Tour dates:
Join world-renowned geologist, scholar, and bestselling author, Dr. Robert Schoch, for an incredible 14-day comprehensive tour exploring the archaeology, history, culture, and natural beauty of Turkey – the region rightfully referred to as the “Cradle of Civilization”.
1. Who is Dr. Robert Schoch – our main host of the tour ?
There is no better person to guide you when it comes to ancient sites and geological wonders than Dr. Robert M. Schoch, Ph.D. Classically trained (Ph.D. in geology and geophysics from Yale University), Dr. Schoch has been a fulltime faculty member at Boston University since 1984. For over three decades Dr. Schoch has been studying ancient civilizations around the world, in such diverse countries as Egypt, Turkey, Bosnia, Romania, Wales, Scotland, Mexico, Peru, Chile (Easter Island), and Japan.
In the early 1990s, Dr. Schoch’s geological analyses of the Great Sphinx demonstrated that the statue is thousands of years older than the conventional dating of 2500 BCE, bringing him worldwide fame. This work has been both controversial and pivotal in reshaping our understanding of the origin and history of civilization. Recent discoveries in Turkey, particularly at Göbekli Tepe (which Dr. Schoch has studied extensively, and which is on the itinerary for this trip), confirm the very ancient origins of civilization, going back to the end of the last ice age some 12,000 years ago.
Dr. Schoch is featured in the Emmy-winning documentary The Mystery of the Sphinx, which first aired on NBC and was subsequently broadcast on numerous channels, both in America and abroad. Dr. Schoch has also appeared on many other television shows and radio programs. He has contributed to numerous magazines, journals, and reviews, and he is the author and coauthor of a number of books, both technical and popular, including Voices of the Rocks, Voyages of the Pyramid Builders, and Pyramid Quest. His latest book, currently in preparation, includes Göbekli Tepe and other stunning new discoveries that will be discussed and explored during this extraordinary trip to Turkey.
“It is really going to be the opportunity of a lifetime, so I would encourage everyone to try to get on this trip, because I don’t know if we are going to be able do it again. It's a different type of experience. This is not where you’re just going to go with a tour guide. We will bring our own perspective, our own passion, our own personal research to it. In fact I can guarantee you that while we are on this trip, we will be thinking about these sites, we will be doing the first hand research along the trip, because we will be seeing new things. You will be exploring with us. This is very different, This is not a simple tour-guide. It's really an opportunity that not to be missed.”- Dr. Robert M. Schoch
2. The main point of our tour will be entrance to Göbekli Tepe.
Gobekli Tepe – the newly discovered world’s first temple, incredibly sophisticated, the oldest man-made place of worship yet discovered, dating back to the end of the last ice age (12,000 years ago). This is one of the most important and the most gigantic monuments in the world and perhaps the most amazing archeological discovery in modern times.
Gobekli Tepe is located near Urfa, an ancient city in southeastern Turkey. Its circles range from 30 to 100 feet in diameter and are composed of pillars up to 18 feet tall and weighting up to 15 tons each. Many of the pillars are carved with elaborate animal figure reliefs. In addition to bulls, foxes, and cranes, representations of lions, ducks, scorpions, ants, spiders, and snakes appear on the pillars.
Nobody knows what civilization created it, or why. But one thing we know for sure is that conservative archaeologists have to change their understanding of the past. The construction date of the “World’s First Temple” is thousands of years earlier than the most important symbols of ancient wisdom; such as the Stonehenge monument in England, or the Egyptian Pyramids.
"This place is a supernova" - said Dr. Klaus Schmidt - the main archeologist excavating Gobekli Tepe, "Within a minute of first seeing it I knew I had two choices: go away and tell nobody, or spend the rest of my life working here."
Göbekli Tepe mystifies and astounds archaeologists, historians, and researchers. Nobody knows how to explain the site or why it was purposefully buried and its founding civilization decimated – nobody, that is, until now. After studying Göbekli Tepe firsthand, Dr. Schoch has developed a remarkable theory that may just solve this grand puzzle. His new proposition, based on solid scientific evidence, involves solar (plasma) outbursts occurring 12,000 to 10,000 years ago that caused massive devastation to the surface of Earth, brought a rapid end to the last ice age, and in the process created huge floods globally as fire struck glaciers and oceans, releasing torrents of rain. Within this framework many megalithic monuments, underground cities (such as we will see on this tour in Cappadocia), as well as ancient myths and legends, fall into place. This new research is discussed in Dr. Schoch’s forthcoming book (currently in press), and he will share his insights during our tour of Turkey.
3. Itinerary:
DAY 1 - Arrival to Istanbul
Guests arrive to Turkey. A representative of “The Time of a New Era” company will welcome our guests at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, then assist with checking in to a hotel in Istanbul that is situated very close to the most popular part of the city, “Sultanahmet”. After the check-in process at the hotel, our guests will have a rest. In the evening will be dinner and a welcoming meeting with Robert Schoch. Overnight at the hotel in Istanbul.
DAY 2 - Istanbul – The old city
Istanbul - one of the greatest cities in the world, capital of the Byzantine Empire.
After breakfast, we will leave the hotel and visit the Sultanahmet district, called the “historical peninsula”. First we will visit Ottoman ruins and after that the Blue mosque, the most important mosque in Istanbul with its more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles and 200 stained glass windows. Then our guests can discover and enjoy beautiful examples of Ottoman art - Topkapi Palace (first Ottoman palace in Istanbul) and after this visit we will have lunch around Blue mosque. After lunch, we will visit Byzantine ruins, St. Sophia Museum, former Byzantine Church - the best example of Byzantine art. Then we will see Basilica Cistern, which was the main water provider for “Constantinople”, and we will also see the Byzantine Hippodrome where you can see nice obelisks and columns from Egyptian and Roman empire period. At the end of the day we are going to go to the Grand Bazaar where our guests could find and buy typical local souvenirs. After shopping time we will go back to the hotel for dinner. Overnight at the hotel in Istanbul.
DAY 3 - Troy & Pergamon
After breakfast we will check-out of the hotel and drive to Troy via the European part of Turkey “Thrace”. On the way we will have a break at a nice place. When we arrive in Eceabat we will cross the Dardanelles to the Asian side of Turkey - Canakkale. After that we will visit Troy, which was a city both factual and legendary. It is best known for being described in the Greek Epic Cycle and especially in the Iliad (one of the two epic poems attributed to Homer). There we will see a replica of the Trojan Horse. We will drive to Pergamon, which is called ‘Bergama’ these days. We will visit the Akropolis in Bergama and after that we will eat dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Bergama.
DAY 4 - Ephesus & Selcuk
After breakfast we will check-out of the hotel. We will drive to Ephesus where (during our way) we could see the best preserved and restored Hellenistic-Early Roman age city. We will also visit the ruins of Artemis temple. After lunch we will drive to Pamukkale for our overnight stay, resting in Thermal hotel in Pamukkale. This region is famous for Travertines and thermal water springs. In our hotel there will be a thermal pool.
DAY 5 – Pamukkale
Pamukkale – not only a site of astounding archaeological remains, but one of the natural wonders of the world: natural springs and accompanying rock formations of exquisite beauty, sometimes known as the “cotton castle,” which have attracted pilgrims since ancient times.
After breakfast we will visit the magnificent ruins of Hierapolis. After visiting this place you will have free time and you will have a chance to walk in travertine. We will eat at a restaurant near the travertine. After lunch we are going to visit Laodicea which was one of the seven churches. Then we will drive back to the hotel where we can rest in the thermal pool. Dinner will be eaten at the hotel.
DAY 6 - Antalya
After breakfast we will check-out of the hotel and drive to Antalya via the Taurus Mountains. After arriving in Antalya, we will drive to Perge, an ancient city where St. Paul settled the first Christianity school or basilica. After that we will drive to Aspendos – the extraordinary and best preserved Roman theatre. Lunch will be eaten near Aspendos and then we will drive to our hotel which is in the centre of Antalya, just by the Mediterranean sea. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
DAY 7 - Antalya
After breakfast, we are going to spend all day resting at the seaside, or for those people who are interested in buying some souvenirs, we can go shopping in Antalya. In the afternoon, a presentation will be given by Dr. Schoch in the conference room.
DAY 8 - Cappadocia
Cappadocia – the timeless and fantastic bare rock landscape of valleys and mountains, rock-cut churches, and mysterious ancient underground cities. This region is a geological wonder in its own right, forming a “lost world.”
After breakfast we will checking-out of the hotel and drive to Cappadocia. It will take us a long time to get there so we will take breaks - 2,5 hours long each of them. On the way to Cappadocia we are going to visit Mevlana Museum (Whirling dervishes) in Konya. It is one of the most important religious and mystical sites of Turkey. We will have lunch in Konya. After lunch we will continue our drive to Cappadocia. When we arrive there we will check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 9 - Cappadocia
After breakfast we will leave our hotel for an all-day visit in Cappadocia. We will see all natural fairy chimneys and rock formations. We are going to visit Goreme, which is an open-air museum with painted churches with frescoes. Goreme is an amphitheatre of sample portions surrounded by steep cliffs leading to a pleasant, verdant valley, which puzzles every single visitor by the interesting access to many of the caves. It is famous for its monastic complex of rock churches and a chapel covered with frescoes. Lunch will be eaten near a pigeon valley. We will also be able to enjoy a magical view of Cappadocia from Uchisar castle. We are also going to visit Avanos where the pottery even from time of Hittites is made. After that we will be impressed by sunset in Pasabaglari valley. Then we will go back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 10 - Cappadocia
All day we are going to spend in Cappadocia. After breakfast we will drive to Kaymakli Underground City which is one of the largest and the most mysterious underground cities in Cappadocia, with eight stories. We will also visit the Zelve museum. Lunch will be in Avanos, and after that we will go to Urgup, which is known for its famous hotels built right within caves, for its wines and for its hand made carpets. Dinner overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 11 - Nemrut Mount
After breakfast we will check-out of the hotel and drive to Nemrut (Kahta). On our way there we are going to visit Karatayhan Caravanserai. We will have lunch and a break in Kahramanmaras, which is famous for its typical Turkish ice-cream from goat milk. When we arrive in Kahta we will check-in at the hotel and then quickly leave so we can admire the sunset on Mount Nemrut where we will see colossal statue heads of the Gods and Antiochus around King Antiochus' burial mound. This is a world-famous ancient megalithic site. On the way to Mount Nemrut we will visit Cendere Bridge, which is the best preserved Roman bridge in Turkey, and also Karakus tomb (tumulus). After enjoying the sunset we will drive back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Kahta (Nemrut).
DAY 12 - GÖBEKLİ TEPE & Urfa
After breakfast we will check-out of the hotel and drive to Urfa. On our way we will see the biggest dam in Turkey that was built on Euphrates river. We will pass Urfa and drive to Harran which is the place full of surprises, with its Arabic culture, colorful people, old historical buildings, mosques and bazaars. After that we will drive to Gobekli Tepe. We will spend all the afternoon and evening there. Gobekli Tepe is the world’s oldest temple predating Stonehenge by 6,000 years. After that we will check-in to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Urfa.
DAY 13 – Urfa - Istanbul
After breakfast we will check-out of the hotel. We are going to walk through the beautiful flower-filled gardens along the Pools of Abraham with their maze of canals full of thousands of carp fish which are held sacred and fed by the local people. We will also walk to the Cave of Abraham where, according to a local legend, the prophet Abraham was born. Then we will drive to the Urfa Archeology Museum. After this visit we will transfer to the airport in Urfa. We will fly to Istanbul from there. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 14 - Leave Istanbul
After breakfast we will check-out of the hotel. We will go to the airport and fly back home.
4. Special Evening Presentations by Dr. Schoch during the Tour of Turkey
During our tour of Turkey, in the evenings, Dr. Schoch will present a series of lectures relevant to the sites we are visiting, placing them in the larger context of ancient history and ancient knowledge. These lectures will be an added bonus (free!), and will supplement specific detailed notes on each of the sites we visit.
Lecture Topics for the Evening Presentations
5. Terms & Conditions
Price Includes:
Not Included:
6. Payment Schedule:
The deposit is fully refunded if we cancel the trip for any reason. Otherwise, it is non-refundable outside of an exceptional, case-by case basis. We invite you to book this tour as soon as possible, because the number of places in limited. Turkey is a popular destination and accommodations must be arranged well in advance.
Please contact us for more information and for details - contact@timeofanewera.com
Dr. Schoch’s Website: www.robertschoch.com
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