Tour Itinerary
12 DAYS TURKISH EXPLORER TOUR ITINERARY:
Day 01 - Friday - Istanbul - Arrival Day
Welcome to Turkey, arrival into Istanbul. Transfer from airport & check in to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 02 - Saturday - Istanbul City Tour - Ankara
(Breakfast included)
We depart at 08:30 for the Istanbul City Tour. TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.
HIPPODROME Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Lunch break and then we head to the SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar) the air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice. After the Istanbul tour depart for Ankara by plane. Arrive to Ankara and check in to your hotel and The rest of the evening is you`re to enjoy Ankara. Overnight in Ankara.
Day 03 - Sunday - Ankara - Cappadocia Tour
(Breakfast and dinner included)
In the morning visit to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum at which numerous remnants from Stone Age, Neolithic Age, Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians and many others are on display; Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the national hero who founded modern Republic of Turkey. Then continue on to Cappadocia. After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake pass by the 13th century Seljukian Caravanserai Agzikarahan. After visiting Kaymakli Underground City, the place early Christians hid from persecutors, proceed to the hotel in Cappadocia for overnight. Overnight in Cappadocia
Day 04 - Monday - Cappadocia Tour
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Optional balloon tour. Depart from the hotel at 09.30-10.00 depending on the arrival time of the participants and visit the valleys where animal-like natural formations like camels and fair chimneys are abundant. Drive on to Pasabagi in Zelve area where monks used to live in seclusion in rock cut rooms. Proceed to the pottery town of Avanos where Kizilirmak (Hallys), the longest river of Turkey, meanders leaving the red clay on its banks that has been the raw material of pottery for centuries. In the afternoon visit to Open Air Museum in Goreme to visit to the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. Stop by Pigeon Valley near Uchisar. Shopping time for the well-known merits of the area. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 05 - Tuesday - Konya - Pamukkale
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Today's ride will be fairly long and tiring due to the long distance between Cappadocia and Pamukkale and lack of convenient lodging location. Drive to Konya to visit to the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the world-wide famous mystic figure. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Day 06 - Wednesday - Pamukkale Tour - Kusadasi
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Tour the ruins of Hierapolis including the magnificently preserved cemetery "Necropolis", the Main Street and Gates, the Thermal Baths, the Roman Theatre and the Museum. In the afternoon tour Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite; visit the Museum, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Theatre, the Stadium, the Agora, the Hadrian Baths, the Odeon, and the Bishop's Palace. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 07 - Thursday - Ephesus Tour - Kusadasi
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Morning tour to Ephesus area with Ephesus Antique City (Hillside Houses are excluded; entrance requires additional admission fee), one of the most popular ancient sites of Turkey with many acres of carefully excavated ruins; Virgin Mary's House, where St. Mary is supposed to spend her last years together with St. John. Selcuk Ephesus Museum or St. John Church. Time for shopping. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 08 - Friday - Pergamon - Troy - Canakkale
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Early departure for Bergama and visit to the Asclepion and Acropol with the well preserved remains. In the afternoon continue on to Troy, the place where the legendary Trojan War took place as described in the historical work of Homer of Smyrna. After visiting the site with nine inhabitation levels covering a period of 3000 years, drive to Canakkale for overnight (Due to the limited hotel availability we also keep the right to stay in the surroundings of Canakkale)..
Day 09 - Saturday - Gallipoli Tour - Istanbul
(Breakfast and dinner included)
After breakfast sail to the other side of Dardanelles by a ferryboat and drive to Istanbul with visit to Gallipoli, historically famous for being the site of many battles - particularly involving the Allied Forces including Australians and New Zealanders during World War I. Arrive in Istanbul and check in to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 10 - Sunday - Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour
(Breakfast included)
We depart at 08:30 for the Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and shopping tour.
SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar) The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other concievable herb and spice.
BOSPHORUS ON BOAT A traditional excursion by boat along the waterway seperating Europe and Asia.The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavillions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of is marble facade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries. RUMELI FORTRESS Built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul, was completed in only four months to control and protect Bosphorus. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world. BEYLERBEYI PALAS The summer residence of ottoman sultans whit its orginal furnuture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian. BOSPHORUS BRIDGE unique change to step from one continent (Asia) to another (Europe) CAMLICA HILL the highest point in istanbul. at the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the bosphours from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional style. SHOPPING POSSIBILITY AT BEDESTEN Exhebition the traditional silk weaving girls at the carpet weaving courses autohorised by The Ministry of national education Possibility to see jewellery, handscrafts centre and leatherware show. Free time providend for shopping. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 11 - Monday - Istanbul - Turkish Night Show
(Breakfast and dinner included)
1001 Night Show in Istanbul
Evening Show Starts: 20:30 pm and end about 23:45pm with having dinner.
Enjoy your night life in Istanbul : We have dinner in a first class restaurant "ORIENT HOUSE RESTAURANT", with half a bottle of wine or a soft drink and will be watching a spectacular floor show of famous belly-dancers with full night, traditional live 1001 NIGHTS Anatolian Folklore Groups featuring popular musical instruments and Turkish singers with surprises. Around midnight we will transfer you to hotel where you stayed.
Day 12 - Sunday - Istanbul - End of Tour
(Breakfast included)
After breakfast check out from the hotel. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the future in one of our tours again. We make your return airport transfer services. Have a nice trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Turkey.
12 DAYS TURKISH EXPLORER TOUR INCLUDES:
Arrival airport transfer from Istanbul Ata
turk Airport
Domestic flight from Istanbul to Ankara
Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour
Turkish Night Show
11 breakfasts and 7 dinners
4 nights hotel in Istanbul
1 night hotel in Ankara
2 nights hotel in Cappadocia
1 night hotel in Pamukkale
2 nights hotel in Kusadasi
1 night hotel in Canakkale
1 fully guided Istanbul City Tour
1 fully guided Ankara tour
2 fully guided Cappadocia tours
1 fully guided Konya tour
1 fully guided Pamukkale tour
1 fully guided Ephesus tour
1 fully guided Pamukkale tour
1 fully guided Pergamon tour
1 fully guided Troy tour
1 fully guided Gallipoli ANZAC tour
All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
Professional English-speaking tour guides
Return airport transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport
12 DAYS TURKISH EXPLORER TOUR PRICES IN EURO:
Per Person | Shared Double | Single
3 Star Hotel | € 979.00 | € 1,129.00
4 Star Hotel | € 1,069.00 | € 1,319.00
5 Star Hotel | € 1,509.00 | € 1,989.00
