Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Day
Stop At: Istanbul Airport, Tayakadın, Terminal Caddesi No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Türkiye
Arrive in Istanbul and meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel for check-in and have the rest of the day at your leisure
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul
Day 2: Sultanahmet – Old Istanbul
Stop At: Hagia Sophia Mosque, Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya MeydanI No:1, Istanbul 34122 Turkiye
Visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was constructed by Emperor Justinian and was the largest building in the world for more than 1000 years.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkiye
See its intricate mosaics and large central dome before Continuing 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: 2 hours
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: 2 hours
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.
See the Grand Covered Bazaar with its many shops perfect for your holiday souvenirs.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul
Day 3: Jewish Heritage (Istanbul) – Galata and Balat
Stop At: Historic Areas of Istanbul, Istanbul Turkiye
Visit the Ashkenazi Synagogue, before crossing over the Golden horn to Balat, which has been the centre point of Jewish presence in Istanbul for over five centuries.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Neve Shalom Synagogue, Buyuk Hendek Cad. No:61 Karakoy, Beyoglu, Istanbul Turkiye
We then continue to Neve Shalom Synagogue and visit the old neighbourhood and the Ahrida Synagogue, which is the oldest and most beautiful synagogue in Istanbul and was built in the 15th century.
Duration: 2 minutes
Stop At: Galata Tower, Buyuk Hendek Cad. 2, Istanbul Turkiye
Later in the day, we will visit the Galata Tower and the old neighbourhood of Galata where you can get a beautiful glimpse of Old Istanbul.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Historic Areas of Istanbul, Istanbul Turkiye
See the Zulfaris Museum, with historical and ethnographic sections that celebrate over 500 years of friendship between Turks and Jews.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ortakoy, Istanbul Turkiye
We will end the tour in Ortakoy, where the Sephardic Jews were welcomed to Turkey by the Ottoman Sultan.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul
Day 4: Istanbul- Cappadocia
Stop At: Kaymakli Underground City, Derinkuyu Turkiye
Take an early morning flight from the airport in Istanbul to Cappadocia and on arrival at the airport meet with your driver just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name and transfer to Cappadocia.
Tour to Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia before driving to Sahinefendi ( Sobesos ), where you will see some Byzantine period mosaic art and an archaeological excavation site.
Villages in the valleys that are surrounded by the “tabletop” mountains are also spectacular.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Keslik Monastery, Urgup Turkiye
Continue your tour with Keslik Monastery near Cemil, that hides its frescoes behind a very thin smoke layer and visit Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old houses and excellent examples of late Greek settlements and architecture
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Red Valley, Nevsehir Ortahisar, Nevsehir 50650 Turkiye
Continue with panorama of the Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations which are in the heart of Cappadocia but away from the tourist crowd.
Duration: 2 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
Cappadocia
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Avanos Oren Yeri, Kapadokya Cd., Avanos 50500 Turkiye
Lunch in Avanos which is the centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. and have a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.
Duration: 2 hours
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 in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century).
Duration: 2 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 – Izmir (Smyrna)
Stop At: Kayseri, Kayseri, Kayseri Province
Take a morning flight from Kayseri to Izmir (direct or via Istanbul). Arrival and meeting at the airport with your name sign and transfer to Izmir.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Izmir, Izmir, Izmir Province, Turkish Aegean Coast
Visit Izmir’s Jewish heritage sites, and our first stop is to Izmir’s bazaar. The heart of the historical Izmir’s Jewish life was in the synagogues of La Judiera and in the area of the bazaar where the synagogues are located and where some Jewish merchants still work.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Synagogue Street (Havra Sokagi), Street no 927, Izmir Turkiye
We will then take a walk along Havra Sokak, the Street of Synagogues, named for its nine small, active synagogues which served the Jewish merchants and artisans who worked close by.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Beth Israel Synagogue, Mithat Pasa Cad. No:265 Konak Merkez, Konak, Izmir Turkiye
We then continue our tour with the panoramic drive through the Alsancak quarter and Continue to see Beth Israel Synagogue, a beautiful Ottoman Victorian-style building.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tarihi Asansor, Izmir Turkiye
Walk to the Asansor, a 19th-century funicular which once took passengers from the shore road up to the sheer rock cliffs to the desirable residential district above.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Izmir
Day 7: Ephesus
Stop At: Ephesus Museum, Selcuk Turkiye
Visit the ancient city of Ephesus where we will spend several hours walking in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Cicero, Caesar, Apostles Paul and John and many other historical names.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Ephesus Terrace Houses, Selcuk 35148 Turkiye
The recently opened Terrace Houses (entry extra) which is where the wealthiest Romans lived are an excellent example of sensitive excavation and presentation.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House), Sultaniye Mahallesi, Selcuk 35100 Turkiye
The mosaics and frescos are spectacular, and St John brought the Virgin Mary hereafter the Crucifixion and lived out her final years close to the city of Ephesus on an isolated mountaintop.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: The Temple of Artemis, Ataturk, Park Ici Yolu No:12, Selcuk Turkiye
A lovely chapel is built on the site tended by Franciscans and is open to visitors, and it has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope.
Visit the Temple of Artemis to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Izmir
Day 8: Izmir – Sardis – Pamukkale
Stop At: Sardis (Sardes), Belediye Cd. No:124 Sart, Salihli 45300 Turkiye
Drive to the city of Sardis the capital of Ancient Lydia and visit the famous Synagogue and Temple of Diana.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Aphrodisias, 80 km from Pamukkale, Geyre Turkiye
Aphrodisias was primarily known as a centre for the arts; specifically, sculpture and the Aphrodisias School of Sculpture that had a distinctive style and was very well circulated throughout the Greek and Roman world.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Hierapolis & Pamukkale, Pamukkale 20280 Turkiye
Discover the travertine terraces and Hierapolis. The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are the most incredible natural wonders you have ever seen from different mineral springs in a vast white cliff side, about 200 m overlooking the plain.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Pamukkale, Pamukkale
Calcite-laden waters which have dripped down over a series of terraced levels and created a strange fairyland of solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins. It looks like 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: 1 hour
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Pamukkale
Day 9: Pamukkale – Istanbul
Stop At: Sultanahmet District, Istanbul 34122 Turkiye
Transfer to Denizli airport and take a morning flight from Denizli to Istanbul airport where you will have a free afternoon for the last chance to complete your visits.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul
Day 10: Departure Day
Stop At: Istanbul Airport, Tayakadın, Terminal Caddesi No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Türkiye
Transfer to the Airport to connect to your international flight and leave Turkey unless you choose to extend your stay.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
•
No accommodation included on this day.