Turkey Tour Package

Day 01: ISTANBUL (D) Arrival in Istanbul  
Upon arrival in the legendary city of Istanbul, you are met by our representative with a friendly "Merhaba" (hello) and escorted to your hotel. Relax, unwind and prepare for the cultural adventure through time ahead. During dinner get acquainted with the other members of your group. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02: Istanbul (BLD)
A full day tour to explore Istanbul, a fascinating city which was the capital of the Roman and Byzantine Empires, and in 1453, became the third and last Capital of the Ottomans, starting by a morning cruise on the Bosporus. Glide past the minarets and palaces, stone fortresses and wooden Ottoman mansions of the only city in the world that bridges Europe and Asia. After lunch, visit the magnificent Haghia Sophia, originally the largest church in the Christian world, it was converted into a mosque in 1453 by Mehmet II and under Atatürk, it became a museum and is a living testament to the beauty of Christianity and Islam that adorn the interior. Then, add spice to your life back home by bartering at the Spice Market. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
 
Day 03: Istanbul - Ankara (BLD) (274 KMS)
Early wake up and morning drive to the capital of modern Turkey. After lunch, visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations housed in the beautifully restored 15th century "bedesten" (covered bazaar). The museum displays rich and unique collections of Anatolian civilizations, such as treasures of the Hittite Empire. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 04: Ankara - Cappadocia (BLD) (170 KMS)
Enjoy the scenic drive along Salt Lake to Cappadocia. Discover the unusual landscape with fairy chimneys twisting valleys and table mountains. See the natural rock citadel of Uchisar, reflecting a variety of colors through the day on its eroded, malleable tuff body. Visit Soganli village and valley, explore early rock carved churches, see typical Cappadocia houses and barter at the local handicraft market. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
 
Day 05: Cappadocia (BLD)
A full day tour to explore the rugged beauty of this fantastic region. The winding landscape is decorated at every twist and turn with a maze of cones, slopes and fairy chimneys, products of centuries of wind and rain. Visit the the Göreme Valley. Now an open-air museum, Goreme's churches were carved into the stone between the 7th-13th centuries and are decorated with frescoes that provide a record of early Christianity. Some of the churches you may see include the Church of St Barbara, the Church of the Serpent, the Church of the Sandal and the Church of the Apple. Stroll through the underground galleries of Ozkonak where the first Christians hid themselves from rivals for months at a time undetected, take a walk in Avcilar, Pasabagi and the red valley of Derbent where you will admire the chimney like volcanic formations. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 06: Cappadocia - Kayseri - Istanbul (BLD)
In the morning, transfer to Kayseri airport for a flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon free time. Lunch & dinner are free. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07: Istanbul (BLD)
Today, visit the Blue Mosque, renowned for its six minarets. Built between 1609 and 1616 for Sultan Ahmet I, it is the beautiful 21,043 Iznik tiles dominant shade of blue that give the mosque its name. Next discover the Hippodrome where political, cultural, and sports activities took place during Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman times. After lunch, explore Topkapi Palace, the opulent residence of the Ottoman sultans overlooking the Bosphorus between the end of the 15th and the first half of the 19th centuries. You will discover why it is renowned for its treasures. In the late afternoon, make the most of your free time wandering through the labyrinth tunnels of one of the oldest covered market places in the world, the Grand Bazaar. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
 
Day 08: Istanbul (B) Departure  
Transfer to airport.