CHARMING TURKEY
AT/PRO-03 “CHARMING TURKEY”
1st Day: ISTANBUL
Arrival and transfer to hotel.
2nd Day: ISTANBUL / ANKARA (D)
Breakfast and half day city sightseeing: Hippodrome; once, center of horse races, chariot rallies and Byzantine civic life. Today only remain three monuments: The Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the column of Constantine. Blue Mosque; with its harmonious cascade of cupolas and six minarets, is certainly one of the most majestic and elegant mosques of Istanbul. Saint Sophia; built in IV. Century, the Mosque of St. Sophia is unquestionably one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture with its immense dome and beautifully preserved Byzantine mosaics. In the afternoon pick-up from the hotel around 12.30/13.00 hours and departure by coach to Ankara. Arrival and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight.
3rd Day: ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA (B/L/D)
Morning city sightseeing including the famous Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey. After lunch continue to Cappadocia via the Salt Lake. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
4th Day: CAPPADOCIA (B/L/D)
After breakfast full-day is dedicated to exploring the amazing world of Cappadocia, unique in the world for its moon-like landscapes. Visit the amazing underground city of Ozkonak used by the Christians of the 7th century as a refuge from the Roman persecutions, rock-carved churches in Göreme, troglodyte villages and fairy chimneys at Urgup, Avcilar and Uchisar. Lunch at a typical restaurant. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
5th Day: CAPPADOCIA / PAMUKKALE (B/L/D)
Breakfast at hotel and departure for Konya, the former capital of the Seljuk Empire. Visit enroute the Seljuk caravanserai of Sultanhani. Continue to Pamukkale. Lunch enroute. Arrive at Pamukkale and enjoy the sunset on its unique formation of petrified calcium cliffs. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
6th Day: PAMUKKALE / EPHESUS / IZMIR (B/L/D)
Morning breakfast at hotel. Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis and the hot-spring pools of Pamukkale, a spectacular natural site of dazzling white castles. Drive to Kusadasi. Arrive for lunch. Excursion to Ephesus, the Roman capital of Asia Minor. Visit the ruins of Odeon, Temple of Hadrian, the famous Roman Baths, etc. Visit the House of Virgin Mary. Continue to Izmir. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
7th Day: IZMIR / PERGAMUM / CANAKKALE (B/L/D)
Morning breakfast at hotel and drive to Pergamum. Lunch and visit the Asclepion, once a therapeutic center. Lunch enroute. Continue to Troy and visit the site of the legendary town in the Iliad of Homeros. Drive to Canakkale. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
8th Day: CANAKKALE / BURSA / ISTANBUL (B/L)
After breakfast drive to Istanbul via Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. This is a well-known city for its silk production and Turkish Baths. We will visit the Grand Mosque, Green Mosque and the Silk Bazaar. Continue to Istanbul. Transfer to hotel and overnight.
9th Day: ISTANBUL (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and flight to your next destination.
