is very steep with a rocky path to the top of the hill, where we visit Byzantine ruins. We recommend wearing walking shoes and bringing walking sticks (if you have them).

Afternoon:

Return to the gulets for lunch on board and an afternoon swim. Sail for approximately 2 hours before anchoring this evening.

Dinner will be onboard the gulets tonight.

ABOARD GULETS (B, L, D)

Wednesday, June 18

Lydae / Ekincik

Breakfast is served on board the gulets.

Morning:

Disembark for a visit of Roman and Byzantine ruins. There will be a dry landing onto a rocky, gravel beach followed by a steady uphill walk for about 1 mile to reach the ruins. Return to the boats for lunch on board and an afternoon swim.

Afternoon:

Travel for about 3 hours on the gulets to Ekincik and disembark onto a dock for free time to explore the tiny town, which includes two markets, one main street and a few waterfront cafés.

Enjoy dinner onboard the gulets this evening.

ABOARD GULETS (B, L, D)

Thursday, June 19

Dalyan River / Kaunos / Marmaris

Breakfast is served on board the gulets.

Morning:

Disembark directly onto local boats and enjoy a 1-hour cruise up to the mouth of the Dalyan River to the ancient site of Kaunos, an important sea port that dates back to the 10th century B.C. Upon arrival at Kaunos, there is a dry landing onto a wooden deck. Depart by boat and cruise to a nearby viewpoint to see the impressive Lycian tombs carved into the cliff face above.

Afternoon:

Return to the gulets for lunch on board. After lunch, cruise for 2 hours to Marmaris, a fairly large port town with a covered bazaar and various dockside cafés and restaurants.

Following our visit, cruise to a nearby cove within sight of Marmaris for overnight anchorage. Enjoy dinner on board the gulets.

ABOARD GULETS (B, L, D)

Friday, June 20

Loryma / Bozburun

Breakfast is served on board the gulets.

Morning:

Disembark to a small dock for landing and a visit to the old Rhodian fortress in Loryma. Please note we walk up a very rocky path to the top of a hill to reach the fortress. Return to the boats and cruise for 3 hours to a small cover near Knidos. Enjoy lunch on board.

Afternoon:

After anchoring at the cove, enjoy an afternoon at leisure for swimming and kayaking. Enjoy a cocktail party aboard the gulets this evening.

ABOARD GULETS (B, L, D)

Saturday, June 21

Knidos / Bodrum / Disembarkation

Breakfast is served on board the gulets.

Morning:

Arrive at the site of Knidos where Praxiteles’ statue of Aphrodite once stood. After a final lunch onboard, disembark our gulets in Bodrum. 

Afternoon:

Check in to our hotel and relax before dinner at the hotel.

Marmara Hotel (B, L, D) – Please remember to settle any bills with the hotel this evening.

Sunday, June 22

Ephesus / Izmir ✈ Istanbul

Breakfast is served in our hotel starting at 7:00 a.m.

Morning:

Drive to Ephesus (approximately 2.5 hours including a rest stop), one of the most beautiful cities in the ancient world. Much has been done to restore the white marble streets, theaters, baths, gymnasium, market and beautifully carved library. Following our visit, drive to a nearby restaurant for a buffet lunch.

Afternoon:

Tour the Ephesus Museum in nearby Selcuk and continue to your flight to Istanbul.

Flight: TK2329*

Depart Izmir: 6:05 p.m.

Arrive Istanbul: 7:20 p.m.

*The flight will provide a sandwich and a drink, and we will have snacks on hand for you before your flight.

Hilton Bosphorus Istanbul (B, L, D)

Monday, June 23

Istanbul

Breakfast is served in our hotel starting at 7:00 a.m.

Morning:

Spend this morning at the Topkapi Palace, former fortress and pleasure dome of the Ottoman sultans. Highlights include the treasury, wardrobe, kitchens and decorated apartments of the harem. Next, step into the Church of St. Irene, which is located in the first courtyard of the palace.

Afternoon:

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, Pandeli Restaurant. This afternoon, enjoy a private boat cruise along the Bosphorus for spectacular views of the city’s skyline and bridges linking Europe with Asia.

Enjoy dinner this evening at Hamdi Eminonu restaurant.

Hilton Bosphorus Istanbul (B, L, D)

Tuesday, June 24

Istanbul

Breakfast is served in our hotel starting at 7:00 a.m.

Morning:

This morning hear from Stanford Professor Ian Hodder about his work at the Neolithic site of Catalhoyuk (pending confirmation). 

Visit the Hagia Sophia with its impressive domed basilica and Byzantine mosaics. Continue on foot to the nearby Basilica Cistern, the largest Byzantine cistern in Istanbul, commissioned by Emperor Justinian and built in 532. 

Afternoon:

Following lunch at Green House, conclude our day at the colorful and chaotic Grand Bazaar with free time to wander this labyrinth of shops and cafes.

Hilton Bosphorus Istanbul (B, L)

Wednesday, June 25

Istanbul

Breakfast is served in our hotel starting at 7:00 a.m.

Morning:

Today visit Istanbul’s Hippodrome and the Blue Mosque, named for its glorious 17th-century painted tiles before having lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon:

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore more of Istanbul, then celebrate the end of our journey at a farewell reception and dinner at our hotel this evening.

Hilton Bosphorus Istanbul (B, R, D) – Please remember to settle any bills with the hotel this evening.

Thursday, June 26

Istanbul ✈ Home                                                   

Breakfast is served in our hotel starting at 7:00 a.m.

Transfer to Istanbul’s international airport for flights back to your home country. Tour staff will confirm your transfer time with you during the trip.

(B)