Tour Highlights : Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Aphrodisias, Ephesus, Pergamum, Troy

Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey, arrival into Istanbul. Our driver will pick you up from airport and transfer you to hotel on your arrival. During your your stay ; You will visit the following sights with an experienced and licensed professional tour guide. You will be picked up from hotel and drop of back to hotel for the tours listed below. Remainder of your day at leisure.
Overnight Istanbul.

Day 2 – Istanbul (B - L)
Byzantine & Otoman Relics Tour

Visit to Topkapi Palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed.(Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch break we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the Yerebatan underground Cistern. At the end of the tour, at request, free time to see the Grand Covered Bazaar (except Sundays). *May be done as a walking tour if your hotel is centrally located.
Overnight Istanbul.

Day 3 – Istanbul (B - L) :
Bosphorus Cruise with St. (Haghia) Sophia & Beylerbeyi

Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market on the Golden Horn. Board your cruise of the Bosphorus, the waterway, which separates the continents of Europe and Asia. Pass Rumeli fortress, built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 to prepare for his conquest of Istanbul. Cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia and visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, then on to Camlica Hill for a magnificent view of Istanbul. Time for lunch in a seaside fish restaurant. Cruise is done by public boat unless other arrangements are made. Visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. Order of visits may be reversed.. Return to Hotel around 17:00pm (Option to fly to Cappadocia in the evening, please request!)

Day 4- Istanbul- Cappadocia (B - L) :
North Cappadocia Tour Goreme and Fairy Chimneys

Take the early morning flight from Ataturk Airport in Istanbul to Cappadocia. Arrival at the airport and meeting just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name with your driver. Transfer to Cappadocia.
Exploring the spectacular natural valleys and rock formations of northern Cappadocia, together with some of its most important historic sites, the North Cappadocia Red tour covers the highlights of this famous region. Accompanied by an expert, local guide, you will have time to wander through its magnificent landscapes and witness ancient frescoes that combine to make Cappadocia a UNESCO World Heritage listed destination. Combined with the South Cappadocia tour, this day trip is ideal for those wanting to experience the best Cappadocia has to offer.
Overnight Cappadocia

Day 5 - Cappadocia (B - L) :
South Cappadocia Tour Underground City & Traditional Villages

From ancient underground cities to spectacular viewpoints, the South Cappadocia & Green tour takes in the highlights of Cappadocia’s southern landscapes. Embark on scenic walks through unusual, towering rock formations and take in the sweeping views from the comfort of your vehicle, all accompanied by an expert, local guide. Combined with the North Cappadocia Red tour, this day trip allows you to see the region’s most impressive sights which have made Cappadocia known throughout the world.
Overnight Cappadocia

Day 6- Cappadocia – Konya – Pamukkale (B - D)
Visiting Konya

Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:30am
Drive to Konya, en route, visit to Sultanhani Caravanseria, roadside inn where travellers could rest and recover from the day’s journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across a network of trade routes of Asia, North Africa and South-Eastern Europe on the legendary Silk Road and the Spice road. In Konya center, visit to Mevlana Sufi temple. Mevlana is the founder of Sufism and whirling Dervishes.
Overnight Pamukkale.

Day 7 – Pamukkale – Kusadasi (B - L - D)
Full Day Pamukkale Tour

Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:30am
Discovery of Travertine terraces and Hierapolis. The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are one of the most spectacular natural wonders we ever have seen from various mineral springs in a vast white cliff side, about 200 m overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have dripped down over a series of terraced levels and created a fairyland of bizarre solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins. It looks like creations from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle): “pamuk” for cotton and “kale” for castle. Moreover the water in the basins is changing its color according to how the light enters. Drive to Ephesus, on the way, visit to Aphrodisias. Aphrodisias was primarily known as a center for the arts, specifically sculpture. The Aphrodisias School of Sculpture had a distinctive style and was very well circulated throughout the Greek and Roman world.
Overnight Kusadasi.

Day 8 – Ephesus (B - L - D)
Full Day Ephesus Tour

Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:30am
Visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. We will spend several hours walking in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Caesar, Cicero, Apostles Paul and John and many other familiar historical names. The recently opened Slope Houses where the wealthiest Romans lived are an excellent example of sensitive excavation and presentation. The mosaics and frescos are spectacular. Tradition has it that Virgin Mary was brought here by St John after the Crucifixion and lived her final years near the city of Ephesus on an isolated mountaintop. A lovely chapel is constructed on the site tended by Franciscans and open to visitors. It has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope.
Overnight Kusadasi near Ephesus.

Day 9 – Kusadasi – Pergamum – Canakkale (B.D)

Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:00am
Visit Pergamon or Pergamum that became an important kingdom during the Hellenistic period, Pergamon had the second best library in the ancient Greek civilisation (the ancient Library of Pergamum), after Alexandria. When the Ptolemies stopped exporting papyrus, partly because of competitors and partly because of shortages, the Pergamenes invented a new substance to use in codices, called pergaminus or parchment after the city. This was made of fine calf skin, a predecessor of vellum. Asclepion, located to the southwest of the lower city, was a sanctuary dedicated to the god of health, Asclepics which was one of the largest hospitals in history, is located to the west of the city, which was a great center of culture, art and medicine and continue on to Canakkale for overnight.

Day 10 – Troy – Dardanelles – Gallipoli – Istanbul – (B)

Meeting at the hotel reception at 09:00am
Visit Troy with its famous wooden horse, continue to Gallipoli and then across the Dardanelles to Istanbul for overnight.

Day 11 – Istanbul (B)

Free day to discover the city on your own. Overnight Istanbul.

Day 12 (B)

Pick-up from hotel 3 hours before flight departure.
Transfer to airport to connect your international flight and leave Turkey.

We can custom design your itinerary to create a touring program that most ideally suits your personal, educational, cultural, and budgetary requirements. Please contact us for details and we will design your dream tour…