Classical Turkey Tour - 10 days
Small
Group Tour / Every Friday and Saturday guaranteed departures
Accommodation in Superior Class Hotels (4 star/special class boutique)
• Istanbul (1) • Ankara (en route) • Cappadocia (2) • Konya (en-route)
• Pamukkale (1) • Kusadasi (2) • Canakkale (1) • Istanbul (2)
Category:
Small Group, Cultural Tour, Roundtrip, Comprehensive, Land journey &
domestic flight, ideal for first time visitors.
Day 1:
Arrive Istanbul
Arrive at Ataturk airport in Istanbul and transfer to our hotel.
Overnight: Istanbul Hotel (1 night)
Day 2:
Istanbul – (flight) Ankara – Cappadocia (B, L, D)
Early transfer to airport for flight to Ankara, to the capital of
Turkey. Upon arrival at Ankara, we will visit the Ataturk Mausoleum and
Anatolian Civilizations Museum. (selected Best European Museum of the
Year in 1997) Then we depart to Cappadocia and have lunch on the way. After
a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake, we will visit the 13th century Agzikarahan caravanserai; caravanserais are inns built by Seljuk Turks
to ensure travel and trade safety of the merchant caravans traveling on
the Silk Road.
Arrival to the Cappadocia region and overnight.
Overnight: Cappadocia Hotel (2 nights)
Day 3:
Cappadocia (B, L, D)
After breakfast we will begin our tour in this magical land; the unique
landscape of cone-shaped volcanic formations called fairy chimneys. We
will walk through the volcanic valleys to view the spectacular fairy
chimneys at Pasabagi, visit the rock-carved churches and chapels
containing remarkable frescoes in Goreme Open Air Museum, explore
Kaymakli underground city, visit famous pottery center Avanos, and the
natural carved fortress Uchisar. We will return our hotel for dinner.
Optional: Sunrise Balloon Tour; glide over this magical land at the
dawn.
Optional2: Whirling Dervishes performance in a 13th century Caravan Inn.
Overnight: Cappadocia Hotel.
Day 4:
Cappadocia – Konya (en-route) – Pamukkale (B, L, D)
After breakfast depart to Pamukkale; on the way visit Konya, city where
Mevlana Rumi is buried, founder of the most well-known Sufi order,
Mevleviye. They are also known as the “Whirling Dervishes” due to their
famous practice of whirling ceremony called Sema which represents a
spiritual journey through mind and love to "Perfect”. Chanting of
poetry, rhythmic rotation, and mystical music create a synthesis which
is a very unique experience. In Konya, we will visit the Mevlana Museum
and Karatay Koran School. Later we will continue to Pamukkale, ancient
spa center and the unique natural site of white limestone terraces
cascading down the mountain slope. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Overnight: Pamukkale Hotel (1 night)
Day 5:
Pamukkale - Aphrodisias - Kusadasi (B, L, D)
After breakfast we will drive to the ‘Sacred City’ Hierapolis; it is a
World Heritage Site, and a "must-see" location with the largest
Necropolis (large cemetery of monumental tombs) in Anatolia, temple of
Apollo, Plutonion cave, theater, and a thermal pool in which you
can swim with ancient artifacts. Then we will drive to the ancient art
center: Aphrodisias. Aphrodite’s city which was famous with its marble
sculptures in Hellenistic and Roman periods. Visit Temple of Aphrodite,
the best preserved stadium and theater in the Mediterranean, The
Tetrapylon (monumental gate) and the baths of Hadrian. Later we will
continue to Kusadasi for overnight.
Overnight: Kusadasi Hotel (2 nights)
Day 6: Ephesus & St. Mary’s House - Kusadasi (B, L, D)
After breakfast begin tour of glorious Greco-Roman ruins of Ephesus, one
of the best preserved classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean dated
back to 2000 years BC. We will walk along the sacred marble street
connecting the Great Theater with the library of Celsius. We will see
the Commercial Agora and walk along the marble Curetes Street which has
beautiful mosaics paved on sidewalks, explore the gymnasium, visit
temple of Hadrian, and lots of other interesting monuments of the old
Roman city. Later we will drive to the hilltop where we visit the
miraculously discovered Virgin Mary’s House. Finally we stop at the
restoration of St. John’s Basilica where according to legend, he was
buried. Return hotel for dinner and overnight.
Optional Tours: 1) Tour to Sardis; it is one of the Seven Churches of
Revelation and also famous for the marble paved ancient Synagogue 2)
Trip to nearby mountain village Sirince, stone-and-stucco houses with
red-tile roofs, incredible varieties of fruit wines, narrow streets with
colorful shops.
Overnight: Kusadasi Hotel.
Day 7:
Kusadasi - Pergamum – Canakkale (B, L, D)
Early departure to Pergamum, the ancient city of learning, arts and
medicine. In well restored Pergamum, we will see the ruins of the
magnificent Acropolis, Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysus and the
steepest amphitheater of the ancient world. We will drive to the little
village Assos and then we will continue to Canakkale for overnight.
Overnight: Canakkale Hotel (1 night)
Day 8:
Dardanelles – Gallipoli - Istanbul (B, L)
After breakfast we will drive to Troy, Homer’s legendary city in Iliad
and Odyssey. We will see Troy's legendary walls and replica of the
famous wooden horse used during the Trojan War. Later pass to the other
side of Dardanelles by a ferryboat and drive to Istanbul with a visit to
Gallipoli; we will visit World War I battlefields, Anzac Cove, Chunuk
Bair, Lone pine Cemetery and Kabatepe War Museum. Arrive Istanbul and
transfer to our hotel.
Overnight: Istanbul Hotel (2 nights)
Day 9:
Istanbul City Tour (B)
After breakfast, we will begin our full day sightseeing tour of
Istanbul. We will visit Topkapi Palace, stunning palace/museum which was
the imperial residence and the administrative center of the Ottoman
Empire for 400 years. Later we will explore the ancient Roman
Hippodrome (center of the chariot races) and proceed to the Hagia
Sophia, ancient Byzantine church which was converted to a mosque in 15th
century. This is a remarkable structure where you can see the Christian
mosaics and fine examples of Islamic calligraphy next to each other. We
will continue our Sultanahmet tour with the Blue Mosque which is famous
for its six minarets and beautiful blue Iznik tiles. Finally we will
stop at Grand Covered Bazaar and will have free time to discover 4000
tiny shops in the passageways of the world’s largest covered bazaar. You
can enjoy local tastes in one of the little snack shops where locals
stop to refresh before they continue drifting in the alleys of the
bazaar. Transfer to hotel.
Optional Tours: 1) Visit Harem and the Imperial Treasury in Topkapi
Palace. 2) ‘Istanbul by Night’ Dinner with belly dancing.
Overnight: Istanbul Hotel
Day 10:
Istanbul – Departure (B)
Transfer to airport for flight back home. Thank you for visiting Turkey!
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