Exploring Turkey (11 Days Guaranteed Departure)

Day 01: Home – Istanbul (No meal) Hosgeldiniz...

Arrival to Istanbul in the morning. You will be met upon your arrival by our driver and transfer to hotel and evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

• Istanbul

Day 02: Walking Old City Istanbul; (Breakfast and lunch

After breakfast at hotel, start the tour in Istanbul at around 08:15. This tour includes visits to Hippodrome & Obelisk the former center of sportive and political activities of Constantinople, Blue Mosque famous for its blue Iznik tiles and unique six minarets. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit Topkapi Palace the former imperial residence from where the Ottoman Sultans ruled their grand empire for over 400 years. After the tour, return to hotel and overnight stay in Istanbul.

• Topkapi Palace
• Hippodrome
• Hagia Sophia
• Grand Bazaar
• Blue Mosque

Day 03: Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Tour (Breakfast and Lunch)

Your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel at desired hour and start the tour. Today you will be having cruise and see; The Bosporus strait connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea and separates Europe and Asia, making Istanbul one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the only one built astride two continents; this romantic cruise along the Bosporus will allow you to admire the Dolmabahce Palace, the Beylerbeyi Palace, the Ciragan Palace and the Rumelihisar Fortress, ancient wooden villas and bridges and all the wonderful and unique maritime landscapes. After disembark the boat in Eminonu, you will see Dolmabahce Palace; was the first European-style palace built by Ottoman Sultans between 1843 and 1856. This Palace is interesting for its furniture and fittings and is a showcase of life in late Ottoman and early Republican period. Ataturk lived the final part of his life in the residential part of the palace and died there. Finish the day with Spice Bazaar where you can find all kind of handcrafts in authentic old shops. After tour return to hotel as well.  Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 04: Istanbul - Cappadocia; (Breakfast and lunch)

Take the early morning flights from Istanbul to Cappadocia (Kayseri or Nevsehir airport). Meet with your driver and start the tour. Today, you will visit Devrent Imagination Valley and walk through this lunar landscape. Next, visit Pasabaglari (the world-famous Fairy Chimneys), the village of Avanos, where you will witness a Pottery-making demonstration using ancient Hittite techniques, lunch at a local cave restaurant, Uchisar Rock-Castle, (the highest point in the region, Esentepe (a panoramic view of Goreme valley) and Goreme Open Air Museum (Rock-cut churches, frescoes, monastery.)Transfer to hotel after tour and check in. Evening at leisure and overnight stay in Cappadocia.

• Uchisar Castle
• Pasabaglari
• Goreme Open Air Museum
• Devrent Imagination Valley
• Avanos

Day 05: Cappadocia ; (Breakfast and lunch)

Optional Hot air balloon flight over the fairy chimneys at sunrise. After breakfast at hotel start the tour. Your driver will pick you up from hotel in the morning.

Today, you will visit Kaymakli Underground City (See how the people lived in this multi-level city complete with stables, kitchens, storage chambers and wine making rooms), Soganli Valley (Relaxing 3km walk through the valley with Byzantine period rock tombs),Sobesos (A Roman Bath from the 5th century and mosaics and graves from Byzantine Empire Period), Taskinpasa Medresesi (an Ottoman theological school) and Mustafapasa (Experience the Ottoman and Greek architecture of this old Greek Village once called Sinasos).After tour return to hotel and overnight stay in Cappadocia.

• Soganli Valley
• Sobessos
• Mustafapasa (old Greek village Sinasos)
• Kaymaklı Underground City

Day 06: Cappadocia – Konya - Pamukkale ; (Breakfast and dinner)

After breakfast, drive to the holy city of Konya. On the way you will see Sultanhani Keravansarai. Then drive to Konya home of the Sufi mystic, Mevlana Rumi, and visit the Museum of the Whirling Dervishes . After lunch break the tour continues to Pamukkale. Arrival at early evening and check into hotel. Dinner at hotel and overnight stay in Pamukkale.

• Pamukkale
• Mevlana Museum
• Konya

Day 07: Pamukkale – Aphrodisias - Kusadasi; (Breakfast and dinner)

After breakfast at hotel you will visit Pamukkale. Walk along the Hierapolis ancient city ruins, see the huge Necropolis, and feel the warmth of the natural spring as you go barefoot on the Travertens. After lunch break, the tour continues to Kusadasi. On the way you will visit Aphrodisias, the remains of an ancient city that flourished in the 1st century B.C. Archaeological excavations are ongoing, uncovering a wealth of artifacts, the remains of a once thriving community of 60,000 inhabitants. Check in to hotel and dinner at hotel. Overnight stay in Kusadasi.

• Hierapolis
• Kusadasi
• Pamukkale
• Aphrodisias Ancient Site

Day 08: Ephesus - Virgin Mary – Temple of Artemis - Istanbul; (Breakfast and Dinner)

Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and drive to Ephesus Ancient City. Enter through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takes you past the Odeon, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan. Next we will visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the World). Lunch at a nice local restaurant and then we will visit the House of the Virgin Mary's - The Vatican has recognized this small house in the Solmissos Mountains as the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. A small shrine dedicated to St. Mary was found when the ruins of the house were first discovered. Overnight stay in Kusadasi.

• Ephesus Archeology Museum
• Kusadasi
• Temple of Artemis
• House of Virgin Mary
• Celcus Library

Day 09: Pergamum – Troy - Canakkale; (Breakfast & Dinner)

After breakfast, drive along the Aegean to the famous ruins of Pergamum, the site of one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. Next, visit legendary Troy where you can see a replica of the wooden horse. Once thought to be the figment of literary imagination, Troy was uncovered due largely to the efforts of Heinrich Schliemann, who steadfastly believed in its existence, using his own money to successively uncover nine different settlements in Troy. Transfer to hotel and check in. Dinner at hotel and overnight stay in Canakkale.

• Trojan Horse
• Pergamon

Day 10: Gallipoli Battlefields - Istanbul; (Breakfast only)

After breakfast, the tour will cross the Dardanelles, the Hellespont of antiquity, and site of fierce battles during World War I. In the afternoon, the tour continues to Istanbul. Arrival in late afternoon and transfer to hotel in Istanbul. Dinner on your own and overnight stay in Istanbul.

• Gallipoli

Day 11: Istanbul -Home; (Breakfast only)

After breakfast at hotel day at leisure for shopping. Transfer to Istanbul Airport and fly to your home or other destination at desired hour according to your international flight. End of Services… Hoscakalin…