13 Day Turkish Treasures with Cappadocia

DAY 1, Sunday – Depart for Turkey

Depart for Turkey

DAY 2, Monday – Arrive in Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 7:30 PM, followed by a light dinner. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 4 PM
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Dinner

DAY 3, Tuesday – Morning City Tour of Istanbul
Embark on a half day morning tour* of Istanbul, the only city that straddles two continents. Your tour includes the newly restored Blue Mosque, showcasing an impressive combination of blue Iznik tiles and intricate stonework. Then, visit St. Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This great Byzantine Basilica was built in the 6th century, and was later converted to a mosque. Continue to the Hippodrome, the place where chariot races and competitive athletic events took place during the Roman period. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Perhaps, embark on the optional cruise along the Bosphorus, the winding straits separating Europe and Asia. View humble fishing villages and suspension bridges set against the dramatic outline of the Strait. Then to the Grand Bazaar, where bargaining is an art. This evening, savor dinner together
*Due to traffic congestion the order of sightseeing may change
Optional: Half Day Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise & Grand Bazaar (PM)
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4, Wednesday – Spice Market, Troy, Drive to Canakkale
This morning, head to the lively Spice Market with its unforgettable aromas. Afterward, depart Istanbul and drive towards the city of Canakkale. Proceed to the classical city of Troy. Tour this 4000-year-old city and legendary center of the Trojan War, made immortal by Homer’s epic poem The Iliad. Arrive and check into the hotel with free time before dinner
Overnight: Canakkale
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 5, Thursday – Pergamum, Drive to Izmir
This morning, drive to Pergamum, a powerful kingdom during the ancient Hellenistic period, and visit the Asclepion, the ancient Roman spa center. Enjoy lunch in a local village before continuing to Izmir, a city believed to be the birthplace of Homer, where you will arrive in the late afternoon
Overnight: Izmir
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6, Friday – Full Day in Izmir
Spend a full day at leisure in Izmir. Or, join the optional tour to Ancient Ephesus where the Temple of Artemis, one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,” once stood. Walk along the 2000 year old marble streets; see the Great Theater, the Odeon, the Fountain of Trajan, Temple of Hadrian, and the Library of Celsus. Visit the peaceful House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be her last residence
Optional: Full Day Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary with Lunch
Overnight: Izmir
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 7, Saturday – Necropolis & Hierapolis at Pamukkale
Today, depart in the early morning from Izmir and drive to Pamukkale en route to Antalya where you will arrive in the evening. Visit the Necropolis and the ancient city of Hierapolis “Holy City”, situated atop the Pamukkale hot springs, which together constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Pamukkale hot springs have served as a thermal bath since the 2nd century B.C., primarily for the ailing and elderly, many of whom have retired here
Overnight: Antalya
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 8, Sunday – Full Day in Antalya
Spend the day at leisure in Antalya. Founded by King Attalos of Pergamum as “Heaven on Earth,” Antalya is an international resort city that has become a prime destination in Turkey. Join the optional Cruise by Wooden Boat & Antalya Archaeological Museum. Board a charming wooden boat and cruise along the beautiful coast. Take in the magnificent views of the rugged cliffs, hidden coves and golden sandy beaches. After disembarkation, visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum with its artifacts dating back over 2500 years. Take a city tour of Antalya that includes Hadrian’s Gate, the Clock Tower, city walls dating back to the 2nd century
Optional: Cruise by Wooden Boat & Antalya Archaeological Museum
Overnight: Antalya
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 9, Monday – Visit Caravanserai of Sultanhan en route to Cappadocia
Depart for Cappadocia, visiting the magnificent Caravanserai of Sultanhan en route. Time permitting, meet children at a local school and continue to Nevsehir in Cappadocia. Upon arrival in Cappadocia, check into your hotel with free time before dinner. Tonight, attend the optional Whirling Dervish performance; their captivating mystical ritual connects one in infinite spinning to perfect harmony
Optional: Whirling Dervishes Performance (PM)
Overnight: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 10, Tuesday – Full Day in Cappadocia
Spend the day at leisure or, join the optional full day Cappadocia tour*. Visit the Open-Air Museum in the Goreme Valley to see the early Christian churches and the Ozkonak Underground City. Afterward, visit a carpet atelier and watch a demonstration of traditional Turkish carpet weaving. The tour ends at the village of Avanos, famous for its pottery-making tradition. Return to the hotel with free time before dinner tonight
Optional: Full Day Cappadocia
Overnight: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 11, Wednesday – Travel to Ankara, Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk
This morning, depart for Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Upon arrival, visit the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic. Leading up to the Mausoleum, also known as the Anitkabir, lies a vast brick courtyard and monumental avenue lined with NeoHittite stone statues and cenotaphs beneath its colonnades. The most noted cenotaphs within the complex are those of General Ismet Inonu, a close comrade of Ataturk’s and his successor, and that of Ataturk himself, a large and highly decorative marble cenotaph, beneath which lies his tomb. Continue to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, built in two Ottoman buildings located near Ankara Castle. The museum, exhibits Anatolian archaeological artifacts, as well as artifacts from the Paleolithic Age to the present
Overnight: Ankara
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 12, Thursday – Return to Istanbul
Depart for Istanbul, arriving in the early afternoon. Visit Topkapi Palace, residence of Ottoman Sultans housing the richness of 700 years. The jeweled turban crests, silken caftans and priceless Chinese porcelains of the palace bear witness to the grandeur of a bygone era. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Tonight at dinner, bid farewell to your Tour Manager
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 13, Friday – Depart Turkey
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast