Day 1 - Istanbul: (D)
Arrival Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2 - Istanbul: (B, L, D)
Visit Galata, the Old Jewish Quarter, the Galata Tower, the Neve Shalom Synagogue and the Ashkenazi Synagogue. Lunch. Continue to visit the highlights of Istanbul including St. Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 3 - Istanbul: (B, L, D)
Visit the Balat district where the Star of David can still be seen on some buildings. See the 15th century Ahrida Synagogue and the Yanbol Synagogue. Lunch. Continue to the Asian coast to visit the Synagogue and Jewish Cemeteries at Kuzguncuk and Uskudar. Dinner. Overnight at hotel.
Day 4 - Istanbul - Bursa: (B, L, D)
Drive to Bursa, the former capital of the Ottoman Empire. Bursa also had a large Jewish community. Visit the Yerusch Synagogue and the Silk Bazaar. Dinner. Overnight at hotel.
Day 5 - Bursa - Izmir - Sardis - Izmir:
(B, L, D)
Drive to Izmir, home of one of Turkey's largest Jewish communities. Visit beautiful Synagogues including Beth Israel. Continue to |
Sardis to visit the restored Synagogue from the 3rd century B.C. as well as other ruins. Return to Izmir. Dinner. Overnight at hotel.
Day 6 - Izmir - Ephesus - Priene - Miletus - Kusadasi: (B, L, D)
Drive to Ephesus for a visit to the magnificent Greco-Roman site featuring many hebrew signs. Continue to the ancient cities of Priene and Miletus also noted for hebrew scripts. Dinner. Overnight at Kusadasi.
Day 7 - Kusadasi - Aphrodisias - Pamukkale:
(B, L, D)
Drive to Aphrodisias, visit its magnificent ruins. See the well preserved Stadium, the Odeon, the Theatre etc. Continue to Pamukkale and enjoy the hot spring pools of this unique site. Common to both cities are signs in hebrew and menorahs carved into stone. Dinner. Overnight at hotel in Pamukkale.
Day 8 - Pamukkale - Laodicea - Tire - Izmir:
(B, L, D)
Drive to ancient Laodicea from where the Jewish colony sent gold to Jerusalem during the Roman period. Visit the ruins. Continue to Tire with a visit to the old Synagogues. Arrive Izmir. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 9 - Izmir: (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport. |
