Nostalgie of Turkey tour - (9 Days / 8 Nights)
Istanbul - Ankara - Cappadocia - Konya - Pamukkale - Kusadasi - Istanbul
TOUR ITINERARY
DAY 1 - Arrival in Istanbul
Upon your arrival at Istanbul airport our staff will be ready to meet and transfer you to your hotel. Time at leisure, stay overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2 - Byzantine & Ottoman Relics Tour
08:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Old City. In this day you will be able to see:
HAGIA SOPHIA: Byzantium largest cathedral, converted to mosque 1453 by the Ottoman Empire and today open as a museum to see both religion remains.
BLUE MOSQUE: This mosque complex, containing Istanbul's only mosque with six minarets was built by Sedefkar Mehmet Aga for Sultan Ahmed 1st. early 17th century.
HIPPODROME and OBELISKS: Center of sport activities and political events of the Eastern Roman Empire. The vast Hippodrome, known as At Meydani or ¨plaza of the horses¨,stretches between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
GRAND BAZAAR: The oldest and the largest covered market place in the world is situated in the center of the city. Famous shopping center worldwide. Shopping possibilities for carpet, jewellery, leather etc
TOPKAPI PALACE: Topkapi Palace was the main residence of the sultan and his court. It was initially the seat of government as well as the imperial residence. Built between 1475 and 1478 by Mehmet II, Fatih, the conqueror of Istanbul, served as the residence of the sultan and administrative seat of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years.
RUSTEM PASA MOSQUE: The Rustem Pasa Mosque was designed by Ottoman imperial arthitect Mimar Sinan. It is famous for its large quatities of exquisite Iznik tiles, set in a very wide variety of beautiful floral and geometric designs.
Tour finishes around 17:00, transfer back to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul (Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
DAY 3 - Bosphorus Cruise & Two Continents Tour
Breakfast & check out the hotel.
08:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Old City. In this day you will be able to see:
CRUISE ON THE GOLDEN HORN: Cruise along the Golden Horn and see the historical heart of the city and the principal harbor of Byzantium, Constantinople and Istanbul for over 2000 years.
CRUISE ON THE BOSPHORUS: The Cruise on the Bosphorus which will give you the best chance to view the finest palaces and the pavalions along the shores.
RUMELI FORTRESS( From the sea): The biggest fortification of Istanbul can be seen clearly during our Bosphorus Cruise.
CABLE CAR TO PIERRE LOTI: Enjoy the beautiful view from the cable car as you climb the hill to the cafe named French writer Pierre Loti, birth name Louis Marie Julien Viaud (1850 -1923).
CITY WALLS: Constantinople´s great city walls were breached only twice in 1600 years. The first breach occured in 1204 during the fourth Crusade; the second breach was led by ¨Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror¨in 1453 with cannons and troops.
DOLMABAHCE PALACE & HAREM: The main palace was built by the leading ottoman architect of the era. Karabet and Nikogos Balyan and contist of there parts: the Imperial Mabeyn (State Apartments), Muayede Salon ( Ceremonial Hall) and the Imperial Harem.
BOSPHOROS BRIGDE: Overshadowing Istanbul´s traditional architecture is one of the world´s largest suspension brigdes, the Bosphorus Brigde, linking Europe and Asia.
CAMLICA HILL: The highest peak in the Istanbul vicinity is the 288m Camlica Hill. It commands a magnificent view that embraces the mount of the Bosphorus, old Istanbul, Galata, Beyoglu and lets you understand the magnificence and beauty of the city.
Overnight Train(Sleeping Bed) to Ankara. (Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
DAY 4 - Ankara - Cappadocia
Meet our staff in Ankara Train Station. Visit the Hittite Museum and Mausoleum of Atatürk. After lunch drive to Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia. (Included meals: Lunch & Dinner )
DAY 5 - Cappadocia Tour
Breakfast at the hotel, morning visit to the underground city of Kaymaklý & Citadel of Uçhisar. After lunch continue with the valley of "Göreme" & openair museum. The last sites will be Paþabað valley and Avanos. Return to hotel for dinner. Overnight in Cappadocia.
MONKS VALLEY: The best place to see three-headed fairy chimneys. Pasabag, the Pasha's Vineyard, is surrounded by incredible natural rock formations; a spectacular scene.
AVANOS: A center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC, it is a town where you will be invited to visit a traditional pottery workshop, which is possibly set deep into the hillsides. The clay, which comes from the Red River passing through the town, gives life both to the land and to the local economy.
GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM: Goreme was an important Christian centre in the early years of the Middle Ages, was a bishopric administered by Mokissos near Aksaray in the 11th and 13th centuries. Despite the vast numer of monasteries, churches and chapels in the vicinity of Göreme, there are not many inscriptions bearing dates. For this reason, these religious buildings are mainly dated according to the iconography or architectural features.
UCHISAR : Uchisar is a troglodyte town situated right in the middle of Cappadocia. It is named after the enormous piece of rock in the center of the town, which was once used as a castle. This extraordinary rock is the highest peak of the area with the view of whole Cappadocia and Erciyes (Argeus) Mountain.
KAYMAKLI: Kaymakli and Derinkuyu underground cities are the two largest and deepest of the 40 others in Cappadocia. They both have eight floors, although not all are open to the public.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at around 18:00. Overnight in Cappadocia.
(Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner)
DAY 6 - Cappadocia - Konya - Pamukkale
Early departure for Konya. On the way visit the 13 th century Seljukian caravanserai "Sultanhan". The next stop will be Konya which is famous with Mevlana Museum and the Theological Scholl of Whirling Dervishes. Lunch enroute, drive to Pamukkale . Overnight in Pamukkale.
(Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner )
DAY 7 - Pamukkale - Aphrodisias - Kusadasi
Breakfast and visit the ancient city of Hierapolis. The ruins of the biggest Necropolis Graveyard of the ancient world, Roman Baths, Basilica and calcium cliffs. Drive to Aphrodisias.After lunch visit the Greco-Romen settlement which is remarkably well preserved.The ancient city is dedicated to the Godess of Love, Aphrodite.Drive to Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.
(Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner )
DAY 8 - Kusadasi - Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel,drive to Meryemana and visit the House of Virgin Mary. 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. After lunch visit the Basilica of St.John drive to Izmir Airport. Flight to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
(Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch )
Day 9 - Istanbul.
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from Hotel. The end of our services. (Included meals: Breakfast )
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
• All arrival and departure ground transportation for airport and hotel transfers.
• Intercity ground transportation tickets - (Antalya to Cappadocial to Istanbul).
• Transportation with A/C and non smoking coaches.
• 3 night hotel stay in Istanbul - (including breakfast).
• 1 night stay in Train .
• 1 night hotel stay in Pamukkale - (including breakfast & Dinner).
• 2 night hotel stay in Cappadocia - (including breakfast & Dinner).
• 1 night hotel stay in Kusadasi - (including breakfast & Dinner).
• 2 Full Day Tour of Istanbul with lunch.
• 1 Full Day Tour of Gallipoli with lunch.
• 1 Half Day Tour of Troy.
• 1 Full Day Tour of Nemrut with lunch.
• 1 Full Day Tour of Harran with lunch.
• 2 Full Day Tour of Cappadocia with lunch.
• Meals mentioned by the itinerary.
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary.
• Services charges and local taxes.