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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP 

~~ SEE THE MOST POPULAR HISTORICAL SITES OF TURKEY; ISTANBUL, PERGAMON, IZMIR (SMYRNA), EPHESUS & BODRUM.

~~ VISIT THE ASKLEPION OF PERGAMON WHICH WAS THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN THE WORLD. (4th Century BC)

~~ THE SNAKE WAS FIRST USED AS A SYMBOL OF MEDICINE IN PERGAMON. (see the ancient column with snake figure)

~~ LEARN THE ANCIENT HEALING TECHNIQUES.

~~ VISIT KOS, THE ISLAND OF HIPPOCRATES.

~~ VISIT THE ASKLEPION ON KOS ISLAND, AND SEE THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH SWORN BY THE PUPILS OF HIPPOCRATES.

~~ ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL GET A CERTIFICATE OF THEIR VISIT TO THE ANCIENT SITES OF MEDICINE IN TURKEY & ON THE GREEK ISLAND OF KOS


SUGGESTED ITINERARY (can be modified according to your specifications)

Day 1     ARRIVE ISTANBUL AIRPORT

Arrive Istanbul Airport. Our representative will meet you after the customs and baggage claim. You will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.  

Day 2     ISTANBUL

Start full day Istanbul sightseeing tour. Visit Blue Mosque, Hippodrome Square, Hagia Sophia Church and the Topkapi Palace. Before returning to the hotel, a shopping opportunity at the Grand Covered Bazaar. (B) 

Day 3     ISTANBUL

Visit the Spice Bazaar in the morning, then take a leisurely boat tour along the European and Asian shores of the Bosphorus. Lunch at a local seafood restaurant. Then visit Beylerbeyi Palace and Chora Church. Return to the hotel. Evening is at leisure. (B) 

Day 4     ISTANBUL – FLY IZMIR

Transfer to the Istanbul Airport. Fly to Izmir by TK 316 09:00am flight. Arrive Izmir at 10:00 am. Meet and transfer to the hotel in city center. Visit the Roman Agora and the old elevator. Rest of the day is free.  (B) 

Day 5     PERGAMON – IZMIR

First visit to Asklepion, the ancient Healing Center, served as a hospital. Famous pharmacist Galenos lived and died at this hospital and teached his first healing technics to the local people here. Galenos is considered as the "Father of Pharmacy". Galenos has accepted the principles and ways of treatment of Hippocrtaes who lived about 700 years earlier then him. At his home, he had a drugstore in which he prepared his herb based medicine which was called "Polypharmacy". He had medicine for almost every illness. His therapy based ointment "antidote" contained at least 70 different types of ingredients. He said "You will never endanger the life of the patient during the therapy". In this Asklepion "Faith" came first for the therapy. Today, it is possible to see the ruins of the ancient healing technics such as Sacred Water, Herbs and Ointments, Sun Bath, Theater for music and social events.

Then we will visit the Acropolis, a city built by one of the generals of Alexander the Great. We will see the steepest theater of the ancient world, the Temple of Trajan, the city walls, and more.

Then, we will return to Izmir. (B,L) 

Day 6     EPHESUS – BODRUM

After breakfast, we will visit the House of the Virgin Mary on Mount Pion, and light a candle to make a wish. Then visit Ephesus, the most famous ancient Roman city in Turkey, maybe in the world. See the Odeon, the Temple of Hadrian, the Celsus Library, the Marble Street, the Great Theater and the Harbour Road. Lunch at a local restaurant in the early afternoon. After lunch, visit the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus. Then, private transfer to Bodrum for overnight.(B,L) 

Day 7     BODRUM

Our first visit is to the antique theater in Bodrum overlooking Bodrum Marina. Then we visit the Mausoleum, the tomb of King Mausoleus, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the famous Bodrum Castle, built by the Crusaders in the 15th century. In Bodrum Castle, we will first visit the Underwater Archaeology Museum which is one of the largest in the world, then we will experience a wine tasting at one of the tower rooms where Crusaders used to drink six centuries ago. We will have a late lunch in a typical small Turkish village, and observe their relaxed lifestyle. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)  

Day 8     BODRUM – KOS – BODRUM

Take the morning ferry from Bodrum to Kos. Visit the ancient hospital, the Asclepion, Hippocrates Plane-Tree (one of the oldest trees in the world), the Medieval City, Castello, and the Museum. Ferry back to Bodrum. Transfer from Bodrum port to your hotel. (B,L,D) 

Day 9     BODRUM AIRPORT – END

Transfer to Bodrum airport. Fly to Istanbul to connect to your international flight back. End of our services.(B) 

PACKAGE TOUR RATES 

FIRST CLASS                        SUPERIOR FIRST CLASS                    DELUXE

DBL PP   SS                          DBL PP   SS                                            DBL PP   SS     

5-9 PAX                $960        $140                       $1,290     $260                                       $1,590     $640
10-14 PAX           $940        $140                       $1,270     $260                                       $1,560     $640
15-19 PAX           $920        $140                       $1,250     $260                                       $1530      $640
20-24 PAX           $900        $140                       $1,230     $260                                       $1,500     $640
30-35 PAX           $800        $140                       $1,210     $260                                       $1,470     $640
36 – UP               $860        $140                       $1,190     $260                                       $1,440     $640 

HOTELS:              FIRST CLASS                        SUPERIOR FIRST CLASS                     DELUXE

ISTANBUL         GALATA ANEMON                 GALATA ANEMON                                   THE MARMARA
ASSOS               EDEN GARDENS                  KOLIN                                                       KOLIN
IZMIR                  ANEMON                                 FUAR ANEMON                                      CROWN PLAZA
BODRUM           AZKA                                        KARIA PRINCESS                                  THE MARMARA  

ABOVE RATES INCLUDE:

        -          8 Nights at selected hotels
-          Sightseeing as per the itinerary
-          Daily breakfast, 6 lunches and 6 dinners
-          English speaking, Government Licensed, Professional Tour Guide
-          Entrance fees to all sightseeing
-          Transfers and transportation by private A/C midibus or bus depending on the size of
            thegroup.
-          Roundtrip ferry ticket between Bodrum – Kos
-          Guided sightseeing tour in Kos
-          Certificate for visiting the ancient sites of Medicine
-          Tips to all hotel and restaurant staff
-          Portage at hotels
-          Service charges and local taxes                        

ABOVE RATES EXCLUDE

        -          Flights
-          Drinks
-          Personal Expenses
-          Any item which is not mentioned above 

Deposit and Payment Deadlines: 

Deposit: $100 per person deposit is needed at the time of booking.

Deposits are fully refundable until 60 days prior to departure. 

Full Payment : 60 days prior to departure

We need the final Rooming and Name list. The full payment (BALANCE) must be wired to our bank account . 

Land Cancellation Penalty:

        -       60-46 days prior to departure :    No Penalty
-       45-15 days prior to departure :    10%
-       14-7 days prior to departure   :     25%
-        6-1 days prior to departure     :      50%
-        After tour departure                  :      No refund

THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH

(sworn by the students of Hippocrates) 

“I swear by Apollo the healer, and by Asclepion and the goddesses Hygeia and Panakeia, and I call to witness all the other gods and goddesses that, according to my ability and judgment, I will observe this oath and agreement: I will hold my teacher in this art equal to my parents and a partner in my livelihood; I will respect him as is befitting, and I will not distinguish between his male children and my brothers, and I will teach them the art, if they so desire, without pay and without any other special agreement. I will teach the preliminary and the special lessons, and in general all my medical knowledge, only to my sons, and to the sons of my teacher, and to my pupils, having first made them swear the oath, and to no other. 

I will use treatment for the good of the sick, according to my ability and judgment, avoiding all harm and wrong-doing. I will give no one deadly poison, even if they seek it, nor will I recommend such a cure. Similarly, I will give no women a peccary to induce abortion. I will keep my life and my art pure and unsullied. I will not operate on those suffering from stone, but will leave this to the skilled and experienced therein.  

Whatever houses I will visit, I will enter for the good of the sick, and will abstain from any deliberate wrong-doing or harm, and any kind of sexual operation on the female or male body, whether free or slave. 

And whatever I learn during the time that I am conducting the treatment, as well as during my daily dealings with men, if it be improper to publish this abroad, I will keep silence, considering it to be confidential.