Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive to Istanbul
Stop At: Istanbul, Istanbul
• Welcome to Turkey! Arrive in Istanbul, one of the most important and inspiringly beautiful cities in the world. You will be met at the airport by our representative and transferred to your hotel, enjoying your first glimpses of this fascinating city during the journey, where the continents of Asia and Europe collide.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: ISTANBUL
Kent Hotel, 4 Star www.kenthotel.com
or similar
Day 2: Istanbul
Stop At: Sultanahmet District, Istanbul 34122 Turkiye
After breakfast we set off on a full day of sightseeing in Istanbul. We will start with a visit to the renewed Sultanahmet Mosque, known popularly as The Blue Mosque an incredibly beautiful mosque known for its blue Iznik (Nicaea) tiles are unique for the fact that it has six minarets. We continue on to the Hippodrome once the vast arena that functioned as the heart of sporting (chariots races and athletics) events and political activities of the old city. From here we go to the nearby Hagia Sophia the Church of Divine Wisdom. Ranking as one of the greatest marvels of world architecture, this awe-inspiring building was constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian. After lunch our next visit will be Topkapi Palace which for more than 400 years was the imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans; now home to the priceless collections porcelain, jewelry, calligraphy and many masterpieces of art. The tour will end with the visit to the Grand Bazaar.
Duration: 7 hours
Meals included:
•
•
•
Accommodation included: ISTANBUL
Kent Hotel, 4 Star www.kenthotel.com
or similar
Day 3: Istanbul / Ankara / Cappadocia
Stop At: Ankara, Ankara
• After early breakfast, you will drive to Istanbul airport for your domestic flight to Ankara. Upon arrival to Ankara, meet your guide at the airport and start your first visit with the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, a museum that has drawn world-wide acclaim for its extensive collection of arts and artifacts from the Stone and Neolithic Ages, Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians, etc. The Anatolian Civilizations Museum, being among exceptional museums with its unique collection, has Anatolian archaeological artefacts and artefacts from the Palaeolithic Age to the present. Anatolian Civilizations Museum reaching the present time with its historical buildings and its deeply rooted history was elected as the first "Museum of the Year" in Switzerland on April 19, 1997. Continue by visiting the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the national hero who founded the modern Republic of Turkey.
• After lunch drive to Cappadocia.
• Dinner & overnight in Cappadocia.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
•
•
•
Accommodation included: CAPPADOCIA
Perissia Hotel, 4 Star http://www.perissiahotel.com/
or similar
Day 4: Cappadocia
Stop At: Cappadocia, Cappadocia
Your expedition will start with the underground city of Özkonak. Then, you will view the castle of Uchisar, full of towering rock houses typical of this area. Uchisar is a small town situated right in the middle of Cappadocia After lunch continue with the valley of "Göreme" & open air museum. Goreme was founded by St. Basil as the first Monastic Center of Christianity during 4th century. This morning you will have an extensive tour of the Monastic Center that functions as an open-air museum, having very well-preserved rock-hewn churches decorated with Byzantine frescoes. Touring Pasabag Valley you will adore the view of the tower- shaped hermitages that look as if they have been sculptured by contemporary artists!
Duration: 7 hours
Meals included:
•
•
•
Accommodation included: CAPPADOCIA
Perissia Hotel, 4 Star http://www.perissiahotel.com/
or similar
Day 5: Cappadocia / Konya / Pamukkale
Stop At: Konya, Konya
After early reakfast you begin your drive to Konya, known in ancient times as Iconium and where the disciple Paul preached on his first missionary journey. On the way visit the 13 th century Seljukian caravanserai "Sultanhan". This is one of the most significant attractions in the region and the most preserved Seljuk Caravansarai in Turkey, dating from 1229. Enroute you visit the Mevlana Museum which records and celebrates the life of Celaleddin Rumi the founder of the Mevlana Sufi Sect and one of the world’s greatest mystics. In the museum you can see Rumi’s colorful tomb and gain an understanding of how the dervishes lived in the Mevlana lodge.
• Lunch enroute, drive to Pamukkale
• Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Pamukkale.
Duration: 10 hours
Meals included:
•
•
•
Accommodation included: PAMUKKALE
Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal Pamukkale, 4 Star http://www.colossaehotel.com/
or similar
Day 6: Pamukkale / Izmir
Stop At: Pamukkale, Pamukkale
After breakfast you continue on your drive to Pamukkale with a stop enroute at Hierapolis, a cure centre founded around 190 BC by Eumenes II, king of Pergamum. The Necropolis is the largest ancient cemetery in Anatolia with approximately 1,200 graves. The Theater is a 2C AD building in Roman style with many relieves depicting scenes representing the Emperor Septimus Severus and from the life of Dionysus. In the 3C AD it was thought to be restored during the reign of Septimus Severus.
Drive to Meryemana and visit House of Virgin Mary. After lunch Continue to Ephesus, the Romen Capital of Asia Minor. Visit the ruins of Odeon, Hercules Gate, the Temple of Hadrian, the magnificient library, Agora and fantastic greco-roman theatre. Late in the afternoon, drive to Izmir to stay overnight.
Duration: 9 hours
Meals included:
•
•
•
Accommodation included: IZMIR
Kaya Prestige Hotel, 4 Star
or similar
Day 7: Izmir / Canakkale
Stop At: Bergama, Bergama, Izmir Province, Turkish Aegean Coast
Early departure for Pergamum. On the 1,200 ft. high Acropolis, you will see the steepest sloped theatre of the ancient world, the Temple of Trajan, and the library. After lunch, you will continue for Troy. The legendary town in the iliad of Homeros, visit the Athena temple.
Duration: 9 hours
Meals included:
•
•
•
Accommodation included: CANAKKALE
MD Barbaros Hotel, 4 Star https://www.mdbarbaroshotel.com/index.php?lang=English
or similar
Day 8: Canakkale / Bursa / Istanbul
Stop At: Bursa, Bursa
After breakfast in the morning and drive to İstanbul via Bursa, which is the first capital city of the Ottoman Empire. Bursa is known by its mosques, thermal Turkish Baths and its production of silk. Visit Grand Mosque, Green Mosque of Bursa and museum. Visit silk bazaar and continue with lunch. After lunch drive to İstanbul.
Duration: 9 hours
Meals included:
•
•
•
Accommodation included: ISTANBUL
Kent Hotel, 4 Star www.kenthotel.com
or similar
Day 9: Istanbul / Departure
Stop At: Istanbul, Istanbul
After breakfast you will drive to Istanbul Airport for your connection flight back to home.
Duration: 45 minutes
Meals included:
•
No accommodation included on this day.