Tours Information

The The following optional tours are available for booking via the online registration form.
Any information or assistance required regarding the tours, please contact: isbd@kenes.com

TOUR 01 - THE MAGNIFICENT DOMES OF ISTANBUL

St. Sophia; The magnificent Byzantine Church; one of the finest architectural works in the world. It has been nominated as the 8th wonder of the world by many historians. Considered one of the world's most beautiful buildings, the Hagia Sofia, which means Church of Holy Wisdom of God, is an important surviving example of Byzantine architecture.
Blue Mosque; One of the largest mosques in Istanbul dating from the 17th century it is one of the principal adornments on he skyline of Istanbul. Also famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarets.
Hippodrome; The former centre of sportive and political activities of Constantinople. During the visit you’ll be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt Serpentine Column from Delphi and fountain of Wilhelm II.

Obelisk of Theodosius; This obelisk once graced the Karnak Great Temple of Amun (Amon) in ancient Thebes (now, Luxor). It was one of two erected at the south of the 7th Pylon of the Great Temple by Tuthmosis III. No one knows who ordered its removal from Karnak, or whether it was still standing when it was taken.
Serpent Column; is an ancient column at the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet quarter of Istanbul, Turkey. It is an ancient Greek sacrificial tripod, originally located in Delphi and later relocated to Constantinople by Constantine in 324.

Grand Bazaar; In addition to its historical importance, it’s a bazaar that will tempt even the non-shoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewellery, leather and souvenirs.DATE:

Thursday MARCH 15
TIME : 09:00-13:00

Tour rate per person: Euro 45

All tours will be departed from the Congress venue.

TOUR 02 OTTOMANIA

Topkapi Palace; The former imperial residence from where the Ottoman Empire was ruled. Today a spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain.
Rustem Paşa Mosque; One of the masterpieces of Sinan, the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire. It was built in the name of Rustem Paşa who was the grand vezir of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent.

DATE: Friday, MARCH 16
TIME: 09:00-13:00

Tour rate per person: Euro 45

All tours will be departed from the Congress venue.

TOUR 03 - FULL DAY TOUR FROM CONSTANTINOPOLIS TO ISTANBUL

Blue Mosque; One of the largest mosques in Istanbul dating from the 17th century it is one of the principal adornments on he skyline of Istanbul. Also famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarets.
Hippodrome; The former centre of sportive and political activities of Constantinople. During the visit you’ll be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt Serpentine Column; from Delphi and fountain of Wilhelm II.

Serpent Column; is an ancient column at the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet quarter of Istanbul, Turkey. It is an ancient Greek sacrificial tripod, originally located in Delphi and later relocated to Constantinople by Constantine in 324. The serpent heads of the 8-meter high column remained until the end of the 17th century

Topkapi Palace; The former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled. Today a spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain.

Rustem Paşa Mosque, masterpiece of Sinan, the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire.
Grand Bazaar; In addition to its historical importance, it’s a bazaar that will tempt even the non-shoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewellery, leather and souvenirs.

DATE: Friday, MARCH 16
TIME : 09:00-18:00

Tour rate per person: Euro 85

All tours will be departed from the Congress venue.

TOUR 04 – FULL DAY TOUR - BOSPHORUS CRUISE , DOLMABAHÇE PALACE & TWO CONTINENTS (EUROPE TO ASIA)

Egyptian Spice Market; A short visit to the famous oriental shopping area where spices, herbs and fruits are being sold.

Bosphorus Cruise; An unforgettable excursion starts between two continents: Europe and Asia. The cruise takes you along the Bosphorus, past the European style palaces of The Ottomans, Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi, as well as beautiful wooden mansions from the 19th century. Disembark in Sariyer a small village on the European side.

Dolmabahce Palace; The Dolmabahce Palace became the main Palace of the Empire and is an interesting combination of different European architectural styles

Bosphorus Bridge;
Camlica Hill; the highest point of Istanbul which offers the possibility of taking some great panoramic photographs of the European side of the city

DATE : Saturday, March 17

Tour rate per person: Euro 85

All tours will be departed from the Congress venue.

TOUR 05 – CAPPADOCIA - A FAIRY TALE
Pre-Congress Dates : 11-14 March 2012
Post Congress Dates : 18- 21 March 2012

CAPPADOCIA (3 Nights / 4 days)

Day 1 - Early morning flight to Kayseri and transfer to Ürgüp. Walk through the “Fairy Chimneys” in Devrent Valley, Paşabağ (Monks’) Valley, practice pottery production with the ancient technique in Avanos. Visit to Göreme, the "open-air museum“ holding the earliest churches and chapels carved in fairy chimneys presenting finest examples of frescoes, Pigeon Valley, petrified valley of Uçhisar, the highest point in the region. Dinner at hotel and overnight.

Day 2 - Visit to the Hospital Monastery. Walk into the “wonderland” at Kızılçukur (Red Valley) and the village of Çavuşin with rock-cut dwellings. Underground City of Kaymaklı, rock-cut city beneath the earth up to 8-9 levels where early Christians used to hide from Roman and Byzantine persecution. Explore the rock formations in Çatalkaya. A fantastic overview of the fairy chimneys from Esentepe. Dinner at hotel and overnight.

Day 3 - Derinkuyu Underground City, walk through the amazing Ihlara Valley. Lunch at Belisırma. Visit to the monasteries at Yaprakhisar and Selime. Dinner at hotel and overnight.

Day 4 – Mustafa Paşa which inhabited Greek Orthodox families until the beginning of the 20th century. Walk through Damsa Lake. Visit to Keşlik, Archangelos Monastery with a church hall. After lunch, visit to Soğanlı. Possibility to watch local women baking bread. At the end of the tour, drive to Taşkınpaşa for a wonderful panoramic view. Evening flight from Kayseri for flight to İstanbul.

Tour price includes:

1. Transfer from Istanbul hotel to airport, flight tickets for roundtrip Istanbul-Kayseri-Istanbul
2. 3 nights half board accommodation at the 4 star hotels in Cappadocia
3. Round trip airport transfers from/to Kayseri Airport with AC deluxe vehicles
4. Professional English speaking guide throughout the program
5. Lunches during tours, 3 Dinners at the hotels exclude drinks and tips.
6. All entrance fees for the sights mentioned in the itinerary

Tour rate per person: Euro 775
Single supplement: Euro 110
Minimum participation required for operation of tour: 15 guests

TOUR 06 – IZMIR – EPHESSUS

Pre-Congress Dates : 11-13 March 2012
Post-Congress Dates : 18-20 March 2012

Day 1 - Istanbul – Izmir – Pargamon

Domestic flight to Izmir with Turkish Airlines TK2312 08:00 – 09:05 Arrival in Izmir and departure for Pergamon Tour. Visit to Asclepion and Health Centre. As you make your to Acropolis, the Red Basillica, originally a temple of Serapis can be viewed. The most spectacular structure is certainly the theatre, a remarkable piece of engineering built into the steep hillside. Transfer to back to Izmir for overnight.

Pergamon: Located in Bergama County in the province of Izmir, Pergamon is one of the major sites of antiquity in Turkey. During the Hellenistic period, Pergamon was one of the outstanding cultural centers for a century and a half. During Byzantine times, Pergamon was the centre of a diocese. The stones from Hellenestic and Roman buildings as well as ancient statuary were used as building material. In 716 the city was occupied by Arab invaders for a while and captured by Turks in 1330. The German archaeologist Carl Humann, Alexander Conze, and R. Bohn between 1878 and 1886 first excavated the side of Pergamon. It was during this time that the magnificent reliefs of the Altarof Zeus were discovered and carted off to Berlin.

Day 2 - Ephesus

Ephesus: The best‑preserved ancient site in the world, which extends back into the third millennium B.C., Ephesus was one of the most important centers of antiquity. The harbor city Ephesus was the point of departure for the famous royal highway that led through Sardis into Lydia. Because of its location, Ephesus developed into an important political and economic center, and became the capital city of the Roman province of Asia. The remains of this important Ionian city are standing iraculously today, vivid witnesses of a glorious past. Among the well‑preserved ruins, the Theater, the Hadrian Gate, the Celsius Library, the Street of the Curetes, the Fountain of Trajan and the Odeon are the most remarkable.

Virgin Mary: The house on top of Bülbüldagi is believed to be the last home of Virgin Mary. It was proclaimed a place of pilgrimage by Pope Paul VI in 1967 and Pope John Paul II in 1979. The resolutions of the ecumenical council of 431 held that Virgin Mary came to Ephesus with Saint John, four to six years after the death of Christ. Today's structure is a church that dates to the seventh century.

Ephesus Museum: The Archaeological Museum has only recently been enlarged and newly arranged to display impressive works of art recovered from Ephesus.

After the tour return to Izmir for overnight.

Day 3 – Izmir - Istanbul

Tour rate per person: Euro 775
Single supplement: Euro 110

TOUR 07 – TROY – CANAKKALE – BURSA

Pre-Congress Dates : 11-14 March 2012
Post-Congress Dates : 18-21 March 2012

Day 1 - Istanbul – Troy – Canakkale

Departure from Istanbul at 06:30 in the morning. Arrive at Gallipoli Peninsula at noon and lunch. Proceed to Troy and Troy tour in the afternoon. Departure for Canakkale for overnight.
Troy: Located 30 kilometers from Çanakkale the ruins of Troy whose Homeric legends of the epic Iliad, accumulation of the culture, and excavations by Schliemann make it an archaeological site whose importance is unmatched anywhere else in the world. One should of course say "Troy's "for the city was overthrown and refunded nine times. Troy I was a walled city possessing two towers. It was founded some times between 3000‑2500 B.C. Today the eastern gate of Troy I may be seen measuring 3, 50 meters in height. The walls of Troy I were built in a herringbone pattern and the foundations of a house designated "102" mat be seen. When this Troy was destroyed, the new city Troy II was built on the site of its predecessor though on a somewhat larger scale. In this level we see the remains of " megaron " houses (with a large central hall containing a hearth) and their foundation. The golden articles that Schliemann discovered and supposed were the treasure of King Priam was found adjacent to the door on the FM ramp in Troy II. The gold objects are evidence of the extent to which Trojan culture was advanced.

Day 2 – Canakkale – Assos – Pergamon – Bursa

After the breakfast at the hotel departure for Assos for tour and continue to Bursa.
Assos, the ancient Aeolian city clinging to a rocky hillside above the charming and fairly sensitively developed fishing village of Behramkale in the Aegean region, is a splendid retreat from the hustle and bustle of many nearby 'must‑see' and resorts.

Only really finding it's place on the tourist map at the end of the 1980's the village has a relaxed air to it and although you may be offered olive oil, soap and, of course, there is still very little in the way of pressure selling here. In the summer you will find a phalanx of tourist <tours.htm> buses dropping off day trippers to visit the ruins and have lunch but the majority of them will fade early to get to their hotels for the night and leave you to enjoy a rare tranquility and outrageously unspoiled vistas across the bay of Edremit to Lesbos.
The acropolis, built on a hill 236 meters above the sea level, dates from the bronze age with the city dated to the 7th century BC. The sight of the defense walls of which 3 kilometers are still standing inspires a respect for the masons who erected them 2500 years ago. And on the top of the city the Temple of Athena, goddess of the city and fine and war, has the best place to watch the sunset. The temple has 6 columns on the short sides and 13 on the long sides surrounding the building externally with one row. Sufficient ruins remain to give the traveler an idea of the layout of the citadel although the only intact monument is a with rather a checkered past.
Lunch will be served at the Local restaurant.

After the lunch continue to drive to Pergamum for the visits.

You will visit the Acropolis which was once the cultural center of the Hellenistic Period. It had a very famous library, as big as the one in Alexandria. It also had a famous school of architecture, perfect government buildings and monuments, including the world famous Zeus Altar.

It also played an important role during the beginning of Christianity in the Roman Period, and one of the Seven Churches of the Revelations is located here. After the Acropolis you will visit the Ascelepion, which was dedicated to the God of Good Health. Dinner and overnight in Bursa.

Day 3 – Bursa

After the breakfast at the hotel, departure for the Full day city tour in Bursa.
Turkey's protected heritage sites under the slopes of Uludag Mountain ‑ the traditional village of Cumalikizik, with idyllic countryside setting. Here you will enjoy a stroll around the charming old village center and see the wooden Ottoman houses of the hospitable locals.

Following a lunch break, Iskender kebap, one of Turkey's national dishes. The restaurant that originated the dish, Kebapçi Iskender, We continue on to Bursa itself, the first capital of the Ottomans. While exploring this small city you will see the Green Mosque & Tomb, the Grand Mosque, famous for its beautiful Seljuk wall calligraphy, the Silk Market and the Covered Bazaar

After the breakfast at the hotel, departure for Istanbul, on the way visit the city Iznik ( Nicaea ).

The first settlements date back to the first millenium bc. In 74 bc Nicaea was taken over by Rome and flourished as a city. The city was Destroyed by an earthquake in 120 ad but then Was more lavishly renovated. Visit Hagia Sophia dating back from the late 5th century, the koumisses church which was built in the early 8th century, böcek ayazma (secret, sacred spring) located a flight of stairs down the church, in an underground vault. As iznik was an important Ottoman city from 1331 onwards, the Islam remains to be found here are quite abundant. After the visits continue to Istanbul.

TOUR rate per person: Euro 795
Single supplement: Euro 135
Minimum participation required for operation of tour: 15 guests

DAY 4 - After the breakfast at the hotel, departure for Istanbul, on the way visit the city Iznik ( Nicaea ).

The first settlements date back to the first millenium bc. In 74 bc Nicaea was taken over by Rome and flourished as a city. The city was Destroyed by an earthquake in 120 ad but then Was more lavishly renovated. Visit Hagia Sophia dating back from the late 5th century, the koumisses church which was built in the early 8th century, böcek ayazma (secret, sacred spring) located a flight of stairs down the church, in an underground vault. As iznik was an important Ottoman city from 1331 onwards, the Islam remains to be found here are quite abundant. After the visits continue to Istanbul.

TOUR rate per person: Euro 795
Single supplement: Euro 135
Minimum participation required for operation of tour: 15 guests