Arrive at Istanbul Airport and transfer to the hotel. At 13:00, we’ll head to the Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, which is a very colourful market with an oriental atmosphere that offers products such as spices, desserts, and nuts. Afterwards, we’ll drive to Golden Horn for a boat tour along the amazing Bosphorus Strait, which separates Europe and Asia and connects the Black Sea with the inland Marmara Sea. We'll return to the hotel at the end of the boat tour.
Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast, we’ll start our Istanbul tour at 08:45 am. First, we’ll visit Hagia Sofia (Saint Sophia), built by the emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD as a church and later converted into a mosque. Beautiful mosaics and frescos depicting Christian icons and the Byzantine Emperors will be seen. Then, we’ll visit the Topkapı Palace, which was the residence of the Ottoman sultans for 400 years, with its fabulous treasure chambers. We will visit the legendary Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque), famous for its blue Iznik tiles and unique six minarets. Next, we’ll see the Hippodrome Square, used as a meeting place for chariot races during the Byzantine period, the Egyptian Obelisk, and the German Fountain of Wilhelm ll.
Lastly, we’ll visit the Islamic Art Museum and depart for the airport for our domestic flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Kuşadası.
Dinner and accommodation in Kuşadası. ( Breakfast -Dinner )
Kusadasi Ephesus distance 20 Km Today, we’ll immerse ourselves in history at Ephesus World Heritage site, the most beautiful ancient city of the Ionia region. First, visit the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We will visit the ancient city of Ephesus. You will feel the mystical atmosphere of Ephesus as you walk on Curetes Street and see the ruins of the 25,000-capacity Grand Theater, the State Agora, the magnificent Celsus Library, Odeon, Temesos, Prytaneion, Magnesia Gate, the Harbour of Ephesus and the Fountain of Trajan.
After this trip, we will visit the former Greek village of Şirince, famous for its fruit wines. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey, and in this carpet village, we’ll learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value.
End of the tour. Dinner and accommodation in Kuşadası. ( Breakfast –Dinner )
Pamukkale is a World Heritage site with fantastic travertines and Hierapolis ancient ruins.
After breakfast, we will drive to Pamukkale (220 km). On arrival, we’ll have a lunch break and visit Hierapolis, where we will see the Gate of Domitian, Arcadian Street, the ancient 2nd-century Roman Theater, the Nymphaion, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium, and the Necropolis. We will pass through the Roman Gate, admire the ancient Pamukkale Theater, and walk around the grave monuments built to honour heroes. Afterwards, we will have a relaxing walk on the travertine terraces and have a chance to swim in the Ancient Cleopatra Pools (extra cost).
End of the tour. Overnight stay in a Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale. ( Breakfast -Dinner )
Pamukkale Thermal Hotel breakfast and the comfort of thermal water therapy in the evening. We will drive to Cappadocia via the ancient Silk Road route. On the way, we’ll take a break in the city of Konya to have lunch and visit the Mevlana Museum, which houses the tomb of the great 13th-century Persian poet and founder of the Order of the Whirling Dervishes, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, also known as Rumi, and the Alaeddin Mosque, which was built on Alaeddin Hill during the Seljuk period. Along the ancient Silk Road, we will also visit the Sultanhanı Caravanserai. After our visits, we will continue on our way to Cappadocia.
Dinner and accommodation in Cappadocia. ( Breakfast -Dinner
Today, we will start our tour with a visit to Kaymaklı Underground City and Göreme Open Air Museum, home to a large monastery complex with dozens of monasteries, each of which has its church, offering some of the best examples of Byzantine art. The churches carved into the rock feature paintings and frescoes from the tenth to the thirteenth century, whose colours retain freshness. Next, we will visit Paşabağı Valley on a vineyard on Zelve Road. Some of the mushroom-shaped rock formations here are several meters high. Fairy chimneys shaped by erosion for many years were used as houses by various religious groups. Therefore, it is also known as the Monks Valley. Afterwards, we will visit the Devrent Valley, which offers a reddish moon view, looks like a movie set, and is famous for its rock formations resembling different animal figures.
Overnight in Cappadocia. ( Breakfast -Dinner )
*Optional Turkish Folklore Night featuring traditional folklore and belly dancing shows in a cave music hall. (extra cost)
After breakfast, we will depart early for Ankara (approx. 330 km,) the capital of Turkey. On arrival, we will see Anıtkabir (Mausoleum of Atatürk), the final resting place of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and the founder of the Republic of Turkey. After this visit, we’ll have time to lunch in a local restaurant and depart for Istanbul by vehicle (approx. 440 km).
Arrival and overnight in Istanbul. ( Breakfast )
Free time until your airport transfer. Our tour concludes with your transfer to Istanbul Airport.
Hope to see you on another tour. ( Breakfast )
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