Rumi is now one of the most widely read poets in America. Everything about Rumi
is absolute magic, from the story of his life to his superhuman ability of
remaining in constant touch with the flow of intense creative energy for
more than two decades. A full guided travel program starting in Istanbul,
taking you to Biblical Cappadocia for a stay in a comfortable cave hotel and
visits to the Byzantine painted churches and monastic valleys that were
thriving during Rumi's lifetime. Then we'll drive along the ancient Silk
Road to Konya to visit Rumi's glittering tomb and to explore the actual
buildings where Rumi visited, prayed and taught. After the whirling dervish
sema in Konya's splendid new Mevlana Cultura Center.
Konya
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Mevlana
istanbul
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Suleymaniye Mosque
istanbul
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Topkapi Palace
istanbul
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Topkapi Palace
istanbul
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Eyup Sultan Mosque
Konya
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mevlana
istanbul
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Maiden's Tower
istanbul
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Bosphorus
istanbul
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Topkapi Palace
istanbul
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Eyup Sultan
istanbul
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Bosphorus
Tour Itinerary :
Day 1 - Saturday, 5 December 2009: Flight Istanbul to
Cappadocia
Lunch and Dinner Including
We take a morning flight from Istanbul to Kayseri, then drive for an hour
to our comfortable cave hotel in biblical Cappadocia. After settling in,
you're free to explore the town on your own, as you wish, shopping in the
bazaar, relaxing in a Turkish bath (hamam), or photographing the
extraordinary rock formations. We meet in the evening for a get-acquainted
dinner, then a restful night in our quiet cave rooms.
Day 2 - Sunday, 6 December 2009: Byzantine Cappadocia
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Including
We explore the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: the beautiful 13th-century
painted churches of the Göreme Valley, decorated and used by Byzantine
Orthodox monks during the Seljuk Empire and Rumi's lifetime. We climb the
stairs up a rock-hewn tunnel to the top of the Uçhisar Rock Castle, the
highest point in Cappadocia, for a panoramic view of this incredible "moonscape."”
We stop for lunch in Avanos on the Kizilirmak River, a center for the art of
terracotta pottery-making for thousands of years. We'll see a demonstration
of pottery-making in a local workshop; you can try your hand at making pots!
On our way back to our hotel we stop for a look at the Sari Han Seljuk
Turkish caravanserai, a beautifully-restored 12th-century caravan way-station.
We continue to the labyrinthine Zelve Valley, with its troglodyte ("cave-dweller")
houses; and the “fairy chimneys” of Pasabag where the voice of wind mixes
with the “songs of the fairies, before returning to our hotel. In the
evening, we'll dine together.
Day 3 - Monday, 7 December 2009: Medieval Cappadocia
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Including
In the morning we drive south to hike the Soganli Valleys, filled with
medieval churches and monasteries, with dozens of weird dovecotes carved
from the rock. Then we drive to the historic Ottoman-Greek village of
Mustafapasa for lunch in one of its grand old houses, prepared, served and
hosted by a local family. The afternoon is at leisure for walking, shopping,
photography or relaxing. a suggestion: go to the Red Valley for a pleasant
hike through some of the most beautiful "moonscape" scenery in Cappadocia.
In the evening, after our dinner together, we return to our cave rooms for
another night's blissful sleep nestled in the rock.
Day 4 - Tuesday, 8 December 2009: Kayseri, City of the
Seljuks
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Including
Kayseri was one of the richest and most important cities in the Seljuk
Empire of Rum, thriving at the same time as Rumi's city of Konya. We drive
to Kayseri for a day-long excursion to see its magnificent Seljuk Turkish
buildings, including the Citadel, Hunat Hatun Mosque Complex, Twin Medreses
and the bazaar, with lunch in a local restaurant. We return to our cave
hotel in Cappadocia for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 - Wednesday, 9 December 2009: Natural
Cappadocia
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Including
In the morning we descend into the earth at Kaymakli to get lost in the
true labyrinth of this Underground City, the most elaborate of all the 40
such subterranean refuges in Cappadocia. Emerging (thank goodness!) on the
surface, we drive into the mountains and stop at the pretty town of
Güzelyurt to admire its dramatic situation and old Ottoman buildings
(including the Church of St Gregory of Nazianzus, now converted to a
mosque), and to have lunch. In the afternoon, we make the short drive to the
breathtaking Ihlara Valley for a one-hour, 4-km (3-mile) walk to see the
many medieval Byzantine stone chapels sequestered between the dramatic,
sheer rock valley walls. Leaving the valley, we drive to the ancient Silk
Road for a look at the Seljuk Turkish Agzikarahan caravanserai before
returning to our hotel for dinner and the night.
Day 6 - Thursday, 10 December 2009: Along the Silk
Road to Konya
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Including
After breakfast, we set off with our guide and driver westward along the
ancient Silk Road toward Konya, stopping for a look at the huge Sultan Han
caravanserai en route. Arriving in Konya, we check in at our hotel, and have
lunch. In the afternoon we stroll the streets of Konya, visiting first the
Tomb of Rumi in the glittering Mevlana Museum, an important place of
pilgrimage for Muslims and indeed all lovers of Rumi. Next door, we visit
the Ottoman-era Sultan Selim mosque before having lunch in a traditional
Turkish restaurant. We drive along Mevlana Caddesi, Konya's main avenue, to
reach the age-old Alaettin Hill (a prehistoric tumulus) to visit the
1000-year-old Alaaddin Mosque, where Rumi often prayed. In its courtyard are
the tombs of many of the Seljuk Turkish sultans who ruled during Rumi's
lifetime, and who consulted him for spiritual guidance. Walking down the
north side of the Alaettin Hill we pass the remains of the Seljuk sultan's
palace, then cross the street for a view of the elaborate portal of the
medieval Great Karatay Medrese theological college (the interior is
currently closed for restoration), after which we return to our hotel for
dinner and overnight.
Day 7 - Friday, 11 December 2009: Konya of the
Whirling Dervishes
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Including
Today we visit some of the wonderful Seljuk Turkish monuments that Rumi
would have known and visited: we drive to the north side of the Alaettin
Hill to visit the Seminary of the Slender Minaret (Ince Minare Medrese,
1264), a 13th-century theological college that's been beautifully restored
and now serves as Konya's Museum of Stone and Wooden Inscriptions, with
works of art from the 1100s and later. Walking around the Alaettin Hill, we
enter a quiet residential neighborhood to look at the Crystalline Medrese (Sirçali
Medrese, 1242)with its fine tilework and Kuranic calligraphy in stone.
Continuing for a short distance we come to the Sahip Ata Mosque Complex
(1283), including a school, a travelers' inn, Turkish bath, and the tomb of
its founder, the Seljuk grand vezir who also built the Seminary of the
Slender Minaret. Nearby, we visit the Konya's Archeological Museum to see
the marble high-relief sarcophagus "The Trials of Hercules" and many items
from Konya's ancient past (up to 7000 years ago). Lunch at a local
restaurant introduces us to more Konya culinary specialties, including many
cooked slowly in a tandir ("tandoori," clay pot buried in hot coals). After
lunch we walk to the Mosque and Tomb of Sems-i Tebrizi, Rumi's closest
companion, spiritual mentor, and inspiration for many of his poetic works,
then continue on foot past many shops to our hotel. In the evening, the
climax of our adventure: the spellbinding Mevlevi sema performed in Konya's
grand Mevlana Cultural Center in honor of Seb-i Aruz, Rumi's "wedding night
with the Divine," witnessed by thousands of devotees and pilgrims.
Day 8 - Saturday, 12 December 2009: Free Day in
Istanbu
Breakfast and Dinner Including
Our driver takes us to Konya's airport for our morning flight to Istanbul,
where we're met by our guide and driver and escorted to our hotel for a day
of leisure in the metropolis: revisiting favorite places, visiting new ones,
or returning to the Grand Bazaar or the Egyptian Bazaar to pick up last-minute
souvenirs. Lunch is on your own. In the evening, we reconvene for a
convivial farewell dinner.
Day 9 Sunday, 13 December 2009: Departure
Breakfast Including
We drive to Istanbul's Atatürk Airport for your homeward flight. We hope
your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the
future on another TravelShop Turkey Tour. Have a safe trip back home and
thanks for choosing Murtis Tour.
Tour Includes:
Tour Price: Euro €: 1669.00 per
person
* The prices above are per person in double occupancy.
** Single Supplement: Euro €: 390.00
** 0-2 Child: Free
** 2-12 Child Reduction: 50 %
** Student Reduction: 10 %
Tour Including:
5 nights' accommodation at a comfortable cave hotel in Cappadocia
2 nights' accommodation at a 4-star hotel in Konya
1 night accommodation at a high quality boutique hotel in Istanbul
Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = buffet breakfast; L = lunch; D =
dinner), spring water and soft drinks included.
Lunch and dinner are à la carte: chose whatever you wish from the menu.
Private tours in Cappadocia and Konya as described in the itinerary
Private airport-to-hotel and hotel-to-airport transfers in Cappadocia, Konya
and Istanbul as described in the itinerary
Luxury minibus or midibus with professional driver on tours & transfers
Professional licensed tour guide
Tickets for Seb-i Aruz Rumi Commemoration Ceremony in Konya
All admission fees to museums and sights
Flight tickets Istanbul—>Kayseri, and Konya—>Istanbul
Taxes
What's NOT included in your tour fee:
International flight to/from Turkey
Meals not specifically mentioned as being included (above)
Hot air balloon flight (available on request at additional cost)
Tips to guides and drivers (at you discretion)
IMPORTANT NOTE: you must reserve
your place on the tour by September 2009! Because of the high demand for
travel services, all unreserved services (flights, hotel rooms, etc.) must
be relinquished at that time. Reserve by September!
We are
dedicated to providing the very best in quality service.
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