Main Info
THE BEST OF TURKEY
PRICE: $799 USD *Per person. (Includes the boat trip on the Bosphorus River).
Single supplement: $180 USD.
Rate applies from OCT 2022 to MAR 2023
(BLACKOUT PERIOD (10DEC22 TO 15JAN23)
Important: Price does not include international flights
Departures from any city in the US or Latin America
*Additional charges may apply in high season.*
IT INCLUDES:
• Lodging
• Transfers arrival/departure Istanbul.
• Tour in air-conditioned vehicles with a Spanish-Portuguese guide.
• Daily breakfast.
• 4 lunches and 7 dinners.
• Visits according to program.
• Premium travel insurance.
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• Personal expenses.
• Tips for the guide and driver.
• Optional excursions.
• Transfers not indicated, or on days other than those of arrival or departure of the program.
• No service not specified.
ITINERARY
Day 1. ISTANBUL
Arrival at Istanbul airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Day 2. ISTANBUL-ANKARA
Breakfast. Departure to the center of Istanbul to visit the Taksim neighborhood, an area formerly known as “Para” that still harbors the rich architectural heritage of the 19th century, touring the famous Istikla pedestrian street and the Church of Santo Antonio. Next, we will pass by the beautiful Dolmabahce Palace and cross to the oldest part of the city through the Galata Bridge and then we will see the famous Orient Express station. Continuation to the heart of Old Constantinople, in Sultanahmet Square to appreciate the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Opportunity to take an optional excursion ‘Ride through the Bosphorus’, a boat tour through the strait that separates the city into two continents with lunch in a typical food restaurant.
Departure to Ankara, current capital of Turkey. Arrival, dinner and accommodation.
Day 3. ANKARA-CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast. We will visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic, and learn more about the history of the country. After lunch, departure to Cappadocia. On the way we will visit the salt lake, an opportunity to take surreal photos, and then we will visit a Caravanserai, lodging from the time of the Silk Road. Arrival in Cappadocia, dinner and accommodation.
Day 4. CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast. Departure to visit this wonderful region with its fascinating and original landscape, formed by volcanic lava. Visit the countless monasteries and chapels of Goreme, carved into the rocks and decorated with frescoes from the 10th and 11th centuries. Visit the impressive valleys of the region and enjoy the views of the “Fairy Chimneys”, highlighting the Red Valley and the Avcilar Valley. We will continue to the troglodyte village of Uchisar and continue with a visit to an underground city built by ancient local communities to protect themselves from attacks. Visit of the Pasabag Valley, with its curious volcanic rock formations. Visit to a center of jewelry and typical stones of Cappadocia, and to a carpet factory. Lunch. Visit the Ortahisar village, a natural fortress that is mixed with stone houses and churches. Free time. Back to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.
Departures: April 1, 8 and 16/Dec/2022 to 31/Mar/2023
Day 5. CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast. Day off. Possibility of taking the optional excursion “Cappadocia winter capital-Erciyesski resort” experience in the snow with transfers, clothing rental and ascent by cable car and Turkish-style barbecue. Or “autumn colors in Cappadocia” to visit the Ihlara Valley, one of the most beautiful for its vegetation, we will visit the Selime monastery, the red church of Sirvrihisar, we will have a stop at the Belisirma canopy. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 6. CAPPADOCIA-KONYA-PAMUKKALE
Breakfast. Departure to Konya, where we will visit the ancient Monastery of the whirling dervishes founded by Mevlana, the famous mystic and poet. Continuation to Pamukkale to visit ancient Hierapolis and Algodon Castle, a true natural wonder, a giant waterfall, stalactites and natural pools. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 7. PAMUKKALE-EPHESUS-IZMIR or KUSADASI
Breakfast. Visit Ephesus, the best preserved Greco-Roman city in Asia Minor from the 1st and 2nd centuries that holds treasures such as the Roman Theatre, Celsus Library and Marmol Street. Lunch. We will visit the last house of the mother of Jesus, today it is a place of pilgrimage. Continuing with the visit of a leather store. Dinner and accommodation.
From 15/April to 30/September
Day 5. CAPPADOCIA-KONYA-PAMUKKALE
Breakfast. Departure to Konya, where we will visit the ancient Monastery of the whirling dervishes founded by Mevlana, the famous mystic and poet. Continuation to Pamukkale to visit ancient Hierapolis and Algodon Castle, a true natural wonder, a giant waterfall, stalactites and natural pools. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 6. PAMUKKALE
Breakfast. Day off. Possibility of taking the optional excursion “Turkish Maldives” to visit the Keloglan Cave, the city of Laodicea and the opportunity to bathe in Lake Salda with lunch included. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 7. PAMUKKALE-EPHESUS-IZMIR or KUSADASI
Breakfast. Visit of Ephesus, the best preserved Greco-Roman city in Asia Minor from the 1st and 2nd centuries, which maintains treasures such as the Roman Theater, the Library of Celsus and Marmol Street. Lunch. We will visit the last house of the mother of Jesus, today it is a place of pilgrimage. Continuing with the visit of a leather store. Dinner and accommodation.
From 7/October to 9/December
Day 5. CAPPADOCIA-KONYA-PAMUKKALE
Breakfast. Departure to Konya, where we will visit the ancient Monastery of the whirling dervishes founded by Mevlana, the famous mystic and poet. Continuation to Pamukkale to visit ancient Hierapolis and Algodon Castle, a true natural wonder, a giant waterfall, stalactites and natural pools. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 6. PAMUKKALE-EPHESUS-IZMIR or KUSADASI
Breakfast. Visit of Ephesus, the best preserved Greco-Roman city in Asia Minor from the 1st and 2nd centuries that maintains treasures such as the Roman Theater, the Library of Celsus and the Marble Street. Lunch. We will visit the last house of the mother of Jesus, today it is a place of pilgrimage. Continuing with the visit of a leather store. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 7. KUSADASI
Breakfast. Day off. Possibility of taking the optional excursion “Turkish Tuscany” to visit the city of Izmir, Selcuk, the Basilica of San Juan and taste the delicious wines of Sirince. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 8. KUSADASI/IZMIR
Breakfast. Day off. Possibility of making the optional excursion to the Greek Island of Chios, to know: the production of mastic, the town of Mesta and its labyrinthine streets from the Byzantine era, Pyrgiy its houses decorated in black and white, the Mavra Volia volcanic beach in Empoios . Accommodation.
Day 9. IZMIR. KUSADASI-BURSA-ISTANBUL
Breakfast. Departure to Bursa and panoramic visit of this important city that was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Lunch. Visit of the green mosque and the green mausoleum, symbols of the city and that bear this name for its rich decoration of lznik tiles. You will also have the opportunity to take a walk through the Silk Market, where you can appreciate antiques, silks, perfumes. and pashminas. Continuation to Istanbul, arrival and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 10. ISTANBUL
Breakfast. Day off. Possibility of taking the optional guided tour with lunch “jewels of Constantinople + Cistenar Basilica. Enter the historic center of the city, to observe the variety of vestiges of the different empires that shaped the current Istanbul: the imposing Topkapi Palace, residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire, Hagia Sophia, the Roman Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque with its more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles brought from Iznik, the Grand Bazaar, etc. Accommodation.
Day 11. ISTANBUL
Breakfast. Transfer to the Airport (IST). End of services.
Notice:
– The order of visits in Istanbul may vary.
– Lodging could be in Izmir or Kusadasi, depending on the season.
