BEST OF TURKEY

Duration: 12 Days /11 Nights
Covers: Istanbul - Ephesus - Pamukkale - Pergamum-Cappadocia - Mt. Nemrut                                                                                                         
Dates: All year around
Price: $1.199 USD P/P in double

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Arrival Istanbul
Arrival to Istanbul, transfer from the airport to hotel. Overnight

Day 2  - Byzantine & Ottoman Relics Tour (B-L)
08:30am, after breakfast departing for full guided Byzantine & Ottoman Relics Tour. Visiting: *Haghia Sophia Museum, Bule Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace and Sulaymanie Misque. Overnight. (*Haghia-Sophia is closed on Monday, replace St. Sauveur in Chora.) Tonight you will be transferred to the bus station and overnight bus trip to Kusadasi. (10 hrs)

Day 3  - Arrival Kusadasi - Ephesus Tour (B-L)
Arrive early to Kusadasi  and transfer to the hotel to check-in. After depart for fully guided Ephesus Tour. Visit Temple of Artemis, Ephesus Ruins (Theatre, Celsius Library, Agora, Odeon, Domitianus Temple, Trajan Fountain, Roman Latrine). Lunch and visit House of Virgin Mary. Transfer to Hotel and Overnight.

Day 4  - Pamukkale Tour (B-L)
After breakfast depart for fully guided Pamukkale tour to visit the ancient city of Hierapolis . The ruins of the biggest Necropolis Graveyard of the ancient world, Roman Baths, Bazilica and calcium cliffs, after Lunch Red Spring. Swimming in Kleopatra Thermal Pool (not included tour prices). After the tour transfer to Hotel and Overnight.

Day 5  - Pergamum  Tour  (B-L)
After breakfast, departing for fully guided Pergamum tour.  Visit to Aesculapium, ancient medical center built in the name of Aesculapis, "God of Medicine". Lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch continue to Pergamum Acropolis. Visit Athena and Trojan Temples, Temple of Zeus, Temple of Dionysos, Gymnasium of Youth, Odeon, Library, Agora, Great Theatre and Roman Bath. Tour ends around 18:00. Tonight, overnight bus trip to Cappadocia. (11 hrs)

Day 6  - Arrival Cappadocia (B)
Arrival in the morning and transfer to Special Class Cave Hotel. We rest today...Overnight.

Day 7  - Cappadocia Tour 1 (B-L)
After breakfast departing for full day Cappadocia Tour 1. Visiting: Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy-chimneys. Zelve Open Air Museum, where three canyons meet in the valley. Pasabag (Monk’s Valley), Avanos for lunch, Goreme Open Air Museum and Uchisar. Return to Hotel and overnight.

Day 8  - Cappadocia Tour 2 (B-L)
After breakfast in the hotel departing for full day Cappadocia Tour 2. Visiting: Derinkuyu Underground City. From Derinkuyu, continue to the Valley of Ihlara. On the way back visit the Monastaries in Selime Village and the last stop will be 13th century Seljukian Caravanserai on the ancient silk road and tour ends. Return to Hotel and overnight.

Day 9  - Mt. Nemrut (B-L-D)
Departure in the morning from Cappadocia. After passed Kayseri we will stop to visit the 13 th century Seljukian Caravanserai “Karatayhan”. The next stop will be in Pinarbasi for a short tea break then drive to Tekir for lunch. After lunch drive to Kahramanmaras. We will stop there and have the worldwide famous ice-cream in a local cafe then drive to KAHTA. Arrival, check in to hotel, relaxing for a while then we will drive to Atatürk Dam’s lake for dinner. After dinner drive back to the hotel and overnight in 3 star hotel.

Day 10  - Mt. Nemrut - Sanliurfa (B-L-D)
Very early departure to drive up to Mt.Nemrut. After get off the minibuses 25 minutes climbing on foot to the top where we will watch the beautiful sunrise between the colossal size statues and heads of the Kings and Gods. After sunrized visit the ruins of Nemrut and free time to walk around then drive back to Kahta using different road to see the ruins of ARSEMIA, Roman bridge of CENDERE and tümülüs tomb of KARAKUS. Arrival in Kahta, breakfast and relaxing then drive to Sanliurfa and on the way we will stop to see ATATÜRK DAM which is the biggest Dam in MiddleEast. Arrival in Sanliurfa, check in to hotel and have lunch in a local restaurants which is famous with its Kababs. After lunch visit the oriental old covered bazaar,Abraham’s Cave and the pools of holy carp surrounding it then drive to HARRAN a village of spellbinding mud-brick beehive houses mentioned in the book of Genesis where Abraham spend last years of his life. Visit the ruins of Harran including city walls ,oldest Islamic university and the castle dated to 8th century.Then free time to walk around in Harran village and drive back to the hotel, dinner and overnight in Sanliurfa.

Day 11  - Cappadocia (B-L)
Departure from Sanliurfa after breakfast ,next stop will be Birecik which is famous with its Bald-Ibis (Kelaynak) birds. We will visit the breeding farm then drive back to Cappadocia. Arrive in Cappadocia and check-into same cave hotel.

Day 12  - Back to Istanbul (B)
After breakfast transfer to the bus station and bus back to Istanbul.

Legend: B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner