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The Treasures of Western Turkey:
Archaeology, Art, and Culture

A Learning Vacation in Turkey
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Standing at the crossroads of East and West, Turkey is a fascinating blend of Oriental and European cultures. Today, Turkish people claim their land has been home to at least 14 major civilizations over the course of its history—on this spectacular trip, we visit cities and sites which exemplify the development of these civilizations.

With our small group size, our journey across this "cradle of civilization" takes us to places the large tour groups can't visit. We enjoy special tours of archaeological sites, museums, churches, and mosques; stay at an intimate, internationally acclaimed "cave hotel;" and share sumptuous meals in the countryside and at fine restaurants. Distinguished archaeologists, Turkish officials, and other specialists join us for lectures, tours, and visits to ongoing excavations—and there is plenty of time for shopping in the many bazaars and specialty shops.

Scholar Dr. Donald McGuire

Dr. Donald McGuire, professor of classics at the State University of New York, Buffalo, has focused his research on Roman literature and culture, Minoan and Mycenaean architecture, Greek tragedies, and Ottoman history. Fluent in Turkish, Don has excavated at Sardis and led educational trips throughout Turkey for many years.

Educational Focus

The development of western civilization in Turkey from the Neolithic period and Bronze Age to the time of the Hittites, Alexander the Great, the Greeks and Romans, early Christianity, the Byzantine empire, the Seljuk and Ottoman empires, and modern-day Turks

Turkey's unique blend of European and Oriental cultures

The literature, mythology, and history of the many civilizations that have developed and thrived in this region

Standing at the crossroads of East and West, Turkey is a fascinating blend of Oriental and European cultures.

Trip Dates and Cost

Dates: Sunday, May 10–Monday, May 25, 2009

Tuition: Donor* $8,595; Nondonor: $8,795

Deposit: $1,000

Balance due: March 1, 2009

Daily Trip Itinerary

Sunday, May 10: Ankara

We arrive in Ankara by 5 p.m. After checking into the Gordion Hotel, we gather for a trip overview and introductions, followed by dinner. Overnight in Ankara. (D)

Monday, May 11: Museum of Anatolian Civilizations • Temple of Augustus • Mausoleum of Atatürk • Gordion

We visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which houses a spectacular collection of artifacts and offers a comprehensive overview of the cultures we will examine. Don takes us to two nearby sites, the Temple of Augustus and the Mausoleum of Atatürk—dedicated to two dominant rulers, one ancient and one modern. After lunch, we drive to Gordion, a site linked to the mythic king Midas, where the remains of an ancient grave mound and an utterly destroyed urban center puzzle archaeologists. Overnight in Ankara. (B, L)

Tuesday, May 12: Hattuşaş • Cappadocia • Ürgüp

We drive through fertile farmland to Hattuşaş, the capital of the Hittites who ruled much of Anatolia from 1800 to 1300 B.C. The scale of this city was extensive—the site features the vast temple of the storm god Teshub and the adjacent hilltop sanctuary known as Yazilikaya, where two natural rock galleries display well-preserved carvings of gods and goddesses. We venture onto the lunarlike landscape of Cappadocia, a region of geological, historical, and cultural wonders. Our hotel for the next three nights is the Ürgüp Evi hotel, an exquisitely restored cave dwelling located in the old district of Ürgüp. (B, L, D)

Wednesday, May 13: Cappadocia • Uçhisar • Göreme • Zelve

We explore Cappadocia, where layer upon layer of volcanic tufa was carved by erosion through time, resulting in an unearthly landscape. The ancient communities of villages, monasteries, and underground cities that dot this landscape reached their zenith in the eleventh and twelfth centuries A.D., but some may date back to the Hittite era. We visit sites that reflect the complexities of Cappadocian culture—the hill fortress of Uçhisar and the monastic retreats and "fairy chimneys" of Göreme and Zelve. Overnight in Ürgüp. (B, L)

Thursday, May 14: Avanos • Sarihan Caravanserai • Mustafapasa

You have the option of enjoying an early morning balloon ride over the dramatic landforms of Cappadocia, followed by a champagne breakfast. (Cost not included in tuition.) Afterwards, we continue our tour of Cappadocia. In Avanos, we visit pottery workshops, where simple pots are still made traditionally from local red clay. Built in the Seljuk Turkish era around A.D. 250, nearby Sarihan Caravanserai is a fine example of an inn serving the great trading caravans. In the town of Mustafapasa—a predominantly Ottoman Greek settlement until World War I—we explore exquisitely decorated houses and rock-hewn churches. Lunch is in the Old Greek House. Back in Ürgüp, we visit the carpet shops before dinner in a cave restaurant and then enjoy a folk-dance show. Overnight in Ürgüp. (B, L, D)

Friday, May 15: Ihlara Valley • Çatalhöyük • Konya

We travel to the Ihlara Valley, once a favorite retreat for Byzantine monks who carved churches into the valley's canyon walls—many featuring vivid frescoes. Next we visit Çatalhöyük, a fascinating Neolithic settlement, one of the oldest towns ever discovered (dating from 7500 B.C.) and a very important archaeological site. We tour Çatalhöyük's mound, excavations, and museum. We continue on to Konya, the capital of the Seljuk Turkish Emperor, for a performance by the "Whirling Dervishes," a dance group founded by the mystic Rumi centuries ago. Overnight in Konya at the Dedeman Hotel. (B, L, D)

Saturday, May 16: Rumi's Tomb • Pamukkale • Hierapolis

We visit the shrine and tomb of Rumi, a thirteenth-century Persian poet and theologian, where we will view Dervish artifacts. The shrine is a key pilgrimage site for the Islamic faithful. After a picnic lunch in the Anatolian countryside, we continue to Pamukkale, "Cotton Castle," named for the unusual calcium rock formations of the area. At the ancient remains of Hierapolis, we explore the impressive theater decorated in superb bas-relief and a vast necropolis containing hundreds of sarcophagi. We stay at the Richmond Thermal Hotel at Pamukkale, arriving in time to enjoy the spa and pool. (B, L, D)

Sunday, May 17: Aphrodisias • Kusadasi

Aphrodisias is a site dominated by Roman remains but which dates back to the early Bronze Age, from around 3000 to 2500 B.C. Current excavations are supervised by a team of British and American archaeologists from Oxford University and the University of Michigan and New York University. We are treated to a special tour of the excavations and museum before we continue on to Kusadasi. Overnight at the Kismet Hotel in Kusadasi, our home for the next three nights. (B, L, D)

Monday, May 18: Priene • Miletus • Didyma

We spend the day touring three seldom-visited yet important ancient Aegean settlements. Priene, overlooking the plain of the Büyük Menderes River, was an influential city around 300 B.C.—unlike many other Ionian sites, its Hellenistic buildings did not vanish beneath newer Roman ones. We visit the Temple of Athena, the theater, the Byzantine church, and the stadium. Miletus was an important commercial and governmental center from about 700 B.C. to A.D. 700. The 15,000-seat Great Theatre was originally a Hellenistic building, but was later reconstructed by the Romans. Didyma was the site of a magnificent temple to Apollo, once occupied by an oracle as significant as the one at Delphi, although the ruins seen today date from later time periods. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, L, D)

Tuesday, May 19: Ephesus • House of the Virgin Mary • Isa Bey Mosque

Our day is devoted to ancient Ephesus, site of the long-lived cult of Artemis and Cybele and capital of the Roman province of Asia. Considered the archaeological gem of Turkey's Ionian coast, Ephesus has been excavated by Austrian archaeologists for more than 100 years. We visit the Church of St. John, view a beautiful collection of art and artifacts in the Ephesus Museum, and tour the nearby House of the Virgin Mary and the Seljuk-era Isa Bey Mosque, where we are the guests of the local imam (religious leader). Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, L)

Wednesday, May 20: Sardis • Izmir • Istanbul

We explore the great city of Sardis, capital of ancient Lydia, which was conquered by the Persians in the sixth century B.C. Don, who excavated here for several summers, gives us an in-depth view of the key areas of the site: the great temple of Artemis, the Lydian fortifications system, the impressive reconstructions of the Roman Imperial–era Marble Court, the Synagogue, and the bath complexes. We continue on to the town of Izmir for our flight to Istanbul, where we check in to the World Park Hotel, our home for the next five nights. Overnight Istanbul. (B, L)

Thursday, May 21: Aya Sofya • Topkapi Palace • Blue Mosque • Great Cistern • Hippodrome

Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) is a city of archaeological and cosmopolitan wonders. We enjoy a tour of classical Istanbul, beginning with Aya Sofya (Saint Sophia), the architectural marvel of the sixth century A.D. which affirmed Justinian's claim that Constantinople was the greatest city of the Mediterranean. We proceed to Topkapi Palace, an imperial palace used by the Ottoman sultans to make the same claim a thousand years later. Visits to the Blue Mosque, the Great Cistern, and the Hippodrome complete the day. Overnight Istanbul. (B, L, D)

Friday, May 22: Grand Bazaar • Süleymaniye • Kariye Camii

For centuries, the Grand Bazaar has been the heart of Istanbul—a covered world of more than 4,000 shops, mosques, restaurants, and banks. The main streets offer extraordinary bargaining and shopping experiences, and the alleys invite exploration to discover hidden caravanserai, tiny boutiques, and specialty workshops. We also visit the Süleymaniye, the largest and most imposing mosque in Istanbul, and the Kariye Camii, a church built by the Holy Theodus in A.D. 534 and converted to a museum in 1948. The rest of the day is free to shop, visit one or more of the excellent museums of Istanbul, enjoy a hamam (Turkish bath), or simply relax at the hotel. Overnight Istanbul. (B)

Saturday, May 23: Süleyman Mosque • Spice Bazaar • Rustem Pasa Camii • Dolmabahce Palace

We spend the day in Istanbul, exploring places both ancient and modern: the Süleyman Mosque, designed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan; the Egyptian or Spice Bazaar, an ideal place to observe Turkish trade; the Rustem Pasa Camii, considered to have the most beautiful interior of any mosque in Turkey; and Dolmabahce Palace, site of the Ottoman Court after the sultans decided in the nineteenth century that Topkapi Palace was too tawdry. Overnight Istanbul. (B, L)

Sunday, May 24: Istanbul Archaeology Museum • Bosphorus River cruise

In the morning we visit the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, consisting of the main Archaeology Museum, the Old Eastern Works Museum, and the Enameled Kiosk Museum. It houses more than one million objects that represent almost all of the civilizations in world history. We enjoy a leisurely cruise on the Bosphorus River, passing the great Ottoman siege fortifications of Rumeli Hisar and beautiful Ottoman Turk houses that line the waterfront. We gather for a farewell dinner. Overnight Istanbul. (B, L, D)

Monday, May 25: Departures for U.S.

Departures can be scheduled anytime after breakfast. (B)

B = breakfast; L = lunch; D = dinner

If you wish to extend your visit to Turkey—perhaps to visit Troy or to take a cruise—our outfitter, Argeus Tourism & Travel, will be happy to assist you with arrangements.

Tour Details

Tuition: Tuition is per person and is based on shared accommodations. Tuition includes accommodations, meals listed, entry fees and permits, most gratuities, and transportation (including internal air flights) from arrival in Ankara on May 10, 2009, until departure from Istanbul on May 25, 2009. Transportation to Ankara and from Istanbul is your responsibility. Optional balloon ride over Cappadocia not included.

Program prices are based on current tariffs/currency exchange rates and are subject to change. Crow Canyon reserves the right to levy a surcharge, if necessary, prior to the final payment date.

International Air: International air flights are not included. For assistance making arrangements, we recommend Travel Management, Inc., in Post Falls, Idaho. E-mail crow@tmitravel.net, or call 1.800.975.7775 and ask for the Crow Canyon representative. Or, you are welcome to make your own arrangements. Plan to arrive in Ankara by 5 p.m., May 10. Schedule departure from Istanbul anytime after breakfast on May 25.

Accommodations: All nights are spent in first-class hotels. Shared accommodations are based on double occupancy. Single accommodations are available for an additional fee of $750.

What to Expect: While this program does not involve strenuous activity, access to some sites will require climbing and descending many steps, standing for an hour or more at a time, and sometimes walking on undeveloped trails. We will move at a leisurely pace, and assistance will be provided. Most of our travel is by comfortable coach. The itinerary includes one scheduled air flight within Turkey, and a half-day cruise on the Bosphorus.

The Crow Canyon Archaeological Center's programs and admission practices are open to applicants of any race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, or sexual orientation.

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