Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul and meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, check- in.
Overnight Istanbul.
Day 2 – Sultanahmet – Old Istanbul
Meeting at the hotel reception
Visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. Continue to the Topkapi palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed.(Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the Yerebatan underground Cistern. See the Grand Covered Bazaar (except Sundays). *May be done as a walking tour if your hotel is centrally located. Overnight Istanbul.
Day 3 – Bosphorus Cruise with Beylerbeyi
Meeting at the hotel reception
Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market on the Golden Horn. Board your cruise of the Bosphorus, the waterway, which separates the continents of Europe and Asia. Pass Rumeli fortress, built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 to prepare for his conquest of Istanbul. We will visit the museum of Sadberk Hanim, which has an excellent private collection of artifacts dating back to the prehistoric period and an ethnographic section housed in an old Ottoman building. After lunch in a seaside fish restaurant, cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia and visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, then on to Camlica Hill, for a magnificent view of Istanbul. Cruise is done by public boat unless other arrangements are made. Overnight Istanbul.
Day 4 – Istanbul- Cappadocia
Pick-up from hotel 2 hours before flight departure.
Take the early morning flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia. Upon Arrival at the airport and meeting just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name. Transfer to Cappadocia.
First meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; a journey in the past with its troglodyte houses, Lunch and visit centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. Afternoon, walking in Pasabag near Zelve ; "fairy chimneys" where the voice of wind mixes with the "songs of fairies".After visit the famous Zelve Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Overnight Cappadocia
Day 5- Cappadocia
Hot air balloon flight with sunrise
Pick-up from your hotel
Visit the widest and enchanting underground city, Kaymakli features a maze of tunnels and rooms carved eight levels deep on earth.
Next, we will drive to the magnificent Ihlara Valley, where we will walk alongside the Melendiz River for about 1 hour which winds its way through the unique home to rock carved churches and underground dwellings. With nearly 100 in total, they line both sides of the gorge.
After lunch, we continue to Selime Monastery which is an astonishing rock-cut construction and the largest religious structure in the Cappadocia region with a cathedral sized church cut directly into the volcanic tuff. On the way back, take pictures of Pigeon Valley and the unique rock formations.
Our final stop will be at the local onyx factory to see a demonstration on carving and shaping. Over night Cappadocia
Day 6- Cappadocia – Konya - Pamukkale
Meeting at the hotel reception
Drive to Konya((250 km ,3 hours) en route, visit to Sultanhani Caravanseria, roadside inn where travellers could rest and recover from the day’s journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across a network of trade routes of Asia, North Africa and South-Eastern Europe on the legendary Silk Road and the Spice road. In Konya center, visit to Mevlana Sufi temple. Mevlana is the founder of Sufism and whirling Dervishes.
Drive to Pamukkale (400 km, 5 hours) overnight Pamukkale
Day 7- Pamukkale-Ephesus
Meeting at the hotel reception
Discovery of Travertine terraces and Hierapolis. The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are one of the most spectacular natural wonders we ever have seen from various mineral springs in a vast white cliff side, about 200 m overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have dripped down over a series of terraced levels and created a fairyland of bizarre solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins. It looks like creations from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle): “pamuk” for cotton and “kale” for castle. Moreover the water in the basins is changing its color according to how the light enters.
Drive to Ephesus (200 km, 3 hours) Overnight Kuşadası
Day 8-Ephesus - Kusadasi -Izmir -Istanbul
Meeting at the hotel reception
Visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. We will spend several hours walking in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Caesar, Cicero, Apostles Paul and John and many other familiar historical names. The recently opened Slope Houses where the wealthiest Romans lived are an excellent example of sensitive excavation and presentation. The mosaics and frescos are spectacular. Tradition has it that Virgin Mary was brought here by St John after the Crucifixion and lived her final years near the city of Ephesus on an isolated mountaintop. A lovely chapel is constructed on the site tended by Franciscans and open to visitors. It has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope.
Pick you up from your hotel and transfer to Izmir airport for your Domestic flight to Istanbul ,You may overnight İstanbul or connect to your international flight.
Tour Including
- Domestic flights in the program.
- Airport transfers where needed.
- Transportation by a comfortable AC non smoking Luxurious car/Van with professional driver.
- Professional and experienced licensed guide during the tours.
- Accommodation in Charming or Deluxe superior Hotels.
- Entry fees to the sites and museums.
- Breakfast included in the hotel.
- Lunch during the tour.
- Parking fees.
Tour Excluding
- International flights
- Hot alr balloon flight
- Dinner
- Drinks
- Tips to guide, driver and hotel personnel
