Day 1: Istanbul
Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul! Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel according to your chosen category. Accommodation.
Day 2: Istanbul
Istanbul - Suleiman the Magnificent (Breakfast)
Breakfast. Departure to visit the Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent located on the third hill of Istanbul with one of the most well-known panoramic views of the city, by order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent was built by the famous imperial architect Sinan. After the visit Free time to discover the city on your own. or optionally hire a full day visit to the Historical part of Istanbul where you can see Hagia Sophia (exterior) culmination of Byzantine art, and the pearl of Istanbul, the famous Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries, Enjoy a typical lunch in a local restaurant in the Sultanahmet area, Contemplate the Blue Mosque, a prodigy of harmony, proportion and elegance; and the Hippodrome that preserves the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, the Fountain of Emperor William and the Egyptian Obelisk, at the end of the afternoon visit the famous Grand Bazaar where we will enjoy free time to get lost among its 4 thousand shops. Accommodation.
Day 3: Istanbul
Istanbul - Free Day (Breakfast)
Breakfast. Free day with the possibility of hiring an optional full day visit of boat trip on the Bosphorus and visit to the Asian side with lunch. Departure for one of the most famous activities in Istanbul, a boat trip on the Bosphorus, the canal that separates Europe and Asia. During this journey you will appreciate the palaces of the Sultans, old and typical wooden houses and enjoy history in a different way. Next, we will make one of the star visits, the spice bazaar, established by the Ottomans 5 centuries ago and used since then. Continuation to the palace of "Beylerbey" Located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. Former summer residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire, we will also be able to contemplate the famous Bosphorus suspension bridge that connects the European part with the Asian part of the city, after lunch we will visit the underrated district of Üsküdar located on the Asian side and then head to the Camlica Hill, one of the city's seven hills and the highest point in Istanbul. At 268 meters above sea level, Camlica Hill offers panoramic views of both sides of the city. At the end of the day return to the Hotel. Accommodation.
Day 4: Cappadocia
Istanbul - Ankara - Cappadocia (Breakfast and Dinner)
Breakfast at breakfast box Departure en route to Ankara passing through the Bolu Mountains. The capital of the Turkish Republic and the second most populous city in Turkey (Ankara), a modern and cosmopolitan city steeped in ancient history and culture. Visit the Anitkabir Mausoleum, symbol of Ankara, as it is the place where the founder of the Turkish Republic lies. We continue the journey to Cappadocia. On route we will see the second largest lake in Turkey, The Salt Lake and a 13th century caravanserai (medieval inn) Arrival in Cappadocia. Optionally you can hire a Cappadocia Jeep Safari tour, one of the most exciting adventures in Cappadocia that will allow you to explore the region in an all-terrain vehicle, where you can reach unique landscapes of the formations and valleys of this region. Dinner and accommodation.
(In some departures the Istanbul-Ankara section could be done by high-speed train or with domestic flight for operational reasons)
Day 5: Cappadocia
Cappadocia (Breakfast and Dinner)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of this fascinating region and original landscape, formed by the lava spewed by the Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes 3 million years ago. We will visit the Göreme Valley, an incredible Byzantine monastic complex made up of rock-cut churches with beautiful frescoes. Next, we will visit the Avcilar Valley and Gόvercinlik where you can admire the best view of the volcanic forms called "fairy chimneys" We will visit the typical workshops of carpets and stones of Onyx and Turquoise. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Day 6: Pamukkale
Cappadocia - Pamukkale (Breakfast and Dinner)
Breakfast at the hotel. Early departure to Pamukkale. Arrival and visit to Hierapolis, an ancient Hellenistic city that today stands in ruins. Visit to the famous Cotton Castle, a natural wonder of gigantic white waterfalls, stalactites and Natural Pools formed over the centuries by the passage of waters loaded with calcareous salts from hot springs. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Izmir
Pamukkale - Ephesus - Kusadasi - Izmir (Breakfast and Dinner)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure in the morning to Ephesus, Greco-Roman city, ancient capital of Asia Minor and one of the best preserved of antiquity, where the Temple of Hadrian, Temple of Trajan, the theater and the Library of Celsus are located. Visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, where he spent the last years of his life. Next, we will visit a leather goods gallery where we will learn about the famous production of lambskin garments of this region, at the end of the afternoon we continue to Kusadasi/or Izmir. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.
(During the summer months of May -October the accommodation could be Izmir and its surroundings instead of Kusadasi)
Day 8: Istanbul
Kusadasi - Izmir - Bursa - Istanbul (Breakfast)
Breakfast. Departure to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit of the Ulucamii Mosque, the Kozahan Silk Bazaar and the Green Mausoleum. Continuation of the trip to Istanbul arrival and overnight.
(On some departures for operational reasons, the Izmir-Istanbul leg could be made with a domestic flight without passing through Bursa)
Day 9:
Istanbul (Breakfast)
Breakfast and at the indicated time transfer to the airport.
(Pickup will be 4 hours before the international flight time, exact time will be confirmed through your assistant at the destination)
