Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2: Byzantine and Ottoman Relics Tour
Breakfast at hotel and begin full day sightseeing tour of Istanbul. We’ll visit Topkapi Palace (harem section is optional), ancient Roman Hippodrome (center of the chariot races) and proceed to the Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine church which was converted to a mosque in 15th century. We will continue our Sultanahmet tour with the Blue Mosque and finally we will stop at Grand Covered Bazaar and will have free time to discover 4000 tiny shops in the passageways of the world’s largest covered bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul. (B, L)
Day 3: Half Day Morning Bosphorus Cruise
You will be picked-up from your hotel to visit the Spice Bazaar (or Egyptian Bazaar). Filled with spices, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, lokum (Turkish delight) and other edibles, Spice Bazaar has a smell of the fragrance of the exotic East. Then join a boat excursion on the Bosphorus on a shared tour. Enjoy viewing Ottoman palaces, Bosphorus Bridge, citadels, centuries-old mansions and the European and Asian shorelines at the same time. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back to your hotel at approximately 1:00 pm. overnight in Istanbul. (B)
Day 4: Istanbul Cappadocia
Early in the morning transfer to airport for the flight to Cappadocia to Nevsehir or Kayseri airport on arrival you will be pick up and join for Cappadocia tour .Our first real encounter with Cappadocia almost Martian landscape is in the Dervent valley. We visit Pasabag’s “fairy chimneys”, where the voice of the wind harmonizes with songs of the fairies. From here we pause at Avanos center of terracotta art. After lunch we visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia. We complete the tour with a visit to the Uchisar Rock-Castle, giving you a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Visit the carpet cooperative to see how the Turkish carpets are made by hand. Overnight stay in Cappadocia. (B, L,)
Day 5: Cappadocia
Depart from your hotel to visit Red Valley and explore the famous rock- cut churches and hike 5 km through the Gulludere valley. Then visit Cavusin Village. After lunch drive to the Pigeon Valley. In the afternoon visit Underground City, where early Christians lived in fear and faith. Which is one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia? The underground city was originally carved out as eight floors; however four floors are available to visit. In wartime about 5000 people can refuge in. The tunnels are still used today.as storage areas, stables, and cellars. On the way back visit the natural castles at Ortahisar in Cappadocia (B, L,)
Day 6: Konya
Visit the Mevlana Mausoleum, the great mystic poet and Islamic spiritual leader, who founded the sect of ”Whirling Dervishes” and visit 13th century Selcuk caravanserai “Sultanhan” in Konya… Overnight in Pamukkale. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Pamukkale- Kusadasi
Once known as Hierapolis which is famous with its healing thermal / mineral Baths beautiful snow-white “petrified waterfalls”. After lunch visit Hierapolis, including the magnificently preserved Necropolis, the main Street and Gates, the thermal Baths, Masterpiece Theater and then drive to Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, L, D)
Day 8: Ephesus
The tour starting with Isa Bey Mosque, then drive to an Ancient City Ephesus which is located on the west coast of Asia Minor, stroll past the Celsus library, the Temple Of Hadrian and the Trajan Fountain in the Ancient Ephesus. After walking on the historical marble street to the Great Theater where St. Paul preached will meet at the end. Open buffed lunch in a local Turkish restaurant. In the afternoon will visit the carpet cooperative weaving center to see how the Turkish carpets are made by hand. At the end fashion show will be at leather outlet center Proceed to House of Mother Mary, it is believed where she spent recent years of her life. Finally proceeding to Temple Of Artemis (Diana), on the side of one of the seven wonders of ancient World. Overnight Stay in Kusadasi (B, L)
Day 9: Kusadasi (Turkey) – Samos (Greece) – Mykonos
Depart for Samos from Kusadasi in the morning, after two hours boat ride arrive Samos. Meet at the port, transfer to our branch in Samos, free time till afternoon ferry to Mykonos. In the afternoon, ferry to Mykonos. Arrival to Mykonos late in the evening.
Day 10: Free days at Mykonos
Free day at leisure to explore the Mykonos town. Mykonos is world-famous. It is no coincidence that this, the most cosmopolitan of all Greek Islands, attracts so many visitors from all over the globe, including large numbers of artists and intellectuals. Overnight stay in Mykonos. Breakfast
Day 11: Mykonos Santorini
After breakfast take ferry to Santorini, one of the best knew of the Cyclades, different from the other islands in the group thanks to its geological morphology, the result of action by a volcano now dormant. Overnight stay in Santorini Overnight in Santorini. Breakfast
Day 12: Santorini Athens – Piraeus(Athens)
Free day until evening Ferry to Athens. Arrival to Athens. End of Turkey Plus Greek Island Tours services or add on Athens extension