Highlights of Turkey

Arrival to Istanbul airport and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)

Day 1

DAY 1 ISTANBUL

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After breakfast at the hotel proceed for a full day tour which takes you through splendid attractions of Istanbul. Visit St. Sophia, the magnificent Byzantine church of all times, mosque during Ottomans and museum today. Byzantine Hippodrome, the former centre for sportive and political activities of Constantinople. Obelisk of Theodosius from Egypt, the Serpentine Column and the German Fountain. The Blue Mosque, a magnificent 17th century mosque famous with its six minarets and 25,000 pieces of blue Iznik tiles decorating the interior. Following a lunch break in the old town, you will visit Topkapi Palace, the former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was once ruled. Today the 15th century Palace displaying the imperial treasury, 3rd richest Chinese and Japanese porcelain collection of the world and other collections scattered in 3 courtyards and vast gardens overlooking the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. Afternoon, visit Suleymaniye Mosque, the mosque of Sultan Suleiman the “Magnificent”, built in the 16th century by Sinan, the famous architect of all times. Overnight at the hotel (B, L, D)

Day 2

DAY 2 ISTANBUL

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After breakfast, depart for Ankara, the Turkish capital and visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations for its rich and unique collections from the Hittites and the others who settled in Anatolia. Make a brief stop for taking pictures at the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. After lunch, continue to Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight at hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 3

DAY 3 ISTANBUL - ANKARA - CAPPADOCIA

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Early in the morning, possibility to participate an optional Hot Air Balloon Ride over the magnificent landscape of Cappadocia. After breakfast, a full day tour to explore Cappadocia. Visit the Goreme Valley, an open-air museum with rock-cut churches (7th-13th centuries) adorned with biblical frescoes. Learn about the art and crafts of rural Turkey at a handicraft centre, and attend a lecture on Turkish hand-made rugs. Drive back for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Underground City of Kaymakli, a multi-level labyrinth for protection during invasions. Admire the impressive rock formations at sunset. (Possibility of an optional folklore show with dinner). (B, L, D)

Day 4

DAY 4 CAPPADOCIA

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In the morning, depart to Soganli Valley to visit its rock-cut churches. After lunch in the area, visit the Avcilar and the Kiliçlar Valleys with their old cave-dwellings and fairy chimneys. Photo stops at Uchisar and Pigeon Valley, best vista points on the way to dinner and overnight at hotel. (Possibility to participate to an optional Ceremony of Whirling Dervishes).

Day 5

DAY 5 CAPPADOCIA

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After breakfast, drive to Konya. En route, visit the Caravanserai from the Seljuk period (13th century) on the Silk Road. In Konya, visit the Museum of Mevlana, the famous mystic poet, and founder of the Sufi Order of the Whirling Dervishes. After lunch, continue to Antalya for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 6

DAY 6 CAPPADOCIA - KONYA - ANTALYA

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Start your day to visit a spectacular Greco-Roman site Perge. Behind the site’s breath-taking Hellenistic gate lies a 250 metre long street with columns, an Agora, triumphal arch, monumental fountain, graveyard, basilica, bath, and 12,000 people theatre, the best preserved stadium in Anatolia. After lunch visit Aspendos with the best preserved Roman Theatre in the world. On the way to Antalya, discover the tradition of jewellery making on this soil while visiting one of the largest jewellers of Turkey. Dinner and overnight at hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 7

DAY 7 ANTALYA

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Leaving Antalya behind, cross the Taurus Mountains to Pamukkale. Meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, it is a natural site of limestone that cascades down the mountain slope. Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis which was built on top of the white “castle”, and relax in Cleopatra’s restorative pool. Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 8

DAY 8 ANTALYA - PAMUKKALE

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In the morning, drive to Aphrodisias, the ancient site dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of Beauty, Love and Fertility, also famous for its school of sculpture. The stadium is the best preserved one in Anatolia. Other sights include the Temple of Aphrodite the Tetrapylon and the Theatre. Continue to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 9

DAY 9 PAMUKKALE - APHRODISIAS - KUSADASI

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After breakfast, discovery of another world heritage; Ephesus. The site today is one of the best places of the world to visualize an ancient Roman city: explore the Marble Street, Agora, Odeon, and Theatre, as well as the Fountain of Trajan, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Library of Celsus. View the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. After lunch, drive to Sirince Village with its old 19th century Greek houses which have been restored to its original content. Dinner and overnight at Kusadasi hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 10

DAY 10 KUSADASI - EPHESUS

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Transfer to Izmir airport for your connection flight via Istanbul. (B)

Day 11

DAY 11 KUSADASI - IZMIR

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