Overview

Istanbul is a major city in Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. Its Old City reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled here. In the Sultanahmet district, the open-air, Roman era Hippodrome was for centuries the site of chariot races, and Egyptian obelisks also remain. The iconic Byzantine Hagia Sophia features a soaring 6th-century dome and rare Christian mosaics.

Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Turkey, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme and elsewhere. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians. The 100m-deep Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face churches.

Kusadasi is a beach resort town on Turkey’s western Aegean coast. A jumping-off point for visiting the classical ruins at nearby Ephesus (or Efes), it’s also a major cruise ship destination. Its seafront promenade, marina, and harbor are lined with hotels and restaurants. Just offshore on Pigeon Island is a walled Byzantine castle that once guarded the town, connected to the mainland via causeway.

Pamukkale is a town in western Turkey known for the mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces on a nearby hillside. It neighbors Hierapolis, an ancient Roman spa city founded around 190 B.C. Ruins there include a well-preserved theater and a necropolis with sarcophagi that stretch for 2km. The Antique Pool is famous for its submerged Roman columns, the result of an earthquake.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival

Cruise on the Bosphorus

Sightseeing

Transfers

Stay

Dinner

Upon arrival in Istanbul, you are dropped to your hotel where you can relax and freshen up. In the evening, you will be picked up for the Turkish Belly Dance Dinner Cruise on the Bosphorus.

Day 2

Istanbul city tour

Hagia Sophia Museum Grand Bazaar

Sightseeing

Breakfast

Stay

After breakfast, you proceed for a full day Istanbul City Tour. You begin from the Old City of Istanbul and visit the ‘Sultanahmet Centre’ in the heart of the old city. Next is the Hagia (St.) Sophia, a basilica known for its incredible architecture. The Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column, German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the famous monuments decorating the Hippodrome. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the most famous shopping destination and hosts the biggest ‘souk’ in the world with approx 4000 shops selling antiques, jewellery, gold, carpets, leatherware and souvenirs.

Day 3

Istanbul to Cappadocia

Zelve Open Air Museum Pasabaglari Goreme Open Air Museum Uchisar Cast Pigeon Valley

Sightseeing

Breakfast

Transfers

Stay

After Breakfast check out from Hotel and Transfer to Cappadocia. After Check into Hotel proceed for City Tour. You will love a walk through this amazing valley. Next would be the Zelve Open Air Museum which has some of the most important churches in the Valley. Apart from the churches, there houses, a mill, a mosque, and several dovecotes. You will also visit the Pasabaglari (Monks Valley) where you will see fairy chimneys with multiple stems and caps. There is also a Chapel dedicated to St. Simeon and a hermit's shelter that has a fairy chimney with three heads. Next on the tour would be the Goreme Open Air Museum where the religious education was started. You will also visit the chapels and monasteries carved into the fairy chimneys from the 10th and 13th century with frescos painted on the walls. Next stop is the Pigeon Valley where you will see a lot of pigeons and hear about how they used to help the send messages and fertilize the grapes. The last point on your tour would be the Uchisar Castle which resembles a Ortahisar in style. The top of the citadel provides a amazing panoramic view of the surrounding area. Post the tour, you are transferred back to the hotel for a comfortable stay.

Day 4

Full day city tour

Ihlara Valley Selime Yaprakhisar Monastery

Sightseeing

Breakfast

Stay

After breakfast, you proceed for a full day Cappadocia City Tour . Visit Ihlara Valley which is a canyon created by the cracking and collapsing which occurred as the basalt and the andesite lava from Mt. Hassadag, cooled. The Melendiz river found its way through the cracks and eroded the canyon beds giving it its current state. Next attraction in Cappadocia is the Selime, which is situated at the end if the Ihlara Valley. It has Fairy chimneys resting on the steep hillside, a basilica style cathedral, and the Selime Sultan Tomb. You will also visit the Yaprakhisar Monastery and places like Agzikarahan - a well preserved Caravanserai. Post the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay.

Day 5

Cappadocia to Kusadasi

Leisure

Breakfast

Transfers

Stay

After a hearty breakfast, Check out from the hotel and are transferred to the Kayseri Airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon your arrival in Izmir, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi. Check in and enjoy a comfortable stay at the hotel.

Day 6

Ephesus full day tour

Ephesus Temple of Domitian Scholastica Baths Temple of Artemis

Sightseeing

Breakfast

Stay

Post a hearty breakfast, you drive for a guided tour of Ephesus - one of the most famous historic sights in Turkey. The first stop will be the House of Virgin Mary, the place where she spent her last days. Next you dwell deeper into Ephesus, the most extensive ancient city excavated. Fall back in time as you walk through the Fountains of Polio Hadrian-Trajan and temples of Domitian and Hadrian. You will also visit the Scholastica Baths, Brothl, Celcius Library, Bouleuterion and the Great Theater. After a delicious lunch in Selcuk, you will get to see the Temple of Artemis - a former member of the Seven Wonders of Ancient World. There will also be the St. John Basilica and the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus to look forward too. Post this highly enjoyable tour, you will be dropped back to the hotel for dinner and a comfortable overnight stay.

Day 7

Kusadasi to Pamukkale

Hierapolis

Sightseeing

Breakfast

Transfers

Stay

After a hearty breakfast, Check out from the hotel and are transferred to Pamukkale.Later, you will also visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its theater, basilica, Roman Bath and Necropolis. Post the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel for comfortable overnight stay.

Day 8

Pamukkale to Istanbul

Leisure

Breakfast

Transfers

Stay

After your breakfast, you will check out from the hotel and will be transferred to the Denizli Airport for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, you will dropped to your hotel where you can relax and have a comfortable overnight stay.

Day 9

Departure

Breakfast

Transfers

After Breakfast check out from Hotel and Transfer to Airport for Drop.