Crossroad Anatolia İstanbul- Cappadocia - Konya - Antalya - Pamukkale - Ephesus (11 days )

Itinerary


İstanbul- Cappadocia - Konya - Antalya - Pamukkale - Ephesus (11 days )

Istanbul

Arrive in Istanbul a huge metropolis connecting continents, cultures, religions and one of the greatest business and cultural center of the region.

The old city of Istanbul is decorated with parks and gardens. Amongst hundreds of fascinating sights, the main attractions include Topkapi, the sumptuous palace of the Ottoman sultans overlooking the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus; the delicately decorated Blue Mosque, the only mosque in the world with six minarets; the vast dome of Aya Sophia, built in 536 as a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a museum and, underground, the Yerebatan Sarayi, a vast Byzantine cistern supported by 336 Corinthian columns. Nearby, the commercial heart of the city, the Grand Bazaar, is still a captivating sight for shoppers and window-shoppers alike, while further along the narrow inlet of the Golden Horn.


Day 1: Day at leisure.

Arrive in the legendary city of Istanbul, you are met by your representative with a friendly "Merhaba" (hello) and escorted to your hotel.


Day 2 Ottoman & Byzantic

08:30 pick up from your hotel to visit Enjoy a full-day Ottoman & Byzantic tour of Istanbul, including the Blue Mosque, the Basilica of St. Sophia, the Covered Bazaar, the world's largest covered market featuring over 58 streets and more than 4000 shops, and the Topkapi Palace, whose Treasury Rooms house 700 years worth of priceless Endurun Treasure, making for the largest national trove in the world. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure in the "Capital of the Greatest Empires".End tour 17:00 Overnight in hotel.





Day 3 - Bosphorus Cruise & Two Continents

08:30 pick up from your hotel to visit Spice Market and followed by a boat cruise through the Bosphorus, the strait dividing the European and Asian continents, Following lunch break in the afternoon, visit the luxuriously opulent Dolmabahce Palace, the last residence of the sultans. A drive to the Asian part of Istanbul crossing the Intercontinental Bosphorus bridge to visit Camlica Hill The highest point where you can overlook Istanbul and take nice pictures. End Tour 17:00, transfer back to hotel.

Overnight bus to Cappadocia with non smoking fully air-conditioned at 21:30 (duration 10 hours).



Day 4 - North Cappadocia Tour

A full day to tour the riches of this incredible "moonscape" of Cappadocia including the Goreme open-air Museum, with its dozens of painted cave-churches. The surrealistic geological formation of Cappadocia is one of the wonders of the world. It is the result of the natural forces during the intense volcanic activity. Then we will continue to the pottery making village of Avanos where you will watch clay turning into a form of artwork. Later on visit a traditional Turkish hand-made carpet workshop. Overnight in Goreme



Day 5 - South Cappadocia Tour

09:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of South CappadociaToday we visit the Kaymakli Underground City, a place early Christians hid from persecutors. Another highlight of the day will be the Soganli Village, a remote community famous for dolls and housing many rock churches. We will have our lunch at the village and spend some time with the locals. You may ride a donkey on the narrow streets of the village or may experience a traditional wedding ceremony if there is one on that day. After tour bus to Konya with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 20:00 (duration 4 hours). Overnight at a hotel in the center of Konya.


Day 6: Konya

Konya, stopping en route at a 12th century Caravanserai. Konya is the first capital of the Selcuks, the oldest Turkish Empire in Anatolia. It is also known for being the homeland of Rumi, a 13th century poet-philosopher and one of the earliest humanists. The ambiance of the city has not changed much for the past 800 years. Rumi and his philosophy will be the topic of our morning lecture. We'll then visit the Mevlana Museum, which is dedicated to him.

Next the most scenic drive of our trip -- five hours to Antalya. You will be able to see how the flora changes as we drive over the grand Taurus Mountains. Poised between these jagged mountains and the shimmering sea, Antalya is the principal city on Turkey's central Mediterranean coast. In this beautiful city we will stay at a 200-year-old stone house that has been renovated as a pension. You'll be "on your own" for dinner.






Day 7 Perge-Aspendos

Antalya, first a Pamphylian, and later a Roman city. This morning visit the Antalya Regional Archaeological Museum and an orientation tour of the city. Delve further into history in the ancient city ruins of Perge, built in 1,000 B.C. by Greeks from Northern Anatolia, a region of Turkey also known as Asia Minor. The city thrived under Roman rule during the second-century B.C., from which most of the ruins date. The theater at Aspendos has a capacity of 15,000 people and is the best preserved in the Mediterranean Basin. Overnight in Antalya



Day 8 Antalya-Pamukkale

Weather permitting; we will take a five-hour cruise on the Mediterranean to the ancient site of Phaselis, located on a peninsula with ancient harbors on both sides. This will be our first Roman site. The ancient stones are scattered among the reed pine trees, which grow right out from the sea in an incomparably romantic setting. Via a wonderful lake drive to Pamukkale, After tour bus to Pamukkale with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 20:00 (duration 4 hours). Overnight at a hotel in the Village of Karayitit( five-thousand-year-old health center ).
Day 9: Pamukkale

Today we visit Pamukkale (ancient Heirapolis), the most unusual natural phenomenon of Turkey. The Turkish name literally "cotton castle" - refers to the extraordinary surface of the snow-white cliffs, shaped over millennia by the accumulation of calcium deposited by mineral springs. Visit the hot springs and swim in a spa amid Roman columns. After tour bus to Kusadası with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 20:00 (duration 4 hours). Overnight at a hotel in the Center Kusadası




Day 10: Kusadası

Kusadası (Ephesus) this will be our big day in Ephesus the remains of the Hellenistic and Roman city of Ephesus (modern Selçuk), rumoured to have been founded in the 13th century BC; lie at the foot of Mount Pion. Carefully restored and now one of the most spectacular ancient cities in the world, top sights within the huge archaeological area include the Grand Theatre, where St Paul preached to the Ephesians, the second-century Temple of Serapi, the elegant façades of the Temple of Hadrian and the Library of Celsus. The site of Meryemana, reputed to be the house of the Virgin Mary, lies very close to Ephesus in the small vale of Mount Bulbul Dagi (Nightingale Mountain). It has become a world-famous shrine, attracting thousands of pilgrims each year. The nearby town of Selçuk is home to the Ephesus Museum and Basilica of St John, said to be the last home of John the Baptist. After tour bus to Istanbul with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 21:00 (duration 10 hours).

Day 11: Istanbul

Back to Home Or Other destination.


Includes:

* Meet and assist of team Turkey staff.
* Daily breakfasts, 8 lunches at local restaurants.
* Local English speaking guide.
* Hotel accommodations.
* Applicable taxes, guide fees etc.
* Tips at airports, hotels and restaurants.
* Entrance fees to the sites and museums as per the itinerary.
* Arrival and departure transfers.

Excludes:
* The Domestic Flight
* All private expenses at the hotels
* Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages at the hotels, restaurants and elsewhere
* Tips for driver and guide
* Trip Insurance

Info
This tour must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date Confirmation for this product will be received at time of booking Tour is operated in English unless otherwise stated In the event of any museum closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited This tour is not suitable for infants 4 years and under Child prices are applicable for children aged Child Discount: 10%



Terms & Conditions Tours

Transportation is provided by mini-buses or buses according to the number of passengers traveling. All tours are escorted by professional bi- or multi-lingual tour and/or driver guides. Depending on the number of passengers booked for a particular departure, tours and/or languages may be combined to operate the tours. Visits, stops and other tour components may be deleted, added and/or substituted from the tour without notice. Meals, or other expenses of personal nature are not included (unless published for a particular tour in Turkey TeamTours' brochure.


Responsibility

Turkey Team Travel as agent for all issued tickets or vouchers and all arrangements for transportation, conveyance or hotel accommodation and assumes no liability or responsibility for (1) any injuries, loss, damage, accidents (2) delay, irregularities or inconvenience by any defect in a vehicle (3) traffic conditions, access to sites, additional costs or other conditions beyond its control. Turkey Team Travel reserves the right to cancel or change any tours, schedules, or rates and to cancel or substitute routes and stops on any tour without prior notice & to substitute equipment as needed.