EASTERN TURKEY
for the 2006 SOLAR ECLIPSE
March 26-April 13, 2006
Total Solar Eclipse: March 29, 2006
Eastern Turkey conjures up images of women in veils, moustached gentlemen in turbans with drawn sabers in hand and camel trains winding through the desolate wilderness. In fact, the huge mass of eastern Anatolia is a diverse land differing profoundly from the rest of the country. As we drive through the remote provinces, we will see that the lush forests, waterfalls, and verdant pastures of the north provide a vivid contrast to the arid deserts of the south.Madalyon Travel offers 16 participants a personal view of Eastern Turkey's archaeology, history, and culture. As the battlefront of Eastern and Western cultures for thousands of years, the East contains an astonishing abundance of ancient castles and majestic fortified cities. We will travel through picturesque scenery where the people of each village wear distinctive costumes, and nomads in colorful dress still live in tents while tending their flocks of fat-tailed sheep and long-haired goats.
This 19-day trip has been wrapped around seeing the total eclipse of the sun on March 29, 2006 that will pass diagonally through central Turkey from southwest to northeast. Few phenomena have so inspired and humbled humans throughout the ages as a total solar eclipse. Standing under the shadow of the moon as it races across the face of our planet is a rare and breathtaking experience. With fewer than 70 total eclipses per century, the chance to see one is a once-in-a-lifetime event. 

EASTERN TURKEY TRAVEL
ITINERARY:
(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
Day 1: (Sun, March 26): Depart New York’s JFK.
Day 2: (Mon, March 27): Arrive Istanbul. After time to rest, enjoy a walking tour of the Sultanhamet historic area. Dinner and overnight in the Daphne Hotel. (D)
Day 3: (Tue, March 28): Fly to Kayseri in the Cappadocia region. The Soganli Valley is one of the most attractive places in central Anatolia. Quiet and unspoiled, the valley has been spared the excessive commercialization that mars some of the better know centers in Cappadocia. Here, monasteries and churches are hollowed out of outcrops of rock between the river and steep, barren slopes of the mesa. After walking through this dale, continue to the pottery-making town of Avanos for a demonstration of the community’s trade. South of Avanos is a recently restored 13th-century han, Sarihan. This elegant caravanseray was one of the stopping places on the old caravan route from Kayseri to Aksaray and Konya. The beautiful yellow stone that gives the han its name is seen to best advantage at sunrise and sunset. Before returning to our hotel, stop in Mustafapasa, the former Anatolian Greek village of Sinassos.  
Total Solar Eclipse of the Sun, March 29, 2006
To be viewed from Aksaray, Turkey
After finding the gatekeeper to unlock the door, walk down steps carved hundreds of years ago to see a church, Ayios Vasilios, still containing painted frescos of St. Basil. Overnight Cappadocia Cave Suites for two nights. (B/L/D)
Day 4: (Wed, March 29 ): Today is the eclipse!
Drive to Aksaray, where the path of the total eclipse will pass directly overhead. In the afternoon, explore Kaymakli underground city, a maze of tunnels and rooms at least eight stories deep. Several thousand people were lodged here in the eighth and ninth centuries, and defended their refuge from Eastern invaders by rolling immense boulders to block the entrance. Turkish folk dancing has won international awards, and this evening we will enjoy a private folk dance performance. (B/L/D)
> Total eclipse path through Aksaray, Turkey
> Global path of the moon's shadow
> Possible visible bodies at total eclipse of the sun
Day 5: (Thu, March 30): Drive to Antakya, ancient Antioch, and visit the Antakya Mosaic Museum, housing beautiful Roman mosaics rescued from the ruins of Roman villas in Daphne, and St. Peter’s Grotto, where the saint preached between 29-40 A.D. and believed to be the first Christian church. Overnight at the Antik Beyazit Hotel in Antakya. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)
Day 6: (Fri, March 31): Our morning drive takes us to Yesemek, the largest open air sculpture workshop in the Near East. Excavations have revealed that the site was functional around 1375-1335 BC when the area was taken by the Hittites and the Hittite King Suppilulluma started to employ the local Hurs people to work in the quarries. Then it’s on to Gaziantep and the Gaziantep Museum where the remarkable mosaics found at Zeugma are housed. Overnight in Anatolian Houses Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 7: (Sat, April 1): Drive to Adiyaman for lunch. The Kingdom of Commagene emerged as a Roman puppet state in the first century B.C. The most renowned ruler, King Antiochus, built his extraordinary mausoleum on the summit of Mt. Nemrud. Certainly, this is one of the most extraordinary tombs in the world, and from the spectacular sanctuary we can see for 100 kilometers across the Mesopotamian Plain. This evening, we will drive (and climb) to the West Terrace to watch the sun set on the huge statues of Hellenistic gods - Apollo, Zeus, Fortuna - with the king prominently seated among them. Overnight at the Zeus Hotel in Kahta for two nights. (B/L/D)
Day 8: (Sun, April 2): An early morning walk takes us to the summit once again, this time to watch sunrise on the East Terrace. After a picnic breakfast, continue to Arsameia, the tomb that Antiochus built for his father. The entrance is guarded by a large relief of the Persian god, Mithra. We cross a Roman bridge still carrying the modern highway to see the nearby tumulus of Karakus, tombs that contained the burials of Commagene queens and princesses. (B/L/D)
Day 9: (Mon, April 3): This morning’s drive takes us to one of the world's largest irrigation projects (the GAP Project) where we will see the huge Ataturk Dam spanning the Euphrates River. Then it’s on to Urfa, a city whose origins are rooted in the Bronze Age. Renamed Edessa in the 4th century B.C., it became a famous religious and intellectual center during the Byzantine period. We will take time to visit the old quarters of the city, including the bazaar, and the Urfa Archaeology Museum. Overnight in Urfa. (B/L/D)
Day 10: (Tue, April 4): The Harran plain contains a village of curious beehive shaped homes that are believed to be the ancient Charan, mentioned in Genesis as the home of Abraham. It has been continuously occupied since at least 2000 B.C., and was the site of the Temple of Sin, the oriental moon deity. After walking through the village, we will drive to Diyarbakir, at least 5000 years old and one of the oldest cities in the world. It is a fascinating town encircled by massive fortifications built of jet-black blocks of basalt. The 4th-century wall is more than three miles long and is covered with inscriptions and carved reliefs, and from the top there are magnificent vistas overlooking the Tigris and Euphrates River valleys. A walking tour takes us to the defense walls; Ulu Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Anatolia; and the 12th century Zinciriye Medrese, or religious school. Overnight in Diyarbakir in the Dedeman Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 11: (Wed, April 5): Drive to the city of Van next to Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey. Van is known for its unique cats with their long, white fur and different colored eyes. Overnight in Van for two nights at the Merit Sahmeran Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 12: (Thu, April 6): This morning’s drive takes us to Çavustepe, the fortress built by Sarduni II, a well-known Urartian King. The ruins perch on a mountaintop with spectacular views of the surrounding area. Nearby, majestic Hosap Castle was built by a Kurdish warlord in 1643. According to local tradition, the hands of the architect who built this formidable stronghold were cut off so that he could not build another. In the afternoon, travel by boat across Lake Van to visit Akdamar Island to see a spectacular 10th-century church built by an Armenian ruler, Gagik I. Built of carved red stone blocks, the walls of the chapel are adorned with exquisite friezes depicting stories from the Old Testament. Dinner is on our own this evening. (B/L)
Day 13: (Fri, April 7): Ishak Pasa Seray, with its dazzling array of pointed domes and striped minaret, invokes images from "A Thousand and One Arabian Nights." Built in the 17th century by a local feudal lord, this lovely palace is one of the most unusual monuments in Turkey. The building is noteworthy not only for its beautiful classical style but also for its internal central heating system. Overnight in Dogubeyazit in the Sim-er Hotel. From the hotel, there are breathtaking views across the plains to Mt. Ararat. The mountain was formed by volcanic action and the larger of the two volcanic cones is covered with snow all year. (B/L/D)
Day 14: (Sat, April 8): An early morning departure takes us to the Armenian capital of Ani, considered the greatest achievement of medieval architecture to be seen anywhere in Turkey. In the 11th century it was a metropolis of 100,000 people. Today, this impressive walled city still contains spectacular frescos that proclaim the excellence of the designers. Then, it’s on to Erzurum. Overnight in the Polat Rennaisance for two nights. (B/L/D)   
Day 15: (Sun, April 9): Erzurum has long been a stop on trading routes and dates back to 4000 B.C. It is protected by beautiful, gently eroded mountains, and is the largest city in eastern Turkey. Today’s explorations take us to several interesting Seljuk buildings. The Ulu Mosque was built in 1179. Next door is the Çifte Minareli Medresse, or Koranic school, which dates from 1253. The Yakutiye Medrese, built by the Mongols in 1308, is topped with a richly tiled minaret. The Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque was built by the greatest of all Ottoman architects, Sinan, in the 16th- century. (B/L/D)
Day 16: (Mon, April 10): Our drive takes us through Artvin and then along the Black Sea coast overshadowed by heavily wooded and rugged mountains. This is the area of tea plantations and home of the Laz, a fiercely independent Caucasian tribe who have lived here for thousands of years. Most of Turkey's tea crop is harvested along this shore. We will sample the brews of the Tea Institute of Rize, before continuing to Trabzon. Dinner and overnight in the Grand Zorlu Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 17: (Tue, April 11): Trabzon was first founded in the 8th century B.C., and in the 13th century A.D. became the capital of the Byzantine empire of Trabizond which outlasted Constantinople by 8 years. A morning tour of the city includes the ivy-covered ancient walls and the Church of Hagia Sofya with its restored paintings. Then we will drive along a heavily forested road that winds along a mountain stream to Sumela Monastery. Here we will climb a twisting forest path through beautiful scenery to see the church. According to legend, Sumela was originally founded by two Greek monks in 385 A.D. It was a magnificent white cloister built into the cliff face overlooking the valley floor - 1000 feet below. After seeing the remains of frescoes on the walls, we return to Trabzon in time for our evening flight to Istanbul. Overnight for two nights in the Daphne Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 18: (Wed, April 12): Begin the day with a walk through the Spice Bazaar, where a profusion of vibrant sights and mouth-watering aromas await us. After examining the shops, walk to the Bosphorus where we will board a private boat. In the 17th and 18th centuries it became fashionable for high-ranking people of Istanbul to own a summer home on the Bosphorus, the sinuous straits separating Europe from Asia. These wooden yalis, as they are called, were extremely beautiful and elegant, of a perfection of structure and a refinement of decoration that are the supreme examples of their architects’ and painters’ genius. Today we will travel by private boat up the Bosphorus to view these lovely wooden villas and elegant marble palaces along the shore. Our first stop is Beylerbey Palace, an elegant late-Ottoman imperial summer mansion. We will have lunch onboard as we motor past lovely wooden villas, elegant marble palaces, Ottoman turbes (tombs), and Rumeli Hisari, the medieval castle built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452. This fortress, along with its counterpart on the Asian side, blocked Constantinople's access to the Black Sea and signaled the end of the Byzantine Empire. We will disembark to visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum, containing the private classical archaeological collection and ethnological exhibits of the Koc family, one of the wealthiest families in Turkey. An early dinner will be in one of the restaurants overlooking the Bosphorus. (B/L/D)
Day 19: (Thu, April 13): Transfer to airport for the return flight to the United States. (B)

Eastern Turkey Travel
REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Register for this Trip
2006 TRIP DATES: March 26 - April 13, 2006
2006 TRIP COST: $6695.00 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes international airfare on Turkish Airlines from New York's JFK Airport, two Turkish domestic flights, all hotels, meals as listed in the itinerary, and transportation within Turkey.

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: the separate check for $100.00 to the University of Illinois Foundation/ Byzantine Fieldwork Project, passports or visa fees, laundry, excess baggage charges, personal tips, alcoholic beverages, other drinks, and food not on the regular menu, or airport departure taxes.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $395.00
Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement will be charged.

BYZANTINE FIELDWORK PROJECT: The Zeyrek Camii in Istanbul represents the largest and most significant monument in the city to survive from from the Middle Byzantine period. Built originally ca. 1118-36 by John II and Eirene Komnenos as three large, interconnected churches, the complex served as the core of the famed Pantokrator Monastery, an important site of Christian veneration, and as an imperial mausoleum, housing more than a dozen tombs of the rulers of an empire. The Pantokrator also played key role during the Latin Occupation (1204-61), when it served as the headquarters of the Venetians, as well as during the Ottoman transformation of the city following the conquest in 1453, when it was converted to a mosque. The project of documentation and restoration, co-directed by Prof. Robert Ousterhout (UIUC) and Profs. Zeynep and Metin Ahunbay (Istanbul Technical University), began in 1997 and is ongoing. Your check for $100.00 goes to this ongoing work and is tax deductible.

TRAVEL IN THE EAST: Eastern Turkey presents a remote and rugged terrain offering breathtaking scenery, magnificent archaeological sites, and fascinating local cultures. We will sometimes need extended travel times to reach remote areas. However, other than a few long days in the bus, this trip is not difficult. The hotels are the best the area has to offer. Some will be modest due to their location, but all will have private baths.

RESERVATION: A deposit of $500.00 to Far Horizons and a separate check for $100.00 written to the University of Illinois Foundation/ Byzantine Fieldwork Project Account is required upon making your reservation, along with a completed and signed registration form. Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure (January 10, 2006).

CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS: Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before departure (January 10, 2006) will result in an administrative fee of $250.00. Cancellations received less than 75 days before the starting date of January 10, 2006 will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the tour, we will not reimburse any fees.

TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE: Travel protection that includes trip cancellation is strongly recommended. A Travel Guard form will be mailed to you upon registration. There are special benefits to purchasing insurance within seven days of registering for a trip. You may go to the Travel Guard website to do so.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS AND TRANSFERS: Cost reductions are available if you choose not to use the group air and make your own international flight arrangements. Amount of reduction depends upon the tour. Please call the Far Horizons office for details. The airport/hotel/airport transfers are included only for participants traveling on the group flights. If you arrive or depart at times different from the group, you will be charged for the additional transfers.

Upon receipt of your deposit and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a clothing and equipment list. An information book designed for this trip, including maps of archaeological sites and articles of pertinent interest, will be sent upon receipt of final payment.

LIMITED TO 16 PARTICIPANTS