itinerary

***** 12 Day tour of Turkey Including visit to: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Istanbul DAY 01 Istanbul Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in hotel. DAY 02 Byzantine - Ottoman Relics Tour Breakfast and Lunch Included 08:15 pick up from your hotel to visit the 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. Afterwards, visit the ancient Roman Hippodrome. Following a lunch break in the old town, visit Topkapi Palace from which Ottoman Sultans ruled their grand empire for over 400 years and visit the Suleymaniye Mosque. Tour finishes around 17:00, transfer back to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul DAY 03 Bosphorus Cruise - Two Continents Tour Breakfast and Lunch Included 08:30 pick up from your hotel to visit Spice Market and followed by a boat cruise through the Bosphorus, the strait dividing the European and Asian continents, Following lunch break in the afternoon, visit the luxuriously opulent Dolmabahce Palace, the last residence of the sultans. A drive to the Asian part of Istanbul crossing the Intercontinental Bosphorus bridge to visit Camlica Hill The highest point where you can overlook Istanbul and take nice pictures. Tour finishes around 17:00, transfer back to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. DAY 04 Istanbul Breakfast Included Free day and overnight bus to Cappadocia with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 21:00. Shuttle is at 19:00 from our office. The duration of the overnight bus is 11 hours DAY 05 Cappadocia Tour 1 Lunch Included Arrival in Cappadocia and transfer to hotel to fresh up before start tour. Depart from your hotel to visit Devrent Valley to see the unigue fairy-chimneys. Drive to Pasabag (Monk's Valley) to see the most interesting mushroom-shaped pinnacles. Drive to the city of Avanos for lunch.In the afternoon visit another beautiful open air museum at Goreme where the remains of rock-cut churches and Christian settlements date back hundreds of years. Lastly, before returning to your hotel, visit the natural castles at Uchisar. Overnight in Cappadocia DAY 06 Cappadocia Tour 2 Breakfast and Lunch Included Depart from your hotel to visit Red valley, and explore the famous rock- cut churches and hike 5 km through the Gulludere valley (Rose valley). Then visit Cavusin village.This village is famous for the houses and churches of the christian clegymen. Drive to the pigeon valley for lunch. In the afternoon visit Kaymakli underground city. Where early christians lived in fear and faith. On the way back visit the natural castles at Ortahisar. Overnight in Cappadocia DAY 07 Cappadocia Breakfast Included Free day and overnight bus to Antalya with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 20:30.The duration of the overnight bus is 10 hours DAY 08 Antalya Tour Lunch Included Arrival in Antalya and transfer to hotel to fresh up before start tour. 08:15 pick up from your hotel to visit Perge antique site in detail; Stadium, Roman Gate, Nymphaeum, Roman Bath, Hellenistic gate, Colonnaded Main Street and the Agora. Lunch on the Köprüpazari stream near the Aspendos Theater after lunch visit Aspendos Theater and the Historical Aqueducts. Shopping Break where also the Turkish handcrafts are introduced. Introduction of Side and an hour and a half free time. Overnight in Antalya DAY 09 Antalya to Pamukkale Breakfast Included Free day and bus to Pamukkale with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus. The duration of the bus is 4 hours. Overnight in Pamukkale DAY 10 Pamukkale - Hierapolis Tour Breakfast and Lunch Included After breakfast pick up from your hotel drive to Pamukkale visiting; Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis with the Temple of Apollo, the breathtaking Theater, the fascinating Necropolis and the last the great baths of Hierapolis antique city, where St. Philip was martyred. St. Philip is connected with the early church in Hierapolis and played an important role in Pamukkale the history of the city. Finally we visit the calcium terraces and pools. After tour bus to Kusadasi (Ephesus) with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 17:00 (duration 3 hours) . Overnight in Kusadasi DAY 11 Ephesus Tour Breakfast and Lunch Included The tour begins by visiting the remains of the Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards, it proceeds to the spectacular main site of Ephesus, undoubtedly the most superbly preserved Greco-Roman city. Unmistakable highlights surviving among the ruins are the Celsius Library, Agora, Theater, Odeon, Trajan Fountain, Domitianus Temple and Roman Latrines. Following a lunch break, visit the House of Virgin Mary; reputed to be where she spent her final days. After tour overnight bus to Istanbul with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 21:30 (duration 10 hours) DAY 12 Istanbul / Departure Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to Sultanahmet to our Office. Transfer to Ataturk airport from our office two hours before your flight. End of tour and services

what's included

Transfers mentioned in the itinerary Overnight intercity coach tickets (Istanbul to Cappadocial to Antalya and Ephesus to Istanbul ) Local taxes and service charges Hotel accommodations on the itinerary Meals mentioned in the itinerary Professional English speaking guidance Entrance fees to the various sites Transportation with A/C and non smoking coaches