ITINERARY FOR:
A JOURNEY TO FIVE CITIES IN TURKEY and CAPPADOCIA & SIVAS
Following the footprints of AHMET HAMDI TANPINAR'S BES SEHIR (FIVE CITIES)
* Please note that this project has postponed to September 2006:
The Tour price is Subject to Change for September 2006.

Departure date: September 3, 2005 (JFK, New York) Return date: September 16, 2005 (Ataturk Airport, Istanbul) -- Aim & Concept of the journey & 2 Free Round Trip Awards? -- How to register or sumbit for the "Creative Writing" contest? --Terms & Conditions?

Upon arrival to Istanbul, you will be greeted at the Ataturk Airport and will be led to your hotel. Welcome briefing at your hotel.

Day 2: Full day Istanbul - September 5

After breakfast we start our tour by visiting the legendary Blue Mosque, named for the beautiful blue Iznik tiles that cover its walls. Then stroll around the historical Hippodrome where chariot races were held. Continue to St. Sophia, originally a Christian Basilica built by Constantine in the 4th century, then converted to a mosque during the Ottoman Empire. See the beautiful mosaics on display at the museum. Visit the Suleymaniye Mosque, built in the 16th century for Suleiman the Magnificent; and Topkapi Palace, legendary residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Enjoy free time to explore the exhilarating bazaar of Istanbul. Return to your hotel for overnight. (B)

Day 3: Flight to Erzurum - September 6

Morning Flight to Erzurum and afternoon guided tour in the old town visiting Yakutiye Medresesi and Cifte Minareli Medrese Overnight in Erzurum. (B, D)

Day 4: Full day Erzurum - September 7

Full day dedicated to Erzurum. Morning free time for discovery of the old Erzurum market, and afternoon, visit Lalapasa Camii, Uc Kumbetler, Rustem Pasa Bedesteni. Overnight in Erzurum. Dinner at the hotel. (B, D)

Day 5: Drive to Cappadocia - September 8

Early morning departure to Cappadocia on the way visit Sivas. Arrival to Urgup, Overnight in Urgup. Dinner at the hotel (B, D)

Day 6: Full Day Cappadocia - September 9

Full day dedicated to the discovery of Cappadocia, including Open air museum of Goreme, Avanos Underground city of Kaymakli Uchisar, Pasabagi Overnight in Cappadocia (B, D)

Day 7: Drive to Konya via Ihlara - September 10

Morning departure to Ihlara valley and continue to Konya in the afternoon. Overnight in Konya. Dinner at the hotel. (B, D)

Day 8: Full day Konya - September 11

Morning visit Whirling Dervishes museum, Karatay Koranic School, Alaaddin Camii and some free time in the old town. Overnight in Konya. Dinner at the Hotel. (B, D)

Day 9: Drive to Ankara - September 12

Morning departure to Ankara, upon your arrival visit Ataturk Mausoleum, and Hittite museum, Castle of Ankara. Overnight in Ankara. Dinner at the hotel (B, D)

Day 10: Drive to Bursa - September 13

Early morning departure to Bursa, at the afternoon visit Green Mosque, and the silk market. Overnight in Bursa. Dinner at the hotel (B, D)

Day 11: Full day Bursa - September 14

Today visit Cekirge, and Ulu Camii, The tomb of Osman the founder of Ottoman Empire. And visit also Cumali Kizik village near by Bursa. Overnight in Istanbul and dinner at the Hotel (B, D)

Day 12: Drive to Istanbul and cruise along the Bosphoros - September 15

Drive to Istanbul, upon your arrival climb up to Camlica Hill to admire the beauty of Bosphoros, and then take a boat for the cruise along the strait. Tonight you have a fare well dinner at the nice local restaurant (BD)

Day 13: Istanbul - September 16
You will be led back to the airport for the flight to home. (B)

Air & Land price in Turkey (USD)

%10 percent proceeds will go to the Light Millennium organization.

>>> How to register or submit for the "Writing Contest"? >>>

Excluded Services
*Customary tips to your local guide and driver
*Personal expenses
*Visa fees

Summary:
* Above tour will be depart as long as minimum 15 attendees otherwise tour will be cancelled.
* If Tour cancels all full payments will be refunded.
* All registration, deposit for reservations request, and submission for the contest must be submitted no later than July 1 2005
* To interested potential attendees outside of New York in the US, an air-fair fee will be added to meet with the group at the JFK, NYC or they will meet at the JFK airport in NY on his/her own.  For other interested potential attendees from Europe or in Turkey, those may meet with the group directly at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul in order to join the group for flying to Erzurum.
* If we do not reach minimum 15 attendees, then the tour  has to be cancelled by the first week of July 2005. In this case, deposits/or full payment of the trip will be fully refunded. For others, who has submitted for the award part of this project, the contest still will be in progress for the most original & creative pieces. The result of the contest will be e-published, and extensively promoted in the Fall 2005 issue of the Light Millennium web site, and through various yahoogroups as well as other web sites. The contest still will be held on if the trip has to be cancelled but the winners will be extensively promoted on the web and in media both in the US and Turkey.

Flight Details

Airline: Delta Airlines or Turkish Airlines
Date: September 2005
International Route: New York (JFK) / Istanbul / New York (JFK) Round Trip
Domestic Route: Istanbul / Erzurum - One way
Per Person Price:
$725 + Airport taxes (Approximately; $130.00)

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