Pearls of Turkey
From 1.685 £
8 Days
High
On sale
A country between two continents, multicultural richness and a turbulent past are the keys that define the character and identity of today's Turkey. Cosmopolitan and eclectic Istanbul is a magical city where simply getting lost among its streets, bazaars and cafes is an experience that few forget
Information about
Pearls of Turkey
A country between two continents, multicultural richness and a turbulent past are the keys that define the character and identity of today's Turkey.
Cosmopolitan and eclectic Istanbul is a magical city where simply getting lost among its streets, bazaars and cafes is an experience that few forget. With this tour you will be able to enjoy the city and visit the most significant places, letting it tell its own story. You will be able to admire the rich cultural heritage of the country, with impressive buildings such as the Hagia Sophia Basilica or the Blue Mosque, and soak up the local spirit while visiting the Grand Bazaar or the Topkapi Palace.
The trip continues in Ankara, and Cappadocia where you will visit the essential sites: the Derben valley, the Goreme open-air museum-valley or the subway city of Kaymakli. We will continue to know another of the essential places in Turkey: Pamukkale and its natural pools of thermal waters and petrified waterfalls.
Finally, we will move to Ephesus, ancient city dedicated to Artemis, where we can visit curious places like the House of the Virgin and also leather production workshops.
Cosmopolitan and eclectic Istanbul is a magical city where simply getting lost among its streets, bazaars and cafes is an experience that few forget. With this tour you will be able to enjoy the city and visit the most significant places, letting it tell its own story. You will be able to admire the rich cultural heritage of the country, with impressive buildings such as the Hagia Sophia Basilica or the Blue Mosque, and soak up the local spirit while visiting the Grand Bazaar or the Topkapi Palace.
The trip continues in Ankara, and Cappadocia where you will visit the essential sites: the Derben valley, the Goreme open-air museum-valley or the subway city of Kaymakli. We will continue to know another of the essential places in Turkey: Pamukkale and its natural pools of thermal waters and petrified waterfalls.
Finally, we will move to Ephesus, ancient city dedicated to Artemis, where we can visit curious places like the House of the Virgin and also leather production workshops.
The trip includes
Assistance at the airport by our representative and transfers airport-hotels-airport included.
7 nights accommodation in hotels according to the reserved category.
All visits indicated in the itinerary, with a local English-speaking guide and tickets included.
Daily breakfast, 1 lunch and 5 dinners in local restaurants (drinks not included).
All transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle.
Bed tax, Government fees, Service Charge, fuel and management fees.
Travel insurance with healthcare coverage worldwide from the date of departure to the date of arrival.
Itinerary
1
Arrival in Istanbul
Meet & Greet at the airport.
Departure to Istanbul.
Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Hotel accommodation.
Day 1
2
Day 2
Istanbul - Bosphorus + Sultanahmet Tour
Departure for the visit of the Egyptian Bazaar (spice market) and then boat trip on the Bosphorus, the strait that separates Europe from Asia, where we can enjoy the great beauty of Istanbul's forests, its palaces and the yalı - wooden palaces built on both banks.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit of the Sultanahmet district, where we will see the Roman Hippodrome Square, the Blue Mosque -unique among all Ottoman mosques for having 6 minarets- and the splendid 6th century Hagia Sophia Basilica.
3
Day 3
Istanbul - Ankara
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure from the hotel to visit Topkapi Palace (harem section entrance free is not included ) the house of the ottoman sultans. Free time at Grand Bazaar (closed during the first day of the religious holidays).
In the afternoon (+/- 13:00) departure from the hotel to Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Arrival to Ankara in early evening.
Dinner & overnight at the hotel.
4
Day 4
Ankara - Cappadocia
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit Anatolian Civilizations Museum where you will see the Neolithic & Paleolithic ruins from Urartu , Hatti, Hittite, Phrygia civilizations, then proceed to Mausoleum of Ataturk , the founder of Turkish Republic.
Departure by bus to Cappadocia (about 290 km). On the way, we will stop to visit one of the subway cities built by Christian communities to protect themselves from Arab attacks. The subway city we will visit preserves the stables, common rooms, meeting rooms and small rooms for families.
Arrival in Cappadocia, dinner at the hotel and overnight.
5
Day 5
Cappadocia
Optional Hot Air Balloon Tour.
In the early morning departure from your hotel . a chance to live this unique experience, an overlooking to Cappadocia from the sky , see the beauty of the region the rock formations, fairy chimneys, natural formations, lunar landscapes. Breakfast at the hotel. Full day visit at Cappadocia: visit Göreme Open Air Museum - a UNESCO Heritage site , a fantastic region with it’s cave churches located on the valley. Then proceed to Uchisar Village and then spectacular fairy chimneys. Visit Derbent Valley with and explore the natural rock formations and get a chance to attend the workshops of carpets and onyx-stones. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.6
Day 6
Cappadocia - Pamukkale
Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to Pamukkale. En route visit Sultanhan Caravansarai that was built during Seljuk Empire and used long years as a stop over for the travellers and merchants. Continue to Pamukkale and visit to Cotton Steps – a UNESCO heritage site that has been believed to have healing thermal water.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
7
Day 7
Pamukkale - Ephesus - Izmir
Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to Selcuk – Ephesus. Visit the Ephesus Ruins – the city that was dedicated to Artemis I the Odeon, Temple of Hadrian, the House of Love, the Library of Celsus, the Agora.
Then proceed for Virgin Mary House - has been believed it is the final resting place of the mother of Jesus. Then stop at Leather Production Store and proceed for Izmir.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
8
Day 8
Izmir - Istanbul (departure)
Breakfast at the hotel (flight and airport transfer schedule permitting) and transfer to the airport.
