Photo Explorer Tours: Custom Tours for Independent Photo Explorers

Western Turkey Explorer

NOTE: This tour can be booked by self-organized groups in our Custom Tours for Photo Explorers program
with price based on size of the group and depending upon the availability of our photo guide.

A scheduled tour, from August 30-September 13, 2008, is also available which is open to individual photographers.

A Photographic Exploration of the Crossroads of East and West

Turkey is a fascinating study in contrasts. Astride Asia and Europe, Turkey is a mix of East and West with ancient cultures blended with a burgeoning 21st Century economy. An Islamic country, Turkey is a secularly democratic country eager to participate in the modern world. It is most of all a country rich in historical sites, sunny sparkling seacoasts, curious geological formations, plains awash in brilliant flowers, stunning architecture, and friendly people. In short, it's a photographer's "Turkish delight."

The Explore Turkey Tour will be guided by the exceptional English-speaking guide Mehmet Ozbalci who is expert in Turkey's culture and history as well as a photo guide who is thoroughly knowledgeable about the best times and places to photograph.

All Photos above © Dennis Cox

Western Turkey Explorer Itinerary

Day 1 ISTANBUL Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel. Orientation tour of sights around the hotel and photography of the Byzantine Hippodrome and the Blue Mosque. Dinner and first of three nights at 4-star, first class, air-conditioned hotel in Old Town with views from rooms of the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia).

Day 2 ISTANBUL Photography this morning in Istanbul at the Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years, to include Harem and Treasury sections. In the afternoon, visit the eerie Underground Cistern and then photograph the whirling dervishes performing their whirling ritual in an old dervish temple.

Day 3 ISTANBUL Early morning departure to photograph the skyline and boats along the Golden Horn and from the Galata Bridge before a visit to the Spice Market; then visit to one of the oldest quarters in Istanbul, Kadirga, offering lots of photo opportunities with its old wooden houses. In the afternoon, visit the oldest quarter in the Golden Horn, Eyup, where the tomb of the holy flag holder of Prophet Mohammed, Eyup Sultan, is visited daily by hundreds of devout Moslems. Great place for people pictures. Sunset over Aya Sofya and the Blue Mosque from the Asiatic side of the city climaxes the day's shooting.

Day 4 CAPPADOCIA Transfer to the airport and fly to Cappadocia. Proceed to our hotel which is totally carved out into the rock. Great, unique, boutique type hotel. Rooms are not air conditioned because there no need to as the rooms are carved into the rock. Even the hotel itself offers great photo ops. Later we will visit the rock cut churches of Goreme with its frescoes from the 10 the Century. In the afternoon, we will stroll in the streets of the old part of Ortahisar with people and old stone houses then take pictures of the "fairy chimneys", interesting looking conical rock formations. In the late afternoon, we will photograph the impressive rock cut fort of Uchisar that was carved out into the rock and converted into dwellings by Christians of Cappadocia. Beautiful light over the fort right before the sunset.

Day 5 CAPPADOCIA Optional hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia for about 1.5 hours at 265 USD per person. After breakfast, off again to visit the Underground City of Derinkuyu and the Ihlara Gorge a deep, narrow river gorge with a great view. In the afternoon, we will photograph the 13th century caravansary of Agzikarahan and the most interesting fairy chimneys of the Cappadocia region at Pasabag/Zelve with late afternoon light.

Day 6 ANTALYA Early departure, to photograph the Uchisar Castle with the early morning light with hot air balloons around it. Departure for Antalya with a stop in Konya, home town of the whirling dervishes to visit the Mausoleum and museum of Mevlana Rumi, who is the founder of the dervish philosophy in the 13th century. This is another holy site for moslems and another great place to photograph people. In the afternoon, we will drive over the scenic Toros Mountains and get to Antalya, the major town along the Mediterranean. Our hotel is located in the old city and its a combination of 4 Ottoman historic houses. A/C rooms, great location.

Day 7 ANTALYA Early departure to photograph the impressive ruins of the roman city of Perge and the best preserved roman theatre in the world at Aspendos. In the afternoon, free time to walk around in the narrow streets of Antalya and the old harbour offering lots of photo ops.

Day 8 KUSADASI Drive to Kusadasi with a stop at Pamukkale to see the calcium deposit pools. Our hotel in Kusadasi is a 4 star -1st class hotel with A/C rooms and a great view over the Aegean Sea.

Day 9 KUSADASI Early in the morning we will visit and photograph the world's best preserved roman city of Ephesus, we will also visit the archaeological museum in Selcuk. In the afternoon, we will visit the mountain village of Sirince with its interesting narrow streets and old houses.

Day 10 YESILYURT VILLAGE / ASSOS AREA Early departure north via Izmir, with a stop to photograph fishing ports, before arriving at Bergama to shoot the Roman ruins of Pergamum with its restored Temple of Trajan, Greek Theater, and Roman healing center of Asclepion. Drive to Kucukkuyu where in the quaint Yesilyurt village, located on the mountain "Ida", the first beauty contest in the greek mythology between Athena, Aphorodite, and Hera was held. The result of this beauty contest resulted in the 10-year war of Troy. We will be staying here. Overnight at a charming boutique mountain lodge with a beautiful view over the mountains in Yesilyurt village, which is a great off the beaten track spot.

Day 11 YESILYURT VILLAGE / ASSOS AREA Visit the little village of Yesilyurt, stroll around the old streets, go to the village cafe, take pictures of the people and the panoramic little village streets. Then departure for Assos, an old Greek city which is also the site of the Temple of Athena. Assos is located across from the Greek Island, Lesvos. Take pictures in Assos and along the roads of the little town of Behramkale.

Day 12 ISTANBUL Early departure for Troy. Visit this archaeological site and then drive to Bandirma via the Dardanelles and take the fast ferry to Istanbul.

Day 13 ISTANBUL In the morning a boat tour up the Bosphorus (by local ferry service) to a fishing village near the Black Sea for lunch. Drive back to the city, visit the Grand Bazaar and other sites.

Day 14 ISTANBUL Free time in Istanbul with a farewell dinner in the evening in a lively Kumkapi fish restaurant.

Day 15 ISTANBUL Departures from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport or, as an option, extend your stay in Istanbul.

 What former tour members say about this tour.....

I am delighted to tell you about OUR trip to Turkey. It was fabulous!!! Mehmet, the guide was terrific, knew all the places to go, times of day for the best light, etc. He is charming, funny and very personable--made it very easy for us to meet and photograph the locals. He is an excellent photographer himself and quite capable of giving you a great photo trip.

In one village, we noticed smoke from a chimney so he knocked on the door, spoke with the owner and we were invited in to see and photograph her baking bread which we also sampled. We spent time in the smaller markets and villages as well as Istanbul and all it has to offer. The hotel had great views, very nice accommodations, great food -- I especially recommend the dish known as Imam Biyildi with that wonderful Turkish yogurt.

This is one of our favorite trips ever.... Dennis Cox has designed this tour with Mehmet and it equals or exceeds any of the other six trips we've taken with Photo Explorer Tours.

Mary Bert Wolf, Louisville KY

 .....the trip and Mehmet were both terrific. I was amazed at the wonderful friendly people the Turks are. The concerns about being a single woman in a Muslim country were absolutely uncalled for. Even off walking on my own they could not have been more helpful. I loved the hotel in Antalya with its delightful patio dining and great location and also the one in the village of Yesilyurt. What a lovely place and what wonderful food. Mehmet took us to such interesting off the beaten path places such as Eyup on a Sunday in Istanbul. I got wonderful photos there and so many other places and villages with great color and wonderful people. One of the prettiest places I think was Aphrodesias. And of course I got one of my favorite shots there. I came to love the sound of the call to prayer and really miss it. It is so peaceful.

Carol Maillet, Laguna Niguel CA

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Photo Explorer Tours DENNIS COX LLC

2506 Country Village, Ann Arbor MI 48103-6500 USA

Phone 800-315-4462 or 734-996-1440,,,,

Email DECoxPhoto@aol.com

 Direct Link to Reservation Form for scheduled tour only.

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May all your journeys be care free,

And may all your days be filled with wonder.