DAY 1 Arrival in Istanbul
Upon your arrival to Istanbul International Airport, you will be met by our hostess and transferred to your hotel. Before dinner you can take a walk through the historical Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, having a look at the Hippodrome and the famous Blue Mosque. Overnight stay in Istanbul.
DAY 2 Full day Istanbul City Tour
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will visit Topkapi Palace, home to many of the Ottoman Sultans. Later on we will visit the Haghia Sophia*, once a Byzantine Church but now a museum with wonderful mosaics. Then we will visit the Egyptian Spice Bazaar** followed by an afternoon cruise on the Bosphorus and admire the marble palaces and wooden Ottoman villas lining both shores of the fabled waterway. After the tour, we will return to your hotel where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
* Haghia Sophia Museum is closed on Mondays and will be replaced by St.Sauveur Chora Church.
** The Egyptian Spice Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
DAY 3 Istanbul Tour, Flight to Ankara
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Grand Bazaar, with its more than 4,000 shops, followed by a visit across the Golden Horn to Taksim Square where we will see a more modern side of Istanbul. In the afternoon, we will transfer you to the Istanbul International Airport for your flight to Ankara. Upon your arrival to Ankara, we will transfer you to your hotel where you will have a relaxing evening, dinner and an overnight stay.
DAY 4 Ankara Tour, Drive to Cappadocia
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the world renowned Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and its impressive array of archaeological findings, including Neolithic artifacts, a Hittite collection and Phrygian exhibits. This will be followed by a visit to Anitkabir, Ataturk's Mausoleum. Ataturk was the founder of Modern Turkey. We will then board for the drive to mystical Cappadocia. Upon our arrival to Cappadocia, we will transfer you to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 5 Cappadocia Tour
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will explore the lunar landscape of Cappadocia visiting the Devrent Valley, the Pasabag Valley with its surreal mushrooming pinnacles and Avanos, renowned for its handmade pottery. We will then continue to the Citadel of Uchisar and the stunning valley of Goreme and the Open Air Museum, where the remains of churches and early Christian dwellings, hewn from the rock, dated back thousands of years. After the tour, we will return to your hotel where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
DAY 6 Cappadocia Tour
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the famous rock churches in the red and rose valley and hike the 5 kms through the Gulludere Valley. We will continue to the houses and churces of the Christian clergymen in the Cavusin village. Then we will drive to Kaymakli, the underground city where the early Christians sought refuge. Finally, we will visit the natural castle at Ortahisar. After the tour, we will return to your hotel where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
DAY 7 Konya Tour, Drive to Antalya
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Antalya which is located on the Mediterranean Coast. En-route we will stop to visit the 13th Century Selcuk Caravansarai, the traveller's inn of "Sultan Han". The next stop will be Konya which is famous for its Mevlana Museum and the Theological School of the Whirling Dervishes. After the tour, we will continue to Antalya. Upon our arrival to Antalya, we will transfer you to your hotel where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
DAY 8 Antalya Tour
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will start our tour by visiting one of Turkey's most important regions where you will explore a wealth of ancient Anatolian sites including the magnificent Pamphylian trading cities of Side, Perge and Aspendos. Particularly impressive are the free-standing theatre at Side, which seated 20.000, the stadium at Perge, which is the largest in Asia Minor and the theatre at Aspendos which is one of the best preserved in the world. Then we will continue to visit the beautiful natural setting of the stunning Manavgat Waterfalls. After the tour, we will return to your hotel where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
DAY 9 Drive to Pamukkale, Pamukkale Tour
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will journey inland to Pamukkale to enjoy the spas, pools, and terraces of this natural wonder, called the "Cotton Castle". This name is truly fitting, the brilliant white calcified terraces do truly resemble a castle made of cotton. We will also spend time in Hieropolis, with one of the largest and most diverse necropolis in the world. After the tour, we will transfer you to your hotel in Pamukkale for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 10 Aphrodisias Tour, Drive to Kusadasi
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will check-out from the hotel and move on to visit Aphrodisias, the city of the goddess of love. There, we will visit the Aphrodisias Museum, the remains of the Temple, the Odeon, Theater, Hadrian's Bath, Stadium and other ruins. Aphrodisias ranks with Ephesus among the world's best-preserved ancient cities. In the afternoon, we will have free time to explore the seaside resort of Kusadasi, with its Island fortress and pedestrian city center. After the tour, we will transfer you to your hotel in Kusadasi for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 11 Ephesus Tour
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will spend the day visiting the premiere Greco-Roman City of the ancient world, Ephesus. We will explore the Temple of Hadrian, the famous Celsus Library, the Great Theater, the Temple of Artemis and other Roman sites. We will then visit the House of Virgin Mary and the impressive collections at the Ephesus Museum. After the tour, we will return to your hotel in Kusadasi for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 12 Pergamon Tour, Drive to Canakkale
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Pergamon, once the capital of one of the richest and most powerful small kingdoms in Anatolia. The ruins of the beautiful city of Pergamum are in a spectacular setting, on the summit and terraced slopes of the hill which rise above Bergama. After the tour, we will transfer you to your hotel in Canakkale where you will have dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 13 Troy Tour, Gallipoli Tour, Drive to Istanbul
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Troy where you can explore the site of the legendary town, made famous by Homer in his Iliad and visit the Temple of Athena. We will cross the Dardanelles and visit the World War I memorials at Gallipolli. After the tour, we will continue to Istanbul. Upon your arrival to Istanbul, we will transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 14 Flight Back Home
After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be transfered to Istanbul International Airport in accordance with the departure time of your flight back home. End of our services.
What is Included :
- Airport Assistance by our hostess.
- All airport, hotel and tour transfers with non-smoking A/C Mercedes Sprinter or VW Caravelle Minibus.
- 13 nights hotel accommodation including breakfast at the hotels (3 nights in Istanbul, 1 night in Ankara, 3 nights in Cappadocia, 2 night in Antalya, 1 night in Pamukkale, 2 night in Kusadasi, 1 night in Canakkale)
- 13 breakfast, 12 lunch and 13 dinner are included in the program.
- All sightseeing tours as mentioned in the itinerary include; transportation, entrance fees and professional English speaking guides licenced by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
- Flight ticket (Istanbul to Ankara).
- All local taxes.
- No hidden or extra costs.
What is Excluded:
- International airfares.
- Airport taxes.
- Tips to guide, driver, hotel staff etc.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast).
Additional Information :
- The accommodations to be used in this package are 4 star hotels, clean and centrally located.
- The hotel accommodations can be upgraded upon your request.
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Cappadocia
Konya
Pamukkale
Ephesus
Shown prices are per person in the
mentioned rooms. Please ask for group rates.
Departure dates:
Daily departure yearly round.
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TURKEY
