AGC Art and Cultural Travel Programs

The Art Gallery of Calgary presents its first annual...

AGC President’s Choice Art and Culture Tour 2007
October 12 to 24, 2007 to New York, Istanbul and Cappadocia (Turkey).

Download the brochure [367 KB]

A deposit of $2000 is required and must be made immediately to hold your spot.
Full payment is due by August 31st, 2007.
Deposit and full payment are non refundable and payable by cheque, debit or credit card.

The Art Gallery of Calgary is offering an exclusive, 12 day private guided curatorial tour to the museums, palaces and historic sites of New York, Istanbul and Cappadocia (Turkey). This exclusive tour is limited to sixteen participants only.

New York highlights include guided tours of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) and the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), a Broadway show and shopping in some of the city’s most fashionable districts.

Your trip to Turkey will include Istanbul’s Spice Market, the Topkapi Palace, the Dolmabahce (Filled Garden) Palace, shopping at the world’s largest covered market, the Grand Bazaar, a private guided curatorial tour of the Museum of Modern Art in Istanbul, the markets of Ortakoy along the Bosphorus and the Istanbul Biennial.

During your stay in Cappadocia, you will visit the Goreme Open Air Museum and the Uchisar Castle.

Flights will be direct, Calgary to New York JFK, with four nights accommodation at the Midtown Warwick Hotel, located across the street from the MOMA.

Flights to Istanbul will be direct from JFK airport in New York. For your seven nights in Turkey, you will stay in Istanbul at the Germir Palace Hotel for four nights, and in Cappadocia at the historic Anatolian House Hotel for three nights.

Your trip includes:


Detailed itinerary for New York, Istanbul and Cappadocia

Friday, October 12: Calgary to New York
Calgary to New York JFK direct
(12:05pm departure – 6:45pm arrival, local time).
While in New York, you will be staying at the Warwick Hotel, which features marble bathrooms, 24-hour room service, and restored vibrant murals painted in 1937, by Dean Cromwell. The hotel has served as a legendary playground to some of America’s most cherished celebrities including long-time resident Cary Grant, who stayed at the hotel for over 12 years, Elvis Presley, The Beatles and countless other notables, who have also appreciated the hotel’s timeless elegance and personalized service for more than seven decades. The Warwick Hotel is ideally located within walking distance of attractions including Central Park, Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue shopping, Rockefeller Center, Radio City, and Times Square. You will be free to explore New York from here for the duration of your stay in the Big Apple.

Saturday, October 13: New York
The morning will feature a private guided curatorial tour of the MOMA. In the afternoon you will attend a Broadway show. Dinner on your own.

Sunday October 14: New York
For Sunday morning, we have arranged a private guided curatorial tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The rest of the day is yours for shopping in the many fashionable districts of one of the world’s great cities. Dinner on your own.

Monday, October 15: En route to Turkey
You will have the morning free for sightseeing in New York. Departure will be from New York, JFK, Terminal 1 with Turkish Airlines (TK002) at 5:30PM. You will be departing the hotel by 1PM to check-in at the airport by 2:00PM. You will have a comfortable overnight flight. Enjoy the delicious food and refreshments along with various kinds of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Tuesday, October 16: Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul, a city which has been the capital of three empires over the last 3000 years. You will discover Turkey, a country which serves as unique link between east and west, past and present. Upon arrival to Istanbul, you will purchase your own Turkish visa, which should take about one minute and cost approximately $45USD. A professional tour guide and a deluxe, air conditioned coach will take you to your hotel. During your trip to the hotel, you will be provided with information about Istanbul, and dinner options for the city will outlined for you. The duration of your stay in Istanbul will be at the downtown Germir Palace Hotel. Breakfast is included.

Wednesday, October 17: Istanbul
In the morning you will receive a tour of the Topkapi Palace. Constructed in 1459, it is a wonderful example of Ottoman architecture and home to calligraphic manuscripts, porcelain, mural decorations, Ottoman treasures and jewelry. After this, you will be off to the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art for a personal wine and cheese orientation by the Museum Directors, followed by a private tour by the museum’s curator. This will be a wonderful day, during which, you will visit the Spice Market, constructed in 1663 and the Grand Bazaar, which is the world’s largest covered market. The Grand Bazaar, built in 1461, spans some 58 streets and 30,700 square metres. It offers over 4000 shops, five mosques, seven fountains and five entry portals. Optional lunch at the Asitane Restaurant, Hamdi Et Lokantasi or Orient Express Café. You are then invited to an optional fashion show featuring jewelry and leather fashions. Overnight in Istanbul at the Germir Palace Hotel. Breakfast is included.

Thursday, October 18: Kayseri, Cappadocia
Fly to Kayseri (TK 0260 - 8:35AM). Transfer to Cappadocia region and to your hotel. Free afternoon and time to relax. Orientation, then optional dinner at the hotel. There is also time for an

Thursday, October 18: Kayseri, Cappadocia continued
optional spa treatment at the hotel in the afternoon. Overnight in Cappadocia at the Anatolian House Hotel. The Anatolian House offers guests luxurious hotel service within fairytale cave formations. Breakfast is included.

Friday, October 19: Cappadocia
You will visit the Goreme Open Air Museum featuring the finest examples of frescoes in the area. Then you will have a chance to view carpet weaving at the Gallery Anatolia. Lunch on your own at restaurants such as Ottoman house or Anatolia House. The rest of the day is yours with free time to walk, have tea, or take in an optional wine tasting at Turusan Sarap Evi. Back to the Anatolian House Hotel in the evening to relax. For today and tomorrow, optional activities such as an early morning balloon tour with champagne breakfast, a horse riding tour, and an underground city tour are offered. These activities will be weather dependant and will be booked the day of your arrival in Turkey. The cost will depend upon the activity. Breakfast is included.

Saturday, October 20: Cappadocia
Avanos pottery demonstration and time to visit other pottery shops. Visit Uchisar Castle in the afternoon. This castle sits within a rocky outcrop which was carved with tunnels and caves that served as ancient dwellings. To the modern viewer it is a place out of a fairy tale. From the top of the rock, you can see all the way to Mount Erciyes. Overnight in Cappadocia at the Anatolian House Hotel. Breakfast is included.

Sunday, October 21: Cappadocia – Kayseri- Fly to Istanbul (TK0261- 10:55AM)
Transfer to Kayseri airport for your flight to Istanbul, followed by a drive to Ortakoy. Ortakoy is a picturesque neighbourhood with many outdoor markets on the shores of the Bosphorus. You will have time for lunch at one of the restaurants there on your own. On the way back to the hotel in the afternoon, you will receive a tour of the Dolmabahce Palace. In English, “Dolmabahce” translates to “the filled garden”. It is a beautiful 19th Century palace in the baroque and rococo style, which sits right on the waterfront. There is time for an optional Turkish bath at Cemberlitas Hamami on your own in the late afternoon. Overnight in Istanbul at the Germir Palace Hotel. Breakfast is included.

Monday, October 22: Istanbul
A day to take in the Istanbul Biennial, with free time to return to your favorite spots. The Istanbul Biennale, a major contemporary art festival, takes place in Istanbul for the duration of your stay. Biennial activities and arrangements will be made by your tour guide and are sure to delight! Overnight in Istanbul at the Germir Palace Hotel. Breakfast is included.

Tuesday, October 23: Istanbul Departure. Day in New York
Transfer to Istanbul airport and departure for New York JFK airport at 11:20AM – arrival at JFK at 4:45PM. Please note that you will be responsible for tipping your tour guide at the end of your stay in Turkey. Please bring approximately $110 USD for this purpose. You will overnight in New York at the Warwick Hotel in midtown Manhattan. Breakfast is included.

Wednesday, October 24: New York to Calgary
Flight from New York JFK direct to Calgary (7:50am departure – 11:10am arrival, local time).

 

The cost for this trip is: $6500.00. This includes all 6 direct flights, all deluxe accommodations, all transportation in Turkey, entry to all attractions, private guided tours and meals as noted.

Websites of Interest

· The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA): www.moma.org
· Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art: www.metmuseum.org
· Warwick Hotel in Midtown New York: www.warwickhotelny.com
· Germir Palace Hotel in Istanbul: www.germirpalas.com
· Anatolian House Hotel in Cappadocia: www.anatolianhouses.com
· The Istanbul Biennial: www.iksv.org/bienal/english

Wikipedia Sites

· Istanbul: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul
· Istanbul Grand Bazaar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grand_Bazaar,_Istanbul
· Cappadocia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappadocia
· Topkapi Palace: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topkap%C4%B1_Palace
· Dolmabahce Palace: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolmabahce_palace

To make your reservation for this once in a lifetime tour or for more information, please call:
Justin Patton, Director of Business Development.
Telephone: 403-770-1357
Email to jpatton@artgallerycalgary.org


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