Enchanting Turkey

12 days - 11 nights
ENGLISH SPEAKING
GUIDE
Guaranteed departure dates:
April
03 10 17
May
01 08 15
June
05
19
July
03
17
August
14
September04 11 18
October 02 09 16
24
22 29
31
28
25
23
Tour operates with minimum 2
persons, max 18 persons ; 0-7
year old child not accepted
Enchanting Turkey
Day 1 Sun: Istanbul 20 kms Arrival
transfer from Istanbul airport to
hotel.
Day 2 Mon: Istanbul 30 kms
The Must day: Stroll through
Sogukcesme Street with typical
wooden house which are now
landmark buildings of ottoman
architecture. Arrive to Topkapi
Palace, the largest and oldest
of the remaining palaces where
Ottoman Sultans used to live;
admire the gardens, kitchens,
the treasury section as well
as
terraces overlooking the
Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
Photo stop at the Fountain of
Sultan Ahmet the 3rd and explore
Saint Sophia, the masterpiece of
Byzantine architecture dating back
to the VIth century. After lunch,
visit the Blue Mosque covered
by more than 20.000 Iznik tiles
and continue with the Roman
Hippodrome where the char races
used to take place. Discover the
handcrafts of Anatolia and shop in
the labyrinth tunnels of the Grand
Bazaar. (B,L)
Day 3 Tue: Istanbul 30 kms Daily
life in Istanbul: Stop at Yavuz Selim
Mosque offering stunning views
over the Golden Horn. Stroll down
Hotels or Similar
Location
Hotels
ISTANBUL ASSOS
PAMUKKALE
SIRINCE
CAPPADOCIA
Sirkeci Mansion / Lalahan
Nazlihan
Doga Thermal
Nisanyan Evleri
Dere Suites / Yunak Evleri
the hill to discover the typical Fener
and Balat districts. Cross the Galata
Bridge to reach the modern part of
the city. Take the historical funicular
built at 1875 and still carrying
passengers up the hill. Visit the
Galata Mevlevihanesi to learn more
about the philosophy of the whirling
dervishes and walk along the very
busy Istiklal pedestrian street.
Enjoy the lunch with “kebabs”,
the most popular dish of turkish
cusine. Take a public boat to cross
the Bosphorus to the asian side of
Istanbul; the seagulls will come
Inclusions:
• Arrival and departure transfers
• All transportation in air
conditioned vehicle with wi-fi on
board
• 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 6
hotel dinners
• Entrance fees to museums
• All taxes and service charges
Rates above do not include:
• Personal expenses
• Izmir / Kayseri domestic flight
• Kayseri / Istanbul domestic
flight
very close to check if you feed them
like most of turkish do during this
short trip. As you put your feed on
the asian bank, take a lovely walk in
the picturesque marketplace with
vegetables, fruits and fish sellers.
You can taste the real turkish coffee
prepared on wood coal or buy the
traditional rock candies at historical
Haci Bekir Confectionery. Take the
public boat back to european side
while admiring the silhouette of
the Old City. Visit the small Mosque
of Rustempasa, a masterpiece of
architecture and decoration with
blue Iznik tiles. Free time at leisure
in the colourful Spice Bazaar to
smell the aromas of the spices of
the Orient. (B,L) Please note that
approximately 3 kms walking is
involved throughout the day.
Day 4 Wed: Istanbul – Bandirma
– Assos 263 kms Through the sea
and mountains: Take the fast ferry
to the south shore of Marmara
Sea. Drive through the back roads
and climb up the mythological Ida
Mountains. Breath the fresh air and
lunch in a countryside restaurant.
Descend to Behramkale village and
visit the Athena Temple offering
stunning views over the Aegean
and the Lesbos Island. Overnight in
Assos fishermen village. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Thu: Assos – Gallipoli –
Assos 220 kms Remembrance day:
Drive north to visit the legendary
city of Troy. Cross the Dardanelles
Strait
and
explore
Gallipoli
Peninsula; deceptive in its silence
lies the ANZAC Cove the Lone
Pine, Brighton Beach and Chnuk
Bair where the bloodiest battles of
the World War I. On the way back
to Assos visit Adatepe Olive Oil
Museum. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Fri: Assos – Pergamon
– Pamukkale 432 kms A day at
the Antiquity : Arrive to ancient
Pergamum,
the
city
where
parchment was invented. Visit the
Acropolis offering breathtaking
views over the valley and discover
the remains of the most impressive
hellenistic theater in asia minor.
In the afternoon, attend a cultural
lecture about handwoven carpets,
the most important handicraft in
Turkey. Continue to Sardis, one of
the Seven Churches of Asia, the
main feature of which is the once
celebrated Temple of Artemis built
by King Croesus. Dinner and and
overnight in Pamukkale. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Sat: Pamukkale Aphrodisas – Pamukkale 178 kms
Art and healing day : Proceed to
Aphrodisias, the city dedicated to
the goddess of love and home to a
school of sculpture that was known
throughout the ancient world.
Sculptural reliefs still adorn many
of the buildings. Explore its many
Greco-Roman remains including
a stadium, which once sat 30,000
people and the Temple of Aphrodite,
which was later converted into a
Christian basilica. Follow the scenic
road up to Babadag driving through
small mountain villages and return
to Pamukkale, popularly known as
the ‘cotton castle’. Here, immense
tiers of white limestone cascading
down a barren hillside you will
enjoy the beauty of the terraces and
visit the nearby Roman theater and
necropolis. In the afternoon, enjoy
indoor and outdoor thermal pools
of your hotel. Dinner and overnight.
(B,L,D)
Day 8 Sun: Pamukkale - Sirince
290 kms WOW day: In the morning,
visit the typical Birgi town renown
with the original architecture of the
well preserved historical buildings
and its authentic lifestyle. Climb
up Bozdag Mountain to admire the
hidden Golcuk Lake at the summit
and have lunch. Drive through the
fertile Odemis plain with vineyards,
tobacco and cotton fields. Discover
the brand new Classic Automobile
and Motorcycle Museum displaying
samples starting from the very
first car made in 1886 and first
motorcycle made in 1885. Dinner
and overnight in Sirince. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Mon: Ephesus - Sirince 40
kms Journey through history :
Visit the antique Ephesus city with
Hadrian Temple, Celsius Library,
theatre and the marble streets
as well as the terrace houses
reflecting the life of roman citizens.
After lunch, climb up the Coressos
Hill to visit the chapel believed to
be the house where Mother Mary
spent the last days of her life.
Attend a fashion show in to learn
more about leather, one of the
major products of Turkey. Dinner
and and overnight at Nisanyan
Evleri. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Tue: Sirince - Cappadocia
160 kms Transfer to Izmir Airport
for your onward flight (not included)
to Kayseri. Upon arrival, transfer to
your hotel and overnight. (B)
Day 11 Wed: Cappadocia 80 kms
Natural wonders day: Entire day
to enjoy the natural beauty and the
cultural depth of this unique region
: explore the frescoed interiors of
Goreme’s cave churches, which
date from the 8th century, take a
walk in Avcilar, Pasabagi and the
valley of Dervent where you will
admire the chimney like volcanic
formations and a brief photo stop at
Uchisar. In the afternoon, discover
the unique artifacts of Cappadocia
such as pottery, onyx etc…
Overnight. (B,L)
Day 12 Thu : Departure 40 kms
Transfer to Kayseri or Nevsehir
Airport for your onward flight (not
included).