HIGHLIGHTS OF TURKEY
Day 1 Arrive Istanbul
Arrive at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, meet and transfer to your hotel in Istanbul. Free time at leisure according to
your arrival time. Stay overnight in Istanbul.(No meals)
Day 2 Full day Istanbul Old City Tour
Breakfast will be served at the hotel.After breakfast,enjoy a full day tour of the Sultanahmet district,the heart of
old Istanbul.Firstly we visit the magnificent Hagia Sofia,a former Orthodox basilica,later a mosque and now a museum.Famous in particular for its massive dome.It was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 A.D.The Hippodrome;the stadium of ancient Byzantium,where an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture of three entwined serpents from Delphi still survive.We then continue to the Blue Mosque,which owes it’s name to the exquisite tiles adorning it’s interior, and the famous Grand Bazaar one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world.After lunch we visit the amazing Topkapi Palace,which from the 15th to the 19th Century was the principle residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years of their 600-year reign from 1465 to 1856.After the tour,transfer to your hotel.Overnight in Istanbul.(Breakfast & Lunch)
Day 3 Half day Bosphorus cruise tour, Istanbul-Capadoccia (flight)
Breakfast is served at the hotel. Pick up from your hotel in the morning.We take a brief visit to the 17th Century Spice Bazaar,one of the oldest bazaars in the city full of spices,nuts,dried fruits,seeds and lokum (Turkish delight).Located in Eminonu,it is the second largest covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar.We then embark on a breathtaking cruise along the Bosphorus,the beautiful strait that divides Europe from Asia.After the cruise you will be transfered to Ataturk Airport to take your flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival,meet and transfer to your hotel in Capadoccia.Stay overnight in Capadoccia.(Breakfast & Dinner)
Day 4 Capadoccia Tour (Full day)
After breakfast,depart for a full day tour of Capadoccia.Visit to the Pigeon Valley near Uchisar;then proceed to the Open Air Museum in Goreme through Avcilar Valley and visit to the early Christian Churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible.Lunch in a restaurant and then visit to Kaymakli Underground City,the place early Christians hide from persecutors.Pasabagi in Zelve region and Avanos with shopping facilities for the world-wide famous handicrafts. Overnight in Cappadocia.(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Day 5 Capadoccia-Konya-Pamukkale
Early breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Pamukkale via Konya.On the way,visit the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece,Sultanhan Caravanserai and then arrival in Konya.Lunch will be served at a traditional Turkish restaurant in Konya.After visiting the Mausoleum of Mevlana,the world-wide famous mystic,we proceed to the Karatay Theological School in which beautiful tiles are on display.Drive to Pamukkale and stay overnight in Pamukkale.(Breakfast,Lunch & Dinner)
Day 6 Hierapolis-Aphrodisias-Kusadasi
After breakfast,we check out of our hotel and then visit the Ancient City of Hierapolis with the theatre,Temple of Apollo and magnificent Necropolis,the graveyard.Drive to Aphrodisias,where we will have lunch.Later we visit the ruins and the museum.At the end of the tour,drive to Kusadasi and stay overnight at this busy port town of the Aydin province.(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Day 7 Full day Ephesus Tour, Izmir-Istanbul (flight)
After breakfast,depart from our hotel in the morning to visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis,one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.There were other earlier temples on this site,evidence of a sanctuary dating back as early as the Bronz Age.We then proceed to the Ancient City of Ephesus where you will explore some of the best preserved theatres,fountains and buildings in the world.A definite highlight while in Turkey.Ephesus was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era.In the Roman period,it was for many years the second largest city of the Roman Empire,ranking behind Rome.Not to be forgotten is the House of the Virgin Mary on top of Bulbul Mountain,a pilgrimage site for many people of all denominations.According to belief, Mary may have spent her last days here.Indeed,she may have come to the area together with Saint John,who spent several years spreading the Christian faith.Lunch is included in the tour.After the tour,transfer to Izmir Airport to take your return flight to Istanbul.Arrive in Istanbul,meet at the airport and transfer to our hotel.Overnight in Istanbul.(Breakfast & Lunch)
Day 8 Departure
After breakfast,transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for your departure flight.The end of our services.(Breakfast)
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