ISTANBUL ANTALYA PAMUKKALE | 8 Days Tour

Welcome to Turkey. Arrive at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, get picked upand transfer to your hotel. Check in,

Free day,

First overnight stay at your hotel in Istanbul,

Breakfast,

Full day tour of Iconic Istanbul – pick up by 08:30, drop off by 18:00;

You can take in some of the most iconic sights of Istanbul in this morning tour that commences with a visit to the Blue Mosque. This magnificent mosque which was designed by Sinan and completed in 1616 is known for its majesty and superb iznik ceramic tiling.

Continue outside to stroll along the Hippodrome. This vast public space was built by the Romans in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD to accommodate events such as chariot races and gladiator fights. It is also home to the Column of Constantine, an Egyptian obelisk and the Serpentine Column.

Next to the Hippodrome we will visit the Hagia Sophia. Originally built in 537AD as a Greek Orthodox church, this breath-taking building was converted to a mosque by the Ottomans and is now a museum. Inside there are two floors built around a central nave. It is adorned with superb decorations and has an enormous dome that soars overhead.

Finish the morning with a walk through the Grand Bazaar for some shopping or just to absorb the sights, sounds and historic architectural beauty of this bustling market.

Lunch,
Come on a tour to the famous Topkapi Palace and skip the queues that flock to see this magnificent and historically significant site. Built in the middle of the 15th century, the walled complex comprised of the palace and its buildings dominate a small raised peninsula. The buildings are nestled within beautiful grounds that sweep down to the sea. For centuries, the palace was the political centre of the highly influential Ottoman Empire and although it is now purely a museum, as you visit its parts including courtyards, the Treasury, various pavilions, the holy relics, weapons and the Harem you will see how great it was.

A lesser known part of the Hagia Sofia complex is the adjacent structure that houses the Sultan Tombs where five 16thand 17thcentury Ottoman sultans are interred. Alongside each sultan’s sarcophagus are many others that hold their wives, children and other notables. The tombs are all beautifully designed and feature beautiful examples of tile work, mosaics, calligraphy and kundekari (a decorative form of carpentry consisting of interlocking pieces of wood and mother of pearl).

Or;
Not far from Topkapi Palace, this tour also takes you to Little Hagia Sophia Mosque which was constructed in the 6th century as a Greek Orthodox Church before being converted to a mosque in the early 16th century. Inside, this small octagonal mosque features a beautiful two- storeyed colonnade, marble pillars and a stunning umbrella dome.

First overnight stay at your hotel in Antalya

Breakfast,

Full day Antalya City Tour – pick up by 09:30, drop off by 16:00;

The historical city of Antalya was originally settled by the Greeks around 200BC. Since then it has had a colourful history and is now one of the most popular destinations for visitors in all of Turkey so why not explore it with us in this action-packed day?

Antalya has some wonderful attractions and we will take you to see the best of them including the magnificent Duden Waterfalls with up to a 40 metre drop; the historic harbour that has been restored and is now a marina for yachts and gulets; and Hadrian’s Gate that was built by the Romans and leads you into the old town with its narrow streets lined with Ottoman-style buildings. You will also visit the bazaar, the iconic fluted minaret and the historical clock tower that is the last remaining tower of the original town walls.

We will pick you up from your hotel, drop you back there at the end of the day and you will have plenty of time at each of the sights to take photos of this marvellous day trip.

Have dinner,

Second overnight stay at your hotel in Antalya,

Breakfast,

Full day Perge, Aspendos and Side Tour – pick up by 08:00, drop off by 17:00;

Discover some of Antalya’s ancient cities on a full day trip.
Perge was an important city of ancient Parnphylia which was settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC. The buildings you see now date from the Roman era and include a gymnasium, agora, theatre, public baths and a long colonnaded marble-paved street that was originally lined with shops and statues. The city gate flanked by two towers dates from the Hellenistic period, 3 centuries BC.

The magnificent theatre in Aspendos is breath-taking and is still in use for special events. Built in the 155 AD it incorporates some Greek aspects into its design and is considered by many to be the best example of a Roman theatre in the world today.

Side was an ancient port city and trading centre that still houses many Greco-Roman ruins including the agora, Dyanisos Temple, the Temple of Apollo with its massive columns and a theatre.

At the end of the day, we will stop and take in the natural beauty of the 18 metre waterfall in the Kursunlu Waterfall National Park.
Have dinner,
Third overnight stay at your hotel in Antalya,

Breakfast,

Free day,

Lunch,
Afternoon pick up from your hotel and transfer to Antalya bus station. Get on the bus and drive to Pamukkale. Get picked up upon arrival and transfer to your hotel, check in,
Overnight stay at your hotel in Pamukkale,

Breakfast,

Full day Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) Tour – pick up by 09:30, drop off by 15:30;

This tour starts in the village of Karahayit and a visit to its red, green and white travertines and thermal pools of red water due to its iron content. Then on to Pamukkale to visit the expansive and magnificent ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis that was founded in the 2nd century BC to take advantage of the thermal pools nearby.

Hierapolis sits atop a hill and features an enormous necropolis, baths, theatre, temples, an agora and antique pool. You will have time to yourself to wander the site before walking down the hill on the sparkling white travertine and enjoying lunch at a local restaurant.

Entry to Cleopatra’s Pool in Hierapolis is not included in the cost of the tour.
Evening transfer to Denizli Airport and flight to Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel following the flight and check-in.
Second overnight stay at your hotel in Istanbul,

Breakfast,

Full day tour of Europe & Asia, Panoramic views from Camlica Hill – pick up by 08:30, drop off by 18:00;

Take a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait, the busy waterway that runs between the Marmara and Black Seas with European Istanbul on one shore and Asian Istanbul on the other. Sit back, relax and enjoy the fresh air, the sea and the sights as you pass magnificent palaces, mosques, mansions and places of historical note.

After getting off the boat at Eminounu, continue your tour into the historic Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar nearby that is bursting with traditional sweets, coffee and spices, and oozing with appeal.

This tour also takes you on a drive around part of the 20km of magnificent stone walls of old Istanbul that date from the 5th century. This series of walls surrounded the old city, featured 55 gates and 400 towers and is still an integral part of Istanbul.

Lunch,
The Dolmabahce Palace was built during the first half of the 19th century as the administrative centre for the Ottoman Empire and home to the sultans and their families. This enormous palace is set amongst well-kept grounds and unlike earlier buildings of importance in Istanbul, it was built in a blend of Ottoman and classical European styles. The palace is very opulent and heavily decorated with gold, valuable stone (alabaster, marble and porphyry), crystal (including crystal chandeliers and the Crystal Staircase) and beautiful rugs.

Later you will drive over the Bosphorus Bridge to the summit of Camlica Hill which is popular for its magnificent panoramic views and the opportunity to take some great photos.

Third overnight stay at your hotel in Istanbul,

Breakfast,

Free day,

Transfer to Ataturk Airport 3 hours before your flight. End of our services here. Thank you for choosing us for your travel in Turkey.