Day 1
Istanbul
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Upon your arrival,
you will be met by our representative before transfer to your
Hotel. Spend the rest of the day at your own leisure.
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Day 2
Istanbul |
After breakfast in your hotel, there is a full day guided tour
which includes St. Sophia the cathedral built by Emperor Justinian in
537 which was the largest church in Christendom for a thousand years,
the Byzantine Hippodrome with its various monuments including a
3500-year-old red granite obelisk brought from Egypt and erected here
in 390 AD. The Ottoman Empire produced marvelous architecture and
you'll see two of its finest works: Topkapi Palace, home of the
sultans, and the famed Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I. After all these
visits, you'll venture into the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar. Transfer
back to your hotel for overnight (B)
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Day 3
Gallipoli - Canakkale |
After breakfast at the
hotel, drive to Gallipoli and visit Anzac Cove, Nek, Conk Bair, Lone
Pine and 57th regiment memorial and the war
museum, cross the dardanelles. Overnight stay in Canakkale.(B)
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Day 4
Troy -
Pergamum -
Kusadasi |
After breakfast at the hotel drive to legendary to Troy; a 5000 years
old archaeological city, then you will see a reconstruction of the
fabled Wooden Horse which was used in Trojan War, crossing the
legendary mountain Ida arrival to Pergamum, one of Turkey's oldest
civilized settlements and it has been inhabited from pre-historic times
through the Ionic, Roman and Byzantine civilizations. It has yielded
archeological treasures whose importance is recognized world-wide. Vist
the ancient city of Acropolis founded on top of a steep hill (300
m) make this area a fascinating stop for history-loving tourists.
Continue to Kusadasi for overnight. (B)
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Day 5
Ephesus - Kusadasi |
After Breakfast morning drive to Ancient city of Ephesus where
you will explore some of the best preserved theatres, fountains and
buildings in the world. A definite must while in Turkey. Then visit to
the House of Mother Mary where she is supposed to spend her last years
together with St. John. Return to Kusadasi for overnight stay.(B)
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Day 6
Hierapolis –
Pamukkale |
After Breakfast drive through the meander plain
and cotton farms, arrive to Pamukkale, time to enjoy the beauty of lime
cascade and visit ancient Hierapolis which has the biggest Nekropol
with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. The sacred pool also is one of the
highlights of the site. There shallow thermal waters ripple over a
wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins that lie beneath, graveyard
and the lime cascade, return to your hotel with hot spring pool.
(B,D)
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Day 7
Antalya |
Morning drive to Antalya, arrival at mid-noon. You will see Hadrian
Gate , the Clock Tower at Kalekapisi , Republic Square with its
dramatic statue and excellent views of the Mediterranean Coast and the
distant Olimpos Mountains. Descending from the square, you explore the
narrow, winding streets of historic Old Antalya ( Kaleici) filled with
graceful Ottoman era houses and gardens. Overnight in Antalya (B,D)
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Day 8
Antalya |
After breakfast we drive on to Kursunlu Waterfall situated 19 km from
Antalya in a beautiful place among pine trees. It is one of the most
beautiful waterfalls in Antalya region. After that we will drive to
Perge, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 B.C., the place
with the impressive colonnaded street and where most of the statues
that are on display in Antalya Museum were unearthed. Finally we will
visit Aspendos that bears one of the best preserved amphitheatres in
the world. Overnight in Antalya (B,D)
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Day 9
Konya |
After breakfast depart for Konya. You will visit
the Mausoleum of Mevlana also known as the Green Mausoleum or Green
Dome, is the original lodge of the Mevlevi Whirling Dervishes, a
mystical Sufi Muslim group. It containes the tomb and shrine of the
Mevlana, or Rumi, which remains an important place of pilgrimage. We
continue to our hotel for overnight stay. (B,D)
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Day 10
Konya - Cappadocia
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Morning departure for Cappadocia, on the way visit 13th
century Agzikarahan Caravanserai. Continue to Cappadocia for overnight
(B)
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| Day 11 Cappadocia |
After breakfast we will visit Goreme Open Air
Museum; is the place where this religious education was started. You
will visit the churches, chapels and monasteries carved into the fairy
chimmeys from the 10th to the 13th centuries with fresgos painted on
the walls. Then we will see Pasabaglar (Monks Valley); many fairy
chimneys with multiple stems and caps can be found here, this style
being unique to this area. A chapel dedicated to St. Simeon and a
hermit's shelter is built into one such fairy chimney with three heads.
Then proceed to Avanos; known for the pottery, a craft dating back to
the Hittite period. The red clay which is worked by local craftsmen
comes from the residue in the Kizilirmak river. Overnight in Cappadocia
(B)
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Day 12
Cappadocia |
After breakfast we will visit Kaymakli
Underground City where dwellings for the Christian communities to use
as refuges. It contains all the usual rooms found in an underground
city such as stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, churches,
and wineries. Next stop is Pigeon Valley; here you will see where the
Pigeons and hear of how they were used to help the people. Some
examples where to send messages and to fertiziize the grapes. Also you
will see a wonderful panoromic view at Uchisar Castle; is the highest
point in the region. The castle and its surrounds used to be the most
populated area this settlement, which resembles Ortahisar in style.
Overnight in Cappadocia .(B)
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Day 13
Cappadocia -
Istanbul
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After breakfast you'll drive to Kayseri airport for a
flight back to Istanbul. Upon your arrival you'll be transferred to
your hotel for overnight stay (B)
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Day 14
Return
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After breakfast you'll be transferred to airport, end of the services. (B)
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