Turkey Tour (10 Days)

Day 1: Welcome

Welcome to Turkey!The driver will pick you up from Atatürk 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

Day 2: Highlights of Istanbul

Your guide will greet you at your hotel at 0900 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.(The Harem is not include the itinerary since it is mainly under restoration)

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.

After lunch you will walk to and 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 at approximately 1700

Day 3: Two Continents Tour

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel at 0900. The first stop of the day will be the Rustempasa Mosque noted for its interior covered with some of the most exquisite Iznik faience tiles ever produced. You will next travel to the Spice Market known for its dried fruits, cheeses, sausages, jams, nuts, seeds, and the well-known family of confections, Turkish Delight. While known for its vast selection of edibles, jewelry and other goods can be found as well.
After leaving the Spice Market you will board a boat to travel across the Bosphorus, one of the world's best-known natural straits. Traveling from the European side to the Asian side of the strait, you will visit Camlica Hill to take in the panoramic view of Istanbul and the Bosphorus. You will then have lunch at a local restaurant where you can sample classic Turkish cuisine.

Following lunch you will travel over the Bosphorus Bridge, with its famous "Welcome to Europe" sign, along with the unique opportunity to step from one continent to another.

The remainder of the afternoon will be spent visiting picturesque Ortakoy where you can relax with a Turkish coffee before your guided 1.2 kilometer walk of the Istiklal pedestrian street. Istiklal, known for its local hangouts and nightlife is where your tour will conclude at 1700 with your guide returning you to your hotel.

Day 4: Golden Horn and Dolmabahce Palace

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel at 0900. 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 to the district of Edimekapi. The 5th century walls, built by Emperor Theodosius II, stretch for 6.5 kilometers from the Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara. You can combine the view of the walls with a visit to the Chora Church (13 century AD) famous for its well-preserved wall mosaics showing scenes from the Old New Testament.

Lunch will provide an opportunity to taste the local flavors of the Ottoman kitchen, which prided itself on blending recipes and ingredients from across its vast territories. Following lunch 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 Pierre Loti.

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. Your tour will end at your hotel at approximately 1700. After the tour transfer to airport and fly to Cappadocia, In cappadocia transfer to your cave hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 5: Cappadocia

Your guide will meet you at 9am and start your tour with Catalkaya (tree beauty) Visiting the symbolic fairy chimneys of cappadocia. Continue with Red valley and Rose valley.The hiking in Red valley with your local tour guide (wonderful rock formations,pigeon houses,natural tunels,churches. Visiting Cavusin village to see cave and stone houses where abondened in 1952.Lunch at specific local dishes.Tour to Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia.This underground has 8 floor but 4 floor open to visitors. continue with Pegeon valley, pigeon houses and colorful rock formation. After the tour drive to your hotel.Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 6: Cappadocia

Meeting at the hotel reception at 09:00am
After breakfast, first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; walking in Pasabag near Zelve; "fairy chimneys" where the voice of wind mixes with the "songs of fairies". Lunch in Avanos, centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. Afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Hot Air ballooning with sunrise (extra)

Day 7: Izmir-Ephesus

You will be picked up at your hotel at 0700 and transferred to the airport for your 0900 flight to Izmir. You will be met at the airport and transferred to Ephesus where you will meet your guide and drive to Ephesus. Ephesus, probably the best combination of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine civilizations, is known as the commercial, religious, and social center of the Antiquity and a highlight of any visit to Turkey. You will see 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. After Lunch, you will travel to the Temple of Artemis (Diana), and then drive to the House of the Virgin Mary.Your tour will conclude at 1700. You will then have free time in Kusadasi where you can enjoy the seaside restaurants and bazaars. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 8: Pamukkale

You will be picked up at your hotel in the morning for your drive to Pamukkale, known in English as the "Cotton Castle." 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 masterpiece theater. Pamukkale's terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water from the hot springs. In this area there are 17 hot water springs with temperature ranges from 35C to 100C. The water that emerges from the from the spring is transported 320 metres to the head of the travertine terraces and deposits calcium carbonate on a section 60-70 metres long covering an expanse of 240 to 300 metres. After the tour transfer back to your hotel (3 hours). Overnight in Kusadası.

Day 9: Pergamon

In this tour you will discover the ancient city of Pergamon, an important cultural center and the east capital of the Roman Empire.Pergamon is famous for the invention of parchment, which substituted papyrus when it became difficult to obtain.The tour departs from Izmir, where your guide will meet you and we will drive to Pergamon.You will visit the breathtaking Acropolis, which was modeled after the one in Athens. The beautiful view from the hill-top will give you a great panorama of the surroundings.Marvel at the impressive Athenaeum library once held 200,000 volumes, which Mark Antony later offered to Cleopatra as a wedding present.The Temple of Trajan is a huge marble building that has been partially reconstructed from the original pieces found on the site.Look forward to discover the famous Sanctuary of Asclepius is located down in the valley from the Acropolis. In this place there was a sacred fountain where people with health problems could bathe. Legend has it that Asclepius would then give them a vision and explain how to be cured.After a delicious lunch with Turkish specialties, you will have the opportunity to visit the Archeological Museum of Pergamon where you can see many original artifacts found on the site.

At the end of the day, we'll enjoy a relaxing drive back to Kusadasi through the beautiful Turkish countryside.Overnight in kusadasi

Day 10: Izmir- Istanbul

You will be transferred to Izmir airport for your morning flight to Istanbul. End of service.

Price: Please contact us for the price and the availability.

What's included

• Deluxe Coach on all tours and transfers,
• Professional English Speaking Tour Guide,
• Accomodation at Mentioned hotels with breakfast
• Domestic flight tickets mentioned by the itinerary,
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Carpark, Gasoline, Highway & Bridge feesServices charges & local taxes

What's extra

• Meals
• Tips
• Personal Expenses