Best of Turkiye 12 Days

Istanbul(Arrival day)

Upon Arrival at Istanbul Airport and Transfer to the Hotel

Old Istanbul

Visit to Topkapi Palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed (Entrance to Harem is included). We will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. After lunch break visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the Yerebatan underground Cistern. At the end of the tour, at request, free time to see the Grand Covered Bazaar (except Sundays). Overnight Istanbul.
*May be done as a walking tour if your hotel is located in Old City area. *Order of visits may be reversed..

Bosphorus Cruise with Beylerbeyi Palace

Visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market on the Golden Horn. Board your cruise* of the Bosphorus, the waterway, which separates the continents of Europe and Asia. Pass Rumeli fortress, built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 to prepare for his conquest of Istanbul. Time for lunch in a restaurant. Cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia and visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, then on to Camlica Hill for a magnificent view of Istanbul.
*Cruise is done by public boat.

Istanbul - Cappadocia

Take a flight to Cappadocia,Upon Arrival and transfer to your Hotel

Cappadocia

First meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; a journey in the past with its troglodyte houses, Lunch and visit  centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. Afternoon, walking in Pasabag near Zelve ; "fairy chimneys" where the voice of wind mixes with the "songs of fairies".After  visit the famous Zelve Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.

Cappadocia 

Visit the widest and enchanting underground city, Kaymakli features a maze of tunnels and rooms carved eight levels deep on earth.

Next, we will drive to the magnificent Ihlara Valley, where we will walk alongside the Melendiz River for about 1 hour which winds its way through the unique home to rock carved churches and underground dwellings. With nearly 100 in total, they line both sides of the gorge.

After lunch, we continue to Selime Monastery which is an astonishing rock-cut construction and the largest religious structure in the Cappadocia region with a cathedral sized church cut directly into the volcanic tuff. On the way back,  take pictures of Pigeon Valley and the unique rock formations.

Our final stop will be at the local onyx factory to see a demonstration on carving and shaping.

Konya

Drive to Konya, en route, visit to Sultanhani Caravanserai, roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day’s journey. Caravanserai is supported the flow of commerce, information and people across a network of trade routes of Asia, North Africa and South-Eastern Europe on the legendary Silk Road and the Spice road. In Konya center, visit to Mevlana Sufi temple. Mevlana is the founder of Sufism and whirling Dervishes. Continue to drive to Pamukkale

Pamukkale – Laodicea – Kusadasi 
Discovery of Travertine terraces and Hierapolis. The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are one of the most spectacular natural wonders we ever have seen from various mineral springs in a vast white cliff side, about 200 m overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have dripped down over a series of terraced levels and created a fairyland of bizarre solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins. It looks like creations from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle): “pamuk” for cotton and “kale” for castle. Moreover the water in the basins is changing its color according to how the light enters. Visit to Laodicea (present name Denizli) yet one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. Excavations still going on and an ancient city as beautiful as Ephesus will be uncovered soon. We see the ancient theatres, the remains of basilica which was recently uncovered, ancient stone water pipes, Temple A, agora, monumental fountain. Drive to Kusadasi (2,5 hours) for overnight.

Kusadasi – Ephesus

Visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. We will spend several hours walking in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Caesar, Cicero, Apostles Paul and John and many other familiar historical names. The recently opened Terrace Houses (optional visit with extra entrance fee) where the wealthiest Romans lived are an excellent example of sensitive excavation and presentation. The mosaics and frescos are spectacular. The next stop is The House of Virgin Mary. 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 he was buried. Visit to temple of Artemis to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 

Pergamum – Troy – Canakkale

Visit Pergamon or Pergamum that became an important kingdom during the Hellenistic period, Pergamon had the second best library in the ancient Greek civilisation (the ancient Library of Pergamum), after Alexandria. When the Ptolemies stopped exporting papyrus, partly because of competitors and partly because of shortages, the Pergamenes invented a new substance to use in codices, called pergaminus or parchment after the city. This was made of fine calf skin, a predecessor of vellum. Asclepion, located to the southwest of the lower city, was a sanctuary dedicated to the god of health, Asclepics which was one of the largest hospitals in history, is located to the west of the city, which was a great center of culture, art and medicine. Then visit Troy (Truva) is an ancient city which existed over 4000 years and known as the center of ancient civilizations. The remains of the city – the remains from the thieves and destructors – can be visit in here.

Trojan Horse – Gallipoli – Istanbul

Visit famous wooden Trojan Horse. Continue to Gallipoli and then across the Dardanelles to Istanbul