Visit ISTANBUL , CANAKKALE, KUSADASI , PAMUKKALE, ANTALYA, CAPPADOCIA, ANKARA, ISTANBUL
DAY 1
ISTANBUL ARRIVAL
Arrival at Istanbul airport. Please look for your name after clearing customs. Meet our representative and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2
ISTANBUL - UNDERGROUND CISTERN - TOPKAPI - BLUE MOSQUE – GRAND BAAZAR
Visit the Underground Basilica Cistern, with its interesting “weeping column” and Medusa head reliefs. Continue to the Topkapi Palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries and houses an impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Harem is extra and optional).
We will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul to the Grand Covered Bazaar.
Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 3
ISTANBUL - ST SOPHIA - GALLIPOLI - CANAKKALE
We will visit the St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years.
See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. We begin our drive to Gallipoli, stopping for lunch in Tekirdag, which is a pleasant port town famous for its meatballs, then passing through farm area with fields of sunflowers arriving in the late afternoon. We drive the windswept hills of this famous WWI battle site, which heralded the birth of the Turkish Nation, and also resulted in a great loss of life.
See Kabatepe Museum, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston’s Jolly (Allied and Turkish trenches and tunnels) The Nek and Chunuk Bair(visits according to passengers wishes and dependent upon time). We cross the famous Dardanelles Straight by ferry pulling away from Kilitbahir Fortress.
Overnight in Canakkale.
DAY 4
CANAKKALE - TROY – PERGAMON – KUSADASI
Today is an enjoyable odyssey of the North Aegean Coast past the area known as the “Troad”. We visit Troy, the legendary city of Homer and the beautiful Helen, which has nine principal levels of occupation covering a period of 3000 years. Transfer to visit Pergamon, a city dating back to the time of Alexandra the Great and once one of the main centers of learning in the ancient world. Visit acropolis, the steepest theatre of the ancients World.
Overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 5
KUSADASI – PAMUKKALE
Today we will visit the House of Virgin Mary, which is a major pilgrimage site, then Ephesus, with the Library of Celsius, Temple of Hadrian, Agora and fantastic Greco-Roman theater (Terrace Houses are extra and optional). Continue to Sirince Village, where you may taste different types of fruit wine. We will also visit the Basilica of St. John and remains of the Temple of Artemis, which was known as one of Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
Overnight in Pamukkale.
DAY 6
PAMUKKALE – ANTALYA
Today we will Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, a city that gained importance in the Roman times because of its thermal springs and Ancient pool. Over the centuries, the calcium, salts in the water have formed into one of the most unique natural sights of the World. We will drive through the Meander Valley and see the Meander River, which gave us the word "Meandering". We spend some time at the Greco-Roman site of Aphrodisias, which is still being excavated. It features the Temple of Aphrodite, two agoras, a huge intact stadium, baths of Hadrian and theater, Aphrodisias was the site of a famous sculptural school. We continue to Pamukkale with its impressive calcium terraces and see the ancient site of Hierapolis with the Temple of Apollo.
Cross to Antalya and overnight in Antalya.
DAY 7
ANTALYA
The ancient town Aspendos was a port city on the banks of the ancient river Eurymedon, then deep enough to accommodate the largest ships of the time. The outstanding structure in Aspendos is the Roman theatre, standing in almost perfect condition, since it was built (AD 161-180). The structure, seating 20,000 spectatorsis still used during the annual festival of Antalya.
Kaleici, which means “inner castle”, the rustic ancient town where historic Turkish and Greek houses are under protection, is the most popular center in Antalya. Old houses that are separated by narrow, cobble-stone roads are now hotels and tourism-related shops. Traces of Lycian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman architecture and culture can still be seen.
BOAT TOUR
We take a boat trip from Kaleici port.
Overnight in Antalya
DAY 8
ANTALYA - CAPPADOCIA
Departure from Antalya. We drive across central Anatolia to Konya, known as Iconium in Roman times, which was the capital of the Seljuk Turks. Mevlana (Celaleddin Rumi) founded a Sufi order known as the Whirling Dervishes here. Visit the Museum of Mevlana.
Overnight in Cappadocia
DAY 9
CAPPADOCIA
Right after breakfast, visit the Open Air museum ofGöreme, which was the monastic complex with early Christian churches hewn out of rock. Then enjoy the kick-wheel demonstration of a master craftsman at a pottery making atelier in the town of Red River. Then proceed to Pasabag Valley to view the unique volcanic formations in the form of chimneys or mushrooms. Picture stops at Valley of the Birds and at the foothill of Uchisar Village, Uçhisar is the name of a town and the fortress in the town. This 60 meter-high fortress was not built but carved out of a natural hill, dominating the area with a breathtaking view of all the surrounding Cappadocia formations. And we will also visit Avanos village.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 10
CAPPADOCIA – ANKARA
Right after breakfast, move to Cappadocia. The day highlights includes the Underground City of Kaymakli where early Christians lived secretly in order to survive and keep their faith. Beginning in the second century AD, as successive armies swept across Asia Minor, the resident of Cappadocia created uniquely defensible communities by digging approximately eight stories down into the volcanic tufa stone. Visit, the Çavusin village.This village is famous for the houses and churches of the christian clegymen. Then drive to Ankara
Overnight in Ankara.
DAY 11
ANKARA – ISTANBUL
Right after the breakfast proceed to Ankara. First of all visit, Ataturk Mausoleum who is the founder of Turkish Republic. M. Kemal Ataturk never requested a monumental tomb for himself but the adoration and respect shown to him by Turkish people would never have allowed him to be buried in an ordinary place. The construction of a huge mausoleum similar to the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was started on the summit of Anittepe.
Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 12
DEPARTURE
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for flight.
SPECIAL PRICE is from $2,270 per person - LAND cost only
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