About this trip
Highlights of Turkey Tour
- 8 nights/ 9 days cultural small group tour (Max. 10 people)
- Scenic land journey + 3 domestic flights
- Guaranteed departures from Istanbul, roundtrip
- Prices starting at US$1790
- Accommodation in 4 star and special class and cave hotels based on double occupancy.
- Fully Guided sightseeing
- Includes 8 breakfasts, 1 dinner
- Transfers and tours by private A/C motor coach
- Highlights: Istanbul - Cappadocia - Kusadasi - Pamukkale
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey. Arrive in Istanbul Airport ( IST ) or to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport ( SAW ) , Our representative will meet you at the airport with your name sign and private transfer to the hotel for overnight stay in Istanbul.
Day 2: Istanbul Tour (B)
09.00 a.m. After breakfast pick up from hotel and our journey begins in Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents. Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul - it's three names span more than 2600 years, nearly 1600 of them as the capital of two of the greatest empires the world has known, Byzantine and Ottoman. We visit the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place. Visit the Grand Bazaar for shopping. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3: Istanbul Tour (B)
08.30 a.m. After breakfast, pick up from hotel . First visit Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar): The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other concievable herb and spice then Boat trip on the bosphorus : A traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. Afternoon visit Underground cistern. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4: Istanbul to Cappadocia by flight - Cappadocia Tour (B)
Early morning pick up from hotel and transfer to Istanbul airport for flight to Cappadocia . Arrival to Cappadocia. Our Tour guide will meet you at the airport and start for Cappadocia tour. First meeting with Cappadocia, visiting Three Sisters Fairy Chimneys in Urgup which are the most popular and seen on advertisements. You will see that the houses for the pigeons are like the houses for the people. Then we descend into the center of the earth in the Kaymakli Underground City one of the largest and the deepest of 200 others in Cappadocia. After the tour program transfer to your hotel
Day 5 : Cappadocia Tour - Izmir - Kusadasi (B)
Optional : Hot Air Ballooning Tour After breakfast take our second day Cappadocia tour. Drive to Devrent Valley, take a walk through this lunar landscape where different rock formations can be seen.. Seeing the best examples of the fairy chimneys at Pasabag Fairy Chimneys Valley, we drive further to Avanos Town, which is famous with tile and pottery workshops. After lunch our next stop is Goreme Open Air Museum where you will enjoy the fantastic rock churches and beautiful frescos from various centuries decorating the walls of the churches. Then we drive to the Uchisar Rock Castle, which is the highest and the most dominant point, giving us a breathtaking panorama. We end the day visiting Esentepe Windy Hill for panaromic view and taking photos. Transfer to the airport for flight back to Izmir via Istanbul. Arrival to Izmir and transfer to Kusadasi for overnight.
Day 6 : Kusadasi - Ephesus (B)
After breakfast drive to Ephesus. First visit Artemis Temple where is one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Continue to Ephesus, walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them The State Agora, Odeon, Memnius Monument, the Temple of Domitian, , Polio Fountain, Curetes Street, The Trajan Fountain, The Baths of Scholastica, Hadrian Temple, Latrina, Celcus Library, the gate of Mihridates and Mazues, Commercial Agora and The Grand Theater are two of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus. Grand theatre was built in 3rd century B.C and it was later expanded to 24.000 spectators by the Romans in the 1st century A.D. After Lunch visit House of Virgin Mary. This house is located on the Aladag Mountains 5 miles from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council of 431 in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared it a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed here. After the tour, drive to Kusadasi for overnight.
Day 7: Kusadasi - Pamukkale (B, D)
Drive to Pamukkale. Discovery of Travertine terraces and Hierapolis. The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are one of the most spectacular natural wonders we ever have seen from various mineral springs in a vast white cliff side, about 200 m overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have dripped down over a series of terraced levels and created a fairyland of bizarre solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins. It looks like creations from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle): Moreover the water in the basins is changing its color according to how the light enters. Overnight: Pamukkale
Day 8: Pamukkale - Istanbul (B)
Early morning fly back to Istanbul. Transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free to explore the city on your own and for last minute shopping.
Day 9: Istanbul - Departure (B)
Check-out and private transfer to airport for your flight back home.
End of Services
Price
2024 - 2025 Departures |
Guaranteed departures from Istanbul. You can join the tour upon your arrival in Istanbul airport. All rates are in US$ per person in Dbl Room. Single room supplement is available and starting from $690 |
|
---|---|---|
2024 - 2025 TOUR DATES |
HOTEL CATEGORY |
PER PERSON IN DBL ROOM |
Every Friday, Saturday & Tuesday |
4 Star & Special Class |
$1790 |
Accommodation
Hotels as below or similar |
||
---|---|---|
CITY |
# OF NIGTHS |
4 STAR & SPECIAL CLASS HOTELS |
Istanbul |
3 |
Yasmak Sultan or Celal Sultan or Recital Park |
Cappadocia |
1 |
Zeydem Suites Cave Hotel or Yunak Cave or Melekler Evi Cave |
Kusadasi |
2 |
Efe Boutique or Neopol |
Pamukkale |
1 |
Pam Thermal or Collosae Thermal |
Istanbul |
1 |
Yasmak Sultan or Celal Sultan or Recital Park |
What's Included
Package Includes
- 8 nights accommodation in 4 star /special class hotels as above or similar
- All airport transfers (on scheduled tour dates)
- 8 buffet breakfasts (B), 1 dinner (D)
- Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned non-smoking vehicle
- English speaking professional group guides
- Entrance fees per itinerary
- Istanbul - Cappadocia, Cappadocia- Izmir & Izmir - Istanbul domestic flight tickets including airport taxes (15kg checked-in + 8 kg carry-on)
- Local taxes and service charges
Not Included: Any international airfare, departure & airport taxes and fees if any, Passport and visa services & fees, Beverages with meals, Meals other than mentioned above, Tips to drivers, guides and tour escorts, Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, taxi, excess baggage etc. Travel insurance, Optional tours