ITINERARY
DAY 1. (Sunday) ISTANBUL
Arrive in Istanbul Atatürk airport where your guide will meet you and
assist you with your transfer to hotel. After checking in and freshening
up, we highly recommend that you take a good rest, both because of the
jet lag and also because you will be starting on your wonderful trip of
Turkey early the following morning. You will meet your traveling
companions over dinner at a traditional restaurant in the Kumkapi
district, accompanied by gipsy music
Overnight Istanbul.
DAY 2. (Monday) ANKARA
Early depart for Ankara, the capital
of modern Turkey. Visit the world famous Museum of Anatolian
Civilizations and the mausoleum of Ataturk. (Father of Turks) In the
Evening Dinner at the historic Ankara district at “The castle”.
Overnight Ankara.
DAY 3. (Tuesday) CAPPADOCIA
Journey to Cappadocia en route stop at the 14th Century BC
Hittite Capital “Hattusas”, continue to “Yazilikaya” the
Hittite religious center. Drive across the central Anatolian plateau to
Cappadocia, a landscape of unique rock formations and ‘Fairy Chimneys’.
Overnight Cappadocia.
DAY 4 -5 . (Wednesday - Thursday) CAPPADOCIA
Tour
includes 2 full days in the unique region of Cappadocia. This
wonderful area is the home of a thriving folk craft industry. Pottery,
carpets, kilims, embroidery and doll making are all made in this region
by local artisans. Your stay here includes local tours, optional
folkloric and belly-dancing shows, visits to carpet weaving villages,
displays of local crafts and the opportunity to view outstanding
frescoes in the churches of the region as well as a fascinating
underground city.
Overnight Cappadocia.
DAY 6. (Friday) CAPPADOCIA -ANTALYA
Morning depart for Antalya via Konya, a clean and pleasant
town on the southwestern outskirts of the Cappadocian region, birthplace
of the spiritual leader “Mevlana” and Dervishes. Visit the Monastery /
Museum. And continue to Antalya. Evening free, to explore Antalya at
leisure.
Overnight Antalya.
DAYS 7. (Saturday)
ANTALYA - PAMUKKALE
Explore the fascinating archeological sites surrounding Antalya. Visit
the ancient Roman city of Perge, here the substantial remains of
a great theatre, stadium, huge Hellenistic and Roman gates and a
colonnaded street are impressive. Visit Aspendos with the best-preserved
amphitheatre in Turkey. What you see here remains from Roman times,
though the history of the settlement goes back to the Hittite Empire
(800BC). Continue your trip towards Pamukkale, the ‘Cotton Castle’
where the white limestone cliffs have attracted visitors since before
the time of Christ. In the evening swim in the warm thermal waters at
our hotel.
Overnight
Pamukkale.
DAY 8. (Sunday) PAMUKKALE -SELCUK
Today
we visit the Roman city of Hierapolis scattered around the
natural beauty of Pamukkale and continue our journey to Selcuk.
En route we stop at the Roman city of Aphrodisias, the goddess of
love set amongst the mountains in one of the most picturesque sites of
Turkey. Our next stop is Selcuk for overnight.
Overnight Selcuk.
DAY 9. (Monday) SELCUK
A
full day reserved to visit the biblical city of Ephesos, the
ancient Roman capital of Asia Minor. Ephesos is widely regarded as one
of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world and center of early
Christianity. Visit the Chapel of the Virgin Mary and the nearby
archeological museum.
Overnight Selcuk.
DAY 10. (Tuesday) SELCUK - CANAKKALE
Visit
the city of Canakkale at the southern entrance to the
Dardanelles and the nearby battlefields of Gallipoli. En
route visit the ancient city of Pergamon, famous for learning,
medicine and the arts in antique times. Also visit the fabled Homeric
city of Troy, site of the Trojan wars and the famous wooden horse.
Overnight Canakkale.
DAY 11. (Wednesday) ISTANBUL
Travel across the Dardanelles by ferry to tour the scenes of the
historic battlefields of World War 1. In the afternoon continue to
Istanbul along the European shore of the Sea of Marmara. Once in
Istanbul, enjoy a private Bosphorus sunset cruise. Weather
permitting. Evening at your leisure.
Overnight Istanbul.
DAY 12. (Thursday) ISTANBUL
Start
your day by visiting the magnificent Haghia Sophia, and then
continue to the marvelous Topkapi palace, that served as the
palace of the Ottoman Sultans between the 16th and 19th centuries.
Optional visits: to the Treasury, where the extensive exhibits
include priceless world-class collections of jewelry, porcelain,
textiles and costumes of the Sultans, as well as to the Harem
quarters, which is an absolute highlight. Have lunch in one of the
special traditional restaurants in Topkapi. Then we continue to visit
the famous Blue Mosque, the Byzantine Hippodrome and the
incredible Underground Cistern. Return to your hotel and in the
evening, enjoy a traditional farewell dinner.
Overnight Istanbul.
DAY 13. – (Friday) ISTANBUL
Free morning for last minute shopping; time permitting, before transfer to Istanbul airport for departure to ongoing destinations.