Itinerary:
Day 1 - Athens to Istanbul
Morning flight from Athens to Istanbul. 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 stay in Istanbul.
Day 2 - Istanbul - (B/L)
Around 8:30 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel and escorted on this delightful full-day tour of Istanbul's most iconic sites:
* Blue Mosque/Sultanahmet Mosque (Camii) built during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I during 1609-1616. It is the only mosque in Turkey with six minarets. Due to its magnificent hand-dyed blue, green and white Iznik tiles it has been named the "Blue Mosque" by Europeans. The central dome is 43 m in height and is 33.4 m in diameter; it also boasts 260 windows.
* Hagia Sophia/Aya Sofya is a truly awe-inspiring, 1,400-year-old Byzantine cathedral which houses mosaics, relics and iron work. Hagia Sophia was, for nearly a thousand years, the largest enclosed space in the world, and still seen as one of the world's most important architectural monuments. It is one of Turkey's most popular attractions, drawn by the sheer spectacle of its size, architecture, mosaics and art. Built during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD.
* Topkapi Palace was the imperial residence and administrative heart of the massive Ottoman Empire, beginnng with Fatih Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, in 1453, until 1856. It was converted to a museum in 1924. Parts of the palace such as the Harem, Baghdad Pavilion, Revan Pavilion, Sofa Pavilion, and the Audience Chamber distinguish themselves with their architectural assets. The museum also has collections from the Imperial Treasury, as well as Chinese porcelain, weapons, calligraphy, etc. The Treasury also houses the Topkapi Dagger, the 86-carat "Spoon Maker's Diamond", and the jewel-encrusted bones of St. John the Baptist. After the tour, we will provide a transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul
Day 3 - Istanbul to Cappadocia - (B)
After breakfast you'll start out your day with a 1/2 day cruise on the Bosphorus.
* Bosphorus Cruise takes you though the strait separating two continents, Europe and Asia; along its shores, you can take photographs of marble palaces and antique wooden Ottoman-era villas that sit beside luxurious modern residences.You will also see Dolmabahce Palace (the last official residence of the Sultans as well as Mustafa Kemal Ataturk), Beylerbeyi Palace, and Ortakoy Mosque.
After the tour, you'll take an afternoon flight to Cappadocia; you'll check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Cappadocia
Day 4 - Cappadocia - (B/L)
Today will be spent walking through an underground city where ancient people once fled for their lives escaping the Arab invaders, wandering through Ihlara Gorge and spending time in an Anatolian village.
Sites you’ll see today:
* Underground City of Derinkuyu--You'll gradually make your way down into the depths of the earth of this ancient settlement that has 18-20 floors which boast depths as long as 40 meters. (Don't worry, we'll only go down to the 8th floor!) Youll marvel at the fact that Derinkuyu is just one of 36 Cappadocian underground cities, which archaeologists date back to the time of the Hittites around 4,000 years ago.
* Ihlara Gorge is an oasis in the middle of the Anatolian plain. We'll explore the canyon and take in the beautiful green scenery as we stroll casually alongside the river. Here, you'll see ancient monasteries complete with pigeon holes carved into the cliffs by the monks; the pigeons acted as messengers to communicate with neighboring monks!
* Traditional Anatolian village -- You'll see head-scarved women in the fields (where they work from sun up until sundown) and the mustachioed, vest-wearing men hard-at-work playing cards or tavla (backgammon) in the kahvehane (coffee shop). You'll get time to stroll in a village such as this and see the average Turkish villager at work...or play. Overnight in Urgup or Goreme
Day 5 - Cappadocia to Istanbul - (B/L)
Sites you’ll see today:
* Goreme Open-Air Museum - A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Goreme is an ancient town carved right out of the rock (tufa); you'll explore Byzantine-era churches, chapels and monasteries which house wonderfully-preserved 11th- and 12th-century cave frescoes.
* Fairy Chimneys--This strange geological phenomenon was created over millions of years, and were formed during regional volcanic eruptions. Reaching at times 40 meters in height, they are conical in shape and have a whimsical "hat" top to them.
* Devrent Valley--This valley is known as "the pink valley" because of the color of its soil. This is a lovely place to wander about and really take in the magical rock formations indicative to Cappadocia, including the Fairy Chimneys.
* Uchisar Castle, also known as Uchisar Fortress, is actually a formation of two gigantic rocks surrounded by smaller ones that together, form a natural fortress with towers. These formations were inhabited during both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.If there is time, we'll also visit local crafts people and learn the special art of dollmaking and traditional pottery.
After the tour, we will transfer you to the Kayseri airport, for your evening flight back to Istanbul.
Overnight in Istanbul
Day 6 - Istanbul - (B)
You'll enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, as today is your free day in Istanbul. Perhaps you may want to spend some time at the Grand Bazaar or in Taksim Square, the heart of modern Istanbul (transfers are available to these locations for an additional fee). Overnight in Istanbul
Day 7 - Istanbul to Athens - (B)
After breakfast, we will put you on a morning flight to Athens. Arriving in Athens marks the end of the tour. We hope that your paths will cross again.
Prices are starting from 885 Euros per person in a double, contact us to get a price quote for your dates
Price includes
* All transportation in comfortable vehicles
* Centrally-located, charming hotels - with breakfasts & 3 Lunches
* Domestic flight tickets (Athens to Istanbul - Istanbul to Athens)
* Professional, English-speaking guides
* Entrance fees to ancient sites
* All service charges and local taxes
Excludes
* Drinks with meals
* Hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia (15% discount if booked with this program)
(NOTE: This is a fully-customizable program and is available all year round. If you are interested in obtaining more information about early booking, cash-paying discounts, hotel names (and web sites), or daily departure times, simply send us your e-mail inquiry, letting us know the dates you wish to travel, and we'll get back with you soon.
You may also choose to extend your stay by adding-on such destinations Fethye, Bodrum, etc., in order to fit your time and travel interests.)
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