Highlights of Turkey Tour
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The Highlights of Turkey tour is excellent program for first time visitors. It is a two week program that covers the main important sites of the country, including Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus. The tour also includes the lesser known sites such as Safranbolu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous of its traditional Ottoman houses, Ankara, the modern capital of Turkey which hosts one of the best museums of the country- the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, Konya, the centre of Mevlana, the spiritual leader of the Sufis, as well as the picturesque fisherman's village of Assos, offering the upmost serenity and scenery.
- Duration: 14 day(s)
- Location: Turkey
DAY 1
Arrival in Istanbul Airport, where you will be met by our representative, for a private transfer to your hotel. After check-in, you will be given a brief orientation by your English-speaking guide, with the remainder of the day free to spend at your own leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2
After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide for a full day Old City tour. The tour begins with a visit to the Imperial Palace of Topkapi, from which Ottoman Sultans ruled their grand empire for over 400 years, with the Treasury section included. Following a lunch break in the old town, you will visit Hagia Sophia, a 5th century church, once the greatest in all the world. The next stop is at the Blue Mosque, renowned for its striking blue Iznik tiled interior. The ancient Roman Hippodrome follows, featuring the Egyptian Obelisk and other monuments. The tour ends with a final stop-off at the world famous Grand Bazaar - a shopper's paradise of over 4000 authentic shops. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 3
After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide for a full day Bosphorus tour. Begin the day amid the wafting aromas of the Spice Market before visiting the Rustempasa Mosque - the piece de la resistance of mosques, praised for its graceful design. This is followed by a sightseeing boat cruise through the Bosphorus, the strait dividing the European and Asian continents. After the cruise departure from Istanbul to Safranbolu. Arrival Safranbolu in late afternoon. Visit this charming village famous of its wooden Ottoman Houses which are under protection by UNESCO World Heritage program. Overnight in Safranbolu.
DAY 4
After breakfast departure from Safranbolu to Ankara. Arrival Ankara at noon. After lunch visit Anatolian Civilizations Museum, Ankara Castle and Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of Turkish Republic. Overnight in Ankara.
DAY 5
Morning departure from Ankara to Cappadocia. Arrival and lunch in Cappadocia. After lunch you will visit Uchisar Village, situated next to a natural Citadel, followed by Göreme Open Air Museum, featuring the most impressive of all rock-carved churches in the region. Afterwards, you can participate in a close-up carpet workshop demonstration to see the process of how they are made. Later you will visit Avanos and Pasabag, (also known as Monk's Valley). In the evening you will attend a Sufi show. Overnight in Urgup.
DAY 6
After breakfast, you will continue the exploration of the Cappadocian valleys. The day's first stop-off is at Red Valley, presenting an opportunity to hike through orchards and vineyards, between fairy chimneys and rock-carved houses. Continue the walk in Rose Valley. Afterwards, visit the old Christian Village of Cavusin. Following a lunch break, visit Pigeon Valley, so named after the hundreds of little windows carved into the rocks to attract nesting pigeons. Then visit Kaymakli Underground City, Ortahisar Castle and Mustafapasa Village, an old Greek village also known as Sinasos. Overnight in Urgup.
DAY 7
After breakfast, you will continue the explore Cappadocian valleys. Stops will be made at Agzikarahan Caravansarai and Ihlara Valley. Following a lunch break, you will be driven to Konya - home of the whirling dervishes. Overnight in Konya.
DAY 8
After breakfast, you will visit the Mevlana Museum in Konya before continuing on to Pamukkale - the center of natural thermal springs and waters with healing properties. Following a lunch break there, you will visit the cascading travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis, where the largest Nekropol in Anatolia lies, of 1200 gravestones. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale.
DAY 9
After breakfast, you will be taken to visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias, whose name is derived from the Greek goddess of love and fertility, Aphrodite. The site lies on a hilltop, where a succession of settlements were located throughout history. In fact, the earliest settlement discovered through excavation goes back as far as 3000 BC. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 10
Breakfast at the hotel. Today's full day tour begins at the remains of the Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Next, visit the spectacular site of Ephesus, undoubtedly the most superbly preserved Greco-Roman city in the world. Following a lunch break, you will visit the House of Virgin Mary, reputed to be where she spent her final days. Later visit the Archeological Museum of Ephesus in Selcuk as well as the charming village of Sirince. Overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 11
Departure from Kusadasi to Assos. On the way visit the ancient city of Pergamon including Acropolis as well as Asclepion, a highly significant medical center in the ancient world. Arrival Assos in late afternoon. Farewell Dinner at your hotel in Assos. Overnight in Assos.
DAY 12
Departure from Assos back to Istanbul after a morning visit to the legendary city of Troy famous for its wooden horse. Arrival in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 13
Free day at your own leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
Arrival in Istanbul Airport, where you will be met by our representative, for a private transfer to your hotel. After check-in, you will be given a brief orientation by your English-speaking guide, with the remainder of the day free to spend at your own leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2
After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide for a full day Old City tour. The tour begins with a visit to the Imperial Palace of Topkapi, from which Ottoman Sultans ruled their grand empire for over 400 years, with the Treasury section included. Following a lunch break in the old town, you will visit Hagia Sophia, a 5th century church, once the greatest in all the world. The next stop is at the Blue Mosque, renowned for its striking blue Iznik tiled interior. The ancient Roman Hippodrome follows, featuring the Egyptian Obelisk and other monuments. The tour ends with a final stop-off at the world famous Grand Bazaar - a shopper's paradise of over 4000 authentic shops. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 3
After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide for a full day Bosphorus tour. Begin the day amid the wafting aromas of the Spice Market before visiting the Rustempasa Mosque - the piece de la resistance of mosques, praised for its graceful design. This is followed by a sightseeing boat cruise through the Bosphorus, the strait dividing the European and Asian continents. After the cruise departure from Istanbul to Safranbolu. Arrival Safranbolu in late afternoon. Visit this charming village famous of its wooden Ottoman Houses which are under protection by UNESCO World Heritage program. Overnight in Safranbolu.
DAY 4
After breakfast departure from Safranbolu to Ankara. Arrival Ankara at noon. After lunch visit Anatolian Civilizations Museum, Ankara Castle and Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of Turkish Republic. Overnight in Ankara.
DAY 5
Morning departure from Ankara to Cappadocia. Arrival and lunch in Cappadocia. After lunch you will visit Uchisar Village, situated next to a natural Citadel, followed by Göreme Open Air Museum, featuring the most impressive of all rock-carved churches in the region. Afterwards, you can participate in a close-up carpet workshop demonstration to see the process of how they are made. Later you will visit Avanos and Pasabag, (also known as Monk's Valley). In the evening you will attend a Sufi show. Overnight in Urgup.
DAY 6
After breakfast, you will continue the exploration of the Cappadocian valleys. The day's first stop-off is at Red Valley, presenting an opportunity to hike through orchards and vineyards, between fairy chimneys and rock-carved houses. Continue the walk in Rose Valley. Afterwards, visit the old Christian Village of Cavusin. Following a lunch break, visit Pigeon Valley, so named after the hundreds of little windows carved into the rocks to attract nesting pigeons. Then visit Kaymakli Underground City, Ortahisar Castle and Mustafapasa Village, an old Greek village also known as Sinasos. Overnight in Urgup.
DAY 7
After breakfast, you will continue the explore Cappadocian valleys. Stops will be made at Agzikarahan Caravansarai and Ihlara Valley. Following a lunch break, you will be driven to Konya - home of the whirling dervishes. Overnight in Konya.
DAY 8
After breakfast, you will visit the Mevlana Museum in Konya before continuing on to Pamukkale - the center of natural thermal springs and waters with healing properties. Following a lunch break there, you will visit the cascading travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis, where the largest Nekropol in Anatolia lies, of 1200 gravestones. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale.
DAY 9
After breakfast, you will be taken to visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias, whose name is derived from the Greek goddess of love and fertility, Aphrodite. The site lies on a hilltop, where a succession of settlements were located throughout history. In fact, the earliest settlement discovered through excavation goes back as far as 3000 BC. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 10
Breakfast at the hotel. Today's full day tour begins at the remains of the Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Next, visit the spectacular site of Ephesus, undoubtedly the most superbly preserved Greco-Roman city in the world. Following a lunch break, you will visit the House of Virgin Mary, reputed to be where she spent her final days. Later visit the Archeological Museum of Ephesus in Selcuk as well as the charming village of Sirince. Overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 11
Departure from Kusadasi to Assos. On the way visit the ancient city of Pergamon including Acropolis as well as Asclepion, a highly significant medical center in the ancient world. Arrival Assos in late afternoon. Farewell Dinner at your hotel in Assos. Overnight in Assos.
DAY 12
Departure from Assos back to Istanbul after a morning visit to the legendary city of Troy famous for its wooden horse. Arrival in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 13
Free day at your own leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 14
Transfer from the hotel to the airport. Departure from Istanbul.
