ISTANBUL CAPPADOCIA PAMUKKALE EPHESUS 9Days

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 Cappadocia,

Breakfast,

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

Cappadocia is known for its stunning conical rock formations (fairy chimneys), colourful landscapes and ancient homes that were carved into the rock formations. This tour takes you through the beautiful Devrent (Imagination) Valley where fairy chimneys tower overhead before moving into Pasabag (Monk Valley) nearby, where the fairy chimneys have strange double and triple-headed caps.

After lunch at Avanos, you will visit the Goreme open air museum that has churches and frescoes from the 10th and 12th centuries. The day finishes at Uchisar Castle, a fortress that was cut from a large and tall fairy chimney.

Second overnight stay at your hotel in Cappadocia,

Breakfast,

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

The hike starts in Red Valley which is known for its stunning scenery, colourful rock cliffs and beautiful fairy chimneys. After walking for 4 kms, you will arrive at Cavusin, a Greek village that features rock-cut churches.

After lunch, the tour continues to the underground city of Kaymakli which is the largest underground city in the region, and Pigeon Valley where dove cotes, many of which are decorated, have been carved into the rock. The last stop is the rugged Ortahisar Castle which is the largest fairy chimney in Cappadocia.

Overnight bus to Pamukkale,

Arrive in Pamukkale, get picked up and transfer to your hotel to relax a few hours. Have 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.
Drive to Kusadasi following the tour. Arrive at the hotel and check in. Have dinner,
Overnight stay at your hotel in Kusadasi,

Breakfast,

Full day Ephesus Tour – pick up by 08:30, drop off by 16:30;

The day starts with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary that is significant to both Christians and Muslims and currently serves as a chapel. From here, the tour continues to Ephesus – one of the most important harbour cities of the antique world. The ruins are magnificent and highlights include the Celsus Library, Gate of Augustus, the beautifully-decorated terrace houses, a huge amphitheatre and the Temple of Hadrian.

Enjoy lunch at a local Turkish restaurant and afterwards, a trip to Isa Bey Mosque (1375) and the ruins of the Artemis Temple which was one of the Seven Wondders of the World.

Evening transfer from your tour to Izmir Airport and flight to Istanbul, arrive and transfer back to your hotel following the flight,

Second overnight stay at your hotel in Istanbul,

Breakfast,

Free day,

Third 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 Eminonu, 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.

Fourth overnight stay at your hotel in Istanbul,

Breakfast,

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