TURKEY DISCOVERY

Arrival to Istanbul and transit for a domestic flight to Nevsehir or Kayseri airports for the flight to Cappadocia. Transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast depart for the Cappadocia tour, visit the valleys where animal-like natural formations like camels and fair chimneys are abundant. Drive on to Pasabagi in Zelve area where monks used to live in seclusion in rock cut rooms. Proceed to the pottery town of Avanos where Kizilirmak (Hallys), the longest river of Turkey, meanders leaving the red clay on its banks that has been the raw material of pottery for centuries. In the afternoon visit to Open Air Museum in Goreme where you can see the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. Stop by Pigeon Valley near Uchisar. Shopping time for the well-known merits of the area. After visiting Kaymakli Underground City, the place early Christians hid from persecutors, proceed to the hotel in Cappadocia for overnight stay.

Morning drive to Konya. Lunch in Konya. After visiting the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the world-wide famous mystic figure, drive to Antalya and overnight stay.

After breakfast visit PERGE antique site; Stadium, Roman Gate, Nymphaeum, Roman Bath, Hellenistic Gate, Colonnaded Main Street and the Agora. Lunch on the Köprüpazarı Stream near Aspendos Theater. Visit to ASPENDOS THEATER and the Historical Aqueducts. Shopping break where also the Turkish handcrafts are introduced. Introduction of free of Side and 1.5 hours time. Evening return back to hotel, Dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, Tour the ruins of Hierapolis including the magnificently preserved cemetery “Necropolis”, the Main Street and Gates, the Thermal Baths, the Roman Theatre and the Museum.
Overnight stay in Pamukkale.

Depart to tour Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite; visit the Museum, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Theatre, the Stadium, the Agora, the Hadrian Baths, the Odeon, and the Bishop’s Palace. Proceed to the hotel in Kusadasi for overnight stay.

Morning tour to Ephesus area with Ephesus Antique City, one of the most popular ancient sites of Turkey with many acres of carefully excavated ruins; Virgin Mary’s House, where St. Mary is supposed to spend her last years together with St. John. After the tour transfer to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. Overnight stay.

A full day tour with St. Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture constructed as a basilica in 536 by Emperor Justinian; Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its more than 20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet in the 17th century, one of the best examples of classical Turkish art; Hippodrome, the scene of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory celebrations, and political activities of the old city where one can also see today the “Obelisk of Theodosius” from Egypt, “Serpentine Column” from Delphi, the “German Fountain of Wilhelm II” and the “Colossus”. After lunch in the afternoon, proceed to Topkapi Palace built in 1468 by Mehmet the Conqueror, the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury, Chinese porcelains, weapons and calligraphy section. After the tour, Transfer to airport for flight to home.