DAY 1 - ISTANBUL
Welcome to Istanbul - Turkey. You arrive at the Istanbul Airport, we transfer you to your hotel and you stay overnight.
DAY 2: ISTANBUL
Let’s start to explore Istanbul. The first visit is Hippodrome. It was the center of sports activities in Constantinople. Famous with 4 monuments; The German Fountain of Wilhelm II, Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and Column of Constantine.
Haghia Sophia, is the most famous museum in Turkey and one of the greatest marvels of architecture. Hagia Sophia was built as a church in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian then in 1453 renovated into a mosque by Ottoman Emperor Fatih Sultan Mehmet. It was converted into a museum in 1935 and welcomed both local and foreign visitors. (Closed on Monday)
Blue Mosque, as known as the Sultanahmet Mosque, this breathtaking building is one of the most majestic Ottoman mosques in all of Turkey. Also, it was built with unique 6 minarets. (Closed on Friday)
Topkapi Palace, which has been home to the Ottoman dynasty for many years, was used for educational administration and as the art center of the state. Get knowledge about the imperial treasury´s sacred Islamic relics, palace kitchens, and weapons. (Closed on Tuesday)
Grand Bazaar, is the biggest market and the most attractive shopping center of Istanbul which has lots of shopping opportunities with carpets, leather, jewelry, Turkish delight, gold, antique tiles, etc.. (Closed on Sunday)
DAY 3: ISTANBUL
You will be picked up by a tour guide from your hotel in the morning and you go to visit Spicy Bazaar where you can buy delightful and lovely presents for your family and mates. After that, you have Bosphorus tour by boat and you see Ciragan Palace, Ortakoy Mosque and Rumeli Fortress.
In the afternoon, we visit Dolmabahce Palace which was built in the 19th century is one of the glamorous palaces in the World. It was the administrative center of the late Ottoman Empire with the last of Ottoman Sultans was staying there. The first parliament convened in the grand hall. Atatürk passed away in there too.
Bezmiâlem Valide Sultan Mosque, is located next to Dolmabahce Palace. Sultan Abdülmecid made for his mother Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan.
At the end of the tour, you go back to the hotel and you stay overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 4: ISTANBUL-CAPPADOCIA
Early in the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and we drive to the Istanbul Airport and fly to the Kayseri Airport. After landing, our guide will welcome you and the first place that you visit is Goreme Open-Air Museum which is a member of UNESCO World Heritage consisting of five Byzantine Orthodox churches. After, we visit Uchisar Castle which has many rooms shallowed out into the rock are connected to each other with stairs, tunnels, and passages.
After the lunch break, we visit Pasabagi (Monks Valley) the mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys with a win and even triple rock caps are very unique even for Cappadocia. We also visit Avanos (Pottery).
The last stop is Devrent Valley which is famous for its unique landscape.
After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel. You stay overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 5: CAPPADOCIA
In the morning, you will be picked up by our guide from your hotel. First, we visit Cavusin Village (Rose Valley), the Fairy Chimneys look like mushrooms. There are amazing churches and remnants of Christian history. After, we visit Ortahisar Castle similar to Uchisar Castle in style where storage caves can also be observed.
After having time for lunch, we visit Kaymakli Underground City where early Christians lived in fear and faith. On the way back, we visit Panoramic Pigeon Valley where pigeons contributed to the lives of locals with their manure to fertilize the vineyards.
At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel.
OPTIONAL: **** HOT AIR BALLOON TOUR
DAY 6: CAPPADOCIA-IZMIR
After breakfast, you meet with our tour guide and go to visit Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery.
Ihlara Valley, was formed by the volcanic actions of Mt.Hasan, next to Ihlara Valley. Melendiz River eroded the valley for millions of years besides the layers cracked and fell down. Eventually, an 80-meter deep canyon was composed. The whole valley is 14 km. length. In the past, generally, Christians lived in several parts of the Valley; also they carved churches and painted them.
Selime Monastery, At first look, the monastery looks like a castle, but shelters, churches, chapels, bedrooms, storages, and a big cathedral proves it´s being a monastery. You will get information about the monastic life in Cappadocia.
At the end of the tour, we transfer you to the Kayseri Airport and you fly to Izmir. We transfer you from the Izmir Airport to Kusadasi Hotel.
You stay overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 7: EPHESUS
After breakfast, you visit Ephesus. Ephesus, was the second-largest city in the Roman Empire over 250.000 people in the 1st BC. Ranking only behind Rome it was the second-largest city in the world. Ephesus was also a harbor city. And, this giant city was built only with marble. Did you know Ephesus had the largest amphitheater in the ancient world over 25.000 seats? Also see Goddess Nike, Local pharmacy, Hadrian Gate, Library of Celcius (the third largest library), Marble Street, and Harbor Street.
Temple of Artemis, is located near Ephesus and was built in 6th century. It was one of the seven wonders of the world.
The House of Virgin Mary, is located top of the Ephesus and 9 km far away. The places where the Virgin Mary has spent her last days and the Shrine of Virgin Mary pleasures wonderful atmosphere latent in the green.
At the end of the tour, you stay overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 8: PAMUKKALE
After breakfast, we depart to Pamukkale. Pamukkale is in Aegean Turkey and it is also called the “Cotton Castle”, because of the white cotton appearance of the mineral bath spas that abound the province, which is rich in calcium. Known as a “spa town” since the Roman era, tourists travel to Pamukkale to relax in warm, soothing, and therapeutic waters in the myriad spas. Hierapolis or “Holy City” evangelized by Paul and Epaphras. Also, the Apostle Philip lived and was buried here. What makes Hierapolis different from most places on Earth is that it is not built on land, either on water, but on limestone deposits above the mineral springs in the area. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the ruins that are littered all over the city, including the necropolis that houses the sarcophagi of important ancient figures like Marcus Aurelius.
After the tour, you go to Kusadasi and stay overnight.
DAY 9: IZMIR-ANTALYA
After breakfast, we transfer you to the Izmir Airport and fly to Antalya. You will be picked up and dropped off at your hotel.
You stay overnight in Antalya.
DAY 10: ANTALYA
In the morning, you will be picked you up from your hotel. You will explore the ancient cities of Perge and Aspendos and visit beautiful Side and natural waterfall Kursunlu and Manavgat (depending on season).
The tour will begin with a visit to Perge. Tour the stadium, Roman Gate, Nymphaeum, Roman Bath, Hellenistic Gate, Colonnaded Main Street, and the Agora. After lunch, there will be time to visit one of the waterfalls depending on the time of year. Aspendos is the next stop and is known for its well-preserved theater.
At the end of the tour, you go back to your hotel.
You stay overnight in Antalya.
DAY 11: ANTALYA-ISTANBUL
Early in the morning, we transfer you to the Antalya Airport. And you fly back to Istanbul and we will transfer you to your hotel.
DAY 12: ISTANBUL
You have free time until departure flight. We transfer you to the Istanbul Airport and you fly back to your home.
Stores to visit:
You can watch how the traditional Turkish carpet weaving is done by using wool yarns naturally dyed with alizarines. Enjoying a glass of tea while listening to the hypnotic clatter of the hand weaving looms is a lovey experience. You can buy carpets to enrich the decoration of your home with a wonderfully colored, traditional Turkish art.
The excavations have proved that the art of ceramics is as old as the ancient city of Ephesus with all those ceramic ovens and objects discovered. In Selçuk, you can still see ceramic workshops which bring forth the aesthetic characteristic of the earth when treated with fire. Wonderful designs are immortalized by artisanship, natural colors and ceramic ovens. Ceramic workshops are amongst the most popular spots within visitors of the area.
Leather Factory, some of the finest leather items manufactured in Turkey often find their way to shops in Italy. Premium grade leather is selected. This is then designed by fine craftsmanship into beautiful leather goods that speak of style and elegance.Among these products that people demand are leather jackets, shoes and belts, all produced in Turkey using traditional methods. If you want to go shopping for a leather in Turkey then a leather wallet or purse is always a good option for a souvenir. Tourists like shopping for leather products in Turkey because it is known that quality and workmanship of leather products are of a high standart.
Onyx Demonstration, Cappadocia has the onyx mines where the highest quality onyx is found (brown-veined green onyx is the highest quality, followed by brown-veined beige). Local artisans are experts at making items of jewelry as well as beautiful vases, chess sets, and numerous other attractive artifacts and knick-knacks. Watch a demonstration of how this very hard and brittle stone is cut, shaped and polished, before seeing the many beautiful onyx products.