Flight to Konya and Homestay

In many ways the trip to Konya is the climax of the program, with the pilgrimage to Rumi's tomb being the symbolic heart of what Muslim for a Month is really about.

Waking at 5:00am to catch the early flight to Konya, it all seems like a great adventure and this is then enhanced by seeing the beautiful Turkish countryside from 30 000 feet before touching down in the historic and important regional centre of Konya.

The first point of call in Konya is breakfast with the host families before enjoying a pleasant morning seeing the various religiously significant sights in town. The day also includes a visit to a local school and then after lunch onto the mausoleum of Mevlana Rumi.

Standing at Rumi's tomb the spiritual charge of the place is palpable while folks stand in silent contemplation of this spiritual genius who so beautifully preached as he lived. Rumi's lessons on self-mastery, joyful worship, plurality and the universal human condition make him one of the giants of history and it is a humbling experience to consider his many achievements.

One of his great legacies is the Whirling Dervishes and the evening concludes with the rare treat of seeing the Dervishes in action in Rumi's very own town.

The night is spent in Konya as a guest of one of the host familes before returning to Istanbul the next morning.