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Day 1: Arrival day. No museum with entrance fee
Our team will meet you at the Istanbul Ataturk airport. Transfer to your hotel and check-in , overnight at the hotel.
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Day 2: Kariye Museum, Mosque of Soliman the Magnificent, Spice Bazaar, Beyoglu District, Bosphorus Cruise
You will be driven by the shores of the Golden Horn, to reach the first atop of the day: the St. Saviour in chora, a former Byzantine church, a magnificent museum of golden mosaics and frescoes with biblical images, then visit the Mosque of Soliman the Magnificent, one of the best works of the famous Ottoman architect, Sinan. After the lunch, you will indulge yourself at the Spice Market with its exotic aromas then walk through the pulsating streets of Beyoglu district from ‘tunnel’ area to tasksim square, discovering, fish market, flower passage, catholic, Greek and Armenian churches, markets and coffeehouses. Overnight at the hotel (B,L)
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Day 3: Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Underground Cistern, Grand Bazaar
You will start your journey with a discovery of Istanbuls historical heart. You will first visit the Topkapi Palace, the court and the residence of the Ottoman Sultans, and home to the imperial treasury, then visit the Hagia Sophia ‘the church of Holy Wisdom’, the marvellous basilica built in the 6th century, as the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It was the largest church in the world for 1000 years; and its interiors are decorated with stunning golden mosaics. After the lunch you will visit the Blue Mosque , with six elegant minarets and a striking indoor with blue Iznik tiles with intricate patterns. You will then take a stroll through the ancient Hippodrome, significant for being the centre of sports and entertainment in the old Constantinople as well as very important political spot. The last visit of the day will be the visit the Basilica Cistern, impressive underground water reservoir from the 6th century. (B,L)
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Day 4: Istanbul - Cappadocia - Ataturk Mausoleum, Salt Lake
After breakfast, departure to Cappadocia in the morning. Upon arrival to Ankara we will visit the Anatolian Civilization Museum at which numerous remnants from Stone Age, Neolithic Age, Hittites, Urartian, Phrygians and many others are on display; and then you will visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk , the burial place of the national hero who founded modern Republic of Turkey. After the lunch, drive through Cappadocia via Salt Lake. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.(B,L,D)
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Day 5: Goreme Open Air Museum, Uçhisar Village, Pasabag Valley, Red Valley, Underground City, carpet and pottery workshop
You will have a full day for discovering the beautiful landscapes and thrilling cultural sites of the region. Cappadocia has a unique terra formation, with tuff coned and lunar landscape shaped by forces of nature over millions of years . For ages, men have dug into this soft, but firm tuff to create dwellings, homes (locals call them ‘fairy chimneys’. Monasteries, churches and underground cities. The first visit in Cappadocia will be the Goreme Valley which is home to magnificent rock-hewn churches decorated with Byzantine frescoes (The apple church, the serpent church, the St. Barbra church and the St. basil church…) after lunch, you’ll stop at Uchisar Village that provides some of the most dramatic panoramas of the astonishing Cappadocia. We will finish the day with a visit of an underground city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)
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Day 6: Cappadocia - Pamukkale - Sultanhan Caravanserai, Konya Mevlana Museum
After the breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for Konya city, the capital of the Seljuk Turks. En route visit the Sultanhani Caravanserai. After the lunch in Konya, we visit the Monastery of the whirling Dervishes and the shrine of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the founder of the order. Sufi is an exceptional poet and humanist, who preached humility, wisdom and love. His philosophy is best summarized in these verses he wrote “come, as you are, whoever you are”. His tomb has been converted into a museum which houses relics that belonged to him and his disciples. Drive to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight at a SPA hotel in Pamukkale.
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Day 7: Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Ephesus, leather shop, House of Virgin Mary
After the breakfast, visit the famous Pamukkale, popularly known as the ‘cotton castle’. The dazzling formation of white calcium cascades formed by mineral springs and the ruins of Roman health spa of Hierapolis. Drive through the ancient site of Ephesus, the holy city of Artemis the Roman capital of Asia Minir, and one of the most attractive archaeological sites in the world. You will see the Odeon, the Hadrian Temple, the Celcius Library, fountain of Trajan, brothel, latrines, baths, Curetes and Marble streets and we’ll sit in the same immense Theatre where St. Paul preached and the roman dramas were performed. Lunch then you visit the House of St. Mary. After these visits, you will continue to Izmir, known in Turkish as ‘beautiful Izmir’ that lies at the head of a long and narrow gulf furrowed by ships and yachts. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.(B,L,D)
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Day 8: Departure day. No museum with entrance fee
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Izmir international airport for your return flight home.(B)
