Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival 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.
>Breakfast/Lunch/ provided. Overnight in ISTANBUL.
Day 3 - Istanbul - (B)
This will be a 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 souvenir shopping. Overnight stay in Istanbul
Day 4 - Istanbul - Izmir - Ephesus tour - Then to Pamukkale - (B/L/D)
Very early in the morning we will meet you in your istanbul hotel and transfer you to the domestic airport, then we will put you on a 1 hour flight from Istanbul to Izmir. As soon as you arrive then we will continue on a full day tour of Ephesus. Sites you’ll see today
*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. > After the tour we will provide a transfer to Pamukkale, after arrival, you will check into your hotel and overnight stay in Pamukkale - PAM THERMAL HOTEL
Day 5 - Pamukkale tour then to Cappadocia - (B/L)
Breakfast served at the hotel - Check out from the hotel and drive to inlands of the western part of Turkey, as soon as we arrive in Pamukkale then we will continou on the guided tour of Pamukkale & Hiarapolis.
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. Pammukale is now a 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. It eventually had a large Jewish and Christian community. and during the Christian era the city of Laodiceia, one of the Seven Churches written of in Revelation, was founded 8 km away. After the Pamukkale tour, we will put you on a comfortable overnight bus to Cappadocia.
Day 6 - Cappadocia - (B/L)
Early arrival in Cappadocia, check-in hotel - After a free resting time we will continue on a full day tour of Cappadocia, This day will be spent exploring the amazing sites of Cappadocia.
Sites you’ll see today
*The World Heritage Site of Goreme Open-Air Museum --This is a cluster of rock cut Byzantine churches, chapels and monasteries which include some wonderful 11th and 12th century frescoes on the cave walls. This place was used by the Christians as a place of refuge from those opposed to Christianity and also was a major monastery. Rooms, churches, houses, and gathering halls have all been cut into the rock or formed from natural caves. Within the caves you can explore and see the preserved mosaics and frescoes.
*Fairy Chimneys -- these geological phenomenon have been shaped over millions of years. They were formed during volcanic eruptions in the region. Reaching at times 40 meters in height, they are conical in shape and have a "hat" top to them.
*Devrent Valley--This valley is know as "the pink valley" because of the color of it‘s soil. This is a lovely place to wander around and look at the magical rock formations indicative to Cappadocia, including the Fairy Chimneys.
*Uchisar Castle--Also called a fortress, this is actually a formation of two gigantic rocks surrounded by smaller rocks that together form a natural fortress with towers. These formations were inhabited during both the Byzantine and Ottoman times. You can climb and explore the different caves and rooms throughout the fortress, experiencing first-hand what it must have been like to hide in these fortified rocks, waiting for the ancient enemy to pass by or give up.
*If time allows we will also get the chance to visit local craftspeople and learn how they make dolls and create traditional pottery. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.
Day 7 - Cappadocia - (B/L)
After breakfast we will continue on a full day tour to south part of Cappadocia. >>
*Underground City of Derinkuyu--You will gradually stroll your way down into the depths of the earth in this ancient underground city that has 18-20 floors as deep as 40 meters below the ground. Don’t worry, you will only go down to the 8th floor. Cappadocia has around 36 underground cities. Archeologists date these back to the time of the Hittites which lived 4000 years ago. Others believe they were inhabited around the 7th century BC .....Regardless of how old or young they are, undoubtedly they will leave you with a sense of awe of how the dwellers of these cities lived. You will be amazed at the elaborate ancient ventilation system in place. These cities were fortified and prepared for it’s inhabitants to hide out for months from attackers, especially during the Arab invasions. During Christian times the hiding worshippers even built little chapels that you can still see.
*Traditional Anatolian villages --The head-scarfed women out at work in the fields from sun up until sun-down, and the mustached, vest-wearing men hard at work playing cards in the coffee shops. You will get time to stroll in such a village and see the average Turkish villager at work...or play. Overnight stay in Cappadocia
Day 8 - Cappadocia to istanbul - (B)
After breakfast we will transfer you to Kayseri Airport and put you on a 1 hour 15 minute flight to Istanbul, Arriving in Istanbul will be the end of this program.
Tour ends
Cost will be € 865 per person in double room and € 995 for single supplement
Price includes
* All of the Transportation by comfortable vehicles
* Centrally located charming hotels
* 7 Breakfast, 4 lunches and 1 dinner
*
Domestic flight tickets ( Istanbul - Izmir & Cappadocia - Istanbul )
* Professional English speaking guides
* Entrance fees to the Ancient sites
* All of the service charges and local taxes
( This is a customize program and it is available all year around, if you are interested in getting more information about the cost, and hotel name and their web sites, then simply send us an e-mail inquiry and let us know the dates you like to travel, then we will get back to you with full on information.
We can also extend your stay by adding more sights like Antalya, Fethiye or more days in either in Kusadasi and Istanbul and make the program suitable for your time and interest.
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