TURKEY 2009
Istanbul - Selcuk - Ephesus - Pamukkale - Cappadocia - Adiyaman
SUMMARY
Turkey's history is utterly fascinating, and this translates into photographic opportunities like nowhere else on earth. On this photography tour we will see and photograph impressive ruins from several great civilizations. From the awesome library at Ephesus built by the Roman Empire 2000 years ago to the ancient underground cistern constructed with rows of decorated columns by the Byzantines 500 years later, the photographic opportunities are incredible. Even from our hotel room in Istanbul, we get spectacular views of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. The photography at twilight of these architectural wonders is breathtaking. The Turkish people love Americans, and they are extremely hospitable to us. Our local guide, Mehmet, is one of the best guides I've had anywhere in the world. There are many highlights of this trip, but one of them is a visit to Mt. Nimrod in Northern Mesopotamia. The amazing sculpted heads from the past make dramatic images. Not too far away in spectacular Capadoccia we see secret churches carved out of rock that afforded the early Christians sanctuary from Roman soldiers. This is a photography tour not to miss.
Visit the photo gallery.
Dates: October 9 to 21, 2009
Number of participants: Maximum 10 participants
Tour cost: $5295
Price includes: - Accommodation in double rooms
- All brekafasts.
- All dinners.
- English speaking licensed local guide.
- Admission fees to the museums and historical sites.
- Admission fee to the whirling dervissh ceremony.
- Comfortable A/C vehicle, driver, gas, parking etc..
- 2 domestic flights as Istanbul - Izmir and Adiyaman - Istanbul.
Price does not include: international flights, meals not indicated, all beverages in restaurants or lodges, additional activities, items of personal nature.
DETAILED ITINERARY
October 9, Friday: ISTANBUL: Arrival in Istanbul, meet at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Walk through the streets in the old part of Istanbul including a visit the Underground Cistern to photograph the reflection of the columns in the water. Dinner at Develi restaurant, one of the most known restaurants in Istanbul, with specialties of the Turkish cuisine. Our hotel in Istanbul is located in the center of the old city giving easy access to all of the interesting places, with a great view over the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the sea of Marmara.
October 10, Saturday: ISTANBUL: Early a.m. departure to get to the other side of the Golden Horn to photograph the Suleymaniye Mosque in the early daylight. We will take pictures of the mosque with boats and the Golden Horn in the foreground. Walk over the Galata Bridge and take pictures of people fishing anchovies from the bridge. Return to the hotel for breakfast and then we will be off to go to Kadirga, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Istanbul which is full of old wooden houses. take pictures of people, children and women chatting outside. Then drive to the Spice Market and take pictures of the spice shops as well as people. Return to the hotel to rest and for the workshop, in the early afternoon then in the late afternoon, drive along the Bosphorus and get to Ortakoy, an interesting area with vendors, restaurants, street scenes... pictures of a mid 19th century mosque right on the Bosphorus with the modern Bosphorus bridge in the background is the highlight here. Drive back to the old city and dinner at a fish restaurant in Kumkapi, a colorful district of Istanbul with full of fish restaurants with entertainment of musicians playing turkish music.
October 11, Sunday: ISTANBUL: Visit to Haghia Sophia and take pictures of the mosaic panels in this 1500 year old byzantine church then we will visit and photograph the Blue Mosque. In the early afternoon, time for the workshop and in the late afternoon drive to Fenar, an old quarter of Istanbul, which was the old Greek orthodox district of Istanbul. The current Greek Orthodox Patriarchate is located in Fenar. Next to Fenar is Eyup, the site of the tomb of Eyup Sultan, who was the holly banner bearer in the Arab army and also related to Prophet Mohammed. It is a holly site and visited by many moslems every day. Ideal place to take pictures of people. Dinner at a nice restaurant in Eyup with specialties of the Turkish cuisine where locals go.
October 12, Monday: SELCUK/EPHESUS: Transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Izmir then drive to Selcuk, closest town to Ephesus. After proceeding to our hotel which is a small boutique hotel with a nice garden, visit to the Sultankoy carpet factory where we will photograph young girls weaving rugs and also learn about dyeing process, hand made turkish carpets and how do they obtain silk from the cocoons then we will visit and photograph the mountain village of Sirince. In the late afternoon, we will visit Ephesus with the late light just as preview for our shots in the next morning. Dinner at a local restaurant.
October 13, Tuesday: PAMUKKALE: Early departure from the hotel to go to Ephesus, this will be our 2nd time at the site and we will photograph the spots that we have determined from our previous visit, this time with the early light. We will go back to our hotel and pick up the luggage and we will drive to Karacasu. Today is the market day of the town of Karacasu. We will photograph the colorful village market here then continue to Pamukkale to take pictures of the calcium deposit pools at the sunset. Our hotel in Pamukkale is a 4 star – 1st class hotel with a swimmimg pool and a thermal pool. Dinner at the hotel.
October 14, Wednesday: CAPPADOCIA: Drive to Cappadocia with a stop in Konya, home town of the Whirling Dervishes, to visit the Tomb of Mevlana, founder of the dervish philosphy in the 13th century. The tomb is a holly place visited by many moslems, ideal place to photograph people. On the way to Cappadocia, we will also stop to photograph the 13th century caravansary of Agzikarahan. Our hotel in Cappadocia is a cave hotel, totally carved out into the rock and it is a small charming boutique hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
October 15, Thursday: CAPPADOCIA: Early departure to photograph the interesting rock formations at the Dervent Vallet, return to the hotel for breakfast then we will visit the rock cut churches in Goreme, decorated with 11th century frescos. In the afternoon, time for the workshop and then visit Ortahisar, an ancient town with old houses with a high volcanic formation in the center of the town. In the late afternoon, we will take pictures of the Uchisar Citadel, which was carved out of the volcanic formations, with the soft light. Dinner at a local restaurant.
October 16, Friday: CAPPADOCIA: Early depaTomarture to photograph the dune like formations then return to the hotel for breakfast. Drive to the West of Cappadocia to visit interesting villages in Ihlara Canyon, to visit an underground city. In the late afternoon, drive to Pasabag to photograph the most interesting fairy chimneys of the Cappadocia region with beautiful soft light at the sunset. Dinner at the hotel.
October 17, Saturday: ADIYAMAN: Drive to Adiyaman via a very scenic road in the mountains offering lots of photo-ops. Our hotel in Adiyaman is a 4 star-1st class hotel with a swimming pool. Dinner at the hotel.
October 18, Sunday: ADIYAMAN: Departure from the hotel at 02:00 am and drive to the Mount Nemrut. Hike to the mountain top for about half hour where we will photograph the sun rise and the gian statue heads of Zeus, Apollo, Hercules and Anthiocus of an open air temple built in the 2nd century BC. We have breakfast at a mountain cafe then drive back to Adiyaman through mountains and stop at a mountain village to photograph the children. We take the early afternoon to rest and for the workshop. In the late afternoon, we will visit the old bazar area in Adiyaman and take pictures of people.. copper craftsmen, saddle makers and etc.. Dinner at the hotel.
October 19, Monday: ISTANBUL: Drive to the airport and flight to Istanbul. In the afternoon, drive to Galata to take pictures of the Whirlinb Dervishes performing their ritual in an old Dervish Temple. Dinner at a local restaurant.
October 20, Tuesday: ISTANBUL: Visit the Topkapi Palace and then free time to explore the Grand Bazar and in the late afternoon we will drive to the Asian side to photograph the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia in silhouette at the sunset. Dinner at a nice restaurant on the Asian side.
October 21, Wednesday: Transfer to the airport and flight back home.
Reserve your place now!
Make sure that you have read our Enrollment Information Page.
Payment information coming soon.