Itinerary

Day 1
You are going to be picked up from the airport and transferred to your hotel and stay in Istanbul overnight.

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 will set off for Canakkale to visit Gallipoli where “the war of gentlemen” took place in 1915 during the WW1. After the lunch you will drive to Troy, the legendary city and the centre of Trojan War as described in the Iliad of Homer. Visit the archeological site of this 5000 year old city to see megaron houses, a small Roman theatre and Bouletarion, city walls, small site museum and the wooden horse. Then drive back to Canakkale and stay in hotel overnight.

Day 5
After the breakfast in your hotel you will start your way to Assos an ancient city located on top of a hill 238 m high from where you can see the Greek island Lisbos. In the city located a theatre, an old Doric style temple reconstructed. After the lunch continue to Pergamon. As you arrive in the area you will visit the Asclepion which was the health centre of the ancient world, walking around you will discover how they used to heal people. Then you will drive up to the upper city Acropolis passing through Red court. In the upper city you will visit Zeus Altar, the steepest theatre in Anatolia, temples of Trajan and goddess Athena, arsenals. Continue to Selcuk and stay there overnight.

Day 6
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. Turn back to your hotel and stay in Selcuk overnight.

Day 7
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 8
After the breakfast you will drive to Aphrodisias the city dedicated to the goddess of beauty and love “Aphrodite” where you will see one of the largest ancient stadiums in the world, Odeon, Bishop’s Palace, Temple of Aphrodite and the museum. Continue to Pamukkale. After the lunch drive to ancient city of Hierapolis which was and is famous for its hot spring water and has the biggest ancient necropolis (cemetery) that you can visit in Turkey. As you walk through the history you will come across with snow looking calcium formation called “Cotton Castle”. Stay in Pamukkale overnight.

Day 9
After the breakfast you will drive to Dalyan a small village famous for its mud baths, rock tombs carved on hills, Iztuzu beach where the turtles “Caretta Caretta” lay their eggs visit the ancient city of Caunos where you can reach by a small boat. In the city you will a Roman Bath, a church dating back to 5th century, measuring platform and a theatre. Make your way downtown to have a lunch on the river side. After you finish your tour in Dalyan you will drive to Fethiye and stay there overnight.

Day 10
You will open you eyes in a nice summer touristic resort Fethiye. After the breakfast you will visit the Lycian cities Xantos, Patara where you will see a lot of Lycian tombs, structures, and theatre then make your way to a nice natural formation called “Hidden City” where you can have a nice walk in the white water. Have lunch near the Hidden city and then make your way to Kas where you will stay overnight.

Day 11
After the breakfast you will drive to Sunken city Kekova. A boat is going to be waiting for you to take you sail on the ruins and see ancient city walls and tombs. After the lunch drive to Demre- Myra where you are going to visit the ancient city with a theatre and Lycian tombs. Continue to Antalya and stay there overnight.

Day 12
After the breakfast in your hotel you depart to Aspendos a Lycian city with best preserved Roman theatre in the world where there are still organizations are held. Your next stop will be Perge with city walls, theatre, agora and stadium. After the lunch around Kopru stream you will drive to Side to enjoy the history watching the Mediterranean Sea. Drive to Konya and stay there overnight.

Day 13
After the breakfast in your hotel you will walk out to the city of Mevlana and whirling dervishes visit the Mevlana Museum who was 13th century religious philosopher during the reign of Seljuks. Then visit the Karatay Tile Museum and Ince Minaret Mosque. After the lunch drive to Cappadocia and on the way there visit a Seljuk ınn “Sultanhanı” and arrive in your hotel in Cappadocia stay there overnight.

Day 14
Here you are on a different planet like moon. After breakfast we will discover this interesting landscape and affects of Christianity in the area. Start with Goreme Open Air Museum and the churches with frescos in it. Then you will drive to Uchisar where you will see a natural castle and the valleys on the way. Drive back to Goreme to reach Zelve and Pasabag with different style fairy chimneys. Avanos next to the Kızılırmak River famous for its hand made pottery. Drive back to hotel and stay in Cappadocia overnight.

Day 15
After the breakfast drive to Derinkuyu underground city and Ihlara Valley. A nice walking trip is waiting for you. All the way down more than 300 steps at the end of the stairs you will reach a nice river running in the valley and more Christian churches. After you finish your visit you will drive back to your hotel and stay there overnight.

Day 16
After the breakfast in your hotel you will drive to the capital city of Turkey: Ankara. In the city your first visit will be Anatolian Civilizations Museum where you will be able to see different items from the beginning of the history in Anatolia to the recent times. Then you will visit the mausoleum of Ataturk the founder of the Turkish Republic. After the lunch you will start your way to Sungurlu and stay there overnight.

Day 17
After the breakfast in your hotel you will set off to Hattusa which was the capital city of Hittites. You will visit the lower city with the great temple, the upper city with the citadel and double walls, the royal gate, the Lions Gate then head to Yazılıkaya. After the lunch you will drive to Istanbul and stay there overnight.

Day 18
Departure day for you.