Jan
min : 2°C
max : 7°C
We Love —
- Set off for a fascinating tour of Turkey - the land where east meets west. Start in Istanbul for a city experience before heading to Cappadocia to witness some incredible rock formations.
- Visit the picture-perfect Pamukkale and historic Izmir on this unique private tour, enabling you to absorb the essence of the country with the aid of your guide.
- Stay in hand-picked hotels along the way and enjoy the ease of included flights and transfers!
Your Destinations —
Istanbul
Situated on the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul has attracted many a marauding army in its time and has been a bridge between Asia and Europe both physically and culturally for centuries. As the final stage on the legendary Silk Route, the cultural diversity of Istanbul is tangible to this day.
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Istanbul’s Old City and marvel over some of its most incredible structures, including the Blue Mosque, or Sultan Ahmed Mosque, named because of the blue tiles that dominate the interior walls. Discover the Topkapi Palace, the largest and oldest palace in the world.
Watch the captivating layers of history unfold before you in the vibrant city of Istanbul and find yourself enamoured with its vivid culture.
Cappadocia
The village of Goreme itself is at the heart of the area's tourist industry, and many of its villagers still live in cave dwellings, some of which have been converted into pensions and boutique hotels. Surrounding the area are the amazing rock formations known evocatively as Peri Bacalari or 'Fairy Chimneys'. Located on the west of Nigde, the stunning Ihlara Vadisi, a gorge which is 10 km long and some 80 meters wide. Popular for trekking, about 12 of its 60 churches are open to the public including the impressive Egritas Church. There are hundreds of underground cities in the region. Two of the most impressive is Kaymakli, which has 8 levels, and Derinkuyu, which reaches down to 55 metres. They were used by Christians fleeing persecution in the 7th century, who created a self-sufficient environment underground including bedrooms. Kitchens and storage rooms. To get away from the crowds visit the picturesque Soganli Valley, with its many houses, tombs and churches, displaying excellent examples of Byzantine paintings.
Your Itinerary In Brief —
Day 1: UK - Istanbul
Day 2: Istanbul
Day 3: Istanbul
Day 4: Istanbul to Ankara
Day 5: Ankara to Cappadocia
Day 6: Cappadocia
Day 7: Cappadocia - Pamukkale
Day 8: Pamukkale – Kusadası or Izmir
Day 9: Kusadası -IZMIR or Kuşadası
Day 10: Izmir - Return
You can add 1 extra night in Izmir or Kusadasi, 1 night in Istanbul or 1 night in Cappadocia at the next stage.
Your Itinerary —
Day 1: UK - Istanbul
Flight to Istanbul. On arrival, you will be welcomed by your guide. Transfer to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Istanbul
You will be driven by the shores of the Golden Horn, to reach the first stop of the day: The St. Saviour in Chora, a former Byzantine church, a magnificent museum of golden mosaics and frescoes with biblical images, then visit the Mosque of Soliman the Magnificent, one of the best works of the famous Ottoman architect, Sinan. After the lunch, indulge yourself at the Spice Market with its exotic aromas then walk through the pulsating streets of Beyoğlu district from ‘Tunnel’ area to Taksim square, discovering, fish market, flower passage, catholic, Greek and Armenian churches, markets and coffeehouses. Overnight at the hotel.
You will start your journey with a discovery of Istanbul's historical heart. You will first visit The Topkapı Palace, the court and the residence of Ottoman Sultans, and home to the imperial treasury, then visit the Hagia Sophia ‘The Church of Holy Wisdom’, the marvelous basilica built in the 6th century, as the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It was the largest church in the world for 1000 years; and its interiors are decorated with stunning golden mosaics. After the lunch you will visit the Blue Mosque, with six elegant minarets and a striking indoor with blue Iznik tiles and intricate patterns. You will then take a take a stroll through the ancient Hippodrome, significant for being the center for sports and entertainment in the old Constantinople as well as very important political spot. The last visit of the day will be the visit the Basilica Cistern, impressive underground water reservoir from 6th century.
İn the morning you will visit the Grand Bazaar, the largest and most attractive covered bazaar in the world then you will do a boat tour along the European and Asiatic shores of Bosphorus. You will just relax and let the beauty of forests,
palaces, mosques, picturesque Bosphorus villages, Ottoman summer mansions, fortresses carry you away. After the lunch, you will depart for Ankara, the modern capital of Turkey. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Ankara to Cappadocia
Departure in the morning and visit to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum at which numerous remnants from Stone Age, Neolithic Age, Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians and many others are on display; and then you will visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the national hero who founded modern Republic of Turkey. After the lunch, drive through Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
You will have a full day for discovering the beautiful landscapes and thrilling cultural sites of the region. Cappadocia has a unique terra formation, with tuff coned and lunar landscape shaped by forces of nature over millions of years. For ages, men have dug into this soft, but firm tuff to create dwellings, homes (locals call them 'fairy chimneys', monasteries, churches and underground cities.
The first visit in Cappadocia visit will be the Göreme Valley which is home to magnificent rock-hewn churches decorated with Byzantine frescoes (The apple Church, The Serpent Church, The St. Barbara Church, The St. Basil Church...). After the lunch, you’ll stop at Uçhisar Village that provides some of the most dramatic panoramas of the astonishing Cappadocia. We will finish the day with a visit of an underground City. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Cappadocia - Pamukkale
After the breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for Konya city, the capital of the Seljuk Turks. Visit the Caravanserai of Sultanhani. After the lunch in Konya, we visit the Monastery of the Whirling Dervishes and the shrine of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the founder of the order. Sufi is an exceptional poet and humanist, who preached humility, wisdom and love. His philosophy is best summarized in these verses he wrote, "Come, as you are, whoever you are". His tomb has been converted into a museum which houses relics that belonged to him and his disciples. Drive to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight at a SPA hotel in Pamukkale.
After the breakfast, visit the famous Pamukkale, popularly known as the ‘Cotton Castle’, the dazzling formation of white calcium cascades formed by mineral springs and the ruins of Roman health spa of Hierapolis. Drive through the ancient site of Ephesus, the holy city of Artemis, the Roman capital of Asia Minor, and one of the most attractive archaeological sites in the world. You will see the Odeon, the Hadrian Temple, the Celcius Library, Fountain of Trajan, brothel, latrines, baths, Curetes and Marble streets and we’ll sit in the same immense Theatre where St. Paul preached and roman dramas were performed. Lunch then you will visit the House of St. Mary. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
After the breakfast departure for a visit to Sirince Village. Known throughout Turkey for wine tasting and production, it’s mountainside location is perfect for seeing natural Turkey and all through the village are shops where you can put your wine tasting skills to the test.
Sirince Village was formed when people were fleeing Ephesus. They settled in the mountains and named the village Cirkince which translated into ugly. The reasoning for this was to keep outsiders from getting curious and coming into the village. The name was eventually changed to Sirince, which means pretty. Greeks settled in the village at one stage and this is clear in the styling of the houses. In 1924 there was an exchange of the Greek and
Turkish population. After these visits, you will continue to Izmir, known in Turkish as ‘Beautiful İzmir’ that lies at the head of a long and narrow gulf furrowed by ships and yachts. As the third-largest city in Turkey, Izmir offers many visits such as the spacious Konak Square, with a 1901 clock tower as its central feature, is the spiritual heart of the city and, arguably, of modern Turkey – the fight for independence after partition in the wake of the First World War began here.
From the square, it’s a short stroll to the cafe-lined seaside promenade, the Kordon, and the customs house on Konak Pier built by Gustave Eiffel and restored as a chic shopping center.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Izmir - Return
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Izmir International Airport for your return flight home.
You can add an additional night in Istanbul, Izmir or at a cave hotel in Cappadocia when booking your trip.
Your Hotels —
You will be staying at the following hotels (or similar) in a Twin Room with meals as per the itinerary.
Hotel Perissia 5*
Hotel Crystal Kaymakli 5*
Hotel Suhan 5*
Yunak Evleri̇
Pamukkale:
Hotel Lycus River 5*
Hotel Pam Thermal 5*
Kusadasi:
Hotel Charisma
Hotel Korumar
Izmir:
Hotel Hilton 5*
Hotel Mövenpick 5*
Hotel Ramada Plaza 5*
Hotel Kaya Thermal 5*
Sleeps up to
3 Adults
or
2 Adults
+ 1 Child
Please note: the bed for the 3rd guest sharing is likely to be a sofa bed or camp style bed. If any of these hotels are not available, hotels of a similar standard will be found.
Your Journey —
Flights: The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Transfers: Shared transfers are included throughout this tour.
