Sponsored by Frye Art Museum and Tacoma Art Museum

Exclusively for Frye and TAM members

April 25–May 7, 2009

Please join Frye Director Midge Bowman and TAM Director Stephanie Stebich on a unique journey of discovery in this geographic crossroad where Eastern and Western culture meet. With the Frye and TAM as your hosts, you will visit ancient historical sites, modern cities and their museums, special collections, archeological digs and more. From Istanbul to ancient Ephesus and Aphrodisias to the surrealistic landscape and architecture of Cappadocia in eastern Turkey, you will experience this modern country and its ancient roots.

Trip at a Glance

Thirteen days/Eleven nights
Three nights in Istanbul
Three nights in Cappadocia
Two nights in Antalya
One night each in Kusadasi and Pamukkale

Special Features Included
• Eleven overnight hotel accommodations in centrally located three- and four-star hotels
• All breakfasts and seven lunches and nine multi-course dinners specializing in local cuisine. All meals with bottled water; also available on the bus during entire tour
• Professional English-speaking guides
• Air-conditioned vehicle with professional tour bus driver
• Baggage handling
• Domestic airfares in Turkey and taxes
• Group flight transfers
• All entrance fees, admissions and parking fees
• Gratuities for guides and drivers
• Pre-trip wine and cheese gathering

Pricing and Reservations

$3,950 per person, double occupancy
$755 single supplement

Prices are based on exchange rate of Euro/USD as of July 2008 and are subject to change based on fluctuation of currency. Prices do not include roundtrip airfare to and from Turkey.

A $1,000 per person deposit is required to hold your space, fully refundable for six weeks from the date received. Final payment is due ninety days prior to departure.

The Exotic Turkey Tour is available only to members of the Frye Art Museum and Tacoma Art Museum. Join today to take advantage of this one-of-a-kind travel opportunity.

For reservations and itinerary information, please call Kathy Lindenmayer, manager of membership development, at (206) 622-9250, ext. 227.

Your Journey

Day 1 – Saturday, April 25 – Flight Day

Depart the U.S. on a flight to Istanbul.

Day 2 – Sunday, April 26 – Istanbul

Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel. Welcome meeting and orientation walk in the Istiklal Street. Welcome dinner in a local restaurant. (D)
Hotel Celal Sultan

Day 3 – Monday, April 27 – Istanbul

Today explore the great ancient landmarks of Istanbul in Sultanahmet Square. Visit the Roman Hippodrome, the Byzantine Underground Cistern, the Ottoman Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque. Finish the day by a private boat tour along the Bosporus. Enjoy our typical Turkish dinner in a local restaurant along the Golden Horn. (BD)
Hotel Celal Sultan

Day 4 – Tuesday, April 28 – Istanbul

Visit the Istanbul Archeological Museum, featuring of many Hellenistic and Roman treasures, especially so-called Alexander’s sarcophagus from Sidon. Continue to the church of Haghia Sophia and Turkish-Islamic Art Museum. After lunch, stroll through the bazaars of Istanbul, the Spice Market, and the Grand Bazaar. Dinner is on your own. (B)
Hotel Celal Sultan

Day 5 – Wednesday, April 29 – Kusadasi

After breakfast we will fly to Izmir at 09.00 and after arrival in Izmir explore the famous ancient site of Ephesus and environs. Ephesus contains extensive ruins of the agora, the Library of Celsus with its imposing façade, the biggest theater, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Also tour the Basilica of John, the Selcuk Museum, and the House of Mary in the afternoon. Dinner is served in the hotel. (BLD)
Hotel Charisma

Day 6 – Thursday, April 30 – Pamukkale

Drive along the River Meander and visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias, one of the most important sculpture centers of the entire Roman world. This remotely site received extensive donations from Roman emperors because of the city’s association with Aphrodite. Then continue to Pamukkale where the mineral water forms the pools of white travertine, one of the most dazzling natural beauties of Turkey. Enjoy the thermal pool of our hotel in the afternoon. (BLD)
Hotel Colossae Thermal

Day 7 – Friday, May 1 – Antalya

Drive along the Lycus Valley and tour the biblical cities of Hierapolis with its extensive necropolis. Travel through the highlands and descend from the Mountain Taurus to Antalya along the Mediterranean Sea in the afternoon. Dinner is served in a local restaurant overlooking Mediterranean. (BLD)
Hotel Sheraton Voyager

Day 8 – Saturday, May 2 – Antalya

After breakfast enjoy the tour of the Archeological Museum where exhibits all the archeological findings from Perge, Aspendos, and the other sites in the region. Then visit Perge, a Hellenistic city that welcomed Alexander on the way to Gordion in 333 BC. With its cascading pools, the city was bisected by the colonnaded marble street where still bears the ruts of wagon wheels. Continue to Aspendos for touring the best preserved Roman Theater dedicated to Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Enjoy time at leisure in Antalya in the afternoon and stroll through the streets of the old harbor. (BL)
Hotel Sheraton Voyager

Day 9 – Sunday, May 3 – Cappadocia

Travel through the most spectacular and picturesque route from Antalya to Konya over the Mountain Taurus. Visit the Mevlana Museum, the center of the whirling dervishes in Konya and discover their humanistic theology based on love and respect to the diversity of the universe. Continue to Cappadocia along the Silk Road and visit one the caravanserai where ancient travelers stayed overnight on their journeys. Arrive in Cappadocia and drive to our cave hotel. (BLD)
Hotel Anatolian Cave Houses

Day 10 – Monday, May 4 – Cappadocia

Explore the lunar and surrealistic landscape of the region with its valleys and churches. Visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum and its churches with vivid frescoes depicting the biblical scenes as the best example of the local Byzantine art. Stroll through the fairy-chimneys of the Red and Pasabag Valleys. Visit Uchisar and Cavusin villages with their inspiring settings and dwellings. (BLD)
Hotel Anatolian Cave Houses

Day 11 – Tuesday, May 5 – Cappadocia

Start the day with an optional balloon trip in Cappadocia. Travel to the lesser visited sites of Cappadocia. The dramatic settlement of the Soganli Village attracts travelers to its distant beauty as well as the vibrant people of the village. Then continue to Ayvali Village to enjoy a village lunch prepared in a village house. End the day by visiting the labyrinths of the Underground Cities of the region. Enjoy an outdoor dinner in one of the fascinating valleys in Cappadocia. (BLD)
Hotel Anatolian Cave Houses

Day 12 – Wednesday, May 6 – Istanbul

Take a morning flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul visit the Kariye Museum, the church of Holy Savior in Chora. This museum houses exquisite frescoes and mosaic as some of the best examples of the Byzantine art in the world. Enjoy your free afternoon for last minute shopping and packing. We will enjoy our farewell dinner in Kumkapi Fish Market with Roman Musicians. (BD)
Hotel Celal Sultan

Day 13 – Thursday, May 7 – Departure

After breakfast transfer to Istanbul Airport and fly back to home. (B)