IstanbulCappadociaIzmir(Ephesus)PamukkaleIstanbul

Main Sites visited: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Priene, Miletus, Didyma.

Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul and meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, check- in. Leisure afternoon.
Overnight Istanbul.

Day 2 - Istanbul - Old city (B)
Visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. Continue to the Topkapi palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. The hidden underground Cistern. See the Grand Covered Bazaar (closed on Sundays). *May be done as a walking tour if your hotel is centrally located. Overnight Istanbul

Day 3 - Bosphorus Cruise with Dolmabahce Palace (B)
The tour starts with a visit to the exotic and aromatic Egyptian Spice Market. You may buy spices, caviar, and almost anything imaginable. Continue over the Galata Bridge and the Golden horn. We will visit the “Selamlik” chambers of the incredible 19th c. Dolmabahce Palace. We continue up the Bosphorus and cross over to Asia to Camlica Hill for a view of Istanbul. After lunch visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum, with its well-organized archaeological and ethnographical sections. The Bosphorus cruise begins in the afternoon (ferry). We pass by the Rumeli Fortress and you will enjoy crossing from continent to continent traveling down the Bosphorus, which is lined with old Ottoman seaside mansions, marble palaces and small fishing villages. Overnight Istanbul.

Day 4 - Istanbul- Cappadocia (B.L)
Take the early morning flight at 06:30am by Onur Air from Istanbul Ataturk airport to Kayseri. Arrival and meeting at the airport just outside the arrival's gate with a sign bearing your name and transfer to Cappadocia. Tour to Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Soğanlı 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. Our tour finishes with a visit to Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; very fine examples of late Greek settlements and architecture. Overnight Hotel Cappadocia.

Day 5 - Cappadocia (B.L)
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, center 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 Hotel Cappadocia.
 
Day 6 - Cappadocia - Ephesus (B.L)
Take the morning flight from Kayseri to Izmir (On Saturdays & Wednesday direct flights by Sunexpress Airlines departure at 09:25am, arrival 11:00am, Other days by Turkish airlines via Istanbul departure at 06:45am arrival 10:00am, Turkish air may cost extra).

Arrival and meeting at the airport. Visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. We will spend several hours walking in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Caesar, Cicero, Apostles Paul and John and many other familiar historical names. The recently opened Slope Houses where the wealthiest Romans lived are an excellent example of sensitive excavation and presentation. The mosaics and frescos are spectacular. Tradition has it that Virgin Mary was brought here by St John after the Crucifixion and lived her final years near the city of Ephesus on an isolated mountaintop. A lovely chapel is constructed on the site tended by Franciscans and open to visitors. It has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope. Overnight Sirince or Kusadasi near Ephesus.


Day 7 - Priene - Miletus - Didyma (B.L)
Priene occupies a dramatic postion overlooking the Meander Valley and plain with Temple of Athena. Didyma has a Temple of Apollo vaguely reminiscent of the great temples at Karnak, for many the most dramatic feature is the ruins of the Ionic Temple of Apollo with its columns pointing up into the sky, and its legend of the romance between Apollo and Daphne. Miletus preserves a spectacular theater. Miletus near in ancient Caria was an important center of philosophy and science, producing such men as Thales, Philosopher, some also consider him the "father of science popular with "Theory of Thales in Geometry!". Thales' most famous belief was his cosmological doctrine, which held that the world originated from water. Anaximander was a pre-Socratic philosopher, claims that "nature is ruled by laws, just like human societies, and anything that disturbs the balance of nature does not last long". Anaximenes, Philosopher, (He held that the air, with its variety of contents, its universal presence, its vague associations in popular fancy with the phenomena of life and growth, is the source of all that exists. Overnight Sirince or Kusadasi near Ephesus.

Day 8 - Ephesus - Pamukkale (B.L.D)
Drive to Pamukkale, on the way, visit to Aphrodisias. Aphrodisias was primarily known as a center for the arts, specifically sculpture. The Aphrodisias School of Sculpture had a distinctive style and was very well circulated throughout the Greek and Roman world. Discovery of Travertine terraces and Hierapolis. The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are one of the most spectacular natural wonders we ever have seen from various mineral springs in a vast white cliff side, about 200 m overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have dripped down over a series of terraced levels and created a fairyland of bizarre solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins. It looks like creations from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle): “pamuk” for cotton and “kale” for castle. Moreover the water in the basins is changing its color according to how the light enters. Overnight Pamukkale.
 
Day 9 - Pamukkale - Istanbul (B)
Transfer to Denizli airport and take the Turkish Airlines morning flight at 08:40 from Denizli to Istanbul Ataturk airport. Arrival at 09:50am and transfer to Hotel. Free afternoon for a last chance to complete your visits. Overnight Istanbul.

Day 10
Connect to your international flight and leave Turkey. (B)

B = Breakfast L= Lunch D = Dinner

• Please ask for discounted rates for family and for large groups.
• If you wish to stay at other hotels in Cappadocia (Anatolian Houses, Esbelli evi, Museum Hotel...ect), or in Istanbul please contact us (price may change)
• PS: You may extend your stay in Istanbul, combine this tour with our trip to Greece, have an extension to East Turkey or join a mini cruise along the Mediterranean Coast.

If you already have a place to stay, already booked your flights, you may still join our tours, please contact us for rates and details.

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