Guided Tours to Turkey
TURKANA ODYSSEY TRAVEL CONSULTING OFFERS A RANGE OF SERVICES:
1. SCHEDULED SPRING AND FALL GUIDED TOURS TO TURKEY LED BY PETER DAVIES CALLED "AN INSIDER'S VIEW OF TURKEY":
The tour is called "An Insider's View of Turkey" because Peter Davies lived in Turkey for 3 years in the early 1960's and has traveled there regularly for over 40 years and, therefore, has a deep familiarity with the country, its history, and people.
2010 Fall Itinerary (Sept. 29 through October 14, 2010)
NOTE: In order to begin your itinerary you will need to fly from the United States the day before, on September 28.
An Insider's View of Turkey in Three Acts:
I. Ancient Ionia & Caria (the Ephesus area) 3 days
II. Lycian Coast by Gulet (the western Mediterranean by yacht) 7 days
III. Istanbul (Once Constantinople) 5 days
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Act I: Days 1-4:
ANCIENT IONIA & CARIA: (the Aegean coast): We visit Anatolia's greatest Hellenistic city, EPHESUS, the Selcuk museum of antiquities, the acropolis of Selcuk with its remains of Justinian's Basilica of St John, PRIENE, a perfect survival of an early Greek city and the first city to be built on the grid, MILETUS with its impressive Hellenistic theatre, and the magnificent TEMPLE of DIDYMA, the largest temple ever built in Anatolia, once site of an oracle that rivaled that of Delphi. And spend an evening at Sirince, a perfectly preserved Ottoman village whose former Greek population carried in its oral tradition that Mary, the mother of Jesus, had spent her last days there.
En route to the Mediterranean to begin ACT II, the cruise of the Lycian coast, we visit one of Turkey's most beautiful sites, the Carian city of APHRODISIAS.
Act I will not only put you in touch with the ancient Graeco-Roman history of Ionia and Caria, but also the origins of Christianity, and the survivals of the region’s Byzantine and Selcuk past.. You will also experience the beauty of the Aegean coast, the rich culture of today's Turks, and their remarkable cuisine.
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Included: airport transfer & transportation by deluxe Mercedez Benz midibus, four star hotel, site & museum entries, guide & resource person service, and all meals (exclusive of alcoholic drinks) except one lunch and one dinner. Not included: international air fare, Turkish visa, tips for guide & driver or for personal services at hotels: laundry, phone, room service charges.
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"Act" II: Days 4-11:
THE BLUE JOURNEY: LYCIA: The coastal area between Marmaris and Antalya, known in ancient times as LYCIA, is one of the Mediterranean's lesser known corners, best seen by boarding a deluxe "gulet", a Turkish sailing yacht. The Turks call this sailing experience "Mavi Yolculuk" (the "Blue Journey") During our seven day cruise we explore one of the most exquisite coastlines in the world. With its unspoiled beaches, extraordinary scenery, picturesque villages, and Greek, Roman, and Byzantine ruins the mysterious Lycian coast creates the perfect balance of pleasurable relaxation and intellectual stimulation.
Each day will be a mix of relaxation on deck, stops for swimming, dinners on deck in quiet coves, and visits to shore to visit archaeological sites, unspoiled villages and bustling towns. In addition to stopping at Turkish villages and towns-- Dalyan, Kalkan and Kas-- and hidden coves, we drop anchor periodically at the ruined cities and ports of ancient Lycia, a little known Greek civilization, whose golden age was in the centuries just before and after the time of Christ. The possibilities include such archaeological sites as CAUNOS, GEMILER, XANTHOS, PATARA, LETOON,, and MYRA, the sunken cities of KEKOVA ROADS and ARYCANDA, to name a few.
The travel writer Freya Stark said of Lycia: "There are not so many places left where magic reigns without interruption and of all those I know, the coast of Lycia was the most magical."
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Included: a spacious cabin with en suite bathroom on a deluxe yacht, Turkish meals (except for one on-shore lunch and dinner, and excluding alcoholic beverages), site & museum entries, minivan to sites, caiques to sites, guide & resource person service.
Not included: gratuities to the yacht crew, drivers and guide, alcoholic drinks, one lunch & one dinner: laundry & phone charges, etc.
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Act III: Days 11-17:
ONCE CONSTANTINOPLE NOW ISTANBUL: For five centuries this ancient city served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire, and before that for over a thousand years as Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. And even before that it existed as a Byzantine settlement as far back as the thirteenth century B.C. Consequently it is a city rich in history with its mosques, churches, palaces, covered bazaars, city walls, castles, waterside mansions, and its energetic, polyglot population. Throughout its history this great imperial city has been a unique fusion of East and West and still today its spirit is unlike that of any other city. Now the largest city in Europe, it is a vibrant metropolis on a par with Rome, Paris, and London in terms of its wealth of attractions and tourist facilities.
It is a city Peter Davies once lived in and has visited regularly over the past forty some years and, therefore, knows intimately.
The itineraries you can choose from include:
- Ottoman Masterpieces: The Imperial Mosques of Sinan
- Fragments of Byzantium: Its Palaces, Churches, and the Theodosian Walls
- Fragments of Jewish Life: Its Synagogues and Neighborhoods
- The Sacred and the Profane: Eyup and Pera (Turkey's Most Sacred Muslim Shrine, and the once louche ghetto of the European Christian traders.)
After a short plane flight from Antalya we take up residence in the middle of the old imperial quarter at Sultan Ahmet. Since our Istanbul hotel will be situated only a stone's throw from Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and major museums, mornings will be free for you to explore the immediate neighborhood while in the afternoons excursions will take you to distant attractions or places off the beaten path. To help you plan your evenings you will be supplied with a written guide to Istanbul's outstanding restaurants and night life. Peter Davies will be available each morning to help you plan your mornings and evenings.
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Included: hotel, minibus transportation to sites and airport transfers, guide service, site entries, breakfasts and one complimentary fish dinner at Kum Kapi. Not included: lunches, and dinners (except for Kum Kapi dinner), gratuities to driver, for personal services at hotels: phone, laundry, room service charges, entries to sites or museums you visit on your own.
Day 17:
Fly back to USA
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THE FARE:
We have calculated our costs on the assumption that we will have 10 travelers staying in 5 double rooms throughout, and based on today’s (November 23, 2009) exchange rate. The yacht may have varying cabin sizes, which will require adjustment between those staying in standard cabins and those in master cabins, but the overall average price for all three acts will be $5500 per person. This does not include international air fare. There will also need to be an adjustment for anyone traveling as a single in a single room or cabin. Also, those who do not fly Turkish Airlines to and from Turkey will pay a surcharge to cover the costs of the domestic flight between Istanbul and Izmir (approximately $200). A Turkish Airlines international ticket (roughly $800 round trip, depending on departure dates, how far in advance reserved, etc.) includes a free domestic leg. Delta is the other carrier that flies nonstop from New York City to Istanbul (but it does not include a free domestic leg).
To reserve your place on the Fall tour, please send a deposit of $800 for an individual, or $1000 per couple, to Turkana Odyssey as instructed in the reservation form below.
Note: there are many cheap tours to Turkey. The Turkana Odyssey tour, however, is limited to 10 guests and avoids the inevitable regimentation of large groups, and places you in four star or well-situated, special class boutique hotels in restored Ottoman mansions(see website for photos), hires a top of the line deluxe yacht (photos soon to appear on the website) with a highly trained crew of four and excellent meals in the Turkish style. You will be supplied with 10 bulletins before departure to educate you and prepare you for your trip, and once on the trip you will have the dual advantage of highly educated, accredited local guides and of Peter Davies’ (Yale Ph.D) deep knowledge of and appreciation for Turkish history and culture. A detailed, daily itinerary of the trip is available on request.
A special add on act covering Cappadocia and Konya is available on request for those who wish to spend more than two weeks in Turkey. Also, if there is sufficient interest, we will do a Spring, 2010, tour as well.
A more detailed daily itinerary of the excursion is available once you have sent in your deposit.
2. CUSTOMIZED TRAVEL SERVICES:
- Customized tours Peter Davies arranges with you (but does not accompany), offered at any season
- Customized yacht cruises Peter Davies arranges with you (but does not accompany), offered mid-May to mid-October
3. CUSTOMIZED TRAVEL SERVICES:
An alternative to going on an arranged group tour is working out a customized itinerary for you, your family and friends with someone who is expert on the place you intend to visit. Having lived in Turkey between 1961 and 1964 and having visited at least once a year since I have what would have to be called an insider's knowledge of Turkey.
My interests in Turkey are varied: including the archaeology and monuments of the many stages of Anatolia's history (Hittite, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman).
I am also keenly interested in Turkish contemporary life, a devotee of Turkish cuisine, an expert on Turkish kilims and rugs (see the main Turkana Gallery tribal eye site) , and addicted to beautiful places and scenery. I see travel as a mix of pleasure, intellectual stimulation, and encounters with different cultures.
If you decided to use my services I would first discuss with you what you wish to do, where you wish to go, what your interests are, how long you wish to travel, what level of accommodations you prefer, what your budget is, etc. Once I had a sense of all of this I would present you with a rough-out of an itinerary with choices of accommodations and modes of travel. Then we would together further refine this and create a detailed itinerary. I would then make the travel arrangements and reservations.
I would look for the best rates and arrangements possible in most cases passing on to you costs that are below the standard retail rates. In all cases my recommendations would be based on my first hand experience with what I am recommending. In other words, any hotel or restaurant, for instance, that I would recommend would have been visited by me.
My fee for a standard consulting job of arranging a two week Turkish trip is based on an hourly rate of $90. On the average, a trip requires 15 to 20 hours of planning and arranging.
POSSIBLE CUSTOMIZED ITINERARIES:
- The Five Act Insider's View of Turkey itinerary described above customized to your specifications.
- The Greek Dodacanese Islands & the Turkish Aegean coast by gulet (yacht)
- The Black Sea Coast: Ancient Georgia & Armenia
- Southeastern Turkey: Upper Mesopotamia
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4. CUSTOMIZED YACHT CRUISES
Much of what I said above applies here. As opposed to joining a group formed by a charter arranger, you would in this case be bringing your own group made up of family and/or friends. I would determine what size yacht you need and then show you photos and information on a group of yachts I am familiar with. These would be owner-operated and crewed assuring you a good crew (as opposed to larger yacht rental companies which employ free-lance crews--always a gamble). We would then work out what part of the coast you would visit and what the general itinerary would be, arrange for a qualified guide to accompany you, work out the various transfers and arrange such things as the daily menu, etc. The costs, of course would be determined by the yacht chosen, the itinerary, the season chosen, length of time, etc.
My fee for these services would be as above, at a rate of $90 an hour.
The following is a visual version of the itinerary you have just read about suggesting the kinds of scenes, sights, and experiences that make up "An Insider's View of Turkey in 5 Acts.
ABOUT OUR HOTELS:
Turkana Odyssey avoids large touristic hotels catering to bus tours, and instead, favors small boutique (special class) hotels with local character. For the most part we patronize what is fast becoming the favored touristic accommodation in Turkey: restored Ottoman mansions in neighborhoods in close proximity to the historic sites.
often in nineteenth century Ottoman style.
ABOUT THE YACHT:
The yacht used for Turkana Odyssey trips will be comparable to the ones used in the past few years (as photographed above): a wooden gulet approximately 30 meters long, sail and diesel powered, filling the gap between standard Turkish gulets and luxury mega yachts offering generous space and comfort.
Attractively decorated wood paneled double cabins have portholes and comfortable beds as well as en suite WC's, basins and showers with hot and cold water. (interior photos) The decks are spacious and the saloon features music, games and a small library. The galley is equipped to turn out meals in the Turkish and international styles. Meals can be modified to accommodate most special dietary requirements. The crew (captain, steward, busboy, and cook) have separate quarters.
The cook will introduce you to the best in Turkish cuisine and on request will present hands-on cooking demos. The yachts we use are suited for people who wish to be on the sea rather than insulated from it, for travelers who prefer quality and comfort. Snorkeling gear, windsails, fishing gear, and a kayak can be arranged in advance. Serious fishermen should bring their own gear. The yacht will have 24 hour ship's radio service and a cellular phone.
We have had first hand experience with any yacht we select and are rigorous in our standards.
ABOUT THE TRAVEL ORGANIZER, PETER DAVIES:
Peter Davies, who will accompany you on all five "acts" of the trip, taught at the American College in Izmir, Turkey, from l961 to 1964, when he developed his interest in Turkey. He has degrees in English Renaissance poetry & theatre (M.A. U. of Illinois), and Theatre History (Ph.D, Yale).
Living in Turkey for a three year period in the 1960's stimulated his interest in all things Graeco-Roman-Hellenistic-Byzantine-Ottoman and Tribal--as well as in contemporary Turkish life. While living in Turkey he traveled extensively and has since returned each year to continue his explorations. He holds a Ph. D. from Yale University in Theatre History.
Mr. Davies is also an expert on Turkish kilims and peasant and nomadic life and has authored numerous articles on these subjects. For further information see the rest of the Turkana Gallery website.
His books, The Tribal Eye (Rizzoli Press), and Antique Kilims of Anatolia (WW Norton Professiona Books) were published in 1993 and 2000 respectively. He has lectured widely at museums and rug societies nationwide and has organized numerous exhibitions, including a major exhibition of kilims at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Ct., in 1997.
He has taught at The University of Montreal, Tulane University, and Simon's Rock (now a campus of Bard College). He now owns and manages Turkana Gallery of Old and Antique Kilims in New York's financial district and last year celebrated his thirtieth year in business. He also manages Turkana Farms, a farm devoted to raising heritage breeds of animals in a natural and humane way.
Periodically he has since 1976 created tours for small groups with a special interest in Turkey. In June, 1997, he began his "An Insider's View of Turkey" tours which he has led annually since. Additionally, he has annually customized a number of trips he does not accompany.
ABOUT OUR GUIDES:
Turkana Odyssey uses accredited guides trained in the Turkish government school, who hold advanced university degrees, and are fluent in English. Futher, our guides are instructed not to introduce our clients into shopping situations unless they request it. Additionally, Peter Davies, on trips he accompanies, provides historical overviews, and guides in situations in which he has specialized knowledge, in particular Graeco Roman theatre.
INTERNATIONAL AIR TICKETS
Turkana Odyssey has been able to work with consolidators to arrange New York /Istanbul air tickets at significantly lower prices than standard air fare (and to arrange connections to the New York flight from other points in the USA). If you would like to take advantage of this service please speak to Peter Davies. The recent costs of round trip air fare to Turkey arranged by Turkana Odyssey have lately averaged around $800 coach class(including a domestic air segment in Turkey). Note: a $50 arrangements fee will be added to the discounted air ticket price.
If you wish to arrange your own tickets Turkish Airlines has a daily direct flight from JFK, New York City to Istanbul and now has one of the most modern fleets of airbuses in the world as well as excellent service, and relatively good food. Another advantage to Turkish Airlines is that a free or reduced domestic air ticket is offered for connecting flights in Turkey as part of the cost of the international ticket. Delta also now offers a direct flight from New York to Istanbul; their international ticket does not include the free Turkish domestic legs.
Having tried other carriers, including Delta, we highly recommend Turkish Airlines -- especially since the connecting Turkish domestic legs are included in the international ticket. Note: remember that if you will be flying from the United States you will need to book your ticket to depart the day before the beginning of the tour. And your domestic legs will have to be coordinated with the arrangements of the group.
TURKANA ODYSSEY RESERVATION FORM
PLEASE (CLICK TO) PRINT AND FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING AND ENCLOSE WITH YOUR DEPOSIT CHECK
($1000 A PERSON; $1500 a couple):
Write your name exactly as it appears on your passport
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Your name, Passport No. Place of Issue
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Your name, Passport No. Place of Issue
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Street Address
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City State Zip Code
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Telephone (home) (business)
______________________________________________
Fax number
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E-Mail
Enclosed is my/our check for $_____________ as a deposit for the Fall, 2010 tour
Please make reservations for me/us in the following category:
___Double occupancy ___Single occupancy
___ Shared double: I desire assistance in finding a roommate. I understand that if one cannot be found I will be charged the single rate.
I/we prefer ___smoking ___nonsmoking
If a double you require ___shared bed ___separate beds.
Air Reservations:
___I would like Turkana Odyssey to book my international air ticket
___I plan to arrange my own international round trip air ticket
___I will not be flying Turkish Air internationally and will pay the surcharge for a domestic air ticket in Turkey.
*To Reserve today please make out your DEPOSIT check to Turkana Odyssey and mail it to 125 Cedar St., Penthouse, N.Y., N.Y, 10006. Once your deposit check has been received you will receive the payment schedule for the balance due and a detailed daily itinerary.
If you choose to have Turkana Odyssey arrange your international air ticket, payment will be due once the ticket has been arranged.
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions Peter Davies can be reached by phone at 212-732-0273 or 518-537-3815; or fax at 212-964-6903; or e-mail at daviesturkana@valstar.net If you would like a personal interview with Peter Davies this can be arranged either in New York City or Germantown, New York.