TURKEY

Itineraries

Day 01: India- Istanbul

• Arrive at istanbul ataturk airport. Transfer to the hotel (early check-in subject to availability). Rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight at hotel in istanbul.

Day 02: Istanbul

• Breakfast at hotel. Morning take a half-day city tour which includes visit to st.sophia (closed on mondays), byzantine hippodrome, in which stand the obelisk brought from egypt by theodosius and the serpent column taken from delphi by constantine. Blue mosque, which has six minarets and a middle dome of 109 feet and grand covered bazaar (closed on sundays) dating back to 15th century. It covers over 4,000 shops under one roof. Afternoon free at leisure. If desired we can leave the clients at bazaar, and they can return to their hotels by their own. Overnight at hotel in istanbul. (b)

Day 03: Istanbul

• Breakfast at hotel. In the afternoon depart for half-day city tour which includes visit to city walls, golden horn and cable car to pierre loti hill. Then, bosphorus cruise along the bosphorus, the winding strait separating europe & asia. Bosphorus coastline is a delightful mixture of the past and the present where one can enjoy the grand splendour and quaint beauty of the ancient wooden mansions, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. Rumeli fortress and leander’s tower. Overnight at hotel in istanbul. (b)

Day 04: Istanbul- Kayseri Or Neveshir- Cappadocia

• After breakfast at hotel transfer to ataturk apt for early morning flight to kayseri. Upon arrival meet with assistant and drive to cappadocia. Arrival visit to red valley which is one of the most beautiful trekking valleys in cappadocia. Explore the famous rock-cut churches and hiking for 5km through the valley. After hiking, resting in old cavusin village where is one of old greek villages in cappadocia. The village is known with its houses and churches of the christian clergymen. After lunch at local restaurant visit to kaymakli underground city, the place early christians hid from persecutors. Finally visit to pigeon valley. Transfer to the hotel and check-in. Dinner and overnight at hotel in cappadocia. (b,l,d)

Day 05: Cappadocia

• Breakfast at hotel. Morning visits to dervent valley which has various types of fairy chimneys. Pasabaglari (monk’s valley) with some other types of fairy chimneys. Avanos region, known with its pottery, a craft dating back to hittite period. After lunch at local restaurant visit to goreme open-air museum, which is full of pink, rose and white tapering columns. These tall free standing cones of stone curve and twist as if pulled from earth like taffy. Others are tall like fairy chimneys. The caves were settled in the 4th century as monasteries. Visit some caves on the cliffs to see byzantine frescoes decorating early christian churches. Stop at citadel of uchisar and esentepe for beautiful view of cappadocia. You will also have chance to take photo in these places. Dinner and overnight at hotel in cappadocia. (b,l,d)

Day 06: Cappadocia/ Konya/ Pamukkale

• Breakfast at hotel. Later drive to konya. En route visit 13th century sultanhani caravanserai built on the famous silk route. In konya visit to mausoleum of mevlana, the worldwide famous mystic and karatay theological school with its beautiful tiles. Continue to pamukkale. Dinner and overnight at hotel in pamukkale. (b,l,d)

Day 07: Pamukkale/ Aphrodisias/ Kusadasi

• Breakfast at hotel. In the morning visits to pamukkale cotton fortress, ancient city of hierapolis with the theatre, apollo temple and magnificent necropolis, the graveyard. After lunch at local restaurant visit to aphrodisias, an ancient city dedicated to the goddess of love, aphrodite, and famous for its sculpture school. Dinner and overnight at hotel in kusadasi. (b,l,d)

Day 08: Kusadasi/ Ephesus/ Kusadasi

• Breakfast at hotel. In the morning depart for a tour to ephesus antique city (hillside houses are excluded). Ephesus, roman capital of asia minor. Visit the ruins of odeon, hercules gate, the temple of hadrian, the magnificent library, agora and the fantastic greco-roman theatre. After lunch visits to house of virgin mary, selcuk ephesus museum and st.john church. After the tour back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel in kusadasi. (b,l,d)

Day 09: Kusadasi Izmir/ Istanbul/ India

• Breakfast at hotel. Free till departure. Hotel check-out latest at 12:00hrs. Transfer to izmir airport to take a domestic flight to istanbul. Upon arrival at istanbul ataturk airport directly taking international flight back to india. (b)