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ISTANBUL - CAPPADOCIA - EPHESUS

DAY 1. ISTANBUL

Arrive in Istanbul Ataturk airport where your guide will meet you and assist you with your transfer to hotel. After checking in and freshening up, we highly recommend that you take a good rest, both because of the jet lag and also because you will be starting on your wonderful trip of Turkey early the following morning. In the evening, have dinner at a traditional restaurant in the Kumkapi district, accompanied by gipsy music. Overnight Istanbul. 

DAY 2. ISTANBUL - CAPPADOCIA

Morning transfer to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. After checking in and freshening up, you can begin a tour of this fantastic area. This will be a full and very comprehensive daily tour of Cappadocia (the land of beautiful horses). We start by a visit to the great rock pinnacle that is the Uchisar Castle. Then we continue to one of the major sights unique to this region, a fascinating multilevel underground city. This will be either Derinkuyu or Kaymakli depending on the day of the week. Then we proceed to view some of the fascinating frescoed and rock carved churches of the Goreme open-air museum, a UNESCO world heritage. We continue to the town of Avanos, renowned mainly for its pottery work. After a stop for lunch, we visit the famous pottery artisans in their traditional rock carved workshops. Then we continue to see Sarihan, a 13th century Seljuk caravanserai, very authentically and beautifully restored. On our way back, we shall stop to admire the multitude of bizarre rock shapes, like nature made sculptures in the Devrent valley, and then we take a stroll among the majestic fairy chimneys of Pasabag. Then we return to our hotel. Overnight Cappadocia  

DAY 3. CAPPADOCIA

Today we shall take a tour which is specially designed to discover the hidden treasures of many out of the way, spectacular, interesting and realistic sights of Cappadocia. Our first stop is at the fascinating village of Ortahisar, featuring the naturally sculptured rock fortress. Then we continue to the Pancarlik valley to admire the famous church (Pancarlik Church). We proceed to the Gomeda Valley, which is a cave dwelling centre where the first Cappadocians lived in ancient times. We go on, passing through typical Anatolian villages such as Ayvali and Mazi and we finally arrive in the Soganli Valley, with its many Byzantine period rock tombs, enjoying a leisurely hike and exploring the Armenian architectural style rock carved churches and monastery ruins. This valley is also known as the ‘Valley of Dolls’. After having lunch in the village, we continue on our way, passing through the village of Sahinefendi, and visiting Sobessos, the rather recently discovered late Roman site, featuring incredible mosaic work. We proceed and pass by Taskinpasa Caravanserai, which now serves as the village library and which features a wonderfully carved stone gate. The next stop will be the Byzantine Keslik Monastery. We continue to arrive in Mustafa pasha (Sinasos), renowned for its excellent Ottoman and Greek architecture. We shall also visit the very first church that was constructed by the Ottomans for the Christian community. After an easygoing stroll, exploring this village, we return to our hotel. Overnight Cappadocia. 

DAY  4. CAPPADOCIA - PAMUKKALE

Morning departure for a long drive towards Pamukkale via Konya, one of the oldest cities in Turkey. Famous for its Selcuk architecture, Konya was a major center of Islam.  Home of the famous Whirling Dervishes and final resting place of the mystic, Mevlana, it was also a major trading center of the Silk Road. The highlight of the tour is the Mevlana museum, a place of worship and home to many famous works of art and textiles. Then we continue to Pamukkale or “Cotton Castle” which is a beautiful and spectacular natural site famous for its fairylike, dazzling white, travertine terraces. These white limestone cliffs have attracted visitors since before the time of Christ. In the evening swim in the beneficial warm thermal waters at our hotel. In the evening swim in the beneficial warm thermal waters at our hotel.  Overnight Pamukkale

DAY 5. PAMUKKALE - EPHESUS - KUSADASI

We shall begin the day by visiting the antique Roman city of Hierapolis scattered around the natural beauty of Pamukkale and continue our journey towards Kusadasi. En route we take a full day tour of Ephesus, the best-preserved and restored ancient city in Turkey, which is known to be the Commercial, the Religious and the Social Center of Antiquity. Begin our day with a visit to The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Continue and explore the ancient city of Ephesus with its Great Theatre with a capacity of 24.000 spectators and Celsus Library, the Fountains of Trajan, the Temple of Hadrian and Domition, and Private Houses. Then we shall visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent her final days. Continue for Kusadas?, or Bird Island, which is a lovely port built along the shores of a glittering bay. The terraced town overlooks the most beautiful inlet of the Aegean and seems to have been created purely for the delight of the holidaymaker. Overnight  Kusadasi

DAY 6. IZMIR - ISTANBUL

In the morning drive up to Izmir for your flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel, for check in and freshening up, after which you can begin a historical tour of this city. Start by visiting the magnificent Haghia Sophia, and then continue to the marvelous Topkapi palace, that served as the palace of the Ottoman Sultans between the 16th and 19th centuries. Optional visits: to the Treasury, where the extensive exhibits include priceless world-class collections of jewelry, porcelain, textiles and costumes of the Sultans, as well as to the Harem quarters, which is an absolute highlight. Then we continue to visit the famous Blue Mosque, the Byzantine Hippodrome and the incredible Underground Cistern. Return to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul

DAY 7. ISTANBUL

In the morning, we get aboard a ferryboat for a cruise up the strait of Bosphorus, passing half a dozen Ottoman imperial palaces, traditional Yalis (waterside villas) and shore villages. Disembark at Sariyer for lunch at a seaside restaurant. Then we drive south, and stop to visit the Castle of Rumeli Hisar, after which, accompanied by your escorting guide, you explore the Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi), the world's oldest "shopping mall", to look for treasures in its 4000 shops and then dive into the colorful sights, vibrant sounds and intriguing scents of the Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar.Overnight Istanbul

DAY 8. ISTANBUL

Morning transfer to airport for your ongoing flight.

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