TURKEY 77 MIDDLEEAST Turkey Explored Imaginative Facts Tour code: TATR • Activities: Extensive walking at sites, optional hiking in Cappadocia, gulet cruise • Accommodation: 12 nights simple hotels, 2 nights inter- city coach, 1 night gulet cabins ( triple share) • Transport: Private and public buses • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Istanbul Heart of the City Tour' DAY 1: ISTANBUL- Arrival day. DAY 2: GALLIPOLI- Drive to the small town of Canakkale. The afternoon is free for you to visit the Anzac memorials at Gallipoli or ancient Troy. ( B) DAY 3: SELCUK- We travel to the pretty town of Selcuk with its rich history and beautiful setting. We spend two nights here. ( B) DAY 4: SELCUK - EPHESUS- A full free day to visit the amazing ruins at Ephesus and to explore the picturesque winding streets of Selcuk. ( B) DAY 5: PAMUKKALE- A morning drive takes us to Pamukkale where there is time to visit the famous calcified falls and the ancient city of Hierapolis. ( B) DAY 6: PAMUKKALE - FETHIYE - GULET-Today we travel to Fethiye where we have lunch before boarding our private gulet. We spend the afternoon cruising along the scenic Turquoise Coast and spend the night on board. ( BD) DAYS 7 & 8: DALYAN- After breakfast we disembark and drive to Dalyan, known for its hot springs and the nearby conservation area for loggerhead turtles. The following day is at leisure. ( B) DAY 9: OLYMPOS- Drive to Olympos where there is the chance to visit ancient Olympos and Chimera. ( BD) DAY 10: ANTALYA - CAPPADOCIA- After leaving Olympos we drive to Antalya. Overnight bus to Cappadocia. ( B) DAYS 11 & 12: CAPPADOCIA- Free time for you to explore this spectacular region. You can visit the open air museums of Zelve and Goreme, the underground cities of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu, or take advantage of numerous hiking opportunities throughout the area. Those after a bit of action can explore by mountain bike. ( Day 12 - B) DAY 13: KAHTA- A day's drive across the stunning Eastern Taurus Mountains to Kahta near Mt Nemrut. ( B) DAY 14: MT NEMRUT- Free morning to visit Mt Nemrut to see the massive Commagene stone heads. Afternoon drive to Urfa. ( B) DAY 15: URFA - GAZIANTEP- Visit Urfa, the city of the prophets. Then drive to Aksaray via Gaziantep and Kilis to catch an overnight bus back to Istanbul. ( B) DAY 16: ISTANBUL- Tour ends on arrival. Our best- selling tour - essential Turkey • Enjoy scenic variety from Istanbul's bustling alleysto picturesque Selcuk • Visit ancient Ephesus, Olympos and the calcified falls at Pamukkale • Relax on the Turquoise Coast on a gulet cruise • Hike amidst the extraordinarylandscapes of Cappadocia • Enjoy the scenic Taurus Mountains at Mt Nemrut Istanbul Heart of the City Tour Imaginative Facts Tour code: BBTI • Non- group Tour: For individuals only • Activities: Extensive walking • Accommodation: 2 nights in tourist class hotel on twin- share basis • Transport: Local transport fares are included • Escorted: Services of Imaginative Traveller representative DAY 1: ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL- Airport transfer to your hotel. DAY 2: TOUR THE CITY WITH YOUR CITY ESCORT- City and area briefing and a full day of exploring the city with your guide. ( B) DAY 3: END OF TOUR- Programme ends after breakfast. ( B) Departs daily ex Istanbul airport. A city tour with a difference • Discover the hidden gems of Istanbulthat few visitors know about • Your guide takes you off the tourist trailto the places the locals frequent • The perfect way to gain an insight into your destination Single Supplement £ 75 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 4.52 * Price includes tour price of £ 625and local payment of € 200All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 780pp Land Only * Solo Traveller Supplement £ 65 ( compulsory if you are travelling alone) All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 110pp Land Only adventurer adventurer Tour duration 16 days Tour duration 3 days Starts SunEnds Mon IstanbulIstanbul 2009 22- Feb- 0909- Mar- 09 * 08- Mar- 0923- Mar- 09 * 22- Mar- 0906- Apr- 09 * 05- Apr- 0920- Apr- 09 * 19- Apr- 0904- May- 09 03- May- 0918- May- 09 17- May- 0901- Jun- 09 31- May- 0915- Jun- 09 14- Jun- 0929- Jun- 09 28- Jun- 0913- Jul- 09 12- Jul- 0927- Jul- 09 26- Jul- 0910- Aug- 09 09- Aug- 0924- Aug- 09 23- Aug- 0907- Sep- 09 06- Sep- 0921- Sep- 09 20- Sep- 0905- Oct- 09 04- Oct- 0919- Oct- 09 * 18- Oct- 0902- Nov- 09 * 01- Nov- 0916- Nov- 09 * 15- Nov- 0930- Nov- 09 * 29- Nov- 0914- Dec- 09 * 13- Dec- 0928- Dec- 09 * 27- Dec- 0911- Jan- 10 * Starts SunEnds Mon IstanbulIstanbul 2010 21- Feb- 1008- Mar- 10 * 07- Mar- 1022- Mar- 10 * 21- Mar- 1005- Apr- 10 * 04- Apr- 1019- Apr- 10 * 18- Apr- 1003- May- 10 02- May- 1017- May- 10 16- May- 1031- May- 10 30- May- 1014- Jun- 10 13- Jun- 1028- Jun- 10 27- Jun- 1012- Jul- 10 11- Jul- 1026- Jul- 10 25- Jul- 1009- Aug- 10 08- Aug- 1023- Aug- 10 22- Aug- 1006- Sep- 10 05- Sep- 1020- Sep- 10 19- Sep- 1004- Oct- 10 03- Oct- 1018- Oct- 10 * 17- Oct- 1001- Nov- 10 * 31- Oct- 1015- Nov- 10 * 14- Nov- 1029- Nov- 10 * 28- Nov- 1013- Dec- 10 * 12- Dec- 1027- Dec- 10 * 26- Dec- 1010- Jan- 11 * * During the winter we do not stay on the gulet or visit Mt Nemrut Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

MIDDLEEASTTURKEY 78 " I cannot believe how much of the country I saw and I don't just mean the temples. Hiring bikes was a fabulous way of touring the ' back streets' and getting a feel of the area." Barbara McKenna middle east Eastern Images Imaginative Facts Tour code: TTIM • Activities: Opportunities for walking in Cappadocia and at Mt Nemrut • Accommodation: 13 nights tourist class hotels, 1 night local house ( multi- share) • Transport: Private air- conditioned coach, boat trip on Lake Van, plane • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader days 1- 13, services of local representatives days 14 & 15, services of local guides • Imaginative Traveller Suggests: Add our ' Istanbul Heart of the City Tour' DAY 1: ANKARA- Arrival day. DAY 2: ANKARA - HATTUSAS - AMASYA-A guided tour of Ankara's Museum of Anatolian Civilisations before heading east to the ancient Hittite capital of Hattusas. Overnight in Amasya, historic capital of the Pontic Empire. ( BD) DAY 3: AMASYA - HOME STAY- Today we have a leisurely morning in Amasya then continue to Ordu Golkoy where we will be guests of one of the families in the village ( BD) DAY 4: TRABZON- In the morning there will be time to explore the area. Later we drive to Trabzon on the Black Sea coast. ( BD) DAY 5: SUMELA - ERZURUM- Morning visit to the striking Sumela Monastery. Later we drive to Erzurum, an important city from the Selcuk period. ( BD) DAY 6: KARS - ANI- We drive to the grasslands of Kars and visit the fabulous ruins of the 10th century Armenian capital of Ani on the border with the modern Armenian Republic. DAY 7: MT ARARAT - ISHAK PASA - VAN-Visit Mt Ararat, ( supposed landing place for Noah's Ark!), and the stunning Ishak Pasa Palace. Afternoon drive to Van. ( BD) DAY 8: TATVAN- An excursion by boat to Akdamar Island on Lake Van to visit the Church of the Holy Cross. Continue to Tatvan, a small town on the shores of Lake Van. ( BD) DAY 9: MARDIN- Drive to Mardin via Hasankeyf, where we can see the remains of old Artukids and a picturesque citadel. ( B) DAY 10: MT NEMRUT- Free morning in the old quarter of Mardin with time to visit the castle. Afternoon drive to Kahta, near Mt Nemrut. ( BD) DAY 11: MT NEMRUT - CAPPADOCIA- A wonderful sunrise excursion to Mt Nemrut. A short walk takes us to the summit where we see the massive Commagene stone heads. After breakfast we leave for the fabulous landscapes of Cappadocia. ( B) DAY 12: CAPPADOCIA- Visit Uchisar ' castle' for a panoramic view of Cappadocia's bizarre rock formations, then hike through some of the most spectacular valleys. ( B) DAY 13: CAPPADOCIA - ISTANBUL-Morning flight to Istanbul. ( B) DAY 14: ISTANBUL- Full free day. ( B) DAY 15: ISTANBUL- Tour ends after breakfast. ( B) Exploring the hidden gems of Eastern Turkey • Journey to the far eastern grasslands and the borders of Armenia • Travel along the Black Sea coastand take a cruise on Lake Van • Take excursions to ' Noah's' Mt Araratand Mt Nemrut ( at sunrise!) • Hike amidst the extraordinary landscapes of Cappadocia • Enjoy the sights of bustling Istanbul and Ankara Istanbul Gallipoli Canakkale Assos Ephesus SelcukPamukkale Konya Mt NemrutMardin TatvanVan Mt Ararat Ani Kars Erzurum Trabzon Amasya Egirdir Ankara Fethiye Kalkan Kas Arykanda Eastern Images The Best of East & West TurkeyCappadocia Ordu Golkoy Turkey Turkey in Style Istanbul Izmir Ephesus SelcukPamukkaleKonya Cappadocia Ankara Safranbolu Antalya Single Supplement £ 170 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 4.85 * Price includes tour price of £ 965and local payment of € 270All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1170pp Land Only * traveller Tour duration 15 days © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller Starts SatEnds Sat AnkaraIstanbul 2009 25- Apr- 0909- May- 09 23- May- 0906- Jun- 09 20- Jun- 0904- Jul- 09 18- Jul- 0901- Aug- 09 15- Aug- 0929- Aug- 09 12- Sep- 0926- Sep- 09 Starts SatEnds Sat AnkaraIstanbul 2010 24- Apr- 1008- May- 10 22- May- 1005- Jun- 10 19- Jun- 1003- Jul- 10 17- Jul- 1031- Jul- 10 14- Aug- 1028- Aug- 10 11- Sep- 1025- Sep- 10 The remains of Noah's Ark are thought to be buried on Mount Ararat, the highest point in Turkey. amazing fact ... We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243