Itinerary

- Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul
As we say in Turkey, HOS GELDINIZ! Welcome to Turkey. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After a short briefing about your tour you will have the afternoon free - - Overnight in Istanbul

- Day 2 - istanbul - (B/L)
After breakfast we will take you on a full day tour of Istanbul's historical sites
Sites you’ll see today - Istanbul
*Blue Mosque--World renown for it’s architecture and focal point for worshipping Muslims
*Haghia Sophia--1,400 year old supreme church from Byzantium times which houses famous Byzantine Mosaics *Byzantine Hippodrome--The focal point of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Constantine. Within it’s center you will see the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column.
*Topkapi Palace--the residence and leadership center of the Sultans during the Ottoman Empire. It was built in 1459-1465 shortly after the conquest of Constantinople. You will see the Treasury that includes the Topkapi Dagger, the 86 carat Spoon Maker’s Diamond, and the jewel encased bones of St. John the Baptist’s skull and arm bone.
*Suleymaniye Mosque & the Grand Bazaar will also be visited during the tour. Overnight in ISTANBUL

- Day 3 - Istanbul - (B)
This will be a half day of exploring the historical sites of Istanbul.
Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), Mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish etc.
Bosporus Cruise, thorough the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residential of luxurious apartments.
After the tour we will leave you at the grand Bazaar and give you free time to explore and some souvenir shopping. Overnight stay in Istanbul

- Day 4 - Istanbul to Cappadocia - (B/L)
Early in the morning we will pick you from your hotel and transfer you to the domestic airport and put you on a 1 hour flight to Kayseri, after arrival we will transfer you to Cappadocia and continue on the program.
Sites you’ll see today
*The World Heritage Site of Goreme Open-Air Museum--This is a cluster of rock cut Byzantine churches, chapels and monasteries which include some wonderful 11th and 12th century frescoes on the cave walls. This place was used by the Christians as a place of refuge from those opposed to Christianity and also was a major monastery. Rooms, churches, houses, and gathering halls have all been cut into the rock or formed from natural caves. Within the caves you can explore and see the preserved mosaics and frescoes.
*Fairy Chimneys--These geological phenomenon have been shaped over millions of years. They were formed during volcanic eruptions in the region. Reaching at times 40 meters in height, they are conical in shape and have a "hat" top to them.
*Devrent Valley--This valley is know as "the pink valley" because of the color of it’s soil. This is a lovely place to wander around and look at the magical rock formations indicative to Cappadocia, including the Fairy Chimneys.
*Uchisar Castle--Also called a fortress, this is actually a formation of two gigantic rocks surrounded by smaller rocks that together form a natural fortress with towers. These formations were inhabited during both the Byzantine and Ottoman times. You can climb and explore the different caves and rooms throughout the fortress, experiencing first-hand what it must have been like to hide in these fortified rocks, waiting for the ancient enemy to pass by or give up.
*We will also get the chance to visit local craftspeople and learn how they make dolls and create traditional pottery. >Breakfast/Lunch <Overnight in URGUP.

- Day 5 - Cappadocia - (B/L)
Today will be spent walking through an underground city where ancient people once fled for their lives escaping the Arab invaders, wandering through Ihlara Gorge and spending time in an Anatolian village. As we will need to drive for awhile in order to reach our first destination, we will be starting out quite early this morning.
Sites you’ll see today
*Underground City of Derinkuyu--You will gradually stroll your way down into the depths of the earth in this ancient underground city that has 18-20 floors as deep as 40 meters below the ground. Don’t worry, you will only go down to the 8th floor. Cappadocia has around 36 underground cities. Archeologists date these back to the time of the Hittites which lived 4000 years ago. Others believe they were inhabited around the 7th century BC.....Regardless of how old or young they are, undoubtedly they will leave you with a sense of awe of how the dwellers of these cities lived. As you wind down you will begin to feel as if you are in a huge block of Swiss cheese. Everywhere you look there will be nooks and crannies carved into the rocks: holes, windows , paths, alleys, little rooms. . . it is really a maze of mass proportions. You will see ancient kitchens and stables; storage jars for oil, wine and water; rock carved tables, chairs, and beds; and deep wells for water supplies. You will be amazed at the elaborate ancient ventilation system in place. These cities were fortified and prepared for it’s inhabitants to hide out for months from attackers, especially during the Arab invasions. During Christian times the hiding worshippers even built little chapels that you can still see.
*Ihlara Gorge will seem like an oasis in the middle of the Anatolian plain. Delve into the gorge and see the beautiful greenery as you follow the river. Around you will see ancient monasteries complete with pigeon holes cut into the cliffs by the monks. They used these pigeons as messengers to communicate with their monk friends!
*Traditional Anatolian villages--The head-scarved women out at work in the fields from sun up until sun-down, and the mustached, vest-wearing men hard at work playing cards in the coffee shops. You will get time to stroll in such a village and see the average Turkish villager at work...or play. After the tour we will return to our hotel, Overnight stay in Cappadocia

- Day 6 - Cappadocia to Kusadasi (Via izmir)
Breakfast at the hotel, then we will provide a transfer to Kayseri airport and put you on a 1 hour 10 minute flight to Izmir, After arrival in Izmir airport, you will be met by our transfermen and will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi, After check in you will have a free after to explore Kusadasi town, Overnight stay in Kusadasi.

- Day 7 - Kusadasi - (B/L/D)
After breakfast we will continue on a full day tour of Ephesus.
We will visit Turkey’s most impressive Roman and Biblical site today, in what may well be one of your most memorable days in Turkey. We will also visit other significant sites of the area.
Sites you’ll see today
* Temple of Artemis Artemis was a Greek goddess, the virginal huntress and twin of Apollo, who supplanted the Titan Selene as goddess of the Moon.
*Ephesus is one of the best preserved cities from Roman times. At the time St. Paul lived in Ephesus in the 60’s AD, it was at it’s Roman heyday with a population around 250,000. Ephesus was a great ancient city and much of it has been preserved for you to see. More than any other site, you can walk the streets, stand in the great theatre, wander in the library, see the ancient Roman toilets and baths, and feel that you are walking back into ancient history.
*The House of The Virgin Mary is where it is believed St. Mary came to live with St. John in the last years of her life. . Overnight in KUSADASI

- Day 8 - Kusadasi to Pamukkale (B/L/D)
After breakfast we will depart from Kusadasi, drive inland to Pamukkale, upon arrival we will continue on the guided tour of Pamukkale and Hiarapolis.
A cotton castle, a hillside of tombs, and an ancient sculpture school ....there is never a day in Turkey that you are short of eclectic sites to see!
Sites you’ll see today
*Pammukale means cotton castle in Turkish. It is the result of limestone formations built over thousands of years. Warm calcium rich mineral water flowed over the cliffs and as it cooled it deposited the calcium into the formations that are seen today. Pammukale is now a world heritage site.
*Hierapolis was founded as a healing care center in 190 BC, taking advantage of the mineral
waters in the area. It was one of the most important intellectual, artistic, religious and commercial center of the Roman Empire.
*In the afternoon you will have free time at your hotel to relax in it’s natural and thermal spring waters that are used in it’s pools....or perhaps you will treat yourself to a mud bath, massage or manicure!
Overnight stay in Pamukkale.

- Day 9 - Pamukkale to Fethiye - (B/D)
After breakfast we will depart from Pamukkale and drive to Fethiye, upon arrival you will be transferred to Gulet (Traditional wooden yacht) then you will spend the first day in Fethiye, exploring, swimming, and enjoying the day, Overnight on board, in Fethiye.

- Day 10 - Fethiye to Kas - (B/L/D)
An early start for Yesilköy where you will have breakfast and time to swim in this quiet bay surrounded by olive trees. Then we will journey on to Kas, a small harbor town with a charming Bohemian atmosphere. You'll spend the night in Kas's harbor.

- Day 11 - Kas to Kekova - (B/L/D)
A short cruise to the ruins at Kekova, Kalekoy, Ucagiz (the Sunken City). Lunch is at Tersane Bay where you'll see the ruins of a Byzantine church, ancient Roman ruins under the water and along the beach. As you sail on to Gökkaya for the night, the underwater ruins of ancient Gökkaya are also visible.

- Day 12 - Kekova to Demre - Antalya Airport then back to Istanbul - (B)
After breakfast in Demre, it's time to say good bye to your shipmates, gulet & crew. Then we will transfer you to Antalya airport and you will get on a 1 hour flight to Istanbul, upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel, Overnight stay in Istanbul.

- Day 13 - Istanbul to home - (B)
Gule, Gule! It is time to go home. We will transfer you to the airport and wish you well, asking that you keep Turkey and all of us in your hearts, and hoping that our paths cross again in this life!

Total cost: 1495 Euro per person in a double room & 1785 Euro in a single room.

( ask for early booking discounts )

Price includes
* All of the hotels ( Each of them individually chosen )
* All of the land transfers with comfortable vehicles
* All of the meal mentioned in the itinerary ( B-breakfast, L-lunch & D-dinner )
* Professional English speaking tour guides
* Domestic flight tickets from Istanbul to Cappadocia
* Domestic flight tickets from Cappadocia to Izmir
* Domestic flight tickets from Antalya to Istanbul
* 3 Night Blue cruise from Fethiye to Antalya
* All of the TAX and service charges

Excludes
* International flight tickets to Istanbul
* Hot Air Balloon ride on Cappadocia
* Drinks with meals

( This is a customize program and if you are interested in getting more information about the cost, and hotel name and their web sites, then simply send us an e-mail inquiry and let us know the dates you like to travel, then we will get back to you with full on information.

We can also extend your stay by adding more sights like Cappadocia, Antalya, more days in Istanbul and make this program suitable for your time and interest.


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