| This special created itinerary is the most comfortable way to visit the highlights of Turkey without getting exhausted. Ideal for first time visitors. |
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| Price from 750 EUR /person |
| Duration of
10 days - (09h:15) |
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| PHOTOS (move your mouse over the thumbnails to view the image above) |
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| Day 1 - Arrive Istanbul
Arrive at Ataturk airport in Istanbul and transfer to our hotel.
Overnight: Istanbul Hotel (1 night)
| | Day 2 - Istanbul - (flight) Ankara - Cappadocia (B, L, D)
Early transfer to airport for flight to Ankara, to the capital of Turkey. Upon arrival at Ankara, we will visit the Ataturk Mausoleum and Anatolian Civilizations Museum. (selected Best European Museum of the Year in 1997) Then we depart to Cappadocia and have lunch on the way. After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake, we will visit the 13th century Agzikarahan caravanserai; caravanserais are inns built by Seljuk Turks to ensure travel and trade safety of the merchant caravans traveling on the Silk Road.
Arrival to the Cappadocia region and overnight.
Overnight: Cappadocia Hotel (2 nights)
| | Day 3 - Cappadocia (B, L, D)
After breakfast we will begin our tour in this magical land; the unique landscape of cone-shaped volcanic formations called fairy chimneys. We will walk through the volcanic valleys to view the spectacular fairy chimneys at Pasabagi, visit the rock-carved churches and chapels containing remarkable frescoes in Goreme Open Air Museum, explore Kaymakli underground city, visit famous pottery center Avanos, and the natural carved fortress Uchisar. We will return our hotel for dinner.
Optional: Sunrise Balloon Tour; glide over this magical land at the dawn.
Optional2: Whirling Dervishes performance in a 13th century Caravan Inn.
Overnight: Cappadocia Hotel. | | Day 4 - Cappadocia - Konya (en-route) - Pamukkale (B, L, D)
After breakfast depart to Pamukkale; on the way visit Konya, city where Mevlana Rumi is buried, founder of the most well-known Sufi order, Mevleviye. They are also known as the "Whirling Dervishes" due to their famous practice of whirling ceremony called Sema which represents a spiritual journey through mind and love to "Perfect". Chanting of poetry, rhythmic rotation, and mystical music create a synthesis which is a very unique experience. In Konya, we will visit the Mevlana Museum and Karatay Koran School. Later we will continue to Pamukkale, ancient spa center and the unique natural site of white limestone terraces cascading down the mountain slope. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Overnight: Pamukkale Hotel (1 night) | | Day 5 - Pamukkale - Aphrodisias - Kusadasi (B, L, D)
After breakfast we will drive to the "Sacred City" Hierapolis; it is a World Heritage Site, and a "must-see" location with the largest Necropolis (large cemetery of monumental tombs) in Anatolia, temple of Apollo, Plutonion cave, theater, and a thermal pool in which you can swim with ancient artifacts. Then we will drive to the ancient art center: Aphrodisias. Aphrodite�s city which was famous with its marble sculptures in Hellenistic and Roman periods. Visit Temple of Aphrodite, the best preserved stadium and theater in the Mediterranean, The Tetrapylon (monumental gate) and the baths of Hadrian. Later we will continue to Kusadasi for overnight.
Overnight: Kusadasi Hotel (2 nights) | | Day 6 - Ephesus & St. Marys House - Kusadasi (B, L, D)
After breakfast begin tour of glorious Greco-Roman ruins of Ephesus, one of the best preserved classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean dated back to 2000 years BC. We will walk along the sacred marble street connecting the Great Theater with the library of Celsius. We will see the Commercial Agora and walk along the marble Curetes Street which has beautiful mosaics paved on sidewalks, explore the gymnasium, visit temple of Hadrian, and lots of other interesting monuments of the old Roman city. Later we will drive to the hilltop where we visit the miraculously discovered Virgin Marys House. Finally we stop at the restoration of St. John�s Basilica where according to legend, he was buried. Return hotel for dinner and overnight.
Optional Tours: 1) Tour to Sardis; it is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and also famous for the marble paved ancient Synagogue 2) Trip to nearby mountain village Sirince, stone-and-stucco houses with red-tile roofs, incredible varieties of fruit wines, narrow streets with colorful shops.
Overnight: Kusadasi Hotel. | | Day 7 - Kusadasi - Pergamum - Canakkale (B, L, D)
Early departure to Pergamum, the ancient city of learning, arts and medicine. In well restored Pergamum, we will see the ruins of the magnificent Acropolis, Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysus and the steepest amphitheater of the ancient world. We will drive to the little village Assos and then we will continue to Canakkale for overnight.
Overnight: Canakkale Hotel (1 night) | | Day 8 - Dardanelles - Gallipoli - Istanbul (B, L)
After breakfast we will drive to Troy, Homer's legendary city in Iliad and Odyssey. We will see Troy's legendary walls and replica of the famous wooden horse used during the Trojan War. Later pass to the other side of Dardanelles by a ferryboat and drive to Istanbul with a visit to Gallipoli; we will visit World War I battlefields, Anzac Cove, Chunuk Bair, Lone pine Cemetery and Kabatepe War Museum. Arrive Istanbul and transfer to our hotel.
Overnight: Istanbul Hotel (2 nights) | | Day 9 - Istanbul City Tour (B)
After breakfast, we will begin our full day sightseeing tour of Istanbul. We will visit Topkapi Palace, stunning palace/museum which was the imperial residence and the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years. Later we will explore the ancient Roman Hippodrome (center of the chariot races) and proceed to the Hagia Sophia, ancient Byzantine church which was converted to a mosque in 15th century. This is a remarkable structure where you can see the Christian mosaics and fine examples of Islamic calligraphy next to each other. We will continue our Sultanahmet tour with the Blue Mosque which is famous for its six minarets and beautiful blue Iznik tiles. Finally we will stop at Grand Covered Bazaar and will have free time to discover 4000 tiny shops in the passageways of the worlds largest covered bazaar. You can enjoy local tastes in one of the little snack shops where locals stop to refresh before they continue drifting in the alleys of the bazaar. Transfer to hotel.
Optional Tours: 1) Visit Harem and the Imperial Treasury in Topkapi Palace. 2) "Istanbul by Night" Dinner with belly dancing.
Overnight: Istanbul Hotel | | Day 10 - Istanbul - Departure (B)
Transfer to airport for flight back home. Thank you for visiting Turkey!
End of Services. Thanks for joining our tour.
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| Season |
Adults |
Children |
Infants |
| 01/11/2008 to 30/04/2009 |
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| Duration:
10 days 09hr:15min - Starts at:
N/A - Finishes at: N/A |
| Finishing point: Istanbul |
| Payment Types:
Cash, Credit Cards, Traveller Cheques, PayPal |
| We speak:
Turkish, Japanese, Russian, German, Italian, Spanish, French, English |
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| Inclusions: |
- Istanbul (1 night) Cappadocia (2 nights) Pamukkale (1 night) Kusadasi (2 nights) Canakkale (1 night) Istanbul (2 nights)
- Lunch during tours, Dinner at Hotels
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| Exclusions: |
- Personal Travel insurance
- Drinks during meals
- Non mandatory but customary tips
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