Turkey

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Home City > Istanbul
Depart from home city to Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and 5th largest city proper in the world with a population of 13 million.

Day 2

Istanbul
Turkey is a transcontinentalEurasian country. Asian Turkey, which includes 97% of the country, is separated from European Turkey by the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles. Although the European Turkey only share 3% of the country, Turkey is an associate member of the European Economic Community since 1963. Upon arrival transfer to hotel and prepare for the exciting tour beginning tomorrow.
Hotel : Radisson Blu Airport or similar

Day 3

Istanbul － Blue Mosque － Hagia Sophia － Topkapi Palace － Grand Bazaar
After breakfast we proceed to Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. Then visit Hagia Sophia, former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have “changed the history of architecture.” It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520. Became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, Topkapi Palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments and is a major tourist attraction today, containing the most holy relics of the Muslim world such as the Prophet Muhammed’s cloak and sword. Initial construction began in 1459, the palace is a complex made up of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. At the height of its existence as a royal residence, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people, formerly covering a larger area with a long shoreline. Later we move on to Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. Enjoy lunch at a Chinese restaurant, then we shall stop at the Grand Bazaar for some souvenir shopping. (B/L/D)
Hotel : Radisson Blu Airport or similar

Day 4

Istanbul － Ankara
After breakfast we shall head to the capitol city of Turkey – Ankara, and browse around the city upon arriving. We shall visit the city center, including the Anitkabir – the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and the founder, first President of the Republic of Turkey. (B/L/D)
Hotel : Bera Ankara Hotel or similar

Day 5

Ankara － Cappadocia (Derinkuyu Underground City)
After breakfast we head towards Cappadocia and visit the Derinkuyu Underground city. The city could accommodate around 20,000 people and had all the usual amenities found in other underground complexes across Cappadocia, such as wine and oil presses, stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, and chapels. Enjoy lunch and dinner at local restaurants. (B/L/D)
Hotel : Dedeman Kapaokya or similar

Day 6

Göreme － Cave Church － Fairy Chimneys － Carpet Village － Belly Dance & Folklore Show
After breakfast we shall visit the Churches of Göreme. In the 4th century small anchorite communities began to form in the region, acting on instruction of Saint Basil of Caesarea. They carved cells in the soft rock. During the iconoclastic period (725 – 842) the decoration of the many sanctuaries in the region was held to a minimum, usually symbols such as the depiction of the cross. After this period, new churches were dug into the rocks and they were richly decorated with colourful frescoes. Then we are going to explorer the remarkable landscaping by the nature. After thousands of years of gusty wind and erosion, the rocks become a tall, thin spire shape, which we call them “Fairy Chimney”, or “Hoodoo”. It occurs in multiple parts of the world, and Cappadocia is one of them. Because the volcanic deposits in here are soft rocks that the people of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out to form houses, churches and monasteries. Later we shall visit a carpet village before enjoying our dinner in a restaurant in one of these rock-cut caves, and also enjoy a belly dance and folklore show. (B/L/D)
Hotel : Dedeman Kapaokya or similar

Day 7

Cappadocia － Caravanserai － Konya － Pamukkale
After breakfast we head towards the magnificent Pamukkale. During the journey we shall visit a Caravanserai – in the ancient time it served like a roadside inn for the camel merchants to rest and recover from the day’s journey. After lunch we stop at Konya – Konya is the capital of the Anatolian Selijuk Sultanate during 1097 to 1243. It reached the height of its wealth and influence as of the second half of the 12th century when Anatolian Seljuk sultans also subdued the Anatolian beyliks to their east, and now it has the reputation of being one of the more religiously conservative metropolitan centers in Turkey. Then we arrive the “Cotton Castle” Pamukkale. It is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, together with Hierapolis, in 1988. Pamukkale’s terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water from the hot springs. After dinner at the hotel you may enjoy a hot spring bath on your own accord. (B/L/D)
Hotel : Colossae Hotel or smilar

Day 7

Pamukkale－ Ephesus－ Artemis Tapinagi－Sirince －Leather Center－Kuşadası
After breakfast we shall head towards Ephesus. The ruins of Ephesus were famed for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed twice in 401 A.D. and 614 A.D. It was the second largest city of the Roman Empire, which the city’s importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River. We shall also stop by at Artemis Tapinagi for some picture times, and then visit the famous wine village – Sirince. After a visit of the leather center we move on to Kuşadası, a resort town on Turkey’s Aegean coast. (B/L/D)
Hotel : Richmond Hotel or similar

Day 9

Kuşadası － Pergamon – Troy – Canakkale
After breakfast we shall visit Pergamon – an ancient Greek city in modern-day Turkey’s. It is believed to be the first society of human being during the Stone Age. Troy is best known for being the focus of the Trojan War described in the Greek Epic Cycle. Later we shall go to visit the enormous reconstruction of the famous Trojan wooden horse. Lunch at local restaurant, then we head towards Canakkale. Dinner at the hotel. (B/L/D)
Hotel : Kolin or similar

Day 10

Canakkale – Gallipoli – Dardanelles – Istanbul – Yerebatan Sarnic
After breakfast we shall go to Gallipoli and take a ferry ride sail across the Dardanelles Straits and experience the magnificent view of the Sea of Marmara towards Istanbul. Upon arrival we shall visit the Yerebatan Sarnici, known as the “underground palace” built by Constantine the Great. As Istanbul is heaven for jewelry of kinds, gold, silver and gemstones, there are many lovely things to bring home from a visit to one of these stores. (B/L/D)
Hotel : Radisson Blu Airport or similar

Day 11

Istanbul > Home City
Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the hotel, and then we shall proceed to the airport for the homeward flight. (B)