Turkey's Sacred Lands & Ancient Civilizations (2012)

Istanbul • Van • Kars • Erzurum • Trabzon • Cappadocia • Antakya (Antioch) • Gaziantep • Adana
  • 19 days
  • from only:
  • $3995
  • $211 per day
    Land Tour Only
  • 20 days
  • from only:
  • $4295
  • $215 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes
IN THIS SECTION:
Detailed Itinerary
NEW-Private Departures
Is this Adventure Right for You?
It's Included
Unique Accommodations
Extend Your Adventure
Istanbul, Turkey
Cruising the Turquoise Coast: Ephesus, Izmir & Turkey's Hidden Coves
Optional Tours
Your Travel Handbook
Air information
LearnMore
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Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your adventure, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

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Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two adventures to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the OAT adventure that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your adventure
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your adventure with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of OAT adventures to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco

16hrs

Boston, Miami, Newark

14hrs

Chicago, Washington, DC (Dulles)

13hrs

Houston, Seattle

15hrs

New York (JFK)

17hrs

Phoenix

18hrs

San Diego

21hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Istanbul, Turkey. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the OAT family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on an OAT trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-955-1925 or click here.

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Pre-Trip: Istanbul, Turkey

3 nights from only $695
T21246

Expand your understanding of Turkey in its largest, most vibrant city: exotic Istanbul. The only city in the world to straddle both Europe and Asia, it offers a wealth of influences and attractions. Included and optional tours, plus our centrally located accommodations, put the essence of the city easily within reach.

Single Supplement: FREE.

Please note: This extension only available on select departures. Ask your Adventure Specialist for details.

It's Included

  • Accommodations for 3 nights in Istanbul
  • 4 meals—3 breakfasts and 1 dinner
  • 2 small group activities
  • Services of our own resident OAT Trip Leader who speaks English and the native language
  • All transfers

Optional Tour

Crossing Between Continents ($95 per person)

Day 1
Depart U.S.

Depart the U.S on your overnight flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
Day 2
Arrive in Istanbul, Turkey

We arrive this afternoon in Istanbul, a sprawling city of ten million people, which lies partly in Europe and partly in Asia. Istanbul’s geography is defined by three famous waterways: The Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus Strait, and the Golden Horn. The Sea of Marmara lies to the south. The Bosporus Strait divides the European and Asian sections of the city and forms the route from the Marmara to the Black Sea. The Golden Horn divides European Istanbul into the modern Beyoglu section to the north and Old Stamboul (Eski Istanbul) to the south. The famous Galata Bridge spans the Golden Horn to link these two parts of the city.

Upon arrival, get acquainted with your fellow travelers and Turkish Trip Leader during an orientation walk through the neighborhood around our hotel and an informational briefing. The balance of the afternoon is at leisure. Today might be the perfect opportunity to visit the imposing Mosque of Suleman, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With a dome that rises more than 150 feet, it is Istanbul’s largest mosque. Dinner is on your own this evening.
Day 3
Highlights of Istanbul tour

After breakfast, our guided tour of historic Istanbul begins with Topkapi Palace, built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1459 and the royal palace of the Ottoman sultans until 1853. Today, it is one of the world's richest museums, with a staggering collection of jewels, arms, porcelain, sculpture, manuscripts, and more. From there, we explore the classic Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camisi), so-called for the shimmering blue tiles that line its interior. Flanked by symmetrical soaring minarets, it is one of the defining elements of the Istanbul skyline. This classic of Ottoman architectural design was constructed under the patronage of Sultan Ahmet I, from 1609-1616.

After lunch on your own, we spend the afternoon strolling the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets on Earth. Here, we'll have plenty of time to browse in some of its 1,200 shops and wander along its 58 streets. Goods are grouped by category, so if you have a special gift in mind, be sure to ask your Trip Leader for directions so that you can find it easily. Afterward, we explore the Spice Market, which—with its 88 rooms—is the second-largest market in the city. A stroll through this market is a thrill to the senses, with many colors and scents to experience, and may whet our appetite for tonight's dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4
Istanbul/Day at leisure/Optional Crossing Between Continents tour

Today, you have many options for soaking up more of Istanbul’s unique mélange of sensations. Blend into the hustle and bustle on the streets, or contemplate three millennia of history in quieter corners as you enjoy lunch on your own.

Or join us today for Crossing Between Continents, an optional tour that takes us across the Bosporus and back as we explore the Asian and European sides of Istanbul. The tour begins with a visit to the Dolmabahce Palace, the opulent residence of the Ottoman sultans. Other features include a ferry crossing to the Asian shores of the Bosporus in Kadikoy, where we’ll tour its market, enjoy an included lunch, and stop for tea at Camlica Hill, one of the city's highest spots. Then, back on the European shore, we’ll enjoy a walk around the Ortakoy, one of Istanbul’s most stylish areas.

Dinner is on your own this evening.
Day 5
Begin main trip

After breakfast, we meet our fellow travelers and begin our journey into Turkey's Sacred Lands & Ancient Civilizations.