Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Day
Stop At: Istanbul Airport, Tayakadın, Terminal Caddesi No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Türkiye
Arrival to Istanbul Airport where our driver/guide will meet you and transfer to your hotel for check-in before having the rest of the day at your leisure.
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul
Day 2: Sultanahmet – Old Istanbul
Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkiye
Go to the Topkapi Palace, which was once used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries and see the magnificent collection of priceless jewels, silver, crystal, and porcelain, robes that were worn by the sultans and the relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra).
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hagia Sophia Mosque, Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya MeydanI No:1, Istanbul 34122 Turkiye
Visit the Hagia Sophia, which was built by Emperor Justinian and was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years and has intricate mosaics and a huge central dome.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7, Istanbul 34122 Turkiye
After lunch, we will visit the stunning Blue Mosque that was built for Sultan Ahmet I, and is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hippodrome, Binbirdirek, Sultan Ahmet ParkI No:2, Istanbul Turkiye
Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II and visit the hidden Underground Cistern.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Grand Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
See the Grand Covered Bazaar with its many shops perfect for your holiday souvenirs.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul
Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise and Beylerbeyi
Stop At: Misir Carsisi (Spice Market), Rustem Pasa Mahallesi, Erzak Ambari Sok. No:92 Eminonu - Fatih, Istanbul 34116 Turkiye
Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market located on the Golden Horn before boarding your cruise of the Bosphorus where the waterway separates the two continents Europe and Asia.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Rumeli Fortress, Yahyakemal Cad. No.28, Istanbul 34470 Turkiye
Pass by Rumeli fortress which was built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452, so he could prepare for his conquest of Istanbul.
Duration: 1 minute
Stop At: Beylerbeyi Palace, Abdullahaga Cad., Istanbul Turkiye
Cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia where you will visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was once the summer address of the Ottoman Sultans, then on to Camlica Hill for a fantastic view of Istanbul.
Time for lunch in a lovely seaside fish restaurant. Cruise is on a public boat unless other arrangements are made.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul
Day 4: Istanbul - Cappadocia
Stop At: Kaymakli Underground City, Derinkuyu Turkiye
Fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia, and upon arrival, you will be met at the airport just outside the arrival’s gate and transfer to Cappadocia.
Tour the Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the fascinating underground settlements in Cappadocia then drive to Sahinefendi (Sobesos) which is newly discovered (01 May 2002) mosaic houses and Archaeological excavation site.
Villages in the valleys are surrounded by the “tabletop” mountains which are spectacular.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Keslik Monastery, Urgup Turkiye
Continue to the Keslik Monastery close to Cemil, that hides its frescoes behind a thin smoke layer which you can only see by torchlight.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Mustafapasa, Mustafapasa, Urgup, Cappadocia
Visit Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; outstanding examples of late Greek settlements and architecture.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Saruhan Culture and Event Center, Yeni kayseri Yolu 6 km, Nevsehir 50500 Turkiye
Visit Saruhan Caravanserai, a roadside inn where travellers would rest and recover from their day’s journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of information, commerce and people across a network of trade routes of North Africa, Asia, and South-Eastern Europe on the legendary Silk Road and the Spice Road.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Red Valley, Nevsehir Ortahisar, Nevsehir 50650 Turkiye
Continue with the panorama of the Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations and is in the heart of Cappadocia but still away from the tourist crowd.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Cappadocia
Day 5: Cappadocia
Stop At: Devrent Valley, Devrent Mevkii No:1 Urgup Yolu, 50500 Turkiye
Meet at the hotel reception after breakfast, then have your first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia with some rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Pasabag, Urgup Turkiye
Walk in Pasabag near Zelve and wonder at the “fairy chimneys” where the sound of the wind mixes with the “songs of fairies”.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Avanos, Avanos, Cappadocia
Lunch in Avanos which has been the centre of terra cotta work of art since around 3000 BC and you will get a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Goreme National Park, Goreme 50180 Turkiye
In the afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art that are in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century).
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Uchisar Castle, Uchisar Turkiye
Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Cappadocia
Day 6: Cappadocia – Kahta
Stop At: Karatay, Karatay
Depart from your hotel in Cappadocia in the morning and
drive to Karatay Caravanserai and visit the caravanserai.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kahramanmaras, Kahramanmaras, Kahramanmaras Province
On the way to Kahta (Nemrut) stop at Kahramanmaras for lunch and a taste of its famous ice cream.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kahta, Kahta
Arrive at the hotel in Kahta city and the rest of the
evening at your leisure.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Kahta
Day 7: Mt. Nemrut – Urfa
Stop At: Mount Nemrut, Adiyaman 50100 Turkiye
Hike to the summit of Mount Nemrut (one of the most popular UNESCO world cultural heritage sites) and watch the sunset, be in awe of the colossal heads and the statues of ancient deities, as you take a step into mythology. This magnificent landmark sits at an elevation of 8000 ft.
The mountain top complex is made up of two flat areas that are strewn with statues and are separated by a false peak of crushed rock. Antiochus constructed the entire complex around 2000 years ago as a dedication to his divine ancestry.
Also, you should take time to visit the old castle, Arsemeia, cross over the still functioning Cendere Bridge (Septimius Severus bridge) dating back to the 3rd century and Tumulus Tomb of Karakus.
Then drive back to your hotel for breakfast before driving to Urfa on the way visit Ataturk dam, a modern-day wonder. You will also see Gobekli Tepe which is a hilltop sanctuary that is erected on the highest point of a mountain ridge around 15 km northeast of the town of Sanlıurfa.
Duration: 7 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Urfa
Day 8: Urfa
Stop At: Sanliurfa Archeology and Mosaic Museum, Camlik Caddesi, Sanliurfa 63200 Turkiye
After breakfast, check-out from your hotel and drive to Sanliurfa which has been occupied since the Babylonians were followed by the Hurrites, Hittites, Assyrians and Greeks.
Today we will visit Urfa Archaeological Museum that exhibits a vast collection, founded from Harran and Gobekli Tepe Area. We will also see the holy sites at the Ainzelha, which is a lake that has millions of domesticated fish.
We will also visit the cave where the prophet Abraham was born then, walk through the local, covered bazaar of Sanliurfa.
Duration: 7 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Urfa
Day 9: Urfa – Antalya
Stop At: Antalya Airport (AYT), Yeşilköy, Antalya Havaalanı Dış Hatlar Terminali 1, 07230 Muratpaşa/Antalya, Türkiye
Take a morning flight from Urfa Airport to Antalya via Istanbul (or Gaziantep- Antalya direct on certain days).
Arrive at the airport and meet just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name with your driver.
Transfer to your hotel and the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Antalya
Day 10: Antalya
Stop At: Perge Ancient City, Aksu, Antalya 07110 Turkiye
We will see Perge, which was initially settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC. Visit the impressive collonaded street, baths, nymphaeum, and agora and the fountain of the River God, where waters once poured down the centre of the city.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Aspendos Ruins, Serik Turkiye
Visit Aspendos to see one of the best-preserved amphitheatres in the world.
Duration: 2 minutes
Stop At: Kursunlu Waterfalls, Antalya Turkiye
We will then visit the beautiful Kursunlu waterfalls or Antalya Museum.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Antalya
Day 11: Antalya – Ephesus
Stop At: Ancient City of Ephesus, Selcuk 35920 Turkiye
Take a morning flight from Antalya to Izmir (direct). Arrive and meet at the airport and visit the ancient city of Ephesus.
Visit the ancient city of Ephesus and spend a few hours walking in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Apostles Paul, Caesar, Cicero, and John and many other well-known historical names.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Ephesus Terrace Houses, Selcuk 35148 Turkiye
The recently opened Terrace Houses (entry included) which is where the wealthiest Romans lived and are a great example of sensitive excavation and presentation and the mosaics and frescos are stunning.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House), Sultaniye Mahallesi, Selcuk 35100 Turkiye
Tradition has it that St John brought Virgin Mary hereafter the Crucifixion and lived her last years close to the city of Ephesus on a secluded mountaintop. A lovely chapel was constructed on the site and tended by Franciscans and open to visitors and has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: St. John The Baptist Church, Sirince Mahallesi, Sirince Turkiye
We will continue with Saint John Church where Apostle John spent his final years and was buried and visit the temple of Artemis to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Kusadasi
Day 12: Pamukkale- Hierapolis- Laodicea (188 km)
Stop At: Laodicea, Just off Denizli - Pamukkale, Denizli Turkiye
Drive to Pamukkale and on the way visit Laodicea (present name Denizli) and one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor.
Excavations are still active, and an ancient city as beautiful as Ephesus will soon be uncovered.
We will see the ancient theatres, the remains of the basilica which were recently uncovered, ancient stone water pipes, Temple A, agora and the monumental fountain.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Hierapolis & Pamukkale, Pamukkale 20280 Turkiye
The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are definitely one of the most spectacular natural wonders that you will be able to see from several mineral springs in a substantial white cliffside.
About 200 m overlooking the plain you can see how the calcite-laden waters have dripped over a number of terraced levels and created a fairyland of unusual solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins and look like creations made from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle).
Moreover, the water in the basins changes its colour according to how the light enters.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Pamukkale
Day 13: Pamukkale – Istanbul
Stop At: Denizli Çardak Airport, Cumhuriyet Mah., Küme Evler Sok. No:1, 20350 Çardak/Denizli, Türkiye
Transfer to Denizli airport and take a morning flight from Denizli to Istanbul Airport.
Arrival and transfer to hotel.
Free afternoon for the last chance to enjoy a wander around Istanbul.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul
Day 14: Departure Day
Stop At: Istanbul Airport, Tayakadın, Terminal Caddesi No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Türkiye
Transfer to Istanbul Airport to connect to your international flight.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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No accommodation included on this day.