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Day 1: Arrival day
Our team will meet you at Istanbul International 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 Market, Beyoglu District
You will be driven by the shores of the Golden Horn, to reach the first stop of the day: The SaiSaviour 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 Beyoğlu district from ‘Tunnel’ area to Taksim 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, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome Square, Basilica Cistern
You will start your journey with a discovery of Istanbul's historical heart. You will first visit the Topkapı Palace, the court and the residence of Ottoman Sultans, and home to the imperial treasury, then visit the Hagia Sophia ‘The Church of Holy Wisdom’, the marvelous 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 take a stroll through the ancient Hippodrome, significant for being the center for 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 6th century. (B,L)
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Day 4: Istanbul, Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise, drive to Ankara
In the morning, you will visit the Grand Bazaar, the largest and most attractive covered bazaar in the world then you will do a boat tour along the European and Asiatic shores of Bosphorus. You will just relax and let the beauty of forests, palaces, mosques, picturesque Bosphorus villages, Ottoman summer mansions, fortresses carry you away. After the lunch, you will depart for Ankara, the modern capital of Turkey. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)
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Day 5: Anatolian Civilization Museum, Ataturk Masoleum
Departure in the morning and visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum at which numerous remnants from Stone Age, Neolithic Age, Hittites, Urartians, 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. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)
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Day 6: Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar, underground city, Red Valley, Avcilar Valley, carpet manufactory, 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 visit will be the Göreme Valley which is home to magnificent rock-hewn churches decorated with Byzantine frescoes (The Apple Church, The Serpent Church, The St. Barbara Church, The St. Basil Church...). After the lunch, you’ll stop at Uçhisar Village that provides some of the most dramatic panoramas of the astonishing Cappadocia. Then we will stop at the red Valley (Derbent) and Avcılar Valley. Next, we drive to Avanos, famous for its pottery making since Hittite times and rugs which are the splendid representations of the Turkish carpet making tradition. Here we learn about these regional crafts and see demonstrations performed by local craftsmen. 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 7: Sultanhan Caravanserai, Mevlana Museum, Pamukkale
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. (B,L,D)
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Day 8: 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 Minor, and one of the most attractive archaeological sites in the world. You will see the Odeon, the Hadrian Temple, the Celsus 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 roman dramas were performed. Lunch then you will visit the House of St. Mary. Then you will visit a leather shop where you will attend to fashion show and appreciate leather goods. 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 9: Pergamon Asclepion, Troy
This morning, you will drive from Izmir to the ancient site of Pergamon. In Pergamon you will visit the ancient Medical Center in Asclepion. Lunch at Pergamon and you will proceed to Troy to visit the site of one of the most famous wars of the ancient times. The legendary city of Troy is immortalized in Homer’s Iliad and ‘rediscovered’ in 1871 by Heinrich Schliemann. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Çanakkale at the shores of the Dardanelles straight. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)
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Day 10: Battlefields of Gallipoli
After the breakfast, ferry across the Dardanelles Straight and we visit the Battlefields of Gallipoli with Anzac Cove, Lone Pine where in 1915, one of the bloodiest battles of the modern history took place. Yet, the Gallipoli battles are known as "The Gentlemen's War", for a sense of mutual respect and camaraderie was developed among the rival armies over the course of fire exchanges. Next, you will continue to Istanbul, lunch on the way. Overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)
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Day 11: Return day
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Istanbul International Airport for your return flight home. (B).
