Highlights of Turkey Tour: 8 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale

Pick up 08:00

Istanbul

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will explore the wonderful sites of Old Istanbul, the only city in the world straddling two continents, Europe and Asia. You will visit the Blue Mosque, with its six graceful minarets and famed blue Iznik Tiles, the Hippodrome, ancient Roman arena for chariot racing and Grand Bazaar with its more than 4,000 shops. You will then visit The Topkapi Palace, which from the 15th to the 19th Century was the principle residence of the Ottoman Sultans. You will visit the fabulous Imperial Treasury and the Baghdad Kiosk. Topkapi Palace is now a museum and has unrivaled collections of jewelry, including the Spoonmakers Diamond, the 3rd largest diamond in the world, Ottoman court costumes and ceramics, notably one of the world's finest collection of early Chinese ceramics, much of it gifts from other rulers. Interestingly, some of the ceramics have a special glaze that was said to change color in the presence of poison. You also visit the Imperial Armory, displaying centuries of Ottoman weaponry. But perhaps the loveliest features of Topkapi Palace are its courtyards with their ancient trees, and it is easy to imagine the sultan strolling here far from the cares of state and empire. Finally, visit the museum of Haghia Sophia* and the Church of The Divine Wisdom. After the tour, you will be dropped back to your hotel. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Closed

- Hagia Sophia Museum and Blue Mosque closed on Friday due to Friday Prayer / No replacement

- Grand Bazaar on Sunday / Replaced with the Handicraft Store

- Topkapi Palace closed on Tuesday / No replacement

Day Tour: Full Day Istanbul Old City Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Istanbul

Pick-up Time: 08.00am (approximately)

Pick up 08:00

Istanbul - Pamukkale

After having breakfast at the hotel, check out from hotel and start your half day Bosphorus tour and visit the 17th Century Egyptian Spice Bazaar* and embark on an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the beautiful strait that divides Europe from Asia. Winding between wooded hills, it is lined with mosques, castles, 19th Century mansions, picturesque villages and the extravagant baroque places of the late Ottoman Sultans. Our tour concludes with a drive along the Istanbul Bosphorus to visit the Rumeli Fortress, built by Mehmed the Conqueror. After the tour, you will be transferred Istanbul airport for your flight to Denizli. Upon your arrival to Denizli airport, you will be transferred to your hotel where you will have the evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Pamukkale.

Day Tour: Half Day Bosphorus Tour

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Pamukkale

Flight: Istanbul to Denizli

Pick-up Time: 08.00am (approximately)

Pick up 09:30

Pamukkale - Kusadasi

After breakfast at hotel, you will meet with your guide and then continue on to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pamukkale. Also known as Cotton Castle in Turkish, this natural wonder is a sight to behold. The rock formations contain hot springs with terraces of carbonate minerals that are relaxing to bathe in. If you wish, take a dip in one of its many pools, or just admire them and stay dry. From Pamukkale, continue on to the ancient city of Hierapolis where you will visit the Roman Amphitheatre, a historical museum, the Basilica of St. Philippe, the Necropolis and Cleopatra pool (own expense). Then have lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy a display of locally handcrafted ONYX goods before transfer to your hotel where you will have the evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Kusadasi.

Day Tour: Full Day Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Kusadasi

Pick-up Time: 09.30am (approximately)

Tandem Paragliding Over Travertines of Pamukkale (Optional - Extra Cost)

The tandem paragliding experience in Pamukkale is one of a kind with sites that are unique and beautiful. Seeing the Salt Lake with its terraced landscape and the fantastic scenery of the ancient city of Hierapolis is loved by everyone who has ever tried this experience. The testimonials of the people who have done this are a clear evidence of the amazing trip this whole thing becomes. Seeing the world beneath you from such a high point is definitely a one of a kind experience and given the beauty of the land, a lot of people have shown the desire to go for the tandem paragliding trip repeatedly.

Pick up 08:30

Kusadasi - Ephesus - Cappadocia

Absorb yourself in history today with a guided tour of the site of one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the world, the site of the Temple of Artemis and the ancient city of Ephesus. Feel the mystical atmosphere of the city and stadium where chariot and horse races were once held. You will also have the chance to experience some Turkish handicrafts and visit the pilgrimage point claimed to be the last home of the Virgin Mary. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your flight to Cappadocia. After you arrived to Cappadocia airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day Tour: Full Day Ephesus Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Cappadocia

Flight: Izmir to Cappadocia

Pick-up Time: 08.30am (approximately)

After breakfast at hotel, you will meet with your guide and depar for full-day tour of Cappadocia. We will start the day visiting the Red Valley, where we will have the opportunity to take a walk through the orchards and vineyards, among the fairytale chimneys and houses carved into the rock. We will continue the walk through the valley. We will also visit the old Cappadocia Panorama and Pigeon valley, named for the hundreds of small windows carved into the rock to attract pigeons, so they can nest in them. Then we will visit the Underground City whose main function was to shelter the inhabitants of the region in case of invasions. We will also visit the Ortahisar Castle and the city of Mustafapasa, an ancient Greek settlement, also known as Sinasos. After the tour, you will be dropped back to your hotel. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day Tour: Cappadocia Green (South) Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Cappadocia

Pick-up Time: 09.30am (approximately)

Hot air balloon ride over the valleys of Cappadocia

(Optional - Extra Cost You can book Hot Air Balloon Tour included Package)

Get ready for a wonderful experience unique to Cappadocia! We will pick you up from hotel at early morning (depending on the location of your hotel) and transfer you to the balloon site where you will have the opportunity to watch the balloon being prepared for your flight as you enjoy a light breakfast snack; preparation time is generally 15-20 minutes. Your flight will begin at sunrise, where your pilot will climb to a comfortable altitude of about 700 to 1000 meters above ground level. It is from this elevation that you will marvel at the beauty of Cappadocia below you. During certain segments of the flight our pilots are also capable of flying as low as 1 meter above the rock formations which will allow you perfect photo taking opportunities. The Standard Flight is a total of 60 fascinating minutes. There will be a champagne celebration at end of the flight and you will be presented with a Flight Certificate, signed by your pilot, as a souvenir reminder of this magnificent experience. Transfer to hotel, have breakfast, and then you can continue on with your full-day Cappadocia tour.

Pick up 09:30

Cappadocia - Flight Back to Istanbul

After breakfast at hotel, you will meet with your guide for another full-day tour of Cappadocia. The first stop on today's tour is Uchisar Castle. Then you walk through the Valley of the Love to Cavusin, where you stop for lunch and learn about handmade pottery in Avanos Town. You will then visit the Fairy Chimneys (Mushrooms Valley), followed by Devrent Valley and Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Cappadocia airport for your flight to Istanbul. After you arrived to Istanbul airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in Istanbul.

Day Tour: Cappadocia Red (North) Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Istanbul

Flight: Cappadocia to Istanbul

Pick-up Time: 09.30am (approximately)

Transfer to Istanbul Airport

After breakfast check out from the hotel and private transfer to Istanbul Airport for your flight back home or any other destination.

Meals: Breakfast

Pick-up Time: It depends your flight time.