Day1: Istanbul
Arrival in Turkey Istanbul and meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day2: Istanbul (Old City)
The tour starts with a visit to the ancient Hippodrome. The original building of the Hippodrome was built in the 3rd century A.D by Septimus Severus. The Hippodrome was the civil center for the people. In the Hippodrome, you may also see the Egyptian Obelisk (Dikilitaş), The Serpentine Column, The Constantine Column and the German Fountain of Wilhelm 2.
The tour continues with a visit to The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii). It was built by Sultan Ahmet I in the 17th century. Visitors are fascinated with its beautiful blue tiles. This is followed by a visit to Topkapi Palace which was the second palace in Istanbul for the Ottoman sultans between the 15th and 19th centuries.
After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the Hagia Sophia which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest church in the world for many centuries and today it is the fourth largest. You will see its beautiful mosaics, exquisite samples of Byzantine art.
We will also visit the Underground Cistern which is the largest and most ornate cistern in Istanbul.
The tour continues with a visit to the Grand Bazaar. (You will have free time in Grand Bazaar to wander through the vast maze and see the beautiful crafts.)
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day3: Istanbul, Ankara
Check out from the hotel and transfer to airport for the flight to Ankara.
Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. It is one of the most beautiful and richest museums in the world. In this museum, you may see many fine examples from the sites of all civilizations of Anatolia. The exhibits are arranged chronologically, from Paleolithic Age until today.
Tour continues with a visit to the Mausoleum of Ataturk (Anitkabir). Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is the founder of the Turkish Republic and he never requested a monumental tomb for himself. After his death, Turkish people built the Mausoleum for him to show their adoration and respect. The mausoleum includes statues, inscriptions, and reliefs on topics from Turkish history and Ataturk’s life.
Overnight in Ankara.
Day4: Ankara, Cappadocia
Drive to Cappadocia. On the way stop at the Salt Lake.
After arriving in Cappadocia, visit Ihlara Valley and Derinkuyu Underground City.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day5: Cappadocia
First, we will visit Devrent (Imagination) Valley to see the lunar landscape and fantastic rock formations.
We will walk in Pasabag to see the tallest fairy chimneys and the caves where the Christian monks lived in their small communities.
Lunch in Avanos and a visit to a traditional pottery workshop for a demonstration.
In the afternoon we will visit Goreme Open-Air Museum and see the rock-cut churches and beautiful frescoes and paintings of the 10th through 13th centuries.
After the museum, we will go to Uchisar rock castle for a beautiful view of Cappadocia's valleys.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day6: Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Sultanhan Caravansary It is the biggest caravansary in Turkey. It was the place where traders rested on the Silk Road.
Drive to Konya. After lunch visits The Museum of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi. Mevlana was a great poet and philosopher who lived in the 13th century. He was the founder of Sufism and the whirling dervish ceremony.
Drive to Pamukkale. Overnight Pamukkale.
Day7: Pamukkale
Check out from the hotel and visit Pamukkale. Visit the travertine terraces and the ancient city of Hierapolis. The terraces were formed by hot spring water flowing over the surface and down the hill. These are different colors and shapes in the form of terraces with pools. Pamukkale, which means cotton castle, takes its name from these formations.
After the tour drives to Kusadasi and check into the hotel.
Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day8: Ephesus, Bursa
Check out from the hotel and drive to Ephesus.
Visit the House of the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary was brought here by St. John after Jesus' crucifixion and lived her final years near the city of Ephesus on an isolated mountaintop. It has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope.
After visiting the House of the Virgin Mary we will visit Ephesus, the best-preserved ancient city of Turkey. Ephesus, where Heraclitus (the philosopher who said "There is nothing permanent except change.") lived, boasted the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
This Temple, which Alexander the Great visited and in which St.Paul preached to the early Christians, was beautiful beyond compare. Lastly, we will visit the Basilica of St.John in which he was buried.
Drive to Bursa. Overnight in Bursa.
Day9: Bursa, Istanbul
Check out from the hotel. Visit the Ottoman Mosques and the Bursa Ulu Mosque, the Silk Market and other sights. After Lunch drive to Istanbul.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day10: Istanbul
Today we will go to Istanbul Bosphorus. First, we will visit the Egyptian Spice Market. It was built in 1664 as part of the Yeni Cami complex. Today, you may buy spices and Turkish delight.
The tour continues to the Galata Bridge and Golden Horn.
We will visit the incredible 19th-century Dolmabahce Palace. The palace was built by Sultan Abdulmecid. It consists of 285 rooms and 46 halls that house approximately 600 paintings.
We continue up the Bosporus and cross over to Asia, going up Camlica Hill for a view of Istanbul.
After lunch, we will visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum, with its well-organized archeological and ethnographical sections.
The Bosphorus cruise (ferry) begins in the afternoon. Bosphorus is a narrow strait between Europe and Asia connecting the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. We pass by the Rumeli Fortress and you will enjoy crossing from continent to continent.
Transfer to the airport for your departure from Turkey.
