Itinerary

 
Day 1
Upon arrival to Istanbul you are going to be picked up from the airport and transfferd to your hotel. Check in your hotel and stay in Istanbul overnight.

Day 2
After the breakfast in your hotel we will walk to the historical peninsula of Istanbul to see the highlights of Istanbul. We will start our day visiting the Hippodrome which used to be a stadium for chariot-racing and the capacity of around 100,000 people. As you across the street you will be in the garden of the Blue Mosque which has its name because of the 21,000 Iznik tiles decorating the walls. Walking down the steps of the Blue Mosque you can see the minarets of the Hagia Sophia which was built as a church in 6th century AD but then converted into a mosque after Istanbul was conquered in 1453. After the visit we will walk to the Topkapı Palace which was the imperial residence of Ottoman Sultans for about 400 years. After the lunch you will visit the Grand Bazaar with more than 58 street and 4,000 shops. Head to the hotel and stay in Istanbul overnight.

Day 3
After the breakfast in your hotel, we will start our way to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. We are going to visit the Anatolian Civilization Museum it is possible to see the items dating back the Paleolithic Age up to the Ottoman Period in chronologic order. After the lunch you we will drive to Rasattepe to visit the mausoleum of Ataturk the founder of Turkish Republic. Drive to the hotel and stay in Ankara overnight.

Day 4
After the breakfast in your hotel we will set off for Cappadocia. As we arrive there we are going to visit the Uchisar Castle and the Pigeon Valley with lots of carvings on the wall for the pigeons. After the lunch continue to Goreme Open Air Museum featuring rock-carved churches and Byzantine frescos. Head to Pasabag and wander around the vineyards of Fairy Chimneys village. Drive to Avanos near Kızılırmak River the town popular with its nad made pottery. Return to the hotel and stay in Cappadocia overnight.

Day 5
An early departure after having breakfast in the hotel. On the way to Nemrut we are going to visit a 13th century Seljuk Caravansarai Karatayhan. After the lunch in Tekir, we will drive to Kahramanmaras the city famous for its ice-cream, then head to our hotel in Kahta and stay in hotel overnight.

Day 6
A very early morning departure up to the ruins. Watch the unforgettable sunrise sitting on the ruins. Then have a little walk around and drive back to the hotel to have breakfast. Then set off for Batman. Arrive in Hasankeyf, located at he end of an impressive large gorge formed by Tigris (Dicle ) River, in the middle of which stands the huge piers of the Old Bridge. We will continue to Turbadin Plateau where a Syriac-Jacobite community lives and we will visit the old town of Midyat. After the lunch we will drive to Mardin to see the interesting houses which look like bee hives. Overnight in Mardin.

Day 7
After the breakfast in your hotel we will drive to Halfeti the town that is located at the bottom of a canyon hollowed by Euphrates (Fırat). Then we will get on a boat to explore the canyon, Rumkale Fortress and the valley submerged by the rising waters of Birecik Dam. After the lunch in Birecik, we will keep on our way to the ancient city of Zeugma famous for its mosaics and used to be the most famous crossing spot to the Euphrates for the caravans of the “Silk Road” and military convoys of antiquity. Then we will drive to Gaziantep to visit the old quarters surrounding the fortress and the Archaeological Museum where the beautiful Roman mosaics from Zeugma are on display. Overnight in Gaziantep.

Day 8
After the breakfast in the hotel we will drive to Antakya, the ancient Antioch where disciples of Jesus were called “Christian” here for the first time. We will visit the Mosaic Museum in which you can see the richest collection of Roman and Byzantine Mosaics in the world. After the lunch we will head to St. Peter’s church where Apostle Peter is believed to have preached and has been designated by the Vatican as a place of pilgrimage. We will drive to the hotel and stay in Antakya overnight.

Day 9
After the breakfast in the hotel we will drive to the rich agricultural plain of Cilicia to Tarsus, the birthplace of St Paul and the home to one of the first Christian church in Asia. After the lunch we will visit St. Paul’s Well,, Eski Mosque, The gate of Cleopatra. As we arrive in Adana we will head to our hotel and stay in Adana overnight.

Day 10
After the breakfast in the hotel we will drive to the airport to get the plane to Istanbul. As you arrive in Istanbul you are going to be transferred to your hotel or next destination.