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)
After breakfast time, we will meet in the lobby for a short briefing about your program, and after that we will continue on the tour of Istanbul,
Sites you'll see today
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. You also will see the Harem where all the women of the Palace were "kept", and the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle that is home to some of the holiest Muslim relics ...including the mantle worn by the Prophet Mohammed and hairs from his beard.
Lunch will be served at a near by restaurant and after lunch we will visit Threnodies walls
After Theodisian Walls you will see the Suleymaniye Mosque, and then we will go to Grand Bazaar
After Grand Bazaar we will transfer you to Arcadia Hotel
19:30 p.m we will meet in the lobby and we will transfer you to the Gar Musichall, You will enjoy your dinner watching Turkish folk and belly dance shows, around midnight we will transfer you back to your hotel
Overnight stay in Istanbul ( Arcadia Hotel )
Day 3 - Istanbul to Cappadocia - (B)
After breakfast we will continue on the full day tour of Istanbul
Sites you will visit ;
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 lunch we will cross from Europe to Asia on the Bosphorus bridge and have refreshments on the Camlica Hill ( Highest point of Istanbul on the Asian site ) After our refreshments We will stroll down to sea side and visit the Magnificent Beylerbeyi Palace, as known the summer Palace. After the tour we will put you on an evening flight to Kayseri Cappadocia, Arrival in Cappadocia, check in the Cave hotel, overnight stay in Cappadocia
Day 4 -Cappadocia - (B/L)
After breakfast we will continue on the full day tour 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.
*Zelve Open Air Museum --Three natural valleys surrounded by steep rocks form a dramatic site as you can wander around looking at the thousands of rock houses, churches and tunnels carved into the cliffs here. Mosaics in the churches typify the type associated with the pre-Iconoclastic Period, meaning that you will see symbols such as the cross, deer, fish, grapes, etc.
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 known 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.
We will also get the chance to visit local craftspeople and learn how they make dolls and create traditional pottery.
Overnight stay in Cappadocia
19:00 We will transfer you to the Karavansaray cave restourant to Watch the whirling dervishes and folk dances of that region Overnight stay in Cappadocia
Day 5 - Cappadocia to Istanbul - (B/L)
After breakfast we will continue on the second day tour of Cappadocia and the sites you will visit
* 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. Archaeologists 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. As you wind down you will begin to feel as if you are in a huge block of Swiss cheese. Everywhere you look there will be nooks and crannies carved into the rocks: holes, windows , paths, alleys, little rooms.
After lunch we will look at Ihlara Valley
* 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.
After the tour we will transfer you to the Kayseri airport and will put you on the flight back to Istanbul
20:30 Departure from Kayseri 21:40 Arrival in Istanbul & transfer to Hotel --- Overnight stay.
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 our team in your hearts, and hoping that our paths cross again in this life!
Tour ends
585 Euro per person in double room and 735 Euro for single supplement
Includes
* All of the hotels ( Superior Class )
* All of the meals that are mentioned on the program ( B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner )
* Istanbul - Kayseri - Istanbul flight tickets.
* Professional English speaking tour guides ( licensed from the government )
* Entrance fees to the museums and to the ancient sites
* Turkish Folk and Belly Dance Show with dinner
* Whirling dervish show at regional folk dance show in Cappadocia
* All of the tax and service charges |
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