The following optional tours are available for booking via the online registration form.
For any information or assistance required regarding the tours, please contact: toursfecava@kenes.com
TOUR 1 - THE MAGNIFICENT DOMES OF ISTANBUL
Date: Thursday, September 8
Time: 09:00-13:00
St. Sophia; The magnificent Byzantine Church; one of the finest architectural works in the world. It has been nominated as the 8th wonder of the world by many historians. Considered one of the world's most beautiful buildings, the Hagia Sofia, which means Church of Holy Wisdom of God, is an important surviving example of Byzantine architecture.
Blue Mosque; One of the largest mosques in Istanbul dating from the 17th century it is one of the principal adornments on he skyline of Istanbul. Also famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarets.
Hippodrome; The former centre of sportive and political activities of Constantinople. During the visit you’ll be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt Serpentine Column from Delphi and fountain of Wilhelm II.
Obelisk of Theodosius; This obelisk once graced the Karnak Great Temple of Amun (Amon) in ancient Thebes (now, Luxor). It was one of two erected at the south of the 7th Pylon of the Great Temple by Tuthmosis III. No one knows who ordered its removal from Karnak, or whether it was still standing when it was taken.
Serpent Column; is an ancient column at the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet quarter of Istanbul, Turkey. It is an ancient Greek sacrificial tripod, originally located in Delphi and later relocated to Constantinople by Constantine in 324.
Grand Bazaar; In addition to its historical importance, it’s a bazaar that will tempt even the non-shoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewellery, leather and souvenirs.
Tour rate per person: Euro 40
Rates are inclusive of private air-conditioned deluxe vehicle, assistance of professional English speaking guide, entrance tickets.
Minimum participation required for operation of tour: 10 guests
TOUR 2 OTTOMANIA
Date: Friday, September 9
Time: 09:00-13:00
Topkapi Palace; The former imperial residence from where the Ottoman Empire was ruled. Today a spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain.
Rustem Paşa Mosque; One of the masterpieces of Sinan, the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire. It was built in the name of Rustem Paşa who was the grand vezir of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent.
Tour rate per person: Euro 40
Rates are inclusive of private air-conditioned deluxe vehicle, assistance of professional English speaking guide, entrance tickets.
Minimum participation required for operation of tour: 10 guests
TOUR 3 - Full Day Tour FROM CONSTANTINOPOLIS TO ISTANBUL
Date: Friday, September 9
Time: 09:00-18:00
St. Sophia; The magnificent Byzantine Church; one of the finest architectural works in the world. It has been nominated as the 8th wonder of the world by many historians. Considered one of the world's most beautiful buildings, the Hagia Sofia, which means Church of Holy Wisdom of God, is an important surviving example of Byzantine architecture.
Blue Mosque; One of the largest mosques in Istanbul dating from the 17th century it is one of the principal adornments on he skyline of Istanbul. Also famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarets.
Hippodrome; The former centre of sportive and political activities of Constantinople. During the visit you’ll be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt Serpentine Column; from Delphi and fountain of Wilhelm II.
Obelisk of Theodosius; This obelisk once graced the Karnak Great Temple of Amun (Amon) in ancient Thebes (now, Luxor). It was one of two erected at the south of the 7th Pylon of the Great Temple by Tuthmosis III. No one knows who ordered its removal from Karnak, or whether it was still standing when it was taken.
Serpent Column; is an ancient column at the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet quarter of Istanbul, Turkey. It is an ancient Greek sacrificial tripod, originally located in Delphi and later relocated to Constantinople by Constantine in 324. The serpent heads of the 8-meter high column remained until the end of the 17th century
Topkapi Palace; The former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled. Today a spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain.
Rustem Paşa Mosque, masterpiece of Sinan, the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire.
Grand Bazaar; In addition to its historical importance, it’s a bazaar that will tempt even the non-shoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewellery, leather and souvenirs.
Tour rate per person: Euro 75
Rates are inclusive of private air-conditioned deluxe vehicle, assistance of professional English speaking guide, entrance
Tickets and lunch at local restaurant.
Minimum participation required for operation of tour: 10 guests
TOUR 4 – Full Day Tour - BOSPHORUS CRUISE , DOLMABAHÇE PALACE & TWO CONTINENTS (EUROPE TO ASIA)
Date: Saturday, September 10
Time: 09:00-18:00
Egyptian Spice Market; A short visit to the famous oriental shopping area where spices, herbs and fruits are being sold.
Bosphorus Cruise; An unforgettable excursion starts between two continents: Europe and Asia. The cruise takes you along the Bosphorus, past the European style palaces of The Ottomans, Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi, as well as beautiful wooden mansions from the 19th century. Disembark in Sariyer a small village on the European side.
Dolmabahce Palace; The Dolmabahce Palace became the main Palace of the Empire and is an interesting combination of different European architectural styles
Bosphorus Bridge;
Camlica Hill; the highest point of Istanbul which offers the possibility of taking some great panoramic photographs of the European side of the city
Tour rate per person: Euro 75
Rates are inclusive of private A/C deluxe vehicle, assistance of Professional English speaking guide, entrance tickets,
Bosphorus cruise by regular ferry, Lunch at local restaurant.
Minimum participation required for operation of tour: 10 guests
TOUR 5 – Cappadocia - A Fairy Tale
Pre-Congress Dates : 4-7 September 2011
Post-Congress Dates : 10-13 September 2011
Day 1 - Istanbul – Cappadocia
Domestic flight to Cappadocia with Turkish Airlines TK2018 at 18:05 – 19:50
Arrive at Kayseri Airport and transfer to Cappadocia Region for overnight.
Day 2 - Cappadocia
Goreme Open Air Museum : Goreme was known, in the ancient times as Korama. The first references to it are in the early 7th Acts of St.Hieron, a 3rd C. Saint who was a native of Matianoi, or the modern Maccan. Goreme is an amphitheatre of sample portions surrounded by steep cliffs leading to a pleasant, verdant valley, which puzzles every single visitor, by the interesting access to many of the caves. Zelve Valley: Fairy chimneys with multiple stems and caps can be found here, this style being unique to this area. A chapel dedicated to St. Simeon and a hermit’s shelter is built into one such fairy chimney with three heads. Devrent Valley: Devrent is one km. from Zelve Valley. The ruins at Devrent are spread over three valleys, which also house several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems. Cavusin Village: One of the oldest settlements in the area, Cavusin is satiated 2 km. from Goreme, on the Goreme-Avanos road. The Church of St.John the Baptist offers a panoramic view of the village. This church and its paintigs date back to the 5th century, making the oldest church in the region. It had a large courtyard which is unusual for Cappadocia, this has been eroded away however.
Avanos: A center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC., it is a town you will be invited to visit a traditional pottery workshop, which is possibly set deep into the hillsides. Ortahisar Village: Ortahisar is another Cappadocian village dominated by a fortress-like rock rising above winding roads. The present-day town is located at the foot of the “fortress” and a complicated network of paths leads to abandoned rock dwellings. In addition to cultivating the land, the inhabitants of Ortahisar earn their living by storing fruits yearlong in the caves cut from the volcanic rock. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 3 - Cappadocia
Kaymakli Underground City: Kaymakli is one of the largest underground cities in Cappadocia with eight stories. It covers an area of approximately 4 km2 /1.5sq mi. Visitors can see only about 10% of the city by going down a maximum of five floors.The populations of Kaymakli is thought to have been about 3000. Pigeon Valley: Here you will see where the Pigeons and hear of how they were used to help the people. Some examples where to send messages and to fertilize the grapes. Also you will see wonderful panoramic view. Uchisar Rock Castle: Uchisar is the name of town and the fortress in the town.The name of the town probably derives form the name of the fortress. “Uc” is tip, “hisar” is fortress and Uchisar is the fortress at the tip ( of the vicinity) in Turkish. This 60 mt. high ( 200ft ) fortress was not built but carved out of a natural hill dominating the area with a breathtaking view of all the surrounding Cappadocian formations.
Esentepe Panorama: This is the best panoramic viewpoint from which to see complete view of Goreme Village; fairy chimneys , rock formations and cave houses. Rose Valley: Is an isolated valley behind Urgup. It has beautiful rock formations with some great hidden rock-carved churches. The most interesting part of this area is the countless tracks connecting the small villages and towns through vineyards and gardens like a spider net. It is always possible to see villagers working in the area and offering grapes, apples or apricots to you. Overnight in Cappadoci.
Day 4 – Cappadocia – Istanbul
After the breakfast trnasfer to the airport for the flight to Istanbul TK 2009 at 12:05
Tour rate per person: Euro 700
Single supplement: Euro 100
Minimum participation required for operation of tour: 15 guests
Tour price includes:
- Transfer from Istanbul hotel to airport, flight tickets for roundtrip Istanbul-Kayseri-Istanbul
- 2 nights half board accommodation at the 4 star hotels in Cappadocia
- Round trip airport transfers from/to Kayseri Airport with AC deluxe vehicles
- Professional English speaking guide throughout the program
- 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners at the hotels
- All entrance fees for the sights mentioned in the itinerary
Tour price excludes:
- Drinks at meals
- Personal Expenses, tips for guide and drivers (optional)
TOUR 6 – izmir - pargamon - ephesus
Pre-Congress Dates : 5-7 September 2011
Post-Congress Dates : 11-13 September 2011
Day 1 - Istanbul – Izmir – Pargamon
Domestic flight to Izmir with Turkish Airlines TK2312 08:00 – 09:05 Arrival in Izmir and departure for Pergamon Tour. Visit to Asclepion and Health Centre. As you make your to Acropolis, the Red Basillica, originally a temple of Serapis can be viewed. The most spectacular structure is certainly the theatre, a remarkable piece of engineering built into the steep hillside. Transfer to back to Izmir for overnight.
Pergamon: Located in Bergama County in the province of Izmir, Pergamon is one of the major sites of antiquity in Turkey. During the Hellenistic period, Pergamon was one of the outstanding cultural centers for a century and a half. During Byzantine times, Pergamon was the centre of a diocese. The stones from Hellenestic and Roman buildings as well as ancient statuary were used as building material. In 716 the city was occupied by Arab invaders for a while and captured by Turks in 1330. The German archaeologist Carl Humann, Alexander Conze, and R. Bohn between 1878 and 1886 first excavated the side of Pergamon. It was during this time that the magnificent reliefs of the Altarof Zeus were discovered and carted off to Berlin.
Day 2 - Ephesus
Ephesus: The best‑preserved ancient site in the world, which extends back into the third millennium B.C., Ephesus was one of the most important centers of antiquity. The harbor city Ephesus was the point of departure for the famous royal highway that led through Sardis into Lydia. Because of its location, Ephesus developed into an important political and economic center, and became the capital city of the Roman province of Asia. The remains of this important Ionian city are standing iraculously today, vivid witnesses of a glorious past. Among the well‑preserved ruins, the Theater, the Hadrian Gate, the Celsius Library, the Street of the Curetes, the Fountain of Trajan and the Odeon are the most remarkable.
Virgin Mary: The house on top of Bülbüldagi is believed to be the last home of Virgin Mary. It was proclaimed a place of pilgrimage by Pope Paul VI in 1967 and Pope John Paul II in 1979. The resolutions of the ecumenical council of 431 held that Virgin Mary came to Ephesus with Saint John, four to six years after the death of Christ. Today's structure is a church that dates to the seventh century.
Ephesus Museum: The Archaeological Museum has only recently been enlarged and newly arranged to display impressive works of art recovered from Ephesus.
After the tour return to Izmir for overnight.
Day 3 – Izmir - Istanbul
Transfer to Izmir airport and flight back to Istanbul TK 2309 08:00 – 09:10
Tour rate per person: Euro 700
Single supplement: Euro 100
Minimum participation required for operation of tour: 10 guests
Tour price includes:
- Transfer from Istanbul hotel to airport, flight tickets for roundtrip Istanbul-Izmir-Istanbul
- 2 nights half board accommodation at the 4 star hotels in Izmir
- Round trip airport transfers from/to Kayseri Airport with AC deluxe vehicles
- Professional English speaking guide throughout the program
- 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners at the hotels
- All entrance fees for the sights mentioned in the itinerary
Tour price excludes:
- Drinks at meals
- Personal Expenses, tips for guide and drivers (optional)
TOUR 7 – Troy – Canakkale – Bursa
Pre-Congress Dates : 4-7 September 2011
Post-Congress Dates : 11-14 September 2011
Day 1 - Istanbul – Troy – Canakkale
Departure from Istanbul at 06:30 in the morning. Arrive at Gallipoli Peninsula at noon and lunch. Proceed to Troy and Troy tour in the afternoon. Departure for Canakkale for overnight.
Troy: Located 30 kilometers from Çanakkale the ruins of Troy whose Homeric legends of the epic Iliad, accumulation of the culture, and excavations by Schliemann make it an archaeological site whose importance is unmatched anywhere else in the world. One should of course say "Troy's "for the city was overthrown and refunded nine times. Troy I was a walled city possessing two towers. It was founded some times between 3000‑2500 B.C. Today the eastern gate of Troy I may be seen measuring 3, 50 meters in height. The walls of Troy I were built in a herringbone pattern and the foundations of a house designated "102" mat be seen. When this Troy was destroyed, the new city Troy II was built on the site of its predecessor though on a somewhat larger scale. In this level we see the remains of " megaron " houses (with a large central hall containing a hearth) and their foundation. The golden articles that Schliemann discovered and supposed were the treasure of King Priam was found adjacent to the door on the FM ramp in Troy II. The gold objects are evidence of the extent to which Trojan culture was advanced.
Day 2 – Canakkale – Assos – Pergamon – Bursa
After the breakfast at the hotel departure for Assos for tour and continue to Bursa.
Assos, the ancient Aeolian city clinging to a rocky hillside above the charming and fairly sensitively developed fishing village of Behramkale in the Aegean region, is a splendid retreat from the hustle and bustle of many nearby 'must‑see' and resorts.
Only really finding it's place on the tourist map at the end of the 1980's the village has a relaxed air to it and although you may be offered olive oil, soap and, of course, there is still very little in the way of pressure selling here. In the summer you will find a phalanx of tourist <tours.htm> buses dropping off day trippers to visit the ruins and have lunch but the majority of them will fade early to get to their hotels for the night and leave you to enjoy a rare tranquility and outrageously unspoiled vistas across the bay of Edremit to Lesbos.
The acropolis, built on a hill 236 meters above the sea level, dates from the bronze age with the city dated to the 7th century BC. The sight of the defense walls of which 3 kilometers are still standing inspires a respect for the masons who erected them 2500 years ago. And on the top of the city the Temple of Athena, goddess of the city and fine and war, has the best place to watch the sunset. The temple has 6 columns on the short sides and 13 on the long sides surrounding the building externally with one row. Sufficient ruins remain to give the traveler an idea of the layout of the citadel although the only intact monument is a with rather a checkered past.
Lunch will be served at the Local restaurant.
After the lunch continue to drive to Pergamum for the visits.
You will visit the Acropolis which was once the cultural center of the Hellenistic Period. It had a very famous library, as big as the one in Alexandria. It also had a famous school of architecture, perfect government buildings and monuments, including the world famous Zeus Altar.
It also played an important role during the beginning of Christianity in the Roman Period, and one of the Seven Churches of the Revelations is located here. After the Acropolis you will visit the Ascelepion, which was dedicated to the God of Good Health. Dinner and overnight in Bursa.
Day 3 – Bursa
After the breakfast at the hotel, departure for the Full day city tour in Bursa.
Turkey's protected heritage sites under the slopes of Uludag Mountain ‑ the traditional village of Cumalikizik, with idyllic countryside setting. Here you will enjoy a stroll around the charming old village center and see the wooden Ottoman houses of the hospitable locals.
Following a lunch break, Iskender kebap, one of Turkey's national dishes. The restaurant that originated the dish, Kebapçi Iskender, We continue on to Bursa itself, the first capital of the Ottomans. While exploring this small city you will see the Green Mosque & Tomb, the Grand Mosque, famous for its beautiful Seljuk wall calligraphy, the Silk Market and the Covered Bazaar
Day 4 – Bursa – Nicaea – Istanbul 
After the breakfast at the hotel, departure for Istanbul, on the way visit the city Iznik ( Nicaea ).
The first settlements date back to the first millenium bc. In 74 bc Nicaea was taken over by Rome and flourished as a city. The city was Destroyed by an earthquake in 120 ad but then Was more lavishly renovated. Visit Hagia Sophia dating back from the late 5th century, the koumisses church which was built in the early 8th century, böcek ayazma (secret, sacred spring) located a flight of stairs down the church, in an underground vault. As iznik was an important Ottoman city from 1331 onwards, the Islam remains to be found here are quite abundant. After the visits continue to Istanbul.
Tour rate per person: Euro 700
Single supplement: Euro 120
Minimum participation required for operation of tour: 15 guests
Tour price includes:
- Transportation of all tour with AC deluxe vehicles
- 3 nights accommodation at the 4 star hotels
- Professional English speaking guide throughout the program
- 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners at the hotels
- All entrance fees for the sights mentioned in the itinerary
Tour price excludes:
- Drinks at meals
- Personal Expenses, tips for guide and drivers (optional)