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| The legacies of the Hittites, Greeks, Romans, Christian apostles, Byzantines, Ottoman Turks, & the other civilizations that have called this land home have made Turkey into a vast outdoor museum full of beautiful, intriguing sites. Highlights of Turkey's many treasures include the spectacular Byzantine churches & beautiful mosques of Istanbul; the ruins of the fabled city of Pergamum on its windswept hilltop; the holy city of Konya where Dervishes still whirl; the extraordinary landscape & cave dwellings of Cappadocia; the great theatre of ancient Ephesus; the magnificent beaches of the Aegean & Mediterranean with signs of ancient civilizations at every turn & so much more... | |||||||
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Introduction
Best of Turkey
Wonders
of Turkey
Fascinating Turkey
Anatolian Crossroads
Ancient Aegean
The Turquoise Coast
Grand Tour Turkey
Cradle of
Civilizations
Turkish
Delight
Gateway to Mesopotamia
Kusadasi
& Izmir Shore Trips
The Black Sea
The Odyssey
/ Turkey & Greece
Turkey, Jordan & Egypt
Istanbul to Damascus Tailor
Made |
Fascinating Turkey
Day 1 Istanbul Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative at the exit gate of arrivals to be accompanied to your hotel. On the way, driving along the 1700 year old ancient city walls will be a great photo opportunity. There will be time to relax & refresh before meeting your guide for an orientation walk around Sultanahmet. Day 2 Istanbul Breakfast at hotel, then meet your guide at the hotel lobby & short drive down to Eminonu to visit the Old Spice Bazaar with mystical scents of various herbs & spices. We then embark on a ferry for a cruise on the Bosphorus. During the cruise you will see old wooden villas, Rumeli Fortress, both bridges linking Asia & Europe, & much more. After lunch, continue on land to visit Camlica Hill for 360 degrees panoramic views over the city & driving back to Europe over the Bosphorus Bridge we visit Dolmabahce Palace, with more than 340 rooms & 8 Turkish Baths the Imperial Residence of the last 6 Sultans, is sure to fascinate its visitors. At the end of the tour, your guide will take you back to your hotel, evening at leisure & overnight in Istanbul. Day 3 Istanbul After breakfast at hotel, your guide will take you to visit some of Istanbul's most fascinating sights such as the Blue Mosque; unique with its 6 Minarets, St Sophia Museum; the jewel of Byzantine architecture in Istanbul, a 6th Century Church dedicated to Divine Wisdom. We walk around the Hippodrome where once chariot races & other activities took place during the Roman period. Lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the Grand Bazaar; world’s oldest & biggest covered bazaar with more than 4000 shops which are still in business today. Finally we visit Topkapi Palace; the home of the Ottoman Sultans & their families for over 4 centuries. At the end of the tour, your guide will take you back to your hotel. Then you will be transferred to the bus terminal to take the night bus to Cappadocia. Day 4 Cappadocia On your arrival to Cappadocia you will be met & transferred to your hotel. Our first day sightseeing will begin with a visit to Devrent Valley & a gentle hike Monk's valley (Pasabagi) where you will find the world known fairy chimneys. Break for lunch in Avanos & then continue on to the Goreme Open-Air Museum where you will visit the numerous rock carved churches & monasteries. Continue for a panoramic view of Esentepe & then on to Uchisar, a natural rock castle. At the end of the tour the guide will take you back to your hotel, evening at leisure & overnight in Cappadocia. Day 5 Cappadocia After breakfast at hotel, another full day tour this time to visit the famous Derinkuyu Underground City. Afterwards, a short hike through the Red Valley along the stream & visit some of the churches along the way. We stop in Belisirma for lunch & then on to Selime for a panoramic view. Stop at the Agzikarahan Caravanserai is included. At the end of the tour you will be transferred to the bus terminal & take a night bus to Olympos. Day 6 Antalya - Olympos Day at leisure in Olympos. You will be dropped off at Olympos village & check-in to your tree house. Just a short walk from your accommodation, the Olympos beach is situated in a picturesque bay in the shadow of Olympos Mountain. Opportunities abound for swimming, rock jumping, kayaking & hiking. Day 7 Olympos Day at leisure & walk tour to Chimera in the evening. After a lazy day in Olympos we drive to Ulupinar in the evening & begin our walk to Chimera, home of the legendary Homeric Dragon, which was killed by Bellerophontes & buried seven layers below the ground. The flames of the monster can still be seen. After the walk we return to Olympos for an overnight stay. Day 8 Antalya - Lake Egirdir Leaving Olympos & day bus to Lake Egirdir. After breakfast you will take the shuttle bus from the doorsteps of your tree house up to the main road bus stop, then bus to Egirdir via Antalya bus terminal. You will arrive Egirdir in the afternoon, be met on arrival to be transferred to your hotel, evening at leisure & overnight in Egirdir. Day 9 Lake Egirdir Kovada national park & King’s Road. Leave early in the morning with the local fishermen to pull in the morning catch. Besides experiencing a moment of how net fishing has been done for ages, you can enjoy the tranquility of the lake & take in a beautiful sunrise. Later in the morning depart for Kovada national park. Visit Sigirlik, an early period Roman castle before arriving at the river side for lunch stop. Next visit is the Candir canyon, a mountain gorge carved from marble with waterfalls, natural swimming pools, springs & historical sites. You can jump off from the top of the waterfalls or trek along the river to check out the ruins & the wild life. Return to Egirdir for an overnight stay. Day 10 Zindan Cave - Pamukkale Visit to Zindan Cave before leaving Egirdir. The cave was formed during the third geological period. There are beautiful stalactites & stalagmites inside. The cave was used as a temple dedicated to Eurymedon. During the late Roman & early Byzantine times this place was used as a shelter. Return to Egirdir to take the bus to Pamukkale. You will arrive Pamukkale in the late afternoon, be met on arrival to be transferred to your hotel, evening at leisure & overnight in Pamukkale. Day 11 Pamukkale & Hierapolis - Kusadasi Breakfast at hotel, & then meet your guide at the hotel to start Pamukkale Tour. As we approach Pamukkale it looks like a glacier is spilling down the slopes. The name translates to Cotton Castle. In truth these are glistening white travertine terraces formed over millennial by mineral deposits as water flowed out of natural springs. The water is credited with healing powers. It is alleged that Cleopatra swam in one of the pools that is open to the public. Nearby are the ruins of the Roman resort, Hierapolis, & a large necropolis. At the end of the tour your guide will take you back to your hotel to pick up your luggage & continue west to Kusadasi where you will be met on your arrival & transferred to your hotel for overnight stay. Day 12 Ephesus Breakfast at hotel, & then meet your guide at the hotel to start the tour of Ephesus, one of the best preserved Greco-Roman Cities in the world. Depart for the House of Virgin Mary where she is said to have spent the last of her days. After lunch in a local restaurant, the tour also includes a visit the remains of Artemis Temple & if time allows a visit to the old Greek Village of Sirince. At the end of the tour you will be transferred to the bus terminal & take the bus or flight to your next destination or ferry to to Samos-Greece. Note: This is an excellent itinerary for connecting to Greece. Clients can embark a cruise, catch a flight to Athens, or take a ferry to Samos. With private or regular departures the itinerary can be vice versa starting from Kusadasi ending in Istanbul. Day 13 Istanbul After check-out from your hotel, we will arrange your transfer to Istanbul International Airport for your return or onward flight. |
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