Time for Turkey

Upon arrival, our visits start with BOSPHORUS TOUR. We will navigate the Bosphorus strait that separates Europe and Asia continents.

From the boat we can see a wonderful view of the strait with its palaces, forts and summer houses. After the boat tour we will continue to the SPICE MARKET, built in the seventeenth century, with typical products like pashmina, saffron, spices (seasonings), dried fruits, teas, treats, perfumes and more!  After lunch, transfer to Bursa, the 4th largest city in Turkey, for your overnight stay.dinner at hotel.

After breakfast , you will visit ULUCAMI, GRAND MOSQUE, which was built by Sultan Bayezit I from 1396 to 1400. You will also visit KOZA HAN which means SILK MARKET and the covered bazaar nearby.

Thereafter, enjoy a drive through the countryside to Kusadasi for your overnight stay. Dinner at hotel.

After breakfast departure to EPHESUS, a Greco-Roman city very well preserved in Asia Minor, which once had a population of 250,000 inhabitants and monopolized the wealth of the Middle East. It keeps treasures as the impressive Roman Theater that housed more than 25,000 spectators, the magnificent Library of Celsus (third largest library in the ancient world, the Temple of Hadrian and the Marble Street. We will watch a lovely leather fashion show.

After lunch, we depart for PAMUKKALE (COTTON CASTLE), visit the extensive ruins of HIERAPOLIS & NECROPOLIS – known for its thermal baths and health centre. Thereafter, see “Cotton Castle” or Pamukkale's magical and unique terraces & castles created by deposits of white limestone from thermal springs. Enjoy your overnight stay in Pamukkale Thermal Hotel. Dinner at hotel.

After breakfast departure to KONYA visit the museum of 13th century Philosopher Melvana Celaleddin-i Rumi. Departure for  Cappadocia and en route visit the magnificent CARAVANSERAI OF SULTANHAN, arrivel to Cappadocia and dinner and overnight.

Early this morning just before your breakfast, if you are ready for some excitement, you may consider trying out the possible optional Hot Air Balloon experience.

After breakfast visit Underground City of KAYMAKLI  or OZKANAK , once a place of refuge for 15,000 Christians, witness their ancient bedrooms, church, meeting hall and food storage rooms all within this eight-storey city connected by 30km of corridors and passageways, you will get a chance to see bedrooms, kitchens, dining halls, wine cellars, chapels, stables and more.. Next, do not miss this rare opportunity to experience the beauty and work of local hand-made crafts through a Turkish carpet weaving course. make a visit to the fascinating frescoed rock churches and chapels at Goreme Open-Air Museum, to explore the unusual troglodyte dwellings, remains of the early churches comprising of complicated rooms hollowed out of the cones of volcanic ash and decorated with scratched frescoes.  It is registered to the World Heritage List by UNESCO. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Photo-stops will be made at Uchisar “castle” village, a fantasyland of strange and wonderful works of man and nature.Proceed to Pigeon Valley to feel wonderful atmosphere of the place. We have photo stop at Dervent Valley (Imagination Valley) which is one of the best places to see fantastic Fairy Chimneys and it is famous for its Camel Rock, photo stop at Three Beauties where you can gather perfect pictures. We visit and have photo stop at Valley of Love. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

After dinner, optional tour of a  fascinating Belly Dancing and Folkdance performances in Cave restaurant.

Check out and depart to Ankara, the capital of Turkey, on the way visit Salt Lake and arrive to Ankara then  visit the Ataturk Mausoleum – the final resting place of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk – Father of modern Turkey. Lunch at local restaurant. Proceed to ISTANBUL dinner and overnight.

After breakfast our visits today starts with TOPKAPI PALACE, once the seat of the Ottoman Empire. Today, it is a museum palace with a wide collection of porcelain, antiques, holy relics and other treasures. After lunch, visit BLUE MOSQUE, also known as Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, which boasts a unique feature of 6 minarets. Admire its glorious interiors and distinctive blue tiles. Next, view the only remains of Hippodrome of Constantinople, consisting of 3 monumental columns and a fountain. This is the site where chariot races took place in the past. You will also visit HAGIA SOPHIA MUSEUM, a must-see attraction due to its religious and architectural significance Dinner and overnight.

Today start tour from Pierre Loti hill at Golden Horn and Eyup Sultan Mosque (1458). Next to Eyup Sultan Mosque we will visit the tombs of the Sahabe, which is very famous in Turkey by being the first generation of Muslims, who had come as far as Istanbul and besieged the city. The small Sahabe Cemetery just outside Egrikapi Gate may seem like a standard Muslim cemetery Visit the famous GRAND BAZAAR which is a covered market of the fifteenth century, consisting of 5000 stores, and is considered one of the first shopping centers in the world.Dinner then transfer to hotel.

The Süleymaniye Mosque becomes most meaningful when understood in its historical and cultural context. It was built during the latter part of Süleyman’s long and prosperous reign, which stretched from 1520 to 1566. Visit before departure Taksim Square and Istıklal Street for free shopping time and see modern and historical part of city.  Transfer to airport.