FROM ISTANBUL TO JERUSALEM
per person
11 DAYS /10 NIGHTS
ISTANBUL – CAPPADOCIA – ANTALYA – JERUSALEM – DEAD SEA – ISTANBUL
TOUR TYPE: HASSLE FREE, CULTURAL, ROMANTIC AND RELIGIOUS
We combine the most beautiful and memorable regions of two magnificent countries Turkey and Israel in 11 days. Endless Istanbul, moonlike landscape of Cappadocia and breathtaking Antalya. Then flight from Antalya to Tel Aviv to see memorable sites of this country such as Mount of Olives, Via Dolorosa, Church of Holy Sepulchre, Masada and the Dead Sea in 2 days before we return to Istanbul. An amazing combination of two beautiful countries. One internal and two international flights are included.
PROGRAM
Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul
Day 2: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar
Day 3: Spice bazaar, Soliman the Magnificent Mosque, Saint Savior in Chora Church, flight to Cappadocia
Day 4: Red valley, Avcilar valley, Uchisar castle, carpet manufactory, pottery workshop, Ortahisar and Cavusin villages
Day 5: Goreme open air museum, Pasabag valley, Kılıclar Valley, Kaymaklı underground city
Day 6: Sultanhani Caravanserai, Mevlana Museum, Antalya
Day 7: Aspendos, Antalya old city, leather shop, jewelry shop and ancient harbor
Day 8: Antalya – Tel Aviv international direct flight
Day 9: Jerusalem old and new city; Mount of Olives, Mount Zion, Room of the last supper, Tomb of King David, Cardo, Jewish quarter, broad wall, western wall, Arab bazaar, Via Dolorosa, Station of cross, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Yad Vashem Holocaust museum (B,D)
Day 10: Masada – Dead Sea – Jerusalem (B,D)
Day 11: Jerusalem – Istanbul international direct flight – return flight (B)
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IncludedFROM ISTANBUL TO JERUSALEM
1
Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul
Our team will meet you at Istanbul Airport. Transfer to your hotel and check-in. Overnight at your 5* hotel in Istanbul.
2
Day 2: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar
After the breakfast 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. To finish the day you will visit and have free time in the Grand Bazaar, the largest and most attractive covered bazaar in the world. Overnight at your 5* hotel in Istanbul. (B, L)
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Day 3: Spice bazaar, Soliman the Magnificent Mosque, Saint Savior in Chora Church, flight to Cappadocia, Istanbul – Cappadocia flight
After the breakfast the you will visit the Spice Bazaar where you can taste dried fruits, caviars, foodstuffs, Turkish delights and of course spices then the Saint Savior in Chora Church, marvellous byzantine basilica ornamented with beautiful mosaics and frescoes. Then you visit the Mosque of Soliman the Magnificent, one of the best works of the famous Ottoman architect, Sinan. After the lunch transfer to the Airport for your flight Istanbul/Cappadocia. Transfer, dinner and overnight at your 5* Hotel in Cappadocia.(B,L,D)
4
Day 4: Red valley, Avcilar valley, Uchisar castle, carpet manufactory, pottery workshop, Ortahisar and Cavusin villages (B,L,D)
Today, in this very special land, early in the morning, you will have a choice to join an optional early morning ballooning tour to witness the beauty of Cappadocia from the sky. This is arguably the best ballooning tour in the world
Cappadocia was once home to a beautiful breed of war horses, hence the name meaning 'land of beautiful horses'. The horses are long gone today, so are the mighty Hittite warriors who once rode them, but the area continues to be a global attraction for its amazing nature and immaculate cultural legacy.
After the breakfast, you will firs visit the Red Valley (Devrent), then the Uchisar castle that provides some of the most dramatic panoramas of the astonishing Cappadocia. Next, you 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 will visit a carpet manufactory and pottery workshop. After the lunch, we’ll have free time in Ortahisar village. Ortahisar remains a quaint farming village, which has a fortress- like rock rising above its center. You may visit them or simply take a seat at village’s cafes with their friendly and relaxed atmosphere and talk with local people. The last visit of the day will be Cavusin village. Dinner and overnight at your 5* hotel. (B,L,D)
5
Day 5: Goreme open air museum, Pasabag valley, Kılıclar Valley, Kaymaklı underground city (B,L,D)
After the breakfast, 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...), then we will stop at the breathtakingly beautiful Avcilar Valley. Lunch. In the afternoon, we will stop at the Paşabag Valley (Valley of Monks – where monks used to live in seclusion).We will finish the day with a visit of anunderground City.
Dinner and overnight at your 5* hotel. (B,L,D)
6
Day 6: Cappadocia – Konya – Antalya
After the breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for Konya city, the capital of the Seljuk Turks. On the road, you will visit the Sultanhani Caravanserai.
After the lunch in Konya, visit of 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. After driving through magnificent pine and cedar forests of the Taurus Mountains, you will reach Antalya along Mediterranean coast. Dinner and overnight at your 5* hotel in Antalya. (B,L,D)
7
Day 7: Antalya
In the morning, you will visit Aspendos, the best preserved Roman Theater of the ancient world, still in operational status. Built at the time of Marcus Aurelius, Aspendos could accommodate 15,000 spectators and was dedicated to the gods and the imperial. After the lunch, we visit a jewellery shop to appreciate Armenian’s magnificent handmade pieces made since centuries for Ottoman Palaces. After then, you will visit a leather shop where you will attend to fashion show and appreciate leather goods. Then you will wander in the narrow streets Antalya old city with its charming cafes, Hadrian’s Gate and Ancient Harbor.
Dinner and overnight at your 5* hotel in Antalya. (B,L,D)
8
Day 8: Antalya - Tel Aviv
Today we fly to Tel Aviv - Jerusalem you will met by our representative at Ben Gurion Airport. Transfer to your hotel in Jerusalem. Overnight at your 5* hotel in Jerusalem.(B,D)
9
Day 9: Jerusalem old and new city
After the breakfast, we start with Mount of Olives that borders the old city of Jerusalem from the east. We pass the Hebrew University to enjoy a stunning view of the old city with the Temple Mountain (Harem Esh-Sharif), The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al Sakhra) and the El Aksa Mosque. Then we stop at Mount Zion, see the Dormition Abbey and visit the Room of the Last Supper and the traditional Tomb of King David. Then we enter the Old City for a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter, we see the Cardo, an impressive colonnaded street dating back to the Roman Empire, then the Broad Wall and continue to the Western Wall. We walk to the Christian Quarter passing through colorful Arab Bazaar; we walk along Via Dolorosa where Jesus - Christ carried his Cross and see the Station of Cross and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the afternoon, the tour will end with the visit of Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. Overnight at your 5* hotel in Jerusalem. (B,D)
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Day 10: Masada - Dead Sea - Jerusalem
Today we drive through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, landlocked salt lake between Israel and Jordan and the lowest point on earth, almost 430 meters below the sea level. We will drive along the shores of Dead Sea to Masada, ancient stone fortress overlooking the nearby Dead Sea oasis. We will ascend by the cable car and we will tour this ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 A.D. We will ascend Masada by cable car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system and Herod's palace. If time and weather permits, we will have opportunity to float on the Dead Sea waters with many therapeutic effects. Return to Jerusalem. Overnight in your 5* hotel in Jerusalem (B,D)
11
Day 11: Jerusalem - Istanbul
After breakfast, free time. Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your Istanbul flight. Then, return flight from Istanbul International Airport. (B)
TOUR LOCATION
SERVICES INCLUDED
- ALL TRANSFERS WITH AIR CONDITIONED PRIVATE VEHICLES
- 7 NIGHTS IN 5 * HOTELS IN TURKEY AND 3 NIGHTS IN 4* HOTELS IN ISRAEL
- (2 NIGHTS IN ISTANBUL, 3 NIGHTS IN CAPPADOCIA, 2 NIGHTS IN ANTALYA, 3 NIGHTS IN JERUSALEM)
- BEST ENGLISH SPEAKING PROFESSIONAL GUIDE
- PRIVATE VEHICLE AS REQUESTED AT YOUR ITINERARY THROUGHOUT THE TOUR
- VAT
- ALL MEALS AS MENTIONED (10 BREAKFASTS- 6 LUNCHES-7 DINNERS)
- ALL ENTRANCES AS MENTIONED
- 1 DOMESTIC FLIGHT: ISTANBUL – CAPPADOCIA (15 KG FREE LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE)
- 2 INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS: ANTALYA – JERUSALEM AND JERUSALEM - ISTANBUL
- PRIVATE EXPENSES
- DRINKS AT HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
- OPTIONAL TOURS
- TIPS TO GUIDE AND DRIVER
- ANY SERVICE NOT SPECIFIED