Day 1- Wednesday, May 17th, 2023
- Afternoon departure from UIW for Houston Intercontinental Airport
- Evening non-stop flight on Turkish Air to Istanbul.
Day 2- Thursday, May 18th, 2023
- Late afternoon arrival in Istanbul
- Transfer via private motor coach to hotel
- Walking tour of the Pera Pedestrian District
- Dinner at the Flower Market
- Overnight Istanbul at the Marmara Pera
Day 3- Friday, May 19th, 2023
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Morning visit to Medipol University School of Pharmacy
- Early afternoon visit to the Koc University School of Nursing
- Dinner at Hamdi Rest
- Overnight Istanbul
Day 4- Saturday, May 20th, 2023
- Breakfast in hotel
- Full day Istanbul city tour, including The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, The Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar
- Sunset cocktail cruise on The Bosporus
- Dinner at Umuru
- Overnight Istanbul
Day 5- Sunday May 21st, 2023
- Breakfast in hotel
- Transfer to airport for flight to Ankara
- Transfer from Ankara to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
- Afternoon city tour
- Dinner at Gunaydin Kebap
- Overnight CP Ankara
Day 6-Monday May 22nd, 2023
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Transfer to the ancient city of Kaseri (Cesearea)
- Visit to Keyser Naisaide Health Center and Medrassah
- Today we will learn about the rich history of the Basilean Monks of Asia Minor, who followed Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea (330–379) and distinguishes them from Greek monks.
- We will dive into the history of one of the native tribes of Turkey, their subsequent decimation with the Armenian Genocide in the 1920s. We will visit one of their ancient villages.
- Dinner at Berzihane Ancient Chapel
- Overnight at Yumak Evleri Cave Hotel
Day 7- Tuesday May 23rd
- Breakfast in hotel
- Goreme Open Air Museum and visits to the cave churches
- Lead Pouring (molybdomancy)- a Turkish superstition thought to ward off the effects of the Evil Eye and portend the future
- Whirling Dervish Show at Saruhan Caravanserai
- Dinner at Areni Cappadocia
- Overnight Yumak Evleri Cave Hotel
Day 8- Wednesday, May 24th, 2023
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Morning flight to Izmir
- Visit to Pamukkale (Bring your bathing suits!)
- Visit to the ancient city of Hierapolis
- Dinner at hotel
- Overnight at Doga Thermal Hotel
Day 9- Thursday, May 25th, 2023
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Morning visit ofPergamon & Asklepion, one of the earliest centers for medicine and healing
- Dinner at the hotel
Day 10- Friday, May 26th, 2023 (FOR LAND ONLY PARTICIPANTS)
- Breakfast in hotel
- Transfer to Istanbul via motor coach
- Remainder of the day at leisure
- Dinner at Alaf
- Overnight Istanbul
OR, FOR CRUISE PARTICIPANTS
- Breakfast in hotel
- Motor coach transfer to Izmir
- Visit to Ephesus
- Dinner at local restaurant
- Overnight Izmir/ Kusadasi area
Day 11- Saturday, May 27th, 2023 (Land Only)
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Transfer to IST for flight to IAH on Turkish Air
- Motor coach transfer from IAH to UIW
OR, FOR CRUISE PARTICIPANTS
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Transfer to Port of Kusadasi
- Embark Ship
- Depart Kusadasi for Patmos
- Afternoon arrival in Patmos
- Time to explore Patmos
- Overnight at sea
Day 12- Sunday, May 28th
- Arrive Santorini
- Full day to explore Santorini
- Late afternoon departure from Santorini
- Overnight at sea
Day 13- Monday, May 29th
- Arrival in Athens
- Included shore excursion of Athens and its monuments
- Depart Athens around noon
- Sail to Mykonos
- Afternoon in Mykonos
- Overnight at sea
Day 14- Tuesday, May 30th
- Arrive Kusadasi at 7:00 am
- Private motor coach transfer to Istanbul
- Remainder of the day at leisure
- Closing Dinner
- Overnight Istanbul
Day 15- Wednesday, May 31st, 2023
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Transfer to IST for non-stop flight on Turkish Air to Houston
- Arrive Houston same day
- Motor coach transfer to UIW