9 Days Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Cappadocia
OVERVIEW
Tour Style : Group Tour
Tour Style : Group Tour
Duration : 9 Days - 8 Nights
Departures : All year round - Guaranteed Departure
Departures : All year round - Guaranteed Departure
Highlights : Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Cappadocia, Goreme Open Air Museum, Underground City
Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul
Upon your arrival we will pick you up from the airport and transfer your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 - Byzantine and Ottoman Relics Tour
8:30am - Picked-up from hotel and met by your tour guide for a full day to discover the city of Istanbul. The tour will include visit to the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace and the Rustem Pasa Mosque. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back to your hotel at approximately 5:00 pm. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3 - Half Day Morning Bosphorus Cruise
8:30 am - You will be picked-up from your hotel to visit the Spice Bazaar (or Egyptian Bazaar). Filled with spices, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, lokum (Turkish delight) and other edibles, Spice Bazaar has a smell of the fragrance of the exotic East. Then join a boat excursion on the Bosphorus on a shared tour. Enjoy viewing Ottoman palaces, Bosphorus bridge, citadels, centuries-old mansions and the European and Asian shorelines at the same time. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back to your hotel at approximately 1:00 pm.
Evening flight to Izmir
Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 4 - Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour
After breakfast we will depart from Kusadasi to Pamukkale, as soon as we arrive we will continue onto guided tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis. Pamukkale means cotton castle in Turkish. It is the result of limestone formations built over thousands of years. Warm calcium rich mineral water flowed over the cliffs and as it cooled it deposited the calcium into the formations that are seen today. Pamukkale is now a world heritage site. Hierapolis was founded as a healing care center in 190 BC, taking advantage of the mineral waters in the area. It was one of the most important intellectual, artistic, religious and commercial centers of the Roman Empire.
DAY 5 - Ephesus Tour
Ephesus for a full day of sightseeing. First visit the Temple of Artemis, which once was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Then you will visit the world famous ancient Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, the most well preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a lunch break. After lunch, you will visit The House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. Evening flight to cappadocia. Overnight in a cave hotel in Cappadocia.
Day 6 - North Cappadocia Tour 1
Today after breakfast meet with your tour guide and visit Devrent Valley and Pasabag (Monk's Valley) where you will find the world famous fairy chimneys. Break for lunch in Avanos. Then on to visit the Goreme Open Air Museum to explore the numerous churches and monasteries with their frescoes. These churches and monasteries were carved from the soft volcanic stone and decorated by Medieval Orthodox Christian Monks around 1000-1200AD. A visit to Ortahisar natural rock castle for panoramic views. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at around 6:00 pm. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B, L)
Day 7 - South Cappadocia Tour 2
Breakfast & check out the hotel in Cappadocia. Today meet your tour guide in the hotel lobby and transfer for a full day tour of Cappadocia sites. Visits include Derinkuyu Underground City which was built as a defence and hiding site during the period of spreading Christianity. Then on to Cavusin Old Christian Village where you will find a triple Apse church and the monastery of St John the Baptist. In Sinasos Old Greek Village you find old Greek and Ottoman houses. The days touring includes an easy grade 3km hike through Red Valley offering some great scenery that would otherwise not be accessible by car and a visit to Uchisar natural rock castle.
At end of the tour, collect luggage from hotel reception in Cappadocia. Transfer to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your evening return flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival you will be picked-up from the airport & transfer to your hotel.
Day 8 - Princes Islands Tour
Departure from European side and accross the Bosphorus by the first bridge. Drive along the Asian side through Kadiköy all the way to Bostanci admiring the different facets of Istanbul.
Once we reach Bostanci you'll have a chance to see one of the most beatiful districts of Istanbul. After having little time in Bostanci, embark the boat going to Princes' Islands. Disembark at Büyükada which is the largest and the most famous of this chain of islands. There are several small hotels where people stay for the weekend. Some of the historical buildings are Aya Yorgi Church and Monastery from 6th century, Ayios Dimitrios Church, Hristos Church and Monastery and enjoy the lunch in a nice waterfront restaurant. After a small tour in the town centre, listening to the history of this lovely island, you'll have free time to enjoy the beautiful island shores by renting a phaeton (horse-drawn carriage) or bycle until the departure time. As there are no cars allowed on the island, this promenade will be an unforgettable memory for you.
On the way back we're going to catch a cruise ferry which is going to call at Heybeli, Burgaz and Kinali Island before reaching Kabatas port on the European side. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 9 - Departure
After breakfast check out from hotel (before 12:00), transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport according to your flight details. End of tour and services.
