Anatolian Tribal Arts & Textile

Day 01) ISTANBUL

Arrive Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Meet & greet and transfer to the hotel. Free time to rest in the afternoon or take a cruise along the Bosphorus; a relaxing way to see the beauty of Istan- bul. Dinner at a local fish restaurant. Overnight in Istanbul. ( D )

Day 02) ISTANBUL A.M.

Visit Islamic Arts Museum and Topkapi Palace. Lunch free. P.M. Visit Nakkas Galery. Lecture on Anatolian weaving, dyes and Turkish carpets. Rug viewing. See the old carpets and Kilims from Anatolia and Caucassus, and some new special productions with traditional natural dyes, and designs. Overnight in Istanbul. ( B )

Day 03) ISTANBUL – KAYSERI – CAPPADOCIA

Take a morning flight from Istanbul to Kayseri and visit Selcuk works of architecture. Lunch in a local restau- rant. Taste traditional Kayseri manti. P.M. Visit the biggest rug atelier to see pre and post weaving process. See a few weavers home in Kayseri. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. ( B , L , D )

Day 04) CAPPADOCIA

Visit Uchisar, Pigeon Valley, Avcilar and Goreme Open Air Museum. Lunch in a local restaurant. Visit Pasabag Valley and the deserted village Zelve in the afternoon. Rug viewing at the local dealers. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. ( B , L , D )

Day 05) YAHYALI – CAPPADOCIA

Drive to Yahyali and visit rug weaving villages. Visit local homes where they do individual work. (Spinning, dyeing or weaving depending on the season) Lunch in the village. Late afternoon visit Soganli Valley. One of the most beautiful valleys of the region. Tonight dinner and a local floorshow in a rock carved local restaurant. Overnight in Cappadocia. ( B , L , D )

Day 06) CAPPADOCIA

This morning you may take an optional hot air baloon tour of the valley. An exciting way to see the real charm of Cappadocia. After breakfast visit a pottery atelier in Avanos. Proceed to underground city of Kaymakli and a wine factory in Urgup for wine tasting. Lunch in a local restaurant in Urgup. P.M. Rug viewing. (See the old rugs and kilims in different coolections.) Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. ( B , L , D )

Day 07) CAPPADOCIA – KONYA

Morning departure from Cappadocia. Visit Sultanhani on the way. A famous caravansary on the Silk Road. In the nearby village we will visit a few of the hundreds of ateliers restoring old carpets. Continue to Konya. Lunch in a local restaurant. Visit Karatay Medrassah with the collection of tiles and Mevlana Museum which is one of the most important museums in Turkey for the ancient Turkish rugs. Dinner and overnight in Konya. Tonight a possibility of seeing whirling dervishes. ( B , L , D )

Day 08) KONYA

This morning we will visit the atelier of one of the most important dyers of Turkey. See the art of natural dyeing and participate in the process. Also see performance of feld making from one of the last remaining masters in Konya. Lunch in a local restaurant. Taste local Konya Kebap. P.M. Visit the most talented homes where weavers weave reproductions of old rugs with natural dyed hand- wool. Dinner and overnight in Konya. Possibilities of rug viewing tonight. ( B , L , D )

Day 9) KONYA – ISTANBUL

Morning flight to Istanbul. Lunch by the sea. Visit Rustem Pasa Mosque with most beautiful 17th century tiles and Spice Market and the Church of Chora. Transfer to hotel and check in. Overnight in Istanbul. ( B , L )

Day 10) ISTANBUL A.M.

Visit Blue Mosque, St.Sophia Museum and Underground Cistern. Lunch free. P.M. Visit Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Istanbul. ( B )

Day 11) ISTANBUL – Departure

Transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for your departure flight. ( B)

Anatolian Rugs

Arrival to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Meet and greet. Transfer to the hotel and the rest of the is at leisure. Evening welcome cocktail and an introduction talk on rugs, dies and weaving. Dinner at a n
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