Itinerary

 
Day 1 – Istanbul – Gallipoli – Canakkale
06:30 am Very early in morning we will depart from Istanbul, drive along the northern shores of the Marmara Sea, and as soon as we arrive we will have a break for lunch.
*Gallipoli and The Dardanelles after our lunch we will stop to visit Gallipoli, a place of fierce WWI fighting between Allied forces and the
Turks. At ANZAC Cove thousands lost their lives in one fateful dawn morning. We will also see other famous battle sites of World War 1 in this area, such as Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. From here we go to a ferry and cross the Dardanelles. For World War 1 buffs, you will know the Dardanelle Straits were a strategic crossing point for the allied armies to cross from Europe to Asia Minor. Over a nine month campaign, more than half a million soldiers lost their lives in the fight to control this strait of water and nearby Gallipoli peninsula.
*Canakkale will be our final destination for today and where we will spend the evening. After dinner, you might want to stroll the harbor walk and experience the local culture. The locals buy sunflower seeds and stroll with their families, gossiping and looking at the sunset. When they reach the harbor”s end, they turn around, buy their ice cream and walk the other direction.
Overnight stay in Canakkale.

Day 2 – Canakkale Troy – Kusadasi
Breakfast. We continue our scenic drive along the Aegean, stopping for photo opportunities and perhaps to indulge the taste buds at one of the many farmer road side stands that sell olives, figs, seasonal fruit and pistachios. We then will head east towards our first site of the day.
You will visit today;
*Troy is the ancient site written about by Homer in the Iliad. It dates back as far as 3000 BC and has been the site of nine different cities through the thousands of years it has existed. As you enter the site a large wooden Trojan horse dominates your view. You will definitely want to climb up and get your picture taken! After the tour we will provide lunch and after that we will depart from Canakkale, drive along the Aegean Coastal line down to Kusadasi, after arrival we will check in the hotel – Overnight stay in Kusadasi.

Day 3 – Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary Tour
The tour starting with Isa Bey Mosque, then drive to an Ancient City Ephesus Ephesus which is located on the west coast of Asia Minor, stroll past the celsus library, the Temple Of Hadrian and the Trajan Fountain in the Ancient Ephesus. After walking on the historical marble street to the Great Theater where St. Paul preached will meet at the end. Open buffed lunch in a local Turkish restaurant. In the afternoon will visit the carpet cooperative weaving center to see how the Turkish carpets are made by hand. At the end fashion show will be at leather outlet center Proceed to House of Mother Mary, it is believed where she spent recent years of her life. Ephesus Archeological Museum to see findings of Ephesus excavations. Finally proceeding to Temple Of Artemis (Diana), on the side of one of the seven wonders of ancient World. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 4 – Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour
Once known as Hierapolis which is famous with its healing thermal / mineral Baths beautiful snow-white “petrified waterfalls”. After lunch visit Hierapolis, including the magnificently preserved Necropolis, the main Street and Gates, the thermal Baths and Masterpiece Theater. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 5 – Pamukkale – Konya Tour – Cappadocia
The day is a “transaction day” because of the long distance between Pamukkale to Cappadocia through Konya with several stops such as visit Mevlana’s Mausoleum, the great mystic poet and Islamic spiritual leader, who founded the sect of ”Whirling Dervishes” AND visit 13th century Seljuk caravanserai “Sultanhan” in Konya. Lunch on the way to Cappadocia. Drive to the hotel in Cappadocia.

Day 6 – North of Cappadocia Tour
Our first real encounter with Cappadocia almost Martian landscape is in the Dervent valley. We visit Pasabag’s “fairy chimneys”, where the voice of the wind harmonizes with songs of the fairies. From here we pause at Avanos centre of terracotta art. A visit ceramic &tile center to see how the ceramics are made by hand. After lunch we visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia. Completing the tour with a visit to the Uchisar Rock-Castle to give you a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 7 – South of Cappadocia Tour – Istanbul
Depart from your hotel to visit Red valley and explore the famous rock- cut churches and hike 5 km through the Gulludere valley. Then visit Cavusin village. Old Cavusin was abandoned several decades ago due to avalanches. The current village of Cavusin is located on the road. Old Cavusin, with its ock-cut dwellings and stone houses, had several hermitages. The two most important churches in Cavusin are the Great Basilica dedicated to St. John the Baptist (located on the cliff above the village) and Cavusin church or the “Great Pigeon House” commemorating a visit of the famous Cappadocian Emperor Nicephorus Phocas. After lunch drive to the Pigeon Valley. In the afternoon visit Kaymakli Underground City, where early christians lived in fear and faith. The an- cient name was Enegup. The houses in the village are constructed around the nearly one hundred tunnels of the underground city, which is one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. The underground city was originally carvdout as eight floors, however four floors are available to visit. In wartime about 5000 people can refuged in. The tunnels are still used today as storage areas, stables, and cellars. On the way back visit the natural castles at Ortahisar.End of tour transfer to airport ot hotel. After the tour, transfer to bus station for non smoking, fully air-conditioned overnight bus back to Istanbul at 20:00. Duration is 11 hours.

Day 8 – Istanbul
Morning arrival to Istanbul around 07:00. Tour ends.

(According to your request after Cappadocia tour we can provide a domestic flight from Cappadocia to Istanbul or bus transfer to any available destination you require.)