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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 |
Istanbul to Damascus
Day 1 Istanbul Arrival Arrival to Istanbul Airport & meet for transfer on to the hotel. Rest of the day is then at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul. Day 2 Istanbul After breakfast, a visit to Topkapi Palace, the main residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Then ancient Hippodrome, once the sporting ground of chariots & political riots. After a lunch break, visit Hagia Sophia Museum, once the largest church in the world for 1000 years. Then visit the Blue Mosque, designed with 6 delicate minarets & a striking blue Iznik tiled interior. Overnight in Istanbul. Day 3 Istanbul We head to explore the bustling Egyptian Spice Market of 17th century origin. Next we take a ferry up Istanbul's winding Bosphorus strait. After a lunch break back on shore, we will visit the Dolmabahce Palace, the 19th century lavish Ottoman residence on the Bosphorus. Some free time at the picturesque fishermen's village of Ortakoy before returning back to hotel. Day 4 Istanbul - Cappadocia Early morning flight from Istanbul Ataturk airport to Kayseri. Arrival & transfer to Goreme. After check in & relaxation, we will begin to explore with Devrent Valley. Next, visit Pasabag also known as Monk's Valley, followed by a short drive to Avanos, famous for its clay pottery. After a lunch break there, we then proceed to Goreme Open Air Museum, featuring the most impressive of all rock carved churches in Cappadocia. Overnight in Goreme. Day 5 Cappadocia After breakfast we start our day with a gentle hike in Red Valley, through orchards & vineyards, fairy chimneys & rock-carved houses. After a short drive we then visit Derinkuyu Underground City where an entire community of Christians lived in a system of subterranean caves & tunnels. Afterwards a short hike through the green Ihlara Valley along the stream. Stop in Belisirma village for lunch & then on to Selime for a panoramic view. Day 6 Cappadocia - Ephesus - Kusadasi Transfer to Kayseri Airport for Izmir flight. Transfer to hotel. Today we visit the Ancient City of Ephesus which is among the best places in the world enabling one to genuinely 'soak in' the atmosphere of Roman times. After lunch, we depart to visit the House of Virgin Mary where she is said to be brought here by St. John & have spent the last of her days. The tour also includes a visit to the remains of Artemis Temple. Overnight in Kusadasi. Day 7 Pamukkale - Istanbul After breakfast, hotel check out & we will drive to Pamukkale. Pamukkale or "Cotton Castle", is famous for its white lime cascades rise over 300 feet above the ground, with hot, mineral-enriched waters flowing down through the pools & rock formations. Nearby is the ancient Roman health spa of Hierapolis, famous for its hot baths, theater, agora & remarkable necropolis. After Pamukkale, you will be transferred to Izmir Airport for Istanbul flight. Overnight in Istanbul. Day 8 Istanbul - Damascus (Syria) Transfer to Ataturk airport, afternoon flight to Damascus. On arrival transfer to your hotel with evening at leisure. Overnight in Damascus. Day 9 Damascus Damascus is splendid city of a glorious past. Explore the national museum, the folklore museum, the tomb of Saladin & the straight street of Damascus are to be visited before lunch. This afternoon is an easy visit to the Christian quarter where St. Ananias saw the vision of God who ordered him to cure St. Paul out of his blindness. Free time to do shopping in the souq of Hamdieh. At the end of the day we drive over Qasioun Mountain to overlook Damascus. Back to the hotel for overnight stay. Day 10 Palymra - Damascus Today continue your drive through the famous Syrian Desert to Palmyra, the city of a thousand column. We explore the temple of god Bel, the museum, the viarecta, the tombs, the theater, the Agora, the monumental arch, Zanobia bath & Diocletian camp. Lunch to be included in a local restaurant. Driving back to Damascus for overnight stay. Day 11 Damascus - Bosra We depart Damascus southward to visit Bosra, one of the ten prominent Roman cities. We start the visit at the Roman gate of the wind & we walk to the underground market, the lantern gate, the Islamic castle, the Roman theater, the water reservoir, the Nabatean gate, the Byzantine cathedral & the church of the nostorian monk Bahira who met Prophet Mohammed & predicated his prophetic mission. Transfer to Damascus & overnight. Day 12 Damascus Departure Check out from hotel & transfer to Airport for homebound flight. |
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