Strabo Photo Tour Collection

Turkey: Istanbul and beyond

Photo Copyright Rosanne Pennella

Tour to be added for 2011, please let us know of your interest

The tour includes opportunities to photograph some of Turkey’s most visually exciting places. Turkey, and especially Istanbul, has been the classic East-meets-West location for centuries. It is where the treasures of the Silk and Spice routes met their markets. It is the site of Agia Sophia (temple of wisdom), the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace of famous harems, and the fabulous Spice and Grand Bazaars.

Then there is Cappadocia, an area almost in the center of the country that is full of weird landscape, almost lunar in quality. It promises to be a highlight for photography of both landscape and people. If you can imagine the hoodoos in Southwest Utah and then place troglodyte churches and houses inside them, you have an idea of the culture in central Turkey. Whole cliff-sides are honeycombed with cave dwellings, some dating from pre-Hittite times. The reflective volcanic tufa seems to change color with the time of day, and is especially glorious at sunset.

We will have a cordial welcome in this country with its brilliant colors, compelling architecture, irresistible allure, and warm hospitality.

Itinerary

May 12: Home - Istanbul

Photo Copyright Rosanne Pennella

Board your overnight flight to Istanbul, arriving the next day, May 13.

May 13: Istanbul

Afternoon arrival to Istanbul Airport, you will be met on arrival and escorted to your hotel. There will be an orientation tour on foot late this afternoon, or early evening. We will then enjoy a welcome dinner, including a traditional Turkish dance show. Overnight three nights Sultanahmet Hotel with breakfast served on roof top terrace. (B,L; B)

May 14 - May 15: Istanbul

Istanbul provides us with wonderful warm people to photograph, exceptional cuisine to enjoy, and most importantly the most outstanding city photography in Turkey. We will have two full days to explore this vibrant city on foot and utilizing the public transportation. The first day we begin with the warm light of morning on the Topkapi Palace and Harem. After lunch we move on to the impressive architecture of the Blue Mosque, and the sights and sounds of the Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar (be sure not to miss the back streets between the two).

More photography abounds on our second day in Istanbul, including the Byzantine architecture (sixth century) of the Haghia Sophia, reflections of the Basilica Cistern, the Rustem Pasha Mosque, and the silhouette of the city from the Galata Bridge - breathtaking while the sun is setting. The photo subjects are endless. The guides will entice you with as much as possible, considering the interests of the entire group. (B, L; B)

May 16 - May 18: Cappadocia

Photo Copyright Rosanne Pennella

After breakfast the group will fly to Nevsehir airport, for our three days in Cappadocia region. Cappadocia is a land where nature and man have competed with each other to create the unusual and the most beautiful landscape. A hike takes us to tenth and eleventh century churches, monasteries, and houses carved into the rocks. The moonlike terrain of Cappadocia with its endless natural artwork is a photographer's delight.

The lunar-like landscape of this region is eerie, yet beautiful. Over thousands of years, the rain has eroded the land to give rise to strange rock formations known as "fairy chimneys." Many of these have homes and churches carved into them. Grottos magnificently decorate the walls with colorful fresoes. In spring the terrain is sprinkled with various wildflowers, and red poppies.

Participants may choose to participate in an optional hot air balloon ride over this vast region, or choose to photograph the vivid colors against the stark landscape. We will visit the underground city of Kaymakli, carved out underneath a rock hill, Ihlara Valley, with its sixty chapels, monasteries, and hermits’ caves dating from the eleventh century, Selim Village, Pasabag, Dervent, and Goreme Open Air Museum. Another highlight may entail an early morning hike to the top of Mt. Nemrut where we photograph the carved statues amidst the sunrise. Overnight Yunak Evleri. (B,D; B,D; B,L)

May 19 - May 20: Izmir - Ephesus

We depart after breakfast this morning to the domestic terminal for a flight to Izmir. Traveling on to Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean, today ranks among the best places in the world to get a feel for what life was like in Roman times. The ancient city located near the Aegean Sea in modern day Turkey, was one of the great cities of the Greeks in Asia Minor and home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, the ruins of Ephesus are a major attraction. It is also a sacred site for Christians due to its association with several biblical figures, including St. Paul, St. John the Evangelist, and the Virgin Mary. We will visit such places as St. John’s Basilica & Ayasuluk Hill, and the House of Mary, a simple stone house where it is believed she lived until her Assumption in to Heaven. Those interested in works of art and history are encouraged to visit the Archeology Museum. Overnight two nights Charisma Hotel with views of the Agean Sea. (B,D; B,L,D)

May 21: Aphrodisias - Pamukkale

Today we drive on to Aphrodisias, the city of Love. Aphrodisias is one of the oldest sacred sites in Turkey. Dedicated to the ancient Mother Goddess and then the Greek goddess Aphrodite, it was the site of a magnificent temple and the home of a renowned school of marble sculpture. The Temple of Aphrodite later became a Christian basilica through an impressive swapping of columns. Today, it is well-preserved and partially restored; it is not difficult to imagine its ancient splendor. The site has been sacred since 5,800 BC, and in Greek times, the site was dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and fertility.
The afternoon drive takes us to Pamukkale where we catch the setting sunlight magically illuminating the white cliffs as well as yellow travertine walls of tombs and monuments. Pamukkale (ancient Heirapolis) is singularly the most unusual natural phenomenon of Turkey. The Turkish name literally means - "cotton castle" - and refers to the extraordinary surface of the snow-white cliffs, shaped over millennia by accumulation of calcium deposited by mineral springs. Visit the Hot Springs and swim in a spa amid Roman columns. Bring your swim gear. We then take an internal flight back to Istanbul. Overnight two nights Galata Anemon. (B,L)

May 22: Istanbul

This morning there will be free time to relax on your own, perhaps taking in a Turksih Hamam, or more photography. We meet later this afternoon to enjoy a two hour boat cruise down the Bosphorous, seeing the banks lined with castles and mansions. Disembarking at the Anadolu Kavagi fishing village, we walk up to the Byzantine Castle. It is the last stop on the Bosphorous and quite possibly one of the prettiest villages you will ever see. You will be rewarded with a breathtaking sight with the European shore, the Black Sea, and Istanbul in the background. We enjoy our last night together at a traditional Turkish restaurant. (B, D)

May 23: Istanbul - Home

Transfer to airport for flights home. (B)

Accommodations

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Guides

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Food & Drink

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Notes

What to Expect
This tour is designed to be a photo tour, and, as such, we must be flexible in our scheduling. Much of what we do, and when we do it, will depend upon weather, light, and the permission of specific on-site locations. In the event that changes may occur, we will need to be flexible, which will also allow us to take advantage of new photographic opportunities.

Turkey has made great strides in tourist accommodations and services in recent years, but please remember that it is still a developing country, so we may experience occasional inconveniences. All of the accommodations will be clean and comfortable, with private baths. The hotels have been chosen for your comfort as well as their proximity to prime photographic locations.

Health and Fitness
Tour participants should be in good health and good physical condition to get the most out of the trip. Although we will not be running marathons, we will be taking long walks in order to reach the prime photographic locations.

Pricing Info

Tour land cost: $4,595 US Dollars based upon minimum of 12 paying participants. There is a small group surcharge of $400 if 5-10 paying participants. All our program prices are based on double occupancy unless noted in exceptions.

Single room supplement: $595; single rooms are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. We try to accommodate travelers who request single accommodations, as well as travelers who are looking for a roommate. If a single room is requested, or if we are unable to find a suitable roommate, you will be required to pay the supplement.

Note: The land costs on international tours is based upon current exchange rates. Although the rate has been relatively stable, should it change, there may need to be an adjustment in the land cost.

General Tour Info (includes, excludes and other details)