DAY 1: ISTANBUL
Welcome to Istanbul-Turkey. You arrive at the Istanbul Airport. We transfer to your hotel and you stay overnight.
DAY 2: ISTANBUL
Let’s start to explore Istanbul. The first visit is Hippodrome. It was the center of sports activities in Constantinople. Famous with 4 monuments; The German Fountain of Wilhelm II, Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and Column of Constantine.
Hagia Sophia, is the most famous museum in Turkey and one of the greatest marvels of architecture. Hagia Sophia was built as a church in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian then in 1453 renovated into a mosque by Ottoman Emperor Fatih Sultan Mehmet. It was converted into a museum in 1935 and welcomed both local and foreign visitors. (Closed on Monday)
Blue Mosque, as known as the Sultanahmet Mosque, this breathtaking building is one of the most majestic Ottoman mosques in all of Turkey. Also, it was built with unique 6 minarets. (Closed on Friday)
Topkapi Palace, which has been home to the Ottoman dynasty for many years, was used for educational administration and as the art center of the state. Get knowledge about the imperial treasury´s sacred Islamic relics, palace kitchens, and weapons. (Closed on Tuesday)
Grand Bazaar, is the biggest market and the most attractive shopping center of Istanbul which has lots of shopping opportunities with carpets, leather, jewelry, Turkish delight, gold, antique tiles, etc..(Closed on Sunday)
At the end of the tour, you go back to your hotel and stay overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 3: ISTANBUL – EPHESUS
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport. And you fly to Izmir, meet with our tour guide when you land at the Izmir Airport. Then, we reach Ephesus. Ephesus, was the second-largest city in the Roman Empire over 250.000 people in the 1st BC. Ranking only behind Rome it was the second-largest city in the world. Ephesus was also a harbor city. And, this giant city was built only with marble. Did you know Ephesus had the largest amphitheater in the ancient world over 25.000 seats? Also see Goddess Nike, Local pharmacy, Hadrian Gate, Library of Celcius (the third largest library), Marble Street, and Harbour Street.
Temple of Artemis, is located near Ephesus and was built in the 6th century. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the world.
The House of Virgin Mary, is located top of the Ephesus and 9 km far away. The places where the Virgin Mary has spent her last days and the Shrine of Virgin Mary pleasures wonderful atmosphere latent in the green.
After the tour, you will go back to your hotel and stay overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 4: IZMIR-CAPPADOCIA
Early morning, we leave from Kusadasi and drive to the Izmir Airport. And, you fly to Kayseri. You meet with our tour guide and start Cappadocia full-day tour. We visit Goreme Open-Air Museum which is a member of UNESCO World Heritage consisting of five Byzantine Orthodox churches. After that, we visit Uchisar Castle which has many rooms shallowed out into the rock are connected to each other with stairs, tunnels, and passages.
After the lunch break, we visit Pasabagi (Monks Valley) the mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys with twin and even triple rock caps are very unique even for Cappadocia. We also visit Avanos (Pottery).
The last stop is Devrent Valley which is famous for its unique landscape.
At the end of the tour, you go back to your hotel and stay overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 5: CAPPADOCIA
After breakfast, you will be picked up by our guide from your hotel. We visit Cavusin Village (Rose Valley), the Fairy Chimneys look like mushrooms. Amazing churches, Christian’s history. After we visit Ortahisar Castle similar to Uchisar Castle in style where storage caves can also be observed.
After having time for lunch, we visit Kaymakli Underground City where early Christians lived in fear and faith. On the way back, we visit Panoramic Pigeon Valley where pigeons contributed to the lives of locals with their manure to fertilize the vineyards.
At the end of the tour, you go back to your hotel and stay overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 6: CAPPADOCIA - ISTANBUL
We transfer you to the airport and you fly back to Istanbul in the morning.
Bosphorus by boat and an amazing cruise between two continents Europe and Asia throughout the Bosphorus by Dolmabahce Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace.
Pierre Loti hill was named by French author. He loved Ottoman women (Aziyade name of woman). The name of the hill was given by him because of his support to the Ottoman Empire.
Cable car rides from the top of the hill to the Golden Horn. Golden Horn was important in the development of Istanbul. The cove separates the European shore into two.
At the end of the tour, you go back to your hotel and stay overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 7: ISTANBUL
You have free time until flight departure time. We transfer you to the Istanbul Airport and you fly back to your home.
Stores to visit:
You can watch how the traditional Turkish carpet weaving is done by using wool yarns naturally dyed with alizarines. Enjoying a glass of tea while listening to the hypnotic clatter of the hand weaving looms is a lovey experience. You can buy carpets to enrich the decoration of your home with a wonderfully colored, traditional Turkish art.
The excavations have proved that the art of ceramics is as old as the ancient city of Ephesus with all those ceramic ovens and objects discovered. In Selçuk, you can still see ceramic workshops which bring forth the aesthetic characteristic of the earth when treated with fire. Wonderful designs are immortalized by artisanship, natural colors and ceramic ovens. Ceramic workshops are amongst the most popular spots within visitors of the area.
Leather Factory, some of the finest leather items manufactured in Turkey often find their way to shops in Italy. Premium grade leather is selected. This is then designed by fine craftsmanship into beautiful leather goods that speak of style and elegance.Among these products that people demand are leather jackets, shoes and belts, all produced in Turkey using traditional methods. If you want to go shopping for a leather in Turkey then a leather wallet or purse is always a good option for a souvenir. Tourists like shopping for leather products in Turkey because it is known that quality and workmanship of leather products are of a high standart.
Onyx Demonstration, Cappadocia has the onyx mines where the highest quality onyx is found (brown-veined green onyx is the highest quality, followed by brown-veined beige). Local artisans are experts at making items of jewelry as well as beautiful vases, chess sets, and numerous other attractive artifacts and knick-knacks. Watch a demonstration of how this very hard and brittle stone is cut, shaped and polished, before seeing the many beautiful onyx products.