TURKEY.THE CLASSIC

 

DAY 1 

Arrival at Istanbul Airport. Transfer to the hotel.

 

DAY 2

ISTANBUL 
Explore the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of the city. Visit the Royal Topkapi Palace, which was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years. Continue to the Blue Mosque, unique with six minarets, its desigh presents the culmination of two centuries of both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church. Go to the Roman Hippodrome Square, the most celebrated square of Byzantine times. Another highlight of the city is the St.Sophia Church which is considered one of the worlds greatest architectural marvels. Then visit the Grand Covered Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets.

 

DAY 3

ISTANBUL 
The tour starts with a visit to the Egyptian Bazaar to enjoy the fragrance of spices, dried fruits, nuts and seeds and lokum (Turkish Delight). Continue on to the Galata Bridge for a Boshporus Cruise through the waterway seperating the two continents,Europe and Asia. Discover the wealth of impressive sights all along the shores of Istanbul's famous waterway. Visit Beylerbeyi Palace, an Imperial Ottoman summer residence located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. Go to Camlıca Hill, which offers a unique perspective of the city.  See Istanbul in all its brilliance.

 

DAY 4

ISTANBUL - ANKARA (450km./5h.) -CAPPADOCIA (300km./3h.)
Transfer from your hotel to the airport to take a flight to Ankara. Visit the Hittite museum and explore the richest collection of Hittite artifacts in the world. Continue to the mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. The mausoleum overlooks the city and includes an interesting museum detailing Ataturk’s life. Drive to Cappadocia.

 

DAY 5 

CAPPADOCIA
Explore the underground city of Kaymaklı and Citadel of Uçhisar. The houses in the village are constructed around the nearly one hundred tunnels of the underground city. Continue with the valley of "Göreme" and the openair museum. The Göreme Valley holds the region's best collection of painted cave-churches. Medieval orthodox Christian monks carved the caves from the soft volcanic stone and decorated them with elaborate Byzantine frescoes. The next in the program is Paşabağ valley to see its mushroom shaped fairy-chimney. The final destination for today is Avanos, famous for its production of earthenware pottery. 

 

DAY 6

CAPPADOCIA - KONYA (250km./3h.30min.) – PAMUKKALE (450km./5h.)
Departure to Konya. Visit "Sultanhan", the 13th-century Seljuk Turkish caravanserai on the Silk Road. The next stop is Konya. Go to the Mevlana Museum, the original lodge of the Mevlevi Whirling Dervishes and Theological School.Drive to Pamukkale. 

 

DAY 7

PAMUKKALE – APHRODISIAS (80km./1h.) - KUSADASI (80km./1h)
Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, Roman Baths, Basilica and calcium cliffs. The complex, which was constructed in the 2nd century BCE, constitutes a good example of vault type architecture. The complex is now an archaeological museum. Next stop is Aphrodisias.Visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias, dedicated to the Goddess of Love,Aphrodite. Arrival in Kusadası.

 

DAY 8

KUSADASI - EPHESUS – IZMIR - ISTANBUL
Departure to Meryemana. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a Christian and Muslim shrine. Continue to Ephesus, the Roman Capital of Asia Minor. The city is famed for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Explore the ruins of Odeon, Hercules Gate, the Temple of Hadrian, the magnificent library, Agora and fantastic greco-roman theatre. Transfer to the airport flight to Istanbul.

 

DAY 9

Transfer to the airport.