CIVILIZATIONS OF ASIA

DAY 1     ARRIVE TO ANTALYA
Flight to Antalya. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight Antalya

DAY  2  ANTALYA-PERGE-SİDE-ASPENDOS 
After breakfast we start with a tour of Perge which was an important city of ancient Pamphylia, which St. Paul visited on his first missionary journey. The photogenic Seljuk Bridge crosses the Köprülü River from the road to Aspendos. The Aspendos Theater is the best preserved ancient theater, with a capacity of 15,000 spectators. The theater galleries, stage decorations and acoustics still used today testify to the success of the architect. Nearby are the remains of a basilica, an agora and one of the largest aqueducts in Asia Minor. We continue to Side, one of the most famous classical sites in Turkey, was an ancient port whose name once meant pomegranate. Ancient ruins, there are remains of Roman baths, temples, churches, mausoleums, theaters and agoras that are in good condition.
Going to the river and waterfall Manavgat. Return to Antalya. Dinner and overnight Antalya

DAY 3 ANTALYA-MYRA- KALKAN  
After that we start with a beautiful ride along the Mediterranean coast next to the ancient cities of Phaselis and Olympos. We will visit Myra with its beautiful Roman theater and Lycian tombs. Myra is best known as the city of St. Nicholas, where he served as a bishop in the fourth century AD. After visiting the church of St. Nicholas, continue driving to Kalkan. Dinner and overnight Kalkan
  
DAY 4 KALKAN-PATARA-ÖLÜDENİZ-FETHİYE-DALYAN
After breakfast we go to visit Patara. A town on the sea with the longest sandy beach of 18 kilometers!
During the Roman Empire, Patara was an important trading city, and later a Christian center. However, Patara is best known as the place where Santa Claus was born - or Saint Nicholas. Saint Paul also passed through Patara during his pilgrimage, and the Byzantine period left great traces on this place.
We continue our journey towards the Gulf of Ölüdeniz - the blue lagoon and the city of Fethiye. Fethiye place located in southwestern Turkey at the foot of the Lika Mountains, covered with cedar and pine forests. After the tour we continue towards the city of Dalyan. Upon arrival in Dalyan accommodation at the hotel. Dinner, overnight.
   
DAY 5 DALYAN-AKYAKA-BODRUM
After breakfast we set off on a tour of the city of Dalyan which is located in the delta of the same name river, Dalyan is located on the site of the ancient city of Kaunos, which existed before our time. Kaunos was a developed and rich city, as well as a large bay in the Aegean Sea. Dalyan is also known as the city where Turtle Island is located. Iztuzu Beach is a place for huge sea turtles, which are called Caretta Caretta. After the tour we continue towards the city of Akyaka, a place where you can socialize with nature. All buildings in the city are built of wood. The Aznak River in Akyaka have a charming environment and a calm flow that will exhaust your negative energy. After the tour we continue towards Bodrum. Upon arrival in Bodrum accommodation in a hotel. Dinner, overnight.
  
DAY 6  BODRUM-EFES-KUŞADASI
Breakfast. After breakfast we go on a city tour. The first mention of the town on the site of Bodrum dates from the 5th century BC. In the area of today's city was the old Halikarnassos, then the capital of Caria. This ancient city was famous for its mausoleum which is considered one of the seven wonders of the world.
Continue driving towards Ephesus. Today we will probably have the highlight of the tour for most of the group as we visit the impressive biblical site of Ephesus. The tour begins in the upper city of the state of Agora, and then we descend to the famous library of Celsus and Tetragonos Agora. We will take an easy detour to see the excellent cottages on the terrace where the rich and famous citizens of Ephesus lived. Our city tour ends at the theater where 24,000 citizens shouted "Artemis is great!" in the disorder that began in response to Paul's ministry there (Acts 19: 1–20: 1). We will stop briefly to look at the remains of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. In the afternoon we will visit the church of St. John, where tradition says that the apostle and revelator were buried .. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

DFAY 7  EFES-KUŞADASI-İZMİR
After breakfast we go to the hill where the house of the Virgin Mary is located. After that drive to İzmir.
Izmir is an ancient city founded more than 3500 years ago, under the name of Smyrna. Izmir experienced its greatest prosperity during the Achaean period and the period of Alexander the Great when the city became a metropolis. Dinner, overnight in Izmir

DAY 8      İZMİR
Free until transfer. Departure to the airport. Flight from Izmi