Cappadocia one week (CT1W-PRIVATE)
Guaranteed departure everyday, all year-round in 2008 !
As you have time, there is a variety of activities you may join, if you are interested in any of them, we may include in the following suggested itinerary and you may even extend your stay.
Unique place for Hot Air Ballooning in Turkey is Cappadocia.
For adventure, Horse Riding or Mountain Bike, Jeep safari, hiking reserve in advance.
In the evenings, you may either just enjoy your stay at your hotel or go in Sarihan Caravanserai near Avanos to see the whirling Dervishes of Mevlana, founder of Sufism in Turkey.
Itinerary
Day 1
Take the early afternoon flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia. Arrival and meeting just outside the arrival's gate with a sign bearing your name. Transfer to Hotel.
Leisure afternoon. Some interesting walks can be done in the afternoon, guided (extra) or on own: Walking for about 2- to 5 km in one of the most attractive valleys of Cappadocia : Iceridere valley, Caglak valley near Ayvali, Red Valley, Rose valley, Gomeda Valley or Pigeon valley.
Overnight Cappadocia.
Day 2
In the morning, first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; walking in Zelve Open Air Museum: a journey in the past with its troglodyte houses; visit to Pasabag "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).
Climb on top of the Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.
Overnight Cappadocia
Day 3
Tour to Kaymakli Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Soganli Valley, an Open Air Museum in a wild natural setting near a typical Cappadocian village with its different style Rock-Cut churches and frescoes. Villages in the valleys, surrounded by the "table top" mountains, are spectacular. Lunch and Visit to Sahinefendi newly discovered (01 May 2002) mosaic houses & Archaeological excavation site. Continue with Keslik Monastery near Cemil, that hides its frescoes behind a very thin smoke layer which we can only see by torch light. The Medrese (Theological School) from Seljuk Turks in Taskinpasa is the witness of an early and rich Turkish settlement in the town. Our tour finishes with a visit to Mustafapasa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; very fine examples of late Greek settlements and architecture.
Overnight Cappadocia
Day 4
Walking in Ihlara Canyon, a "mirage" in the Steps of Anatolia up to Belisirma village, the ancient Peristrema: "Valley of the Sky" along the Melendiz River. Rock-cut churches, spread across a wild plantation, surprise you with their successfully painted representations from the Bible. Lunch in Belisirma a local restaurant by the river. Stop by Selime, a village with cave houses at the end of the canyon and a "star wars" like landscape. Overnight Cappadocia
Day 5
Drive to Nigde, The rock-hewn monastery of Eski Gümüşler is 10 km east from Nigde. The Alaattin Mosque , a Seljuk work on the hill with the fortress and clock tower is the town’s grandest mosque. Lunch and visit the mummy museum and
transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia .
Day 6
Drive to Hattusas, capital of the Hittite empire in the 2nd millennium BC. The ancient city is on the outskirts of present-day Bogazkale, just over 125 miles east of Ankara. The Hittites were the first true empire in the Anatolian area, and is mentioned in texts from other empires outside the area and in The Bible. Lunch and visit the temples and the castles.
Transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia and overnight.
Day 7
Drive to Konya, 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.
Flight to Istanbul.
Flights:
Istanbul Ataturk (IST) to Kayseri (ASR): On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays by Onur airlines departure at 06:30am, arrival 07:50am; On Friday, Saturday and Sundays by Turkish airlines departure at 08:30am arrival 10:00am.
Kayseri (ASR) to Istanbul Ataturk (IST): On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays by Turkish Airlines departure at 20:30pm, arrival 21:45pm; On Friday, Saturday and Sundays by Onur Airlines departure at 19:55pm arrival 21:10am.
PS : Airport transfers may be in a group, tours privately
Private tour rates options :
Remarks
Izmir Departures: On Saturdays & Wednesdays you may join the tours from Izmir with direct flight by Sun express and other days by Turkish airlines via Istanbul from any airport by the Coast.
Antalya Departures: On Saturdays & Wednesdays you may join the tours from Izmir with direct flight by Sun express and other days by Turkish airlines via Istanbul from any airport by the Coast.