Pielgrzymki i wyjazdy
Pilgrimage to
TURKEY
Led by Fr Pawel Nawalaniec
1st – 13th November 2010
Tel: 020 7485 3003 Fax: 020 7485 3006
Email: info@paxtravel.co.uk Web: www.paxtravel.co.uk
Day one – Monday 1st November
London – Istanbul – Trabzon
We depart London on a scheduled flight to Istanbul. On arrival we will meet our local guide
and be taken to the domestic flight terminal where we board our onward flight to Trabzon.
Arrival and transfer to our hotel for a two-night stay. Dinner will be in our hotels on each
night of our stay.
Day two – Tuesday 2nd November
Trabzon
Today we visit the 13th century Hagia Sophia church of Trapezus, this church was built to be
the principal shrine of the city by the Byzantine Comnenus dynasty. We continue to the
Sumela Monastery, a Christian school dating back to the 4th century AD. The monastery is
built on the face of a cliff, presenting Byzantine frescoes with reflections of the three
principals of Byzantine liturgical art. We return to our hotel.
Day three – Wednesday 3rd November
Trabzon – Sivas (470 Km)
After an breakfast at the hotel we depart for the typical Anatolian city of Sivas via the Ordu/
Tokat road. Arrival in Sivas and check into our hotel for an overnight stay.
Day four – Thursday 4th November
Sivas – Cappadocia (260 Km)
This morning we drive to Cappadocia. On our arrival we will begin our visit to the "fairy
chimneys" (conical and unusual rock formations) in Devrent Valley. We continue to the
Goreme Open Air Museum to see the finest examples of religious frescoes in rock-cut
churches from the 10th to the 13th centuries. Enjoy Pasabagi Valley, while walking through
vineyards among strange multiple "mushroom-capped" volcanic rock formations. We contine
to our hotel where we check in for a two night stay.
Day five – Friday 5th November
Cappadocia
This morning we visit Cavusin Village and see abandoned troglodyte houses cut high up in the
rock face. We will take a short walk in the Rose Valley, where mineral deposits have given
strong colours to the stones. From here we continue to Avanos, center of terra cotta work
since 3000 BC, here we see a pottery demonstration using the ancient kick-wheel technique
followed by a visit to the natural fortress of Uchisar. We return to our hotel.
Day six – Saturday 6th November
Cappadocia
Visit Selime, a village of rock cones below a mesa. It is possible to see the two-story
colonnaded church and monastery, kitchens, "pekmez house" and camel tunnel all carved
into the rock. After a short visit of Belisirma village on the Melendez River, we continue to
the Ihlara Valley where we view this incredible gorge and walk in the most scenic part of this
canyon flanked by sheer rock walls. Continue to Derinkuyu or Kaymakli Underground City -
descend through passages and tunnels carved by early Christians. We return to our hotel.
Day seven – Sunday 7th November
Kayseri – Izmir – Pamukkale (235 Km)
This morning we depart our hotel and travel to Kayseri Airport for our onward flight to Izmir. On
arrival in Izmir we transfer to Pamukkale where we check into our hotel for a two night stay.
Day eight – Monday 8th November
Pamukkale
In the morning visit the ancient site of Hierapolis, including theatre, the Martrium of St Philip,
the Temple of Apollo, and the special museum housed in a Roman bath, then the calcium
terraces of Pamukkale. Today we will also visit the Greco-Roman site of Aphrodisias, which is still being excavated this features the Temple of Aphrodite, two agoras, an intact stadium, Baths of Hadrian and theater. As Aphrodisias was the site of a famous sculptural school you will be able to see examples of marble work. Afterwards we return to Pamukkale.
Day nine – Tuesday 9th November
Pamukkale –Dikili – Bergama (290 Km)
Today we visit Alasehir (Philadelphia), where we see the columns of the ancient Byzantine
church, the fith church mentioned in the book of revelation, before we continue to Sart (Sarde)
with its beautiful synagogue, gymnasium and temple of Artemis. Last stop will be at Akhisar
(Thyatira), you will see the ruins of the Basilica. Proceed to Bergama where we check into our
hotel for a one night stay.
Day ten – Wednesday 10th November
Bergama – Pergamon – Istanbul
Today we drive to Pergamon, with its theater and acropolis high atop the hill. It is renowned for
the Temple of Zeus. We will also visit the Asclepion, which was a famous center of healing in the ancient world. From Pergamon we drive to Izmir Airport for the afternoon flight to Istanbul. On arrival transfer to Istanbul where we check into our hotel for a three night stay.
Day eleven – Thursday 11th November
Istanbul
We begin today with a visit to the Blue Mosque and the monuments of the Roman Hippodrome and then St Sophia, which was one of the great churches of Byzantium. In the afternoon we visit the Topkapi Palace of the Sultans of Turkey. This was the seat of government for the old Turkish Empire. We then visit the Grand Bazaar for some shopping before returning to our hotel.
Day twelve – Friday 12th November
Istanbul
After breakfast we make a Golden Horn tour with a visit to St Saviour of Chora, containing
frescoes and the Mosque of Suleymaniye. This afternoon we have a cruise on the Bosphorus by private boat. Afterwards, return to our hotel.
Day thirteen – Saturday 13th November
Istanbul - Heathrow
After breakfast transfer to Istanbul Airport for our return flight to Heathrow.
This itinerary is a guide and subject to change Includes:
• Scheduled flights on Turkish Airlines: 01/11 Heathrow - Istanbul - Trabzon.
07/11 Kayseri - Izmir.
10/11 Izmir - Istanbul.
13/11 Istanbul - Heathrow.
• U.K. and Turkey airport taxes.
• 12-nights accommodation in shared twin-bedded rooms with private facilities in 4
star hotels as per the itinerary.
• Breakfast and dinner each day starting with dinner on day one and finishing with
breakfast on day thirteen.
• All touring and transfers in Turkey by air-conditioned coach as per the itinerary.
• Entrance fees to museums and ancient ruins as per the itinerary.
• Local English-speaking guide/tour escort to accompany the group whilst in
Turkey.
• Daily Masses arranged at different churches.
Extras:
• Travel insurance at £33 per person.
• £10 entrance visa payable on arrival in Turkey.
• Single room supplement at £192 for 13 nights (limited number of single rooms
available).
• Lunches, drinks and souvenirs.
• Gratuities to the hotel, driver and guide.
How To Book:
Please send £120 deposit (plus the insurance premium, if the cover we
offer is required) per person with a completed booking. Cheques must
be made payable to Pax Travel Ltd. Balance payment payable 2
months before the departure date.
The above price is guaranteed until 1st June 2010, there may be a
flight surcharge for any bookings received after this date.
PRICE = £1399
The pilgrimage by air in this
brochure is ATOL Protected by
the Civil Aviation Authority.
Our ATOL number is ATOL
3011.
