As Istanbul Local Guides Team we will be honored to host you in our beautiful country in the year 2024. We recently tailored a special twelve (12) day itinerary for our visitors to enjoy the varied treasures of Turkey. You will experience Turkey through the eyes of a local. Apart from main tourist attractions, you will experience the hidden gems of our stunning country. You will start your trip by visiting a Roman Capital, Constantinople. Other days you will find yourself exploring the beauties of the natural rock formations of Cappadocia. You will also visit a temple commissioned by Alexander the Great as well as finding yourself enjoying the hot springs of Hierapolis, to which Cleopatra owed her beauty. Let us be your companion in this memorable trip.
Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey! Your driver will pick you up from Istanbul airport and transfer to your hotel. The rest of day is at leisure for you to rest, relax and acclimate to your new time zone. Overnight in Istanbul in a boutique hotel.
Day 2: Highlights of Istanbul
Your guide will greet you at your hotel at 09:00 to begin your walking tour in the capital of three great empires. Your tour begins at the Topkapi Palace, the former imperial residence from which the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled for nearly 400 years. Today a spectacular museum, it is famous for its collections of treasury of the Ottoman Royal Family. You will chase the memories of the sultans and the Ottoman Empire through 400 years of the most glorious victories, happiest moments, and mournful days.
From Topkapi Palace you walk to Hagia Sophia via a cobblestone road filled with old Ottoman houses. This 6th century church, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, welcomes you with its legends and mosaics. You will have a chance to touch the history of this church, a main attraction of the city since its construction (The Harem is not include the itinerary since it is under restoration).
After lunch in a local restaurant, you will visit the Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultanahment Mosque. One of the biggest mosques and principal adornments of the Istanbul skyline, the Blue Mosque was built in the 17th century. Once inside the mosque, blue Iznik tiles and stained glass will surround you. The Basilica Cistern (Turkish: Yerebatan Sarayı - "Sunken Palace"), is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul The cistern, located 500 feet (150 m) southwest of the Hagia Sophia on the historical peninsula of Sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
The final stop will be the Grand Bazaar. Your guide will provide the history of the Bazaar as well as some helpful tips on navigating its more than 4000 shops. Your tour will end between 16:00-1700. Overnight in Istanbul in a boutique hotel.
Day 3: Istanbul-One day Two Continents
Today you will explore two different sides of Istanbul, Europe and Asia. Your guide will meet you at the hotel at 9:00am. The first stop will be the Spice Market, with vendors selling spices, dried fruits, cheeses, sausages, jams, nuts, seeds, lokum (Turkish Delight) and other edibles and collectibles. After the Market, you will cruise the Bosphorus to see the beautiful Asian and European coastlines of Istanbul. The Bosphorus is a unique natural water strait with both sides filled in Palaces, Yalis (old Ottoman Houses), historical mosques and many other buildings and many neighbourhoods with their own unique cultures. Following the cruise you visit Camlıca hill, the highest spot of Istanbul, offering one of the best panoramic views of Istanbul and Bosphorus. After lunch in a local restaurant, you will cross the Bosphorus Bridge, unique chance to step from one continent (Asia) to another (Europe) including a sign which reads '' Welcome to Europe''. You will then visit one of the most beautiful districts of the city, Ortakoy, where you can take beautiful pictures and taste turkish coffe with the view of amazing Bosphorus. Then it will be time to walk around Istiklal Street, where locals hang out. While you are walking (1.2 km) your guide will describe the buildings. Your tour will end between 16:00-17:00 at your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul in a boutique hotel.
Day 4: Istanbul-Golden Horn and Dolmabahce Palace
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel at 09:00. Your first stop today will be the SULEYMANIYE Mosque. This mosque, constructed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan in 1557, is regarded as the most beautiful of all imperial mosques. In addition to the outside architecture, you will visit the tombs of the Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent and his wife Roxelana. Afterwards, you will drive along the CITY WALLS of Constantinople stretching for 6.5 kilometers from the Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara and commisioned by Emperor Theodosius II in the 5th century. We will continue by exploring to neighborhoods FENER and BALAT where you will enjoy the most authentic houses of Istanbul and many eastern Orthodox churches and also the Petriarchate of Orthodox Church. Following lunch in a local restaurant, you will continue to Eyup, one of the most important Pilgrimage places on earth for the Islamic World. Afterwards you may wish to stop for a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the panoramic view of the Old City from the Coffee House of PIER LOTTI.. Your final stop of the day will be the DOLMABAHCE PALACE, which extends for 600 meters along the European coast of the Bosphorus. This palace, constructed between 1843 and 1858 by Sultan I Abdulmecit, contains eclectic elements from the Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical styles, blended with traditional Ottoman architecture to create a new synthesis. Dolmabahce has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world, and one of the great staircases has balusters of Baccarat crystal. After the tour our driver will be dropping you off to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia. In Cappadocia you will be greeted at the airport and then transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia in a boutique cave hotel.
Day 5: Cappadocia
Optional! Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Experience (additional)
Pickup from the hotel at 10:00 and start the day visiting Devrent Valley, also known as "Imagination Valley", this is the most surreal-looking landscape. Your next stop will be Pashabagi also called the Monks Valley because Christian hermits chose to locate hermit cells and churches in these three-headed pinnacles symbolic of the Holy Trinity, it is possible to see all the stages in the formation of fairy chimneys at this spot.Proceed to Avanos (Venessa) the pottery centre of Cappadocia, this village is set on the banks of the Kizilirmak/Red River. You will have lunch in a local restaurant before continuing to Goreme Open Air Museum. The world's most important Byzantine cave churches are found in these once remote valleys where monks and nuns pursued monastic life from the 3rd century on. Panoramic view point Esentepe. Overnight in Cappadocia in a boutique cave hotel.
Day 6: Cappadocia
After meeting with your tour guide and the driver at the hotel at 09:00 you are starting the tour with a spectacular view over Goreme from Esentepe. See the panaromic view of Goreme valley and village with its fairy chimneys, rock formations and cave houses.Journey to Derinkuyu Underground City, one of the best preserved and deepest underground cities in Cappadocia. Discover the unique rooms found in an underground city such as stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, churches and wineries.Visit the second floor that housed the missionary school and study rooms Travel to the Ihlara Valley. Stop at Yaprakhisar Panorama for a great photo opporturnity of Selime Monastery featured in the 'Star Wars' films. Overnight in Cappadocia in a boutique cave hotel.
Day 7: Cappadocia
After pickup from your hotel at 9.30am, hike along the Red and Rose Valley, the most breathtakingly and mysteriously beautiful valleys in the region. Conclude your hike at the Cavusin Cave Village. Marvel at the rock castle and troglodyte dwellings where people lived until the 20th century. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Descend towards the center of the earth with a trip to the Underground City of Kaymakli, one of the largest and deepest of Cappadocia's many such settlements. Visit the Pigeon Valley. See spectacular view of dovecotes, old abandoned cave homes and old Greek houses of Uchisar and Ortahisar Castle, the biggest mass of fairy chimneys in Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia in a boutique cave hotel.
Day 8: Izmir-Ephesus
You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and transfered to the airport for your flight to Izmir. You will be greeted at the airport with a sign bearing your name and transfered to Ephesus to meet your local guide. You will visit EPHESUS, which is known to be the Commercial, Religious and the Social Center of Antiquity, and one of the highlights of any visit in Turkey. Ephesus is a very well preserved ancient city witnessed by all of the Greek, Roman and Byzantine civilisations. You wil visit the Fountains of Trajan, Polio, the Temples of Hadrian and Domition, the Library of Celcius, Bouloterion and the Great Theatre with a capacity of 24.000 spectators, along with many other remnants. After the lunch in a local restaurant, you will be driven to Temple of Artemis (Diana), then on to the House of the Virgin Mary, which was also declared as a pilgrimage place by the Vatican. During your tour you will have a chance to see demonstrations of some handicrafts. Your tour ends between 16:00-17.00. Overnight in Kusadasi in a boutique hotel.
Day 9: Pamukkale
After meeting your local guide your are driving to Pamukkale, also known as "Cotton Castle." On your drive to Pamakkale you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant for a local traditional of Pide. Pamukkale, once known as Hierapolis, is famous for its healing thermal/mineral baths and beautiful snow-white "petrified waterfalls." You will visit the magnificently preserved Necropolis, the main street and gates, the thermal baths, the Devil's Hole, and the ancient theatre. Pamukkale's terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water from the hot springs. This ancient city also houses the famous Cleopatra antique pool where you can swim amongst the columns of temples (entry is extra). After the tour you will be driving to Bodrum one of the most beautiful towns of Turkey on the Mediterranean. Overnight in Bodrum in a boutique hotel.
Day 10: Bodrum
You will meet your tour guide at the hotel at 10:00 and start the tour by visiting the ancient theatre of Bodrum. Then you will drive to Myndos Gate Ancient City walls and continue the tour by a panoramic viev of Bodrum Castle and windmills. Your next stop will be the Mausoleum of Halicarnasus which is one of the seven wonders of ancient world. After that you will visit Bodrum Saint Peter Castle and Underwater Archeologicial Museum. After the tour driving back to your hotel. Overnight in Bodrum in a boutique hotel.
Day 11: Bodrum-Free Day
This is the day you are resting and enjoying this beautiful town on your own. Overnight in Bodrum in a boutique hotel.
Day 12: Good Bye
Today we say goodbye to our new friends. After breakfast our driver will be picking you up from the hotel and then transfer to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. In Istanbul you are taking your international flight back to your home.
Note: This tour is customizable according to your interest and flight schedule.
Hotels:
- Sultania Hotel or Sirkeci Mansion Hotel in istanbul,
- Gamirasu Cave Hotel or Kayakapi Premium Caves in Cappadocia,
- La Vista Hotel or Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel in Kusadasi,
- El Vino Hotel Suites in Bodrum.
Note : The price of this tour covers accommodations in hotels as mentioned above or in similar quality hotels.
Price: The price varies depending on the season. Please Contact Us for the price.
What's included:
- Experienced Licensed English Speaking Local Tour Guide
- Deluxe Van with a Driver
- Accommodation at Mentioned Hotels with Breakfast (Deluxe Rooms)
- All Mentioned Transfers with Deluxe Van with a Driver
- Domestic Flight Tickets mentioned on the itinerary
- Parking Fees, Toll Fees
- Local Taxes
- 100% Satisfaction
- No Hidden Charges!
What's extra:
- Optinal Hot Air Balloon Ride
- Entrance Fees to the Sites
- Meals
- Personal Expenses
- Tips for drivers and guides
Why book this tour with us ?
Turkey is the most beautiful and fascinating country in the world. Our company is dedicated to sharing our passion and knowledge of the art, architecture, and history of this amazing country. Our experienced licensed local guides offer tours of the highest quality which are not only informative but entertaining as well. They know their country in depth and will make you discover the secrets and treasures of this amazing country. We offer customized boutique private tours to meet the specific needs and preferences of our guests. We are a small family business and we take huge pride in our work to ensure that our guests' expectations of service delivery and value for money are exceeded. We work only with experienced licensed local guides. We aim to provide best attractions, local restaurants and places for shopping. From the time of making your first enquiry through to the end of your visit, you can expect a service which will be efficient, friendly and individual to your requirements.
To book this tour please Contact Us
