Itinerary

Day 1
Upon arrival in Istanbul you are going to be picked up from to airport and transferred to your hotel and you may enjoy your free time.

Day 2
After the breakfast in your hotel depending on the weather conditions we will take you on a boat cruise. As you sail on the sea you will sea Asia on one and Europe on the other side. Watching pavilions, cafes, hotels on the coast you will enjoy the natural beauties of Istanbul. After the lunch you will drive to the Spice Market and Golden Horn. Drop off to your hotel and stay in Istanbul overnight.

Day 3
It is time to smell the history in the city. After the breakfast in your hotel you will drive to the historical peninsula where you are going to visit The Hippodrome, The Blue Mosque, The Hagia Sophia Museum. After the lunch you will make your way to Topkapi Palace which was the imperial residence for the Ottoman sultans for 400 years and now houses exhibits of art, jewels, plates, costumes, the treasury and Holy Relics. Then walk to the Grand Bazaar 15th building with 4000 shops and welcome around 300,000 people. Drop you off you your hotel and stay in Istanbul overnight.

Day 4
After the breakfast in your hotel you are going to drive to the airport to fly to Kayseri. As you arrive at the airport you are going to be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. After a little rest you will drive to Goreme Open Air Museum featuring rock-carved churches and Byzantine frescos. After the lunch you will drive to Uchisar Castle then to Pasabag and Zelve. Continue to Avanos near Kızılırmak River and known for its hand made pottery. Drive back to hotel and stay in Cappadocia overnight.

Day 5
After the breakfast in your hotel you will start your way to Derinkuyu underground city a complex built by Christians to hide from any attack. Your next stop will be Ihlara Valley where there are over than 300 steps that will lead you down to the Melendiz stream and Christian churches. Continue to Aksaray and visit Sultanhanı caravanserai and drive to Konya the city of Mevlana and whirling dervishes. You will visit the Mevlana Museum which contains properties and works belonging Mevlana, Karatay Tile Museum features tiles from Seljuk period. Drive to Antalya and stay there overnight.

Day 6
After the breakfast in your hotel, you will drive to the central part of the city to get on a boat which will take you to cliffed shore of Antalya and Duden Waterfall running into the Mediterranean Sea. Passing through The Hadrian Gate you will get on your vehicle and drive to a restaurant. After the lunch visit Antalya Archeological Museum return to the hotel and stay overnight.

Day 7
After the breakfast in your hotel you will drive to a Lycian city Aspendos with the best reserved Roman theatre in the world and still housing concerts and activities. Continue to Perge, a great ancient city with city walls, theatre, and Hellenistic stadium. After the lunch you will drive to Side, one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey temple of Apollon, a Roman theatre old baths and a museum. Drive to Pamukkale and stay there overnight.

Day 8
After the breakfast in your hotel you will start walking among the sarcophagus of Hierapolis which is the biggest necropolis (cemetery) of Anatolia. Through the city you will see the bath, the agora, great theatre and St. Philippe’s Martyrium. Apart from history you will see one of the unique natural calcium formation called “Cotton Castle” have chance to walk on the terraces bare foot. After the lunch in Pamukkale village make your way to Bodrum and stay there overnight.

Day 9
After the breakfast in your hotel you are going to be transferred to the airport to get a flight to Bodrum. Upon arrival in Bodrum check in the hotel and after a little rest of visit the castle in which you see the underwater findings from the ancient times. After the lunch you have chance to see one of the seven wonders of the ancient world The Mausoleum. Then back to the hotel and stay there over night.

Day 10
After the breakfast in your hotel you will start your way to Didyma to visit the best preserved Temple of Apollo. Then make your way to Miletus, one of the principle Ionian cities and home of Thales, twice visited by St. Paul. Visit the Byzantine fortress, the Nymphoion, the Bouleterion, the Faustina Bath and Ilyas Bey Mosque. Continue to Priene which was the first planned city of the ancient world. Visit the Theater, The Temple of Athena, the Prytaneum, the Agora, the Altar of Zeus and Cybele. After the lunch drive your way to Selcuk and stay there overnight.

Day 11
After the breakfast in your hotel you will visit Ephesus ancient city. As you walk in the city you will see the Odeon, agoras, fountains, temples, The Celcius Library, the marble road and the great theatre on which you can see both Roman and Greek styles. Stop by Artemis Temple which is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and continue to Virgin Mary House where Mary was supposed to spend last times of her life after the crucifixion. Then drive to the central part of Selcuk to visit St. John’s Basilica which was built in 2nd Ad and then turned into a big complex in 6th AD during the reign of Justinian. Set off to Izmır and stay there overnight.

Day 12
After a nice breakfast on the shore we will start our way to Pergamon. As we arrive there we will visit the Asclepion which was the health center of the ancient times dedicated to the god of health: Asclepios. Then we drive through Red court to the upper city Acropolis where we will see Sanctuary of Trojan and Athena, the Hellenistic theatre which is located on a steep slope. After the lunch we will start our way back to Izmır and stay there overnight.

Day 13
After the breakfast in your hotel you will visit central part of Izmir and see the agora which is reconstructed recently. Then make your way to the airport and fly to Istanbul.

Day 14
Departure day back home or to your next destination