Magical Turkey

Remainder of the day at leisure

Overnight  Istanbul

Highlights

Post breakfast, you will be picked up at the Hotel for your City Tour

Highlights

Topkapi  Palace , Hagia Sophia , Blue Mosque , Grand Bazaar

am –   Topkapi    Palace

Soak up the opulence of Topkapi Palace. The Topkapi Palace (Turkish:Ṭopḳapu Sarāyı), in Istanbul, is one of the oldest historical palaces in the world. It served as the main place of residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman Sultans for nearly four centuries ( between the 15th and 19th ) It was turned into a museum in 1924. The jeweled turban crests, silken caftans, priceless Chinese porcelains of the palace and approximately 300.000 archive documents, bear witness to the grandeur of a bygone era. Topkapi Palace is an interesting attraction point for tourists from all around the world with a huge impact on visitors who want to discover the history of Ottoman Empire 

Lunch break - enroute

pm – Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque

The Hagia Sophia, whose name means “holy wisdom,” was built by Justinian. It is a domed monument originally built as a Cathedral in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkiye) in the sixth century A.D. It contains two floors centered on a giant nave that has a great dome ceiling, along with smaller domes, towering above. The magnificent St. Sophia, with its massive dome was a daring engineering feat in the 6th century – architects still marvel at the buildings many innovations, once considered the greatest church in Christendom. It was proclaimed a Mosque soon after the conquest of the city by the Ottomans in 1453, that later was converted to a Museum You can witness Christian Mosaics with Islamic Scrolls throughout.

The Sultan Ahmet Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque, was completed in 1617 just prior to the untimely death of its then 27-year old eponymous patron, Sultan Ahmet I. The architect Mehmet dedicated the mosque to Sultan Ahmet 111. The Mosque dominates Istanbul’s majestic skyline with its elegant composition of ascending domes, six slender soaring minarets and 21,043 pieces of blue tile

Evening – Shopping at Grand Bazaar

Visit to the World-Famous 15th century Grand Bazaar in the Old City, a favorite place for shopping. You can wander the labyrinth of streets and passages with more than 4,000 shops displaying jewellery, leather goods, carpets and more. Enjoy the art of bargaining and shop to your heart’s content. 

Overnight  Istanbul

Highlights

am – Bosphorus Cruise & Spice Market Shopping

Post breakfast enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Bosphorus, the winding strait separating Europe and Asia. View humble fishing villages, wooden Ottoman villas and contrasting suspension bridges set against the dramatic outline of the Strait.

 Afterward, visit the lively Spice Market with its unforgettable aromas and shop till you drop ( for nuts, herbs ,Turkish Delight etc)

pm -  Later, head to the airport to board an afternoon flight to Cappadocia

Time permitting, we will tour the ceramic town in Avanos.  

Dinner & Overnight Cappadocia

Highlights

Cappadocia, Turkey, is a magical, moon-like region famous for its surreal landscapes of "fairy chimneys" (cone-shaped rock formations), ancient cave dwellings, rock-cut churches with Byzantine frescoes, and vast underground cities, all carved from soft volcanic tuff by erosion. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it's a major tourist destination, especially known for sunrise hot air balloon rides, hiking through valleys like Rose Valley, exploring historic sites like the Göreme Open Air Museum, and experiencing unique cave hotels. The surreal landscape of Cappadocia was formed millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions that covered the plateau with soft tuff rock. Wind and water erosion sculpted this soft rock into the spectacular pillars, cones, and spires known as "fairy chimneys"

am – Optional  Hot Air Balloon - Iconic sunrise flights offering breathtaking aerial views of the valleys.( prior breakfast )

Post breakfast, you will be picked up from the Hotel for the start of the guided tour of Cappadocia. Places we will visit will be as follows 

Pigeon Valley, Red Canyon , Uchisar Castle, Estempe Panorama, Goreme Open air Museum, Dervent Valley, Avanos Village .Urgup Town, Pasabag Valley 

Evening - we will visit a Jewellery store

Dinner & Overnight Cappadocia

Highlights

Enroute - Visit to Rumi Mausoleum

Konya, the old biblical city Iconium, where St. Pavlus stepped, was also the capital of Seljouk Kingdom. Upon arrival in Konya, we visit the Monastery of Whirling derwishes and the Mausoleum of Mevlana Celalledin Rumi. He was a 13th-century Persian poet, an Islamic dervish and a Sufi mystic. He is regarded as one of the greatest spiritual masters and poetical intellects. Born in 1207 AD, he belonged to a family of learned theologians. He made use of everyday life & circumstances to describe the spiritual world. The Mevlevi Sufi order was founded to follow his teachings

Drive to Antalya for Dinner & Overnight

Highlights

Today on our half day sightseeing tour of Antalya, we visit the landmarks such as the Republic Sq, which is the testament to Türkiye’s journey to Independence and formation of its Republic. The old City Kaleci ( Old Town ) known for its narrow cobblestone streets with Old Harbour and Bazaar, which has structures dating back from Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman eras. Followed by visit to the Hadrian Gate, a memorial built by Roman Emperor Hadrian upon his visit in 130 CE as well as the Broken Minaret, which belongs to the ruined Korkut Mosque. And finally to one of the most famous waterfalls, the Karpuzkaldiran Waterfalls

Dinner & Overnight Antalya

Highlights

Post breakfast, drive to Pamukkale . Upon arrival, sightseeing tour of the city

Visit the old greco roman city of Hierapolis , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its famous Necropolis, the Theatre Agora , the Martyrium of St. Philip and last but not least the Pools of Cleopatra presented to her by her beloved Marc Anthony as a wedding gift. 

Sightseeing of the Cotton Castles continue -. Here spectacular natural hot springs with high calcium bicarbonate content cascade over the edge of the cliffs, leaving white terraces (the ‘cotton’). It;s been used as a spa since the 200BC. Though you won’t be able to bathe in these travertines, you can take a walk through them (after removing your shoes). 

Dinner & Overnight Pamukkale

Highlights

Post breakfast, check out of your hotel in Pamukkale & drive to Kusadasi

Enroute, you will visit a leather factory where you will be entertained with a fashion show with latest designs and have time to do some high-end shopping. Time permitting, you will also pay visits to carpet,ceramic and textile shops

pm – Visit to the Cottage of Mother Mary

St. Mary, mother of Jesus, supposedly spent the last years of her life in Ephesus. According to this tradition, Mary arrived at Ephesus together with St. John and lived there until her Assumption (according to the Catholic doctrine) or Dormition (according to the Orthodox beliefs). The House of the Virgin Mary (Meryem Ana Evi in Turkish) which can still be visited today. It is a place where, according to the beliefs of many people, Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent the last years of her life.

Optional visit to Ephesus, a stunning preserved ancient city followed by visit to the Temple of Artemis, which was then one of the seven wonders of the World 

Dinner &  Overnight  Kusadasi

Highlights

am – Visit to the Cottage of Mother Mary

St. Mary, mother of Jesus, supposedly spent the last years of her life in Ephesus. According to this tradition, Mary arrived at Ephesus together with St. John and lived there until her Assumption (according to the Catholic doctrine) or Dormition (according to the Orthodox beliefs). The House of the Virgin Mary (Meryem Ana Evi in Turkish) which can still be visited today. It is a place where, according to the beliefs of many people, Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent the last years of her life.

Post visit, check out from hotel and drive to the airport to board flight to Istanbul

Highlights