So how much does airfare cost? All the operators use either Turkish Airlines or Delta Airlines, and none of them — I've phoned three — are yet willing to guarantee 2010 prices; they will name a price only when potential customers call and specify a particular date (departures of "Turkish Delights" are offered at least five days a week). But since $700 is an extremely conservative round-trip forecast of those air costs, the total two-week tour will generally work out to be about $1,600 in 2010, $1,700 in November and December of 2009 — and that's a remarkable figure for a travel experience as varied, as all-inclusive, and of such good quality, as tours to Turkey are.

I've had good reports from past travelers with Pacha Tours about those fall/winter trips to Turkey. This is a big company as Turkish tour operators go, with several offices in Turkey and other European cities, and you reach them either at www.pachatours.com or by phoning 800-722-4288. Look for details of the 12-night "Turkish Delights," which goes to Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Antalya and Pamukkale, among other highlights.

Incidentally, after asking one tour company official to describe the fall/winter weather in Turkey, she responded that Istanbul was "like New York" in winter, while Ankara and Cappadocia "are more like Chicago."