Description

DAY 1 (Fri) : ISTANBUL – ARRIVAL
Welcome to Istanbul.

Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 ISTANBUL (B/L)
After breakfast, begin your full day tour of Istanbul.

You will visit the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace (excluding Harem Section) and Grand Bazaar.

The Blue Mosque: Its real name in Turkish is the Sultan Ahmed Camii. It is one of the biggest and most famous mosques of Istanbul with its blue tiles and 6 minarets.

Hippodrome: İt is the former center of sportive and political activities of Constantinople. The Hippodrome was built by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203 AD, and Constantine the Great enlarged and adorned it with beautiful works which were brought from different places of the Roman Empire when he chose Byzantium as his new capital. The Hippodrome was not only used for races but also for public meetings.

St. Sophia: This magnificent Byzantine Church is one of the finest architectural works in the world. It has been nominated as the 8th world wonder by many historians.

Topkapı Palace: This was the former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled. The Topkapı Palace is a largest palace in Istanbul, Turkey, it was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign. Today it is a spectacular museum that houses one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain.

Grand Bazaar: (Kapalicarsi in Turkish) is one of the largest covered markets in the world with its 4400 shops, 3000 companies, 17 hans (separate inns for specific type of products), 64 streets, 25.000 employees, 4 fountains, 2 mosques and 22 gates. It’s a heaven for shoppers and a good opportunity for people to discover the Turkish hospitality.

Day 3, (Sun) ISTANBUL – ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA (B/L/D)
After breakfast transfer to Istanbul Airport for flight to Ankara. (flight will be quoted separately)

Upon arrival, visits in Ankara – the capital city of Turkey including the Hittite Museum, where archaeological pieces dating as far back as the prehistoric age are exhibited and the Mausoleum of Ataturk, where the founder of the Turkish Republic lies.

After lunch depart for Cappadocia.

Dinner at hotel in Cappadocia and overnight.

Day 04, (Mon) CAPPADOCIA (B/L/D)
After breakfast a visit to the natural citadel of Uchisar; then visit the Subterranean City of Kaymakli, built in the 7th century by Christians fleeing persecution, in which a visitor is able to descend several floor levels.

After lunch, we visit Pasabag’s “fairy chimneys”, where the voice of the wind harmonises with the songs of the fairies. From here we pause at Avanos, a centre of terracotta art since 3,000 BC, for a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.

In Avanos, we shall visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia. These are found in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings dating from as early as the 10th century.

Return to hotel. Dinner at hotel and overnight.

Day 05, (Tue) CAPPADOCIA / KONYA / PAMUKKALE (B/L/D)
It’s a long day, but well worth it! Drive along the winding mountain roads to the holy city of Konya.

On the way visit the 13th century Seljukian Caravanserai “Sultanhan”. In Konya, visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the great mystic who inspired the Whirling Dervishes.

Stop for lunch on the way. Drive to Pamukkale.Arrive at the hotel and dinner. Overnight.

Day 06 (Wed) PAMUKKALE / KUSADASI (B/L/D)
Tour the Roman city of Hierapolis with its Apollo-Temple competing with Delphi, the monumental Nympheum, a 4th century Basilica and the Theatre.

Drive to Selcuk and visit the Shrine of Virgin Mary.

After lunch continue to Ephesus, the Roman Capital of Asia Minor.

See the Agora, Odeon and the Temple of Hadrian before continuing along the marble road to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theater of the city.

Transfer to hotel and dinner. Overnight.

Day 7 (Thu) KUSADASI / PERGAMUM / TROY / CANAKKALE (B/L/D)
After breakfast departure for Pergamum.

After lunch visit to the Asclepium Sanctuary.

Continue for Troy. The legendary town in the iliad of Homeros, visit the Athena Temple.

Drive to Canakkale. Dinner at hotel in Canakkale.

Day 8 (Fri) CANAKKALE / ISTANBUL (B)
After breakfast, depart for Istanbul, cross Dardanelles by ferry.

Arrive at hotel in Istanbul. Overnight.

Day 9 (Sat) ISTANBUL Departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Istanbul International Airport for your onward flight.

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