Wonders of Turkey

Hippodrome Hagia Sophia Ataturk Mausoleum Salt sea (Tuz Golu) Pasabag valley Konya (Iconium) Apollo temple Virgin Mary house

Description

This is the tour starting from the splendid Istanbul, a city rightly counted among the most beautiful in Europe! Vibrant, modern and so rich in history, large domes, stunning mosques, and monuments of imposing beauty that are reflected in the waters of the Bosphorus. Finding yourself in Cappadocia, a region where Mother Nature has created fairytale landscapes, which can be defined as 'lunar'... Should be visited by everyone, at least once in their life! Among the most spectacular wonders of the planet there are certainly the white and fascinating cliffs of Pamukkale. You will be struck by the natural pools, whose therapeutic waters have a natural temperature from 35° to 100°! Without a doubt a Wonderful Tour!

Guaranteed departures on Fridays, minimum of 2 passengers, with multilingual guide and deluxe means of transport.

Full Board, excluding dinner on day 2.

Suggested hotels:

Istanbul (2 nights): Kent hotel or Holiday Inn hotel Istanbul Old City - 4 star, or similar

Cappadocia (2 nights): Perissia Hotel or Crowne Plaza Cappadocia Nevsehir - 5 stars, or similar

Pamukkale (1 night): Hierapark Thermal & Spa Hotel or Spa Hotel Thermal Colossae similar - 4 stars, or similar

Izmir (1 night): Ramada Plaza Izmir or similar - 4 stars, or similar

Program

Day 1:

Istanbul (- / - /Dinner)
Arrival in Istanbul, meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Check in. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 2:

Istanbul (Breakfast /Lunch / -)
After breakfast, a full day tour of the city starting from the Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets and its splendid blue tiles. Hippodrome. The visit continues with Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece of Byzantine civilization, followed by a visit to the Topkapi Palace, the ancient residence of the Ottoman sultans, now transformed into a museum. It consists of four courtyards: in the first there is the church of Santa Irene where the Second Ecumenical Council (381) was celebrated, one of the oldest churches, dedicated to Divine Peace. Centuries of history in the courtyards are on display in various rooms from which the western and eastern world can be observed: porcelain, silver, weapons, the clothes of the sultans and Muslim sacred relics are the witnesses of a shining period. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant excluding drinks. After lunch, the visit continues with the Grand Bazaar, the largest in the world with about 4000 antique, jewelery and carpet shops. Overnight at the hotel. BB treatment.

Day 3:

Istanbul / Ankara / Cappadocia (Breakfast / Lunch/ Dinner)
Early morning departure for the airport for flight TK 2108 which leaves at 08:00. Arrival in Ankara at 09:00. Morning dedicated to the visit of the Ataturk Mausoleum and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, in which you can see the history of this country, with extensive evidence of the Hittite presence. The Hittites became a great empire, until they conquered Babylon and gave Egypt a lot of trouble. They are mentioned in the Bible at the time of the Patriarchs. The arrival of the "peoples of the sea" will mark their end. From the integration will come the Phrygians and Lydians. In the third century. B.C. from Gaul came the Celts, a warlike people who settled and expanded on this plateau, which in 25 BC. it becomes a Roman province with Ancyra as its capital. After lunch departure for Cappadocia, along the way the salt lake (Tuz Golu) joins. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4:

Cappadocia (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
After breakfast at the hotel, the visit begins with Kaymaklı Underground City & Uchisar Citadel. After lunch we continue to the "Göreme" valley & open museum with its rock churches. The last resort of the day will be Pasabag Valley and Avanos. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Cappadocia.

Day 5:

Cappadocia / Konya / Pamukkale (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
In the morning departure for Konya (ancient Iconium). During the trip we visit the Sultanhan caravanserai. Arrival in Konya, a city linked to the founder of the Dervishes, Mevlana Celaleddin RUMI, a contemporary Muslim mystic of St. Francis. He taught love and tolerance and great praise to God with dance and song. Here we will visit his tomb and the monastery with the characteristic blue majolica dome. Lunch in a restaurant. Continue to Pamukkale, arriving in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6:

Pamukkale / Ephesus / Izmir (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Morning dedicated to visiting Hierapolis, a rich Roman city with its large necropolis. Hierapolis was a therapeutic center that thrived under the Romans and even more so with the Byzantines. We will visit the temple of Apollo, the Roman theater still in excellent condition and the surprisingly large necropolis with impressive tombs. Continue to Kusadasi and visit the house of the Virgin Mary, who legend has it that she arrived in Ephesus accompanied by St. Paul in the last years of her earthly life approximately between 37 and 45 AD. After lunch, visit the ancient city of Ephesus, the best preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean. Lying at the foot of a hill, the splendor of its ruins meets expectations and it can be said that year after year, with the various restoration works, the magnificence of this ancient and flourishing city appears more and more. Izmir. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 7:

Izmir / Istanbul (Breakfast / - / -)
After breakfast, departure for Izmir airport.

Price includes

- Overnight at the hotels listed below
- All visits indicated in the program
- All transfers with assistance
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner as indicated in the program.
- Transport by deluxe air-conditioned vehicles depending on the number of participants
- Professional guide multilingual (English/Spanish/Italian) throughout the itinerary .
- All entrances to the museums and archaeological sites indicated
- Tips for restaurants and hotels
- Service & local taxes

Price does not include

- International & domestic air tickets
- Drinks and meals that are not indicated in the program
- Personal expenses
- Guiding and driver tips.

Itinerary

Accommodations provided in each place