Turkey | 8D7N

DAY 1: ISTANBUL-CANAKKALE

Welcome to Instabul! Our professional guide will welcome you at the airport, and your journey will start with a visit to the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome. The Blue Mosque is 16th-century religious center and the only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets. Next, you will visit St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia), which was once a cathedral and a mosque and is now a magnificent museum. This is where chariot races took place in the past. After that, you will visit Topkapi Palace, which was once the seat of the Ottoman Empire and is now a museum palace with a wide collection of porcelain, antiques, holy relics, and other treasures. Then, we will have lunch before driving to Canakkale.

DAY 2: CANAKKALE-IZMIR

After Breakfast we drive to the ancient city of Troy. We will visit this ancient city and the infamous wooden horse.
Then drive to the ancient roman city of Pergamon, admire the ancient hospital, Asklepion from Pergamon. Along the way, feast your eyes on the beautiful Agean Sea view with lush olive trees and some Greek and Turkish islands.
After lunch drive to Izmir. Dinner & overnight in Izmir.

DAY 3: IZMIR- PAMUKKALE

After breakfast, we will head to Selcuk and explore Ephesus, one of the world’s most outstanding archaeological sites. You will be amazed by the impressive structures such as the Library of Celsius, Hadrian Temple, Marble Street, and Agora. Ephesus is also one of the seven churches of Revelation and holds the House of Virgin Mary. After lunch at the Aziziye restaurant, we will visit one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Artemis Temple. We will then continue to Pamukkale and visit the ruins of the Ancient City of Hierapolis and explore the Cotton Castle, a World Heritage site made of fascinating white terraces and pools created by calcareous hot spring waters flowing down the mountain. We will have dinner and spend the night in Pamukkale.

DAY 4: PAMUKKALE- CAPPADOCIA (via konya)

Today, we will travel to Konya to visit a 700-year-old ancient caravanserai, which was a “hotel” for ancient traders and travelers on the Silk Road. After that, we will visit the museum of the 13th century philosopher Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi, which used to be the cloister for Mevlevi Dervishes We will have dinner and stay overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY 5: CAPPADOCIA

Today, we will be enchanted by the Underground City of Kaymakli. Next, we will have the rare chance to experience the beauty and craftsmanship of Turkey’s handmade crafts through a Turkish carpet weaving course.
After that, we will visit the Pigeon Valley and the fascinating frescoed rock churches and chapels at Goreme Open-Air Museum. We will make photo stops at Uchisar “castle” village then, we will proceed to Avanos Pottery Village, which is set on the banks of the Kizilirmak (Red River), Finally, we will have a chance to view Turkish semi-precious turquoise, which was named by Marco Polo and means “color of Turks.” We will have dinner and stay overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY 6: CAPPADOCIA- ANKARA

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Ankara via Salt Lake. We will visit the Ataturk Mausoleum and then proceed to our hotel. We will have dinner and stay overnight in Ankara.

DAY 7: ANKARA – ISTANBUL

After breakfast at the Ankara hotel, we will drive to Istanbul and start the Istanbul city tour. We will have lunch in Istanbul and visit the Water Cistern (also known as the Underground Cistern. We will have dinner and stay overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 8: ISTANBUL – HOME

After breakfast, we will visit Dolmabahce Palace, which is the second imperial palace in Istanbul. After lunch we will visit the 500-year-old Grand Bazaar, which has more than 4,000 shops selling local products and handicrafts. After shopping, we will have dinner at local restaurant before proceeding to the airport for our flight back home.