1st day: HOME
/ İSTANBUL
Arrival at İstanbul Atatürk Airport, reception and
assistance with airport formalities. Transfer to Hotel .
Dinner and overnight.
2nd day: İSTANBUL
In the morning, visits to the Haghia Sophia Museum, a Byzantine
masterpiece considered to be one of the gratest temples ever
built; the Hippodrome marked by the majestic presence of two
obelisks and the serpent column, where Byzantines raced horses
and chariots and occasionaly started revolutions and riots; and
the Underground Cistern, a giant reservuir that supplied the
Old City with water for centuries. Lunch. In the afternoon visits
to the Blue Mosque architectural masterpiece with a huge dome
and slander minarets; and the Topkapı Palace which, in addition
to being the royal residance of the Ottoman Sultans, was the
administrative heart of the Empire. Transfer to hotel in İstanbul
for dinner and overnight.
3rd day: İSTANBUL / ANKARA
Half day tour of İstanbul including lunch. Late in the afternoon
departure for Ankara by coach. Dinner and overnight in Ankara.
4th day:ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA
In the morning visits to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
and the Mauselum of Atatürk, founder of Modern Turkey. Lunch.
In the afternoon departure by coach for Cappodacia. Arrival at
hotel for dinner and overnight.
5th day: CAPPODACIA
Exploring the fascinating region of Göreme with its “Fairy Chimneys”
and Churches carved out of soft rock; to Uçhisar with its houses
plustred around rock pinnacles; and to Zelve, a site most famous
for its troglodyte dwellings. Lunch. In the afternoon visit to the
subterrenean city of Kaymaklı. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
6th day: CAPPODACIA / KONYA
In the morning, departure by coach for Konya, visiting en route
the Ihlara Valley accomodating many Byzantine chapels carved
into rock and decorated with frescoes. Lunch in Aksaray. Arrival
at Konya. In the afternoon, tour of the city, including the Medrese
(Theological School) of Karatay where today lovely pieces of
Seljuk earth enware are in display; The İnce Minare (Slender
Minaret), another İslamic “Theological School” now sheltering
woods and rock carvings; and the ancient convent of the whirling
Dervishes. Dinner and overnight.
7th day: KONYA / SİDE / ASPENDOS
/ PERGA / ANTALYA
In the morning,departure for Antalya. An excursion to the three
Roman cities of Side, Aspendos and Perga. Lunch in Side. Continuation
of the visits in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
8th day: ANTALYA
Day of leisure on half-board basis in Antalya.
9th day: ANTALYA / HİEROPOLİS /
PAMUKKALE
In the morning, departure for Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) where cascading
water and hot springs flow into limestone basins. Lunch on the
way. Continuation of ride to Pamukkale visiting the ruins of Hierapolis,
a Roman spa famous also for its vast Necropolis, followed by some
free time for bathing in the warm waters of Pamukkale. Dinner and
overnight in Pamukkale.
10th day: PAMUKKALE / APHRODİSİAS
/ DYDMA / MİLETUS / PRİENE / KUŞADASI
In the morning, departure for visiting Aphrodisias, an ancient
city which boasts well-preserved monuments: the Odeon, the Temple
of Aphrodite, the Stadium and The Theatre. Lunch. Continuation
of the trip by visiting the cities of the Ionian Triangle: firstly
Dydma, highly esteemed for its oracles bythe ancients and which
boats one of the largest temples of Apollo; then Miletus, centre
of the Ionian Philosophy; and lastly Priene, one of the foremost
cities of the Ionian Confederation. Drive to Kusadasi for dinner
and overnight.
11th day: KUŞADASI / EPHESUS /
KUŞADASI
In the morning visits to the world famous ancient city of Ephesus
including the Odeon, the Temple of Hadrian, the Theathre which
is the largest in Asia Minor, the Celsus Library and the Marble
Street and also the Ephesus Archeological Museum in Selçuk. Lunch
in Selçuk. In the afternoon, visit to the Basilica of St. John
and the last abode of Virgin Mary. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi
12th day: KUŞADASI / PERGAMUM /
TROY / ÇANAKKALE
Departure from Kusadasi for Bergama. Visit of the ancient city
of Pergamum nearby featuring the Asclepium Sanctuary, one of the
foremost medical centers of Antiquity; the Acropolis sheltering
numerous splendors such as the Altar of Zeus; the Temple of Trajan
and the steepest amphitheathre in the world. Lunch. Departure for
Çanakkale, visit Troy en route which has an important place in
the history as well as the mythologie of the region. Dinner and
overnight in Çanakkale.
13th day: ÇANAKKALE / BURSA
In the morning, departure for Bursa. Lunch upon arrival. Tour of
Bursa, the magnificient remains from the first capital of the Ottoman
Empire, including the Green Mosque, the Green Mouselum, the Grand
Mosque famous for the multitude of its domes and the Silk Bazaar.
Dinner and overnight in Bursa.
14th day: BURSA / ISTANBUL
Departure for İstanbul, crossing the Sea of Marmara by ferryboat.
Arrival for lunch. Afternoon of leisure in İstanbul. Dinner and
overnight.
15th day: İSTANBUL / HOME
Transfer to the Airport for the return flight. Assistance with
airport formalities. Take-off for home .
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