Day 1 - Arriving in Istanbul
.** As we say in Turkey, HOS GELDINIZ! Welcome to Turkey. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After a short briefing about your tour you will have the afternoon free to rest and explore Istanbul on your own. Overnight in ISTANBUL.
Day 2 - Istanbul - (B/L)
This will be a full day of exploring the historical sites of Istanbul.
Sites you’ll see today
* Blue Mosque--World renown for it’s architecture and focal point for worshipping Muslims.
* Haghia Sophia--1,400 year old supreme church from Byzantium times which houses famous Byzantine Mosaics.
* Byzantine Hippodrome-The focal point of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Constantine. Within it’s center you will see the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column.
* Topkapi Palace--the residence and leadership center of the Sultans during the Ottoman Empire. It was built in 1459-1465 shortly after the conquest of Constantinople. You will see the Treasury that includes the Topkapi Dagger, the 86 carat Spoon Maker’s Diamond, and the jewel encased bones of St. John the Baptist’s skull and arm bone.
*Suleymaniye Mosque and the Grand Bazaar will also be visited during the tour.
Overnight in ISTANBUL.
Day 3 - Istanbul - (B)
Sites you’ll see today
This will be half day of exploring the historical sites of Istanbul.
Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), Mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish etc.
Bosporus Cruise, thorough the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residential of luxurious apartments.
After the tour we will leave you at the grand Bazaar and give you free time to explore and some souvenier shopping. Overnight stay in Istanbul
Day 4 - Istanbul to Kusadasi - (B/L/D)
Early in morning we will transfer you to the domestic airport and put you on a 1 hour flight to Izmir, after arrival in Izmir we will transfer you to Ephesus region and continue on the guided tour of Ephesus
*Ephesus is one of the best preserved cities from Roman times. At the time St. Paul lived in Ephesus in the 60‘s AD, it was at it’s Roman heyday with a population around 250,000. When St. Paul lived in Ephesus he would have addressed the Ephesians in the great theatre, that today impresses everyone that walks into it’s stands. Ephesus was a great ancient city and much of it has been preserved for you to see. More than any other site, you can walk the streets, stand in the great theatre, wander in the library, look towards the hill where St. Paul was put into prison, and feel that you are walking back into the time that St. Paul lived. After being here, you will read the book of Ephesians with new eyes.
*The House of The Virgin Mary where it is believed St. Mary came to live with St. John in the last years of her life. >Breakfast/Lunch/ dinner provided<overnight in KUSADASI
Day 5 - Pamukkale tour then back to Istanbul - (B/L)
After breakfast we will take you on a guided tour of Pamukkale.
Sites you’ll see today
*Pammukale, which means cotton castle, is the result of limestone formations built over thousands of years. Warm calcium rich mineral water flowed over the cliffs and as it cooled it deposited the calcium into the formations that are seen today. Pamukkale is nova world heritage site.
*Hierapolis was founded as a healing care center in 190 BC, taking advantage of the mineral waters in the area. It was one of the most important intellectual, artistic, religious and commercial centers of the Roman Empire.
After the tour we will provide a transfer to Izmir airport and put you on a 1 hour flight back to Istanbul, after arrival in Istanbul then we will transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Istanbul.
Day 6 - Istanbul to Home - (B)
Gule, Gule! It is time to go home. We will transfer you to the airport and wish you well, asking that you keep Turkey and all of us in your hearts, and hoping that our paths cross again in this life!
Total cost: 685 Euro per person in a double room & 835 Euro in a single room.
Price Includes
* All of the hotels (Each of them individually chosen)
* All of the land transfers with comfortable vehicles
* All of the meal mentioned in the itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch & D-dinner)
* Professional English speaking tour guides
* Domestic flight tickets from Istanbul to Izmir
* Domestic flight tickets from Pamukkale ( Denizli to istanbul)
* All of the TAX and service charges
Excludes
* International flight tickets to Istanbul
* Drinks with meals
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