DAY 1: ISTANBUL - CAPPADOCIA [No Meal]
Arrival in Kayseri or Nevsehir airport and meet with shuttle driver. Transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia.Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

DAY 2: CAPPADOCIA [B,L]
Optional Hot Air Balloon Flight in the morning! (The flights are scheduled early in the morning to catch the sunrise. Pick-up and drop-off from the hotels are included)

Pick-up from your hotel after the breakfast around 09:00 – 09:30. Today the tour will start with Kaymaklı Underground City with rock-cut stables, wineries, chapels and housing - the resourcefulness of the carvers to create fully-functioning underground cities allowed these villagers to escape from marauders throughout the millennia.

Next we’ll drive to see some of the most spectacular rock formations - Devrent Valley (aka. Imagination Valley). Here the rocks have eroded naturally to form magical and interesting shapes which includes the well-known camel rock that stands at the entrance of the valley. We’ll continue our tour with Pasabag Valley (Monk’s Valley) where the iconic Fairy Chimneys dot the landscape. Our tour will continue with a tasty lunch at a local restaurant offering traditional Turkish dishes from the region.

The next destination is the town of Avanos, located along the longest river in Turkey. This ancient city was the center of the Hittite pottery-makers and today the same red and white clay from the surrounding hills is used to create the famous pottery. Before our final stop we will visit the famous UNESCO World Heritage site of the Goreme Open Air Museum. Our final location of the day is at the highest village in Cappadocia - the stunning Uchisar rock-castle fortress panaroma. At the end of the tour your driver and guide will bring you back to your hotel. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

DAY 3: CAPPADOCIA – KONYA - PAMUKKALE [B,D]
Starting out the day just after breakfast at your hotel, we visit the Sultanhani Caravanserai on our drive west. The ancient Silk Road trade routes ran through this area and the caravanserais were mini walled fortresses protecting merchants as well as providing lodging, places of worship and care for the animals. We continue on to Konya city - and visit the magnificent museum and mausoleum of Celaleddin Muhammad Rumi - known in the west just as Rumi, the Persian Sufi mystic. Famous for his enchanting poetry and the founder of the Whirling Dervishes - this museum offers exquisite artifacts, unique architecture and even a cask with strands of hair from Mohammed. After perusing the museum and grounds, we'll have lunch at a local restaurant serving regional cuisine - and then begin our drive towards Pamukkale, arriving early evening. Overnight Pamukkale Hotel.

DAY 4: PAMUKKALE - KUSADASI [B,D]
After breakfast at your hotel, we visit "the cotton castle". The fairy-tale travertine terraces of Pamukkale. This natural wonder offers terraced white pools of natural spring water cascading down the side of the cliff - with spectacular views over the region and light reflected off the shell-shaped pools. We continue on our journey to Ephesus with a stop at Aphrodisias. Named after the goddess of love, Aphrodite - or Venus by the Romans, the ancient city of Aphrodisias is partly excavated today. Famous for the School of Sculpture and large amphitheatre - Aphrodisias is one of the best examples of ancient Greek cities in Turkey. In the late afternoon we arrive in Kusadasi, on the coast. Overnight Kusadasi Hotel.

DAY 5: EPHESUS [B,D]
After breakfast at your hotel, we begin our day tour of the magnificent ancient Greek city of Ephesus. One of the must-sees in Turkey, Ephesus is a wonder of carved marble columns, impressive amphitheatres, terraced housing and the famous Celsus Library - among others. Walk in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Caesar, Cicero and the Apostles Paul and John. Tradition has it that Virgin Mary was brought here by St John after The Crucifixion and lived her final years near the city of Ephesus on an isolated mountaintop. A lovely chapel is constructed on the site tended by Franciscans and open to visitors. It has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope. We will continue with Saint John Church where Apostle John spent his final years and was buried. The final visit of the day is to the temple of Artemis to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Overnight Kusadasi Hotel.

DAY 6: KUSADASI – PERGAMUM – CANAKKALE [B,D]
After an early breakfast at your hotel, we depart at 08:00. The first stop is at Pergamum - this ancient Greek city perched at the top of the hills overlooking the Aegean Sea offers one of the best panoramic views in Turkey. Once famous for the production of parchment, the library at Pergamum was believed to contain more than 200,000 volumes, which Mark Antony later gave to Cleopatra as a wedding present. Also in this area is the Sanctuary of Asclepius - the god of healing. The site contains ancient springs that were famous for their healing properties. After lunch we continue arriving in Canakkale early evening. The city of Canakkale is divided between the continents of Europe and Asia. Overnight Canakkale Hotel.

DAY 7: TROY – DARDANELLES – GALLIPOLI - ISTANBUL [B]
After breakfast at your hotel we visit the famous wooden horse of Troy. Recreated from the passages of Homer's Iliad, the ruins discovered from this ancient city dot the area along the coast. We continue across the Dardanelles - to the Gallipoli peninsula, the famous site from the WWI battle. The allied defeat formed the basis for the Turkish War of Independence and the founding of the Republic of Turkey eight years later under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who first rose to prominence as a commander at Gallipoli. After lunch we continue onto Istanbul arriving late day. Overnight Istanbul Hotel.

DAY 8: ISTANBUL OLD CITY [B,L]
After breakfast at your hotel, we will pick you up from you hotel reception (09:00) and begin your day tour of Old Istanbul. Our first introduction to Istanbul is at the magnificent Topkapi Palace. This jewel of the Ottoman Sultans was used from the 15th to 19th centuries and features the sprawling palace grounds with spectacular views. Inside the palace compound we will see the impressive architecture and some smaller museum rooms with priceless artifacts from the days of the Sultans. The famed Harem of the Sultans is also located here (for an extra admission fee). After touring the palace and grounds, we will break for lunch. Afterwards we will visit the Blue Mosque - a working mosque with 20,000 Iznik tiles. The architecture, light and colors inside this mosque are breathtaking. Our next journey takes us through and around the ancient Hippodrome with the Obelisk of Theodosius, as well as the Snake Pillar and the German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Through the back streets of the Old City, we will arrive at the Underground Cistern - with beautiful columns and sunken carvings. At the end of the tour there may be free time to visit the famous Grand Covered Bazaar (closed on Sunday). This may be done as a walking tour for guests with centrally located hotels. Overnight Istanbul Hotel

DAY 9: BOSPHORUS & DOLMABAHCE TOUR [B,L]
After breakfast at your hotel, we will pick you up to begin our day exploring Istanbul by land and water. Our first stop is at the Egyptian Spice Market - this covered market is famous for the beautiful displays of exotic spices, Turkish delights and unique herbs. Before the cruise we will stop by the Rustempasa Mosque.

We continue on to board our cruise of the Bosphorus - the waterway separating the continents of Europe and Asia. Along the cruise route we will pass the Rumeli Fortress - built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 to prepare for his conquest of Istanbul. We will also cross under the Bosphorus Bridge - separating Europe and Asia to visit the magnificent Beylerbeyi Palace - the summer residence for the Ottoman Sultans. This cruise is done by public ferry, unless other arrangements are made.

Our last stop is the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace. with the incredible 4 ton crystal chandelier in the ballroom. Built in the late Ottoman Empire to replace the Topkapi Palace, the palace is now used by important visiting foreign dignitaries. After the tour drop-off to your hotel.Overnight Istanbul Hotel.

DAY 10: ISTANBUL - HOME [B]
Pick-up from your hotel according to your international flight and transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Goodbye!

NOTES

• Flight tickets are not included in the package but we can gladly offer and book flight tickets for you. Please inform us if you need more services. We’re a fully operational agency and we can assist you with all your needs in Turkey.
• We can also offer these tours in private basis with other languages; Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French…etc .

Customize Your Tour: Add-On Options
Flight Bookings: Domestic or International flights and upgrades. We are a full-service travel agency
Hotel Upgrades / Changes: we offer our Top Picks for hotels in each area. If you have a different hotel in mind or would like an upgrade please let us know. You may also book your own hotels and join in the tour. For more information please email us

Included in Tours Packages:
*Fully escorted private Tours,
*4 Nights accommodation in below mentioned hotel options,
*Pick-up & drop off from hotels on tour days,
*Pick-up from Ankara Airport and drop-off to Izmir Airport,
*Professional English Speaking Guide,
*Meals as specified at the itinerary without drinks,
*Transportation in non-smoking Luxurious Vehicles with comfortable seat s &  AC
*Entrance fees to all the sightseeing places and museums (except Dark Church in Goreme Open Air Museum, Terrace Houses in Ephesus and Cleopatra’s Pool in Pamukkale),
*All parking and highway fees,
*All the expenses of guide & driver
*All local taxes.

Not Included in Tour Packages (exclusions):
*International or Internal Flights,
*Meals not mentioned at the itinerary and Drinks during meals,
*Airport transfers in Istanbul or Other airports,
*Dark Church in Goreme Open Air Museum is optional to see and the entance fee is extra,
*Terrace Houses in Ephesus is optional to see and the entance fee is extra,
*Cleopatra’s Pool in Pamukkale is optional to see and the entance fee is extra,
*All personal expenses,
*Tips to the guide, driver and hotel personnel (Not compulsory but encouraging)