14 Days
Istanbul , Pamukkale , Ephesus , Cappadocia
08:30
Highlights : 14 Days Highlights of Turkey
Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul
Upon your arrival we will pick you up from the airport and transfer your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. Celal Sultan Hotel ın old town of Sultanahmed.
Day 2 - Byzantine and Ottoman Relics Tour
8:30am - Picked-up from hotel and met by your tour guide for a full day to discover the city of Istanbul. The tour will include visit to the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, HIPPODROME, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace and the Rustem Pasa Mosque. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back to your hotel at approximately 5:00 pm. Overnight in Istanbul. Celal Sultan Hotel ın old town of Sultanahmed (B, L)
Day 3 - Half Day Morning BOSPHORUS Boat Cruise
8:30 am - You will be picked-up from your hotel to visit the Spice Bazaar (or Egyptian Bazaar). Filled with spices, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, lokum (Turkish delight) and other edibles, Spice Bazaar has a smell of the fragrance of the exotic East. Then join a boat excursion on the Bosphorus on a shared tour. Enjoy viewing Ottoman palaces, Bosphorus bridge, citadels, centuries-old mansions and the European and Asian shorelines at the same time. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back to your hotel at approximately 1:00 pm.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4 - Flight to Izmir / Ephesus Tour
Transfer from your hotel to Istanbul Domestic Airport for an early morning flight to Izmir and your transfer to Ephesus for a full day of sightseeing. First visit the Temple of Artemis, which once was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Then you will visit the world famous ancient Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, the most well preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a lunch break. After lunch, you will visit The House of the Virgin Mary , where it is believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel at around 5:00 pm. Overnight in Kusadasi. (L, D)
Day 5 - Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour
After breakfast we will depart from Kusadasi to Pamukkale, as soon as we arrive we will continue onto guided tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis. Pamukkale means cotton castle in Turkish. It is the result of limestone formations built over thousands of years. Warm calcium rich mineral water flowed over the cliffs and as it cooled it deposited the calcium into the formations that are seen today. Hierapolis was founded as a healing care center in 190 BC, taking advantage of the mineral waters in the area. It was one of the most important intellectual, artistic, religious and commercial centers of the Roman Empire.
Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, L, D)
Day 6 - Morning Flight to Cappadocia at 07:15am
Arrıve Kayseri Airport at 08:40am. Meet and Transfer to breakfast and tour departure.
North Cappadocia Tour 1
Today after breakfast meet with your tour guide and visit Devrent Valley and Pasabag (Monk's Valley) where you will find the world famous fairy chimneys. Break for lunch in Avanos. Then on to visit the Goreme Open Air Museum to explore the numerous churches and monasteries with their frescoes. These churches and monasteries were carved from the soft volcanic stone and decorated by Medieval Orthodox Christian Monks around 1000-1200AD. A visit to Ortahisar natural rock castle for panoramic views. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at around 6:00 pm. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B, L)
Day 7 South Cappadocia Tour 2
Breakfast & check out the hotel in Cappadocia. Today meet your tour guide in the hotel lobby and transfer for a full day tour of Cappadocia sites. Visits include Derinkuyu Underground City which was built as a defence and hiding site during the period of spreading Christianity. Then on to Cavusin Old Christian Village where you will find a triple Apse church and the monastery of St John the Baptist. In Sinasos Old Greek Village you find old Greek and Ottoman houses. The days touring includes an easy grade 3km hike through Red Valley offering some great scenery that would otherwise not be accessible by car and a visit to Uchisar natural rock castle.
Day 8 :Mornıng Drıve to Ankara for afternoon Flıght to Eastern Black Sea Tour
Arrive Trabzon. Stay overnight.
Day 9 SUMELA MONASTERY
After the breakfast at the hotel, we set off by vehicle at the specified time. After about a 1- hour trip, we visit Sümela Monastery. The monastery, of which foundation was laid in the 4th century by two monks from Athens, was built on steep rocks at the skirts of Black Mountain at the height of 1300 m above sea level. We move to Zigana located on the historical Silk Road, which was visited by famous traveler Marco Polo at the time. We move off to Karaca Cave, which is about 1 hour away, through Zigana Tunnel consisting of completely wooden bungalows in the nature, where you can taste the local dishes of Trabzon. We visit the display shop on the road where dried fruit roll-up and churchkhela unique to Gümüşhane are produced and sold. After visiting Hamsiköy, we head towards Trabzon.
Overnight in Trabzon.
Day 10: TRABZON CITY TOUR, UZUNGOL
After the breakfast at the hotel, we set off by our vehicle at the specified time. We go to the famous Sürmene Knife Store, the first stop of our tour. After visiting Sürmene, we take a short break to taste the unique herbal teas of the Black Sea. We go to the Uzungöl waterfall area after the break and take photos of the natural beauties. We give free time for lunch at our facility next to the lake and sightseeing. After the free time, we set off to return to Trabzon. We take a break on the wooden bridge on the way back and we return to our hotel after the break.
Overnight in Trabzon
Day 11: RIZE, CAMLIHEMSIN, ZILKALE, AYDER
After the breakfast at the hotel, we set off by our vehicle at the specified time. The first stop of our tour is Sürmene Knife sales store where famous Sürmene knives are sold. After a break, we visit production and sales store of Rize cloths, the second stop of the tour. After seeing how Rize cloths are produced at site, we head towards Ayder highland. After our visit to raffting center on our way, we continue our tour with the waterfalls located in Ayder. After our arrival to Ayder, we give free time to our guests for lunch and sightseeing. We start our return trip after the free time. After taking a break on the old Ottoman stone bridge on our way, we return to Trabzon. We complete our tour leaving you, valued guests, to your hotel hoping to see you in our next tour.
Overnight in Ayder.
Day 12: TRABZON CITY TOUR
After the breakfast at the hotel, we set off by our vehicle at the specified time. Our first stop is Ortahisar neighborhood and Kanuni House where the best sultans of Ottoman Empire, one of the greatest empires of history, grew up. Then, we visit Atatürk's Mansion located among the pine trees. After completing our visit, we visit the Hagia Sophia museum, one of the world's leading monuments in terms of art and architecture. We move off to Lake Sera where you will find quietness and peace inside the nature with the magnificent greenery of the Black Sea in Akçaabat district of Trabzon and take a break here. We complete our tour after visiting Boztepe, which is located above the city and where you can see all the beauties of at a single glance.
We drive along to black sea coast back to Trabzon Airport for the Flight to Istanbul Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 13 : Princes Islands Tour
Departure from European side and accross the Bosphorus by the first bridge. Drive along the Asian side through Kadiköy all the way to Bostanci admiring the different facets of Istanbul.
Once we reach Bostanci you'll have a chance to see one of the most beautiful districts of Istanbul. After having little time in Bostanci, embark the boat going to Princes' Islands. Disembark at Buyukada which is the largest and the most famous of this chain of islands. There are several small hotels where people stay for the weekend. Some of the historical buildings are Aya Yorgi Church and Monastery from 6th century, Ayios Dimitrios Church, Hristos Church and Monastery and enjoy the lunch in a nice waterfront restaurant. After a small tour in the town centre, listening to the history of this lovely island Princes' Island , you'll have free time to enjoy the beautiful island shores by renting a phaeton (horse-drawn carriage) or bicycle until the departure time. As there are no cars alllowed on the island, this promenade will be an unforgettable memory for you.
Day 14 : Free Day / Departure
Transfer to Istanbul Aırport
