Turkey Explorer by Private Vehicle

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul

Upon arrival at Istanbul Istanbul Airport, you will be greeted and drive to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Celal Sultan Hotel or similar. (The 3-Star or 5-Star hotel is available on request.)

Day 2: Istanbul City Highlights Tour (B, L)

According to your tour pick-up time, meet with your guide, and start your full-day tour. Explore Hagia Sophia; was the largest building on earth barring the Egyptian Pyramids or the <a title=”The Great Wall of China“. It was the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period. Next; Topkapı Palace; As well as being the imperial residence of the Sultan, the palace was also the seat of government for the ottoman empire. It housed the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. Continue to with Hippodrome; Built by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203AD, during the Roman period hippodrome was the civil center for the people of the city where once 100,000 spectators could be held. Next, Blue Mosque; Built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in the year 1616, Blue mosque today is one of the most famous landmarks of the old city with its famous six minarets and magnificent dome.  Next, Grand Bazaar; With 18 entrances and more than 4000 shops, it is one of the greatest bazaars in the World.  At the end of the tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Celal Sultan Hotel or similar.

Day 3: Gallipoli Tour (B, L)

According to your pickup time from your hotel, meet your guide, and drive on a comfortable road system for approximately 4 hours. Stoppıng for breakfast on the way. Upon arrival at Eceabat, we stop for lunch at the local restaurant. Here we begin our guided tour of ANZAC Battlefields visiting Brighton Beach, ANZAC Cove, Beach Cemetary, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Turkish and allied tunnels, and trenches at Johnston’s Jolly, 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial, and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. After the tour transfer you to your hotel. Overnight in Canakkale.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Buyuk Truva Hotel or similar.

Day 4: Troy & Pergamum Tour (B, L)

Upon breakfast at the hotel check out and start your full-day tour and visit Troy Archeological Site where we see the UNESCO recognized ruins of the Ancient kingdom of Troy. We stroll through the site where many worldwide used terms like the Trojan War, Trojan Horse, Helen of Troy, Prince Paris comes from, Battle between Achilles and Hector, Walls of Troy II and Megaron House, The Ramp of Troy II, Roman bath, Odeon, The Temple of Athena and Ruins of Athena. Drive to Pergamum; Where John wrote his letter, Pergamum had been a capital city for almost four hundred years. After the mythical times, Pergamum had been the scene of several cultures, ranging from those of the Stone and Bronze Ages until the Archaic and Classical Periods. Among the temples, palaces, and agora’s, the Asclepion, which were constructed in the course of one century, belonged the big Zeus Altar and the Parchment Library. Visits the ruins of Asklepion; was known under the name of “The Pergamum God of Health”. Asclepius the dietary health and medicine served the people for several hundred years; thus making Pergamum a medical center of very great importance. Famous medical Scholars, like Hippocrates and Galenus, were born in Pergamum and worked there. Along the way, feast your eyes on the beautiful Agean sea view with lush olive trees and some Greek and Turkish Islands. Overnight in Kusadasi.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Efe Boutique Hotel or similar.

Day 5: Ephesus Tour (B, L)

According to your tour pick-up time, meet with your guide, and start your full-day tour. Visit The House of Virgin Mary; a church was built from 6C AD to the top of the foundations of a house from 1C AD and it is declared by the church to be the final house where Mary spent her last days. Continue with the Ancient Ephesus; The best-preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ephesus was the second-largest city on the planet after Rome with more than 250,000 citizens. It is also home to one of the Seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis. Ephesus is also so well preserved that, walking on the ancient streets among the beautiful monuments such as the third largest library of the ancient world or the largest roman theatre on the Asia continent, gives you the feeling of a time traveler.
Next; the Temple of Artemis or Artemision was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its ancient cult dedicated to Artemis was very famous in antiquity and made Ephesus a much-visited pilgrimage place. At the end of the tour drive you to Pamukkale. Check-in. Overnight in Pamukkale.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Colossae Thermal Hotel or similar.

Day 6: Pamukkale Tour (B, L)

Upon breakfast at the hotel check out, According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Visit Pamukkale; Pools of Heaven on Earth… Pamukkale has always been a very popular settlement where hot springs were believed to have healing powers so it is considered to be the earliest spa on earth wherein history people traveled long distances in order to find a cure. The unique terraces were formed by running warm spring water at a temperature of 35 C, containing calcium bicarbonate. Today Pamukkale is declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Visit; the ancient city of Hierapolis which has the biggest Necropolis with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. Also, The Sacred Pool is one of the highlights of the site. Theır shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins that lie beneath. After the tour travel to Konya. Check-in. Overnight in Konya.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Selcuk hotel or similar.

Day 7: Konya / Fair Chimneys of Cappadocia (B, L)

Upon breakfast at the hotel check out, visit the museum of 13th-century Philosopher Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi. Mevlana was a philosopher and mystic of Islam, but not a Muslim of the orthodox type. His doctrine advocates unlimited tolerance, positive reasoning, goodness, charity, and awareness through love. Then visit 700 years-old Caravanserail (ancient traders and travelers on silk road) After lunch travel to Goreme. Explore Goreme Museum; consists of many rock-cut churches from the second half of 9C with beautiful colorful frescoes decorating the walls. Next; Devrent Valley; famous for its quirky animal-shaped rocks. It looks like a sculpture zoo made by nature. There is even a rock pillar that looks like the Virgin Mary, holding Jesus Christ. Take in the unique lunar landscape of the valley and feel like you’re in another World. Next; Pasabagi which means: the Pacha’s vineyard. This site is also called Monks Valley. The hermitage of Simeon monks was here.
Next Avanos; where you will enjoy typical Turkish Lunch and experience make Potter with local experts. Next Uchisar the Naturel highest Rock Castle provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area. At the end of the tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Cappa Rossa Cave Suites or similar.

Day 8: Underground Cities of Cappadocia / Flight to Istanbul (B, L)

Upon breakfast at the hotel check out, According to your tour pick-up time, meet with your guide, and start your full-day tour. Visit Rose and Red Valley; is an incredibly unique area of Cappadocia with sharp ridges, tinted in pink, especially during sunset! the minerals in the sandstone have a pink tinge.  Next Cavusin; is surrounded by a valley, which becomes gradually wider, called as Red Valley. The houses of the village were cut into massive rock formations. The village is famous for its rock churches. Next; Pigeon Valley; earned its name from the countless man-made dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) that have been carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Pigeon Valley is one of the best spots for walking in the marvelous Cappadocia region. Next; Underground Cities; once a place of refuge for 15000 Christians. These settlements were of enormous value to the development of Christianity as they provided shelter and worship and were in use until the end of 7C AD. Witness the ancient bedrooms, church, meeting hall, and food storage rooms in this eight-story city connected by 30km of corridors and passageways. Tour continues with Ortahisar; famous for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets, and lovely churches as well as the castle-like rock formation after which the town is named After the tour drive to Kayseri Airport for your 1hour 30min domestic flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you wıll be greeted by your driver who wıll drıve you safely back to your hotel. Check-in. Overnight in Istanbul.

🏚️ Hotel Option: Celal Sultan Hotel or similar.

✈️ Domestic flight from Cappadocia to Istanbul is included.

Day 9: Departure Day (B)

Upon breakfast at the hotel check out and according to your flight time drive you to Istanbul Airport. End of our service.