Turkey Highlights Tour - (10 Days / 9 Nights)
Istanbul - Pergamum - Ephesus - Pamukkale - Cappadocia
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 bus to Ephesus with non smoking fully air-conditioned at 21:30 (duration 10 hours). (Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
DAY 4 - Ephesus Tour
09:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Ephesus & The House of Virgin Mary. First you will visit The Temple of Artemis, which once was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Then you will visit the world famous ancient Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, the most well preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a lunch break. After lunch, you will visit The House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. End of the tour transfer to hotel and overnight in Kusadasi. (Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
DAY 5 - Pergamon Tour
09:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Pergamum. In Pergamum, you will be delighted to visit the Asclepion and Health Centre. As you make your to Acropolis, the Red Basillica, originally a temple of Serapis, can be viewed. The most spectacular structure is certainly the theatre, a remarkable piece of engineering built into the steep hillside. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at around 18:00.
(Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
DAY 6 - Pamukkale Hierapolis Tour
Breakfast & check out the hotel.
08:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Pamukkale & Hierapolis. In Pamukkale, you will see the Cotton Cliffs, one of the natural wonders of the world formed by deposits of calcareous salts. Also visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its basilica , theatre and Roman Baths. After tour overnight bus to Cappadocia with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 21:00 or 22:00. (duration 10 hours). There are three breaks on the way for your personal needs.(Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
DAY 7 - Free Day in Cappadocia
Arrive in Cappadocia and transfer to your authentic hotel in Cappadocia. Free time at leisure. Stay overnight in Cappadocia.
(Included meals: Breakfast)
DAY 8 - North Cappadocia Tour
09:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of North Cappadocia. In this day you will be able to see:
DEVRENT VALLEY : Devrent is situated on the northern slopes of Aktepe, 1km from Pasabaglari (Monks’ Valley) and 5 km from Avanos. The ruins at Devrent are spread over three valleys, which also house several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems.
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.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at around 18:00. Overnight in Cappadocia. (Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
DAY 9 - South Cappadocia Tour
Breakfast & check out the hotel.
09:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of South Cappadocia. In this day you will be able to see:
KIZILCUKUR : is an isolated valley behind Urgup. It has beautiful rock formation with some great hidden rock-carved churches. The most interesting part of this area is the countless tracks connecting the small villages and towns through vineyards and gardens like a spider net. It is always possible to see villagers working in the area and offering grapes, apples or apricots to you.
CAVUSIN : One of the oldest settlements in the area, Cavusin is situated 2km from Goreme, on the Göreme-Avanos road. The Church of St.John the Baptist offers a panoramic view of the village. This church and its paintigs date back to the 5th century, making the oldest church in the region. It had a large courtyard which is unusual for Cappadocia, this has been eroded away however.
HOSPITAL MONASTRY : One of the oldest monastries in Cappadocia.
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.
PIGEON HOUSE : Visit the pigeon houses and rock formations.
After tour overnight bus to Istanbul with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 20:00 (duration 11 hours).There are three breaks on the way for your personal needs. (Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch)
DAY 10 - Departure from Istanbul
07:30 Arrive in Istanbul. Met on arrival & Transfer to airport. End of tour and services. (If you would like, you can extend your trip by adding extra nights in Istanbul, please advise.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
• Arrival, departure airport transfers and ground transportation
• Domestic flight ticket - (Istanbul to Izmir)
• Transportation in non-smoking mini/midi bus with professional English speaking guide and experienced driver.
• Overnight intercity coach ticket (Pamukkale to Cappadocia to Istanbul)
• 2 night in Kusadasi at 4 star hotel including breakfast & Dinner
• 3 night in Istanbul at 4 star or Boutique hotels including breakfast
• 2 night in Cappadocia at Cave hotel including breakfast
• 2 Full Day Tour of Istanbul with lunch
• 2 Full Day Tour of Cappadocia with lunch
• 1 Full Day Tour of Ephesus with lunch
• 1 Full Day Tour of Pergamon with lunch
• 1 Full Day Tour of Pamukkale with lunch
• Meals mentioned by the itinerary
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Carpark, Gasoline, Highway & Bridge fees
• Services charges and local taxes