Custom tour of Turkey with Asia Minor Travel & Tours

After a careful selection of cities in eastern Turkey that would provide a mix of ancient civilizations, Roman ruins and Islamic traditions, I contacted six companies found in ITN and chose Asia Minor Travel & Tours (6919 W. Broward Blvd., PMB 259, Plantation, FL 33317; phone 800/532-2938 or visit www.asiaminortours.com).

My husband and I and another couple were escorted on our 18-day custom tour in May ’02 by Aydin Aygun. An ex-member of the Royal Turkish Army, he has a broad background in Turkish history, religions, foods and folklore. The price of $3,200 per person included lodging, breakfast, dinner and entrance fees. (2004 prices are similar, and less for noncustom tours.)

Lunch was generally with Aydin in a local restaurant with regional foods and never exceeded $5 a person. One of our group was vegetarian and Aydin addressed his needs skillfully.

A “high point” in our adventure occurred at Nemrut Dagi. Atop this 7,056-foot mountain, where there is still ice in June, rest toppled statues of gods. These were sculpted during the reign of Kommagene King Antiochus I (69-38 B.C.), whose tomb is thought to be concealed somewhere inside the 164-foot-high conical mound with its spectacular terraces on three sides.

Another plus — Aydin acquired special visas for our group to enter Ani, a ghost town that was the capital of the Armenian Bagratis Kingdom from A.D. 935 to 1045. Ani was once a city of 100,000 people and 1,000 churches. The ruins of the Cathedral of Ani, finished in 1001, are the most impressive. We walked three miles through fields filled with cows, goats and ruins but no other tourists.

In the evening we arrived in Erzuzum in time for the opening of a school fair. The arts and crafts were well made and not expensive and, as always, the people were friendly and welcoming.

BETTY H. JOHNSON
Galveston, TX