Esential Turkey

Day 1: Istanbul 

Arrival at Istanbul airport, transfer to hotel and accommodation.

Day 2: Istanbul 

Breakfast and departure for the visit of the old part where the most outstanding Ottoman and Byzantine monuments are concentrated. At the beginning we will visit the Roman Hippodrome, which preserves the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column and the Fountain of Emperor Wilhelm. Then we will visit the Blue Mosque, the only one in the world with 6 minarets in its time. Panoramic visit to the Hagia Sophia (external visit), one of the most identifiable enclosures of Istanbul, beautiful architectural marvel that we offer to the visitor; also contemplated as one of the largest and most imposing churches in the world and today is a Mosque. Return to the hotel at your own expense. 

Meals: Breakfast

OPTIONAL EXCURSION- Topkapı and Grand Bazaar (With Lunch) - Check supplement

We will visit the Topkapi Palace (with entrance to the Harren), where the Sultans lived between 1478 and 1856.Topkapi is not a single structure, but an organic monumental complex consisting of several kiosks, gardens and scattered areas that are located in the neighborhood or old town at the entrance of the Golden Horn. Lunch. We will end the day in the covered market: The Grand Bazaar, where you can enjoy free time. At the end of the day, transfer to the hotel and accommodation. ** The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and religious holidays.

Day 8: Kusadasi - Bursa - Istanbul

**Possibility to take a flight Izmir / Istanbul; consult supplement.

Breakfast. Departure to Bursa. We will cross the Gulf of Izmir by the Osman Gazi suspension bridge, the fourth longest bridge in the world. Bursa was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and we will visit the Great Mosque, the Green Mosque and the Green Tomb. Stop at a Turkish Delight store. Continuation to Istanbul.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Istanbul

Breakfast. Overnight accommodation in the chosen category. Free day to enjoy the city. Possibility of an optional excursion (boat trip on the Bosphorus).  

Meals: Breakfast 

OPTIONAL EXCURSION- BOSPHORUS (WITH LUNCH) - Check supplement

Full day excursion to the Bosphorus and Asia. In the morning we will visit the Egyptian Bazaar or Spice Bazaar built in the 17th century and located in the old historical district of Eminönü in Istanbul. We continue to take the boat for the tour of the Bosphorus (regular boat) along the Sea of Marmara along both sides of the city: Asian and European. During this tour you will be able to contemplate monuments such as: Dolmabahce Palaces, Çiragan, Rumeli Hisarı Fortress, among others ...We continue with a visit to Beylerbeyi Palace, built in white marble by Sultan Abdulaziz in the 19th century; it served as a summer residence for later sultans and a guesthouse for foreign dignitaries. Lunch. Ascent to Çamlica Hill, known as the Hill of Lovers, which offers a majestic panoramic view of the Bosphorus and Istanbul. Transfer to the hotel and overnight.

Day 10: Istanbul - Country of origin

Breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight to your final destination. 

Meals: Breakfast (as long as the transfer schedule allows).

Day 3: Istanbul - Ankara - Cappadocia

**Possibility to take flight from Istanbul / Cappadocia, check supplement 

Breakfast and departure to Ankara. Arrival in Ankara, capital of the Republic and the Mausoleum of Ataturk and continuation to Cappadocia passing by the Salt Lake, the second largest lake in the country Arrival in Cappadocia transfer to the hotels. Visit to the carpet workshop. Arrival at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 4: Cappadocia

OPTIONAL EXCURSION - BALLOON RIDE

At dawn, possibility to participate to an optional hot air balloon ride, a unique experience, over rock formations, fairy chimneys, natural formations, lunar landscapes.

Breakfast and departure for the visit of this wonderful region, a mixture of the whims of nature and human art. Visit to the open-air museum of Göreme with its frescoed cave churches. Stops in the valleys of Avcilar and Güvercinlik from where you can enjoy an incredible lunar landscape. Then visit the valley of Uchisar where you can see the ancient fortress carved into the rock. In the afternoon a visit to one of the subway cities: Özkonak , Mazı or Saratlı. Then departure for a typical visit to the onyx and turquoise workshops where you can find quality and good price and short visit to the famous Cappadocia Ceramics. In the evening an optional excursion is offered to attend a typical dance show of the region. The show only includes all types of unlimited drinks such as beer, wine and rakı (traditional Turkish drink containing 40 proof alcohol and aniseed). We will have dinner at the hotel before going to the venue. Return and overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 5: Cappadocia - Pamukkale

Breakfast. On the way to Pamukkale, visit a Kervansaray a medieval inn on the Silk Road. Continue to visit a natural wonder of gigantic white waterfalls, stalactites and natural pools from hot springs. The ancient city of Hierapolis is located on this site. We visit the theater, the largest necropolis in Anatolia. Short visit to an outlet. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 6: Pamukkale - Kusadasi

Breakfast. Departure to Ephesus, capital of Asia Minor in Roman times. Visit to the archaeological remains where the temple of Hadrian, the library of Celsus, the great theater and the agora stand out. Possibility to visit a typical center of leather goods. Visit to Maria's house and departure to Pamukkale, transfer to the hotel and time for rest.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 7: Kusadasi

OPTIONAL EXCURSION- GREEK ISLAND OF CHIOS ( Full day with lunch ) (MIN 4 PAXS)

**Chios Excursion can be changed to Samos, according to availability.

***Does not operate from November to March

Transfer from hotel to Çesme port to take the ferry to Chios.

After immigration to enter the territory of Greece, we have free time to walk around the port area until 11:00 am, when we start our guided tour. First stop is in the village famous for the production of Mastic, a special vegetable resin of the island. We will continue to Kambos, where we will see some stone houses of Genoa, and then to the village of Armolia where we will see mastic trees and visit pottery workshops. We continue our excursion to the village of Mesta, where we will have the opportunity to walk through the labyrinthine streets since Byzantine times and visit Megalos Taksiarhis. Free time to walk in the village, and taste some local food. We will depart south to the village of Pyrgi, famous for its decorated houses.

OPTIONAL EXCURSION : DYDIMA, PRIENNA AND MILETUS (FULL DAY WITH LUNCH) (MINIMUM 4 PAXS) 

Depart to explore Dydima, Prienna and Miletus, the 3 most important Greek sites in antiquity (in modern Turkey) in the region of Ephesus. Didyma is famous for the Temple Apollo, the port of Miletus welcomed several famous philosophers, and Priene a place famous for its tours of antiquity, and was a port city, but now 16 km from the sea, in the hills of Mykale Mountain. It has several examples of Hellenistic art and architecture. The Prieno theater is one of the most beautiful of the Hellenistic world. And the temple of Athena Poisas was rebuilt by Alexander the Great as a gift to the city. After the press, we will go to Miletus. The Old City was for a time one of the largest cities in Anatolia. It was among the trade routes and for this reason it became a very prosperous city and had many colonies. Break for lunch and visit Didyma in the afternoon. This was not a city but a temple dedicated to the apostle. It was once one of the finest temples in the Hellenistic world. Return to the hotel around 5 pm.