Turkey: Continental Crossroads
There is truth in the old Turkish proverb: “A good companion shortens the longest road.” On our Continental Crossroads tour you join like-minded photography-oriented companions on a rewarding journey to photogenic Turkey—a historic, cultural and trade crossroads straddling two continents, and former capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.
As photography destinations go, Turkey is hard to beat! For starters, Turkey has more Greek and Roman ruins than Greece and Italy, combined. Its extraordinary architecture, sun-drenched seacoast, dramatic scenery and unusual natural wonders—along with a fantastic cuisine and first-rate infrastructure—provide all the ingredients for a spectacular photography vacation. The Turkish people have an unrivaled reputation for hospitality, and for many travelers the memory of Turkey that lingers longest is the incredible friendliness of the Turks themselves.
The former Constantinople, 2600-year-old Istanbul gives us our first taste of the exceptional photography in Turkey, as well as its famous cuisine. From the warm early morning light on the domes of Suleymaniye Mosque with the Golden Horn in the foreground, to sunset silhouettes of Haghia Sophia and the iconic minarets and domes of the Blue Mosque—and all the vibrant colors and exotic sights of the Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar in between—Istanbul offers an endless array of enticing photo subjects.
In the heart of Cappadocia we photograph erosion-sculpted volcanic tuff—a fabulous geologic fantasyland of sinuous shapes and imposing “fairy chimneys.” Wildflowers, especially red poppies, may carpet the roadside. Against a backdrop of the carved-rock citadel of Uchisar, we capture vivid shots of vibrantly-colored hot air balloons drifting on an early morning breeze. One of the many highlights of our travels is an early morning walk to the top of fabled Mt. Nemrut where, as the sun rises, we photograph enigmatic colossal statues of Hellenistic gods and animals strewn amid this ancient open-air temple built in the first century.
Our southeastward travels take us to the ancient stone city of Mardin. The city is set in a strategic location on the rocky slope of a hill looking south to the Mesopotamian plains of northern Syria. Known for its distinctive Arab-style architecture, one of its most impressive buildings is the 13th-century Zinciriye Medrese with its striped domes, commanding
minaret and monumental main gate. Our locations include the ruins of Ephesus—the best-preserved Roman city in the Mediterranean area—where we photograph storks in their nests atop a Roman aqueduct.
Join us on a remarkable tour to an exciting country clearly positioned with one foot in Europe and one foot in Asia. In addition to outstanding photography opportunities, we explore the dramatic contrast of Turkey’s ancient and modern worlds, sample one of the world’s great cuisines, reside in charming accommodations, and appreciate the friends we make along the way.
Itinerary
Day 1
Participants depart on overnight flights to Istanbul.
Day 2 (May 13)
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our hotel. We meet for late afternoon photography in the local area. This evening we photograph at a whirling dervish performance. Our hotel is in the center of the Old City—and offers a unique photo angle overlooking the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Bosphorus. (D)
Day 3
We photograph Suleymaniye Mosque in early morning light, with the Golden Horn in the foreground. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, we visit the New Mosque and photograph the colorful Spice Market. In the eerie Underground Cistern, a sixth-century reservoir, we photograph watery reflections of the more than 300 columns supporting the roof. After an early afternoon rest, we photograph at the Blue Mosque before driving to the Asian side of the city to capture the skyline silhouettes at sunset. (BLD)
Day 4
In the morning, we fly to Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey and drive to Mardin. We explore the old bazaar—where medieval scenes abound—and photograph the dome and minaret of 13th-century Zinciriye Medrese. In the afternoon headstones in an ancient cemetery against a scenic city background are photo subjects. Our hotel is a charming restored stone building with a grand view over the Mesopotamian Plain. (BLD)
Day 5
In the morning we visit the Syrian Orthodox Christian Monastery of Dayrulzefaran—still in use today—before we continue to Sanliurfa, known as the city of prophets. Here we can photograph local copper craftsmen and saddle makers in the old bazaar. (BLD)
Day 6
We drive to Harran to photograph the ruins of the oldest mosque in Anatolia and the hill-like mud brick domed houses of this ancient city. We continue to Adiyaman, stopping to photograph at the Ataturk Dam along the Euphrates. (BLD)
Day 7
We rise very early in the morning for our 1:30 AM departure to Mt. Nemrut. A half-hour hike takes us to the top for sunrise photography of the giant statues and open-air temple built in the first century. Following breakfast in a mountain café, we travel through picturesque mountains and villages on the way back to our hotel for an afternoon rest. (BLD)
Day 8
During a scenic drive to Cappadocia, we photograph wheat fields and landscapes with wildflowers. Our overnight is in a remarkable hotel carved in the volcanic tuff—in harmony with the local landscape and a subject for our cameras in itself. (BLD)
Day 9
We photograph the volcanic citadel at Uchisar—a carved rock formation converted to a fort during the Christian era—in early morning light as colorful hot air balloons dot the blue skies. Following breakfast, we explore the rock-hewn churches of Gőreme, the colorful volcanic-ash landscapes, and the unique fairy chimneys—eroded by wind and water over thousands of years—before returning to Uchisar to photograph at sunset. (BLD)
Day 10
An optional (at additional cost) hot air balloon ride over these remarkable sculpted landscapes may be arranged for the early morning. We have another day to explore the scenic villages and valleys of Cappadocia. Tonight, whirling dervishes and folk dancers perform after dinner. (BLD)
Day 11
En route to Antalya, we photograph at a well-preserved 13th-century caravansary at Sultanhani and stop in Konya, home of the whirling dervishes, where we visit the museum of Mevlani Rumi—the founder of dervish philosophy. We continue over the scenic Toros Mountains to Antalya, situated on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. Our hotel is a charming combination of restored historic Ottoman houses located in Old Antalya. (BLD)
Day 12
Early morning departure for the impressive ruins of Perge and the best-preserved Roman theater in the world at Aspendos. In the afternoon, we have time to explore the narrow streets of Old Antalya and the harbor. (BLD)
Day 13
We drive to Kusadasi by way of an old mountain road and fields with colorful poppies. On arrival we have time to photograph fishing boats in the scenic harbor. (BLD)
Day 14
The Roman city of Ephesus offers an opportunity to photograph nesting storks on top of the ancient aqueduct. We photograph the winding cobblestone streets and traditional architecture in the pastoral mountain village of Sirince. (BLD)
Day 15
We drive to Izmir for our flight to Istanbul. Afternoon photography at the Topkapi Palace, Haghia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar. (BLD)
Day 16 (May 27)
Depart on flights home at any time today. (B)
Trip Highlights
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Explore some of Turkey’s most photogenic locations—exotic Istanbul, the fascinating geologic formations of Cappadocia, stunning architecture and ancient Roman ruins
- Our accommodations include a unique cave hotel carved from volcanic rock and historic Ottoman houses
- Trip timed for potential wildflower bloom and classic fields of red poppies
- Whirling dervish performances in Istanbul and Cappadocia
Tour Details
Dates
May 12–27, 2012
Fee
$6,295 from Istanbul, Turkey
Deposit
$400
Limit
16
Terms & Conditions