TURKEY TOURS | Guided Istanbul Tour

HIGHLIGHTS OF TURKEY TOUR

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Day 1: On arrival in Istanbul, you are met and transferred to your hotel in the old city. The balance of the day is at leisure. Accommodation in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul Old City: You are going to meet with your guide at 09.00 am at your hotel. The tour starts at the Hippodrome, a center for sport activities and ceremonies and it is also famous for the chariot races during the Roman and the Byzantine era. After the Hippodrome we will visit Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque is the second largest mosque in Istanbul and it was built during the Ottoman Period. It is known for its blue Iznik tiles and being the only Ottoman mosque with 6 minarets. Then we will visit Topkapi Palace, which was the main palace of the Ottoman Sultans until 1856. Many famous exhibitions are housed in the palace. After here we will have a lunch break and continue to Hagia Sophia, one of the most important buildings in the history of world architecture. Built as a church by the Byzantines and decorated with mosaic tile icons, it then served as a mosque during the Ottoman era. You will definitely be impressed by being in a 1500 years old building. The tour ends with a visit to the Grand Bazaar. It is the largest bazaar in the world with its 52 small streets and more than 4000 shops. Accommodation in Istanbul. Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Istanbul On Food – Cappadocia: The tour will start when you are picked up from your hotel and begin with a walk around the Spice market. Where you will have a chance to see where locals have been buying their spices for hundreds of years. We will then walk from Galata bridge to Karakoy where we have our Turkish breakfast which includes Turkish menemen, sucuklu omlet, kaymak and honey. Then we will catch a metro up to Pera and walk along the famous Istiklal street. We will make a tea stop and you will have the chance to learn how to play backgammon. In the afternoon we will catch a ferry to from the European side of Istanbul to the Asian side to Kadikoy where you are going to taste Mersin's tantuni or if you are feeling adventurous maybe be have liver wrap. We will continue to the fish market where you can sample stuffed or fried mussels as well as pickles. Turkish people love their pickles and we will visit a shop that only sells pickles. After the tour you will transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Kayseri. On arrival you are met and transferred to your cave hotel in Cappadocia. Accommodation in Cappadocia. Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Cappadocia: After breakfast at your hotel, you depart on a scheduled tour of the region, joining others for this excursion or private tour. Tour Start from Devrent Valley (Imagination Valley), spectacular fairy chimneys and beautiful land scapes. After Devrent valley, we will visit Pasabag (known as monk valley ) where double and triple headed rock formation. Lunch at Avanos, famous for pottery and Red river (Kızılırmak). After lunch, you will visit Goreme open air museum which heart of Cappadocia. Goreme open air museum famous for wall painting, dates back to 10th century describing the life of Jesus Christ and monks. The last stop will be Uchisar castle, natural and one of the biggest mass fairy chimney of the region. Accommodation in Cappadocia. Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 5: Cappadocia: Today you depart on a scheduled tour of the region. You head first to the marvelous underground city at Kaymakli. There are 36 such cities in Cappadocia and Kaymakli is one of the largest. It is estimated that it may have accommodated up to 3500 people and parts of it are extremely old. On the first floor is a stable, church and living area. The second floor contains another church with a nave and two apses. Located in front of the apse is a baptismal font, and on the sides along the walls are seating platforms. The church level also contains some living spaces. The third floor contains the most important areas of the underground compound: storage places, wine or oil presses, and kitchens. After lunch in a local restaurant you drive to Rose Valley, where you enjoy a two-hour walk visiting churches along the way and seeing some classic fairy chimneys. Your final stop is at the picturesque Christan village of Cavusin, one of the oldest settlements in the area. You return to your hotel for the night. Accommodation in Cappadocia. Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 6: Cappadocia – Ephesus: After breakfast your time is at leisure until your transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Izmir. On arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi. Accommodation in Kusadasi. Meals: Breakfast.

Day 7: Ephesus - Istanbul: After breakfast, Your private guide will come to your hotel some time after 08.30 and later you set off to visit Ephesus. This was one of the great cities of antiquity and you begin at the remains of the fabled Temple of Artemis. You continue to the Odeon, before walking along the Curates Way to Hadrian’s Temple and the splendid Library of Celsius. As you walk along the Sacred Way to the Agora, you pass baths and the Great Theatre. You then head to nearby Seljuk for lunch and in the afternoon you drive up to House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her final year. After the tour you will transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Istanbul. On arrival you are met and transferred to your your hotel in Istanbul. Accommodation in Istanbul. Meals: breakfast and lunch

Day 8: Istanbul: Your tour ends today. Room checkout time is generally around 11.30 am. At around …. you will be transferred to the airport. Meals: Breakfast

For more information: and costs E-mail us info@guidedistanbultour.com

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YOUR TOUR INCLUDES

Arrival and departure transfers

Bed & breakfast accommodation.

Private and Scheduled tours

All entrance fees

All transportation

Meals as indicated

NOT INCLUDED

Flight Istanbul-Cappadocia-Ephesus--Istanbul (between €75 & €110 Euros per flight per person

Additional meals

Drinks

Items of a personal nature

Tipping

info@guidedistanbultour.com

WESTERN TURKEY TOUR

Day 1: Istanbul

On arrival in Istanbul, you are met and transferred to your hotel in the old city. The balance of the day is at leisure. Accommodation in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul Old City: You are going to meet with your guide at 09.00 am at your hotel. The tour starts at the Hippodrome, a center for sport activities and ceremonies and it is also famous for the chariot races during the Roman and the Byzantine era. After the Hippodrome we will visit Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque is the second largest mosque in Istanbul and it was built during the Ottoman Period. It is known for its blue Iznik tiles and being the only Ottoman mosque with 6 minarets. Then we will visit Topkapi Palace, which was the main palace of the Ottoman Sultans untill 1856. Many famous exhibitions are housed in the palace. After here we will have a lunch break and continue to Hagia Sophia, one of the most important buildings in the history of world architecture. Built as a church by the Byzantines and decorated with mosaic tile icons, it then served as a mosque during the Ottoman era. You will definitely be impressed by being in a 1500 years old museum. The tour ends with a visit to the Grand Bazaar. It is the largest bazaar in the world with its 52 small streets and more than 4000 shops. Accommodation in Istanbul. Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Istanbul - Gallipoli: Depart from Istanbul with an early morning bus to Gallipoli. Upon your arrival you are going to visit the sights at Gallipoli Battlefield; including Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, The Nek and Chunk Bair. Accommodation in Canakkale. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 4: Gallipoli - Troy - Pergamum: After breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel by your guide for the morning tour of Troy. You are going to visit the ancient city of Troy and learn about the Greek Mythology. Then departure for Pergamum to visit the famed library, the terrace of the spectacularly sited hillside theater, the main palace, the Altar of Zeus & the propylaeum of the Temple of Athena. In the early Christian era, Pergamum's church was a major center of Christianity and was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. After the tour we will drive to Kusadasi. Accommodation in Kusadasi. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 5: Ephesus: After breakfast, Your private guide will come to your hotel some time after 08.30 and later you set off to visit Ephesus. This was one of the great cities of antiquity and you begin at the remains of the fabled Temple of Artemis. You continue to the Odeon, before walking along the Curetes Way to Hadrian’s Temple and the splendid Library of Celsus. As you walk along the Sacred Way to the Agora, you pass baths and the Great Theatre. You then head to nearby Seljuk for lunch and in the afternoon you drive up to House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her final year. Accommodation in Kusadasi. Meals: breakfast & Lunch

Day 6: Pamukkale: You leave Kusadasi this morning and take the local bus to Pamukkale. The journey takes about three hours and there are opportunities to stop for a rest, or a cup of coffee, along the way. On arrival you are taken to your hotel in the centre of town and after time for lunch you visit the celebrated hot springs and travertine waterfalls. From the edge of every terrace in this fascinating natural phenomenon hang brilliantly white stalactites - and you can hear the waters of the hot springs as they cascade down over slopes where their flow is impeded only by clumps of oleanders. The temperature of the water forming the travertines, which issues from these hot springs on the hills above, drops to around 33°C lower down. On coming to the surface, the solution of calcium-carbonate in the spring water decomposes into carbon dioxide, calcium carbonate and water. The carbon dioxide is released into the air while the calcium carbonate separates off from the water to form a grey-white limestone sediment. The beds of the watercourses are filled up with these limestone deposits and the water, confronted with these obstacles, splits up into several branches. The water flows over the slopes into pools, the small basins surrounding them and finally into the fields below. It is in this way that these terraces, over 100 meters in height, and composed of layers of accumulated limestone sediment, have been gradually formed over many centuries. After your visit head back to your hotel for the night. Accommodation in Pamukalle. Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Pamukkale – Antalya: You are taken to the bus station for the journey to Antalya. The trip takes about 5-6 hours and you should arrive in the early afternoon. There are regular stops along the way for drinks and food. The exact time of your bus will be confirmed to you when you arrive in Istanbul. Once in Antalya you are met and taken to your hotel. Accommodation in Antalya. Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: PERGE, ASPENDOS, SIDE : You will be collected from your hotel between 0800-0830 for a full day scheduled tour to Perge, Aspendos and Side. At Perge see the old Roman baths, the Agora and Colonnaded Street and then drive east to Aspendos, noted for its splendid Roman Amphitheatre. You stop here for lunch at a restaurant on the river and then continue your tour, reaching the old port town of Side (see-day), where you have an hour or so to explore on your own. You can see remnants of the old town, including the great Vespasian Gate, the temples of Apollo and Athena and the small Side Museum. At around 1800 you arrive back in Antalya, with the evening at leisure. Accommodation in Antalya. Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Antalya – Fethiye : You are taken to the bus station for the journey to Fethiye. Upon arrival you will be met & transfer to your hotel. Accommodation in Fethiye. Meals: Breakfast.

Day 10: Fethiye: Free day at your leisure at your leisure in Fethiye. Accommodation in Fethiye. Meals: Breakfast.

Day 11: Fethiye: Free day at your leisure at your leisure in Fethiye. Accommodation in Fethiye. Meals: Breakfast.

Day 12: Fethiye – Istanbul: Bus to Dalaman airport for your afternoon flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival to Istanbul airport you are met & transfer to your hotel. Accommodation in Istanbul. Meals: Breakfast.

Day 13: Istanbul : Your tour ends today. Room checkout time is generally around 12.00am. At around …. you will be transferred to the airport. Meals: Breakfast

The tour is flexible and can be extended/shortened upon request.

For more information and costs E-mail us info@guidedistanbultour.com