Have a taste of the beauty of Turkey and experience the best of it. Visit Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Izmir, Pergamon, Troy, Canakkale and more.
Your English-speaking representative will meet you at Gate Number 8 assist you at Istanbul Airport and then escort you to your hotel to start your Trip to Turkey. Check in to your room and enjoy the afternoon free to explore Istanbul.
Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast, we will start our full day in the city with the Hagia Sophia. Originally built by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, and converted into a mosque by the Ottomans in the 15th century. Next, visit the Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultan from the 15th to the 19th century with its impressive treasury, exquisite harem, attractive courtyards, and pavilions housing huge collections of antiquities. Then head to The Blue Mosque, another of the world's most important religious buildings, unique for its 6 minarets and its celestial interior decorated with the famous blue Iznik tiles. Lunch at a local restaurant.
The next stop is The Hippodrome, a scene of chariot races. The last stop is at the Grand Bazaar. Transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel, the day's tour features a scenic cruise on the Bosphorus Strait aboard a regular boat. This journey along the Sea of Marmara offers stunning views of the Asian and European coasts of Istanbul, passing by iconic monuments including the Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, and the Rumeli Hisar Fortress. There will be an opportunity to explore the Beylerbeyi Palace, a jewel of Ottoman architecture on the Asian side, which served as the summer residence for the imperial family and a venue for hosting foreign dignitaries. The tour then concludes with free time at the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) in Eminönü, the perfect place to shop for spices, dried fruits, teas, and other typical Turkish delicacies. At the scheduled time, approximately 2:00 p.m., the journey continues by coach to Ankara. The route will cross the Istanbul Intercontinental Bridge. Upon arrival in Ankara, you will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After having breakfast at the hotel, the day will commence with a departure to visit the Atatürk Mausoleum, a site dedicated to Mustafa Kemal, the founder of the Turkish Republic and revered as the Father of the Turks. The journey will then continue towards Cappadocia. En route, there will be a stop at Salt Lake, Turkey's second-largest lake, renowned for the vibrant color of its waters. Depending on the season, the lake can take on pink hues due to chemical reactions caused by algae. During the trip, the tour will include an exploration of the Ozkonak or Saratli underground city. This subterranean complex was carved out by early Christian communities seeking refuge from Arab invasions and still preserves areas such as stables, common rooms, a meeting hall, and small family quarters. Before checking into the hotel, a visit is scheduled to a ceramics shop. Here, a detailed explanation will be provided about the production process, the quality of the handmade ceramics, and how this craft has become a significant cultural heritage of the region. The day will conclude with dinner and an overnight stay in Cappadocia.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
An optional hot air balloon ride is available at dawn, offering a unique perspective to view Cappadocia's remarkable rock formations, fairy chimneys, and lunar landscapes from above. Following breakfast at the hotel, the day is fully dedicated to exploring this fantastic and unique region. The tour will include the spectacular fairy chimneys and the Göreme Valley, famous for its cave churches adorned with 10th and 11th-century paintings. We will also make a stop at the troglodyte village of Uchisar, visit Avcilar for its spectacular scenery, and explore the Devrent Valley with its curious natural rock formations. The day will also include time at artisan workshops specializing in carpets and onyx or semi-precious stones set in silver jewelry. The day concludes with dinner and an overnight stay in Cappadocia.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Pamukkale. Our journey includes a visit to a Kervansaray before we continue on our way. Upon arrival, you will have free time to explore the Cotton Castle, a unique global site renowned for its stunning limestone thermal pools. The area is also home to Hierapolis, one of Anatolia's great archaeological sites, which, combined with the Cotton Pools, makes this a point of immense interest. Pamukkale is situated directly beside the ancient city of Hierapolis, a site declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and recognized as one of the world's most important and attractive tourist centers. At the end of the visit, you will be transferred to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay in Pamukkale.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, the day begins with a departure for Selcuk-Ephesus. Upon arrival, you will visit the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus, including sites dedicated to Artemis such as the Odeon, the Temple of Hadrian, the House of Love, the Library of Celsus, the Agora, Marble Street, and the largest theater from antiquity. The tour also includes a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, recognized as the final resting place of Jesus' mother, followed by a stop at a leather production center. The day will conclude with a transfer to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay in either Kusadasi or Izmir.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Following breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for the ancient city of Pergamon, a primary cultural, commercial, and medical center of its time. Our visit will focus on the famous Asclepius, a paramount health center dedicated to the god of medicine, renowned as history's first psychiatric hospital, where medical research and various treatments were practiced. After the visit, we continue to Canakkale, stopping to photograph the Trojan Horse, the actual prop from the Hollywood film starring Brad Pitt. Please note that entrance to the Troy excavation site is not included before transferring to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay in Canakkale.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Following breakfast at the hotel, the journey continues to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. The city tour will include the Great Mosque (Ulu Camii), a key landmark, and the historic Silk Bazaar, a vital trading post during the Silk Road era known for its silk, textiles, and traditional handicrafts. We will also visit the Green Mausoleum, the tomb of Sultan Mehmet I, renowned for its exquisite interior and exterior green faience tiles that showcase the period's decorative skill. The day concludes with the continuation of the trip to Istanbul, arrival, and transfer to your hotel for the overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast
Breakfast. Then you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast