14 DAYS FLYING CARPET TOUR 2011 by Travel Shop Turkey

Tour Itinerary

14 DAYS FLYING CARPET ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey, arrival into Istanbul. Transfer from airport & check in to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul!!

Day 2 - Istanbul City Tour

(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. The rest of the evening is you're to enjoy Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3 - Istanbul to Izmir & Kusadasi

(Breakfast and dinner included)

Free Day until the afternoon for your domestic flight to Izmir. Transfer from airport & check in to your hotel in Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 4 - Kusadasi & Ephesus Tour

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

A fully Guided Ephesus Tour starts at 08:30, one of the best preserved ancient ruins in the world. A visit to Ephesus - once the commercial centre of the ancient world - is a highlight of any visit to Turkey. The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple, once considered one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World and rebuilt several times, dates in its latest form from the third century B.C. The tour of the ruins also includes a theatre, gymnasium, agora and baths, as well as the Library of Celsus. Overnight in Kusadasi/Ephesus.

Day 5 - Kusadasi & Daily Trip to Turkish Village Sirince

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

After breakfast at 09:00am depart for Turhish Village Tour. Sirince's construction style today belongs to Anatolian Greeks. The houses on the slope are all Orginal with their white paint. There is a good view at the slope are all Orginal with their white paint. There is a good view at the entrance of the entrance of the vilage and its streets are also wonderful. Sirince is very popular for its buiding style, house, streets and apple wine made by the vilagers. In 1922 the anatolian Greeks immigrated back to greece and Turks coming from Grece settled there. There are remains of 42 Churches and Monastires in and around the village that is why Sirince is also known as Ephesus in the mountains. Sirince is one of the Government Protected Areas (G. R. A) Of Izmir and so most of its Original Authentic buildings are well preserved, especially the two Churches in the village Center. Overnight in Kusadasi/Ephesus.

Day 6 - Kusadasi & Pamukkale Tour

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

08:30 we depart on our tour of Pamukkale travertine's and the ancient city of Hierapolis. You will visit Domitian Gate, Colonnaded Gate, and Cathedral, Red waters of Karahayit, Lunch, Pamukkale, and The Travertine's of Pamukkale. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 7 - Pamukkale to Antalya

(Breakfast and dinner included)

After breakfast depart to Antalya (5 hour drive). Antalya in ancient times it covered all Pamphylia that means the land of all tribes. Attalia, the ancient name of Antalya, is derived from that of the Pergamon King Attalos II Philadelphus, who founded the city on the Pamphylian seacoast around 150 BC. It is know that it was visited by St. Paul by way of Perge in 46 A.D., that it was an important trading centre in the 2nd century A.D. and that the Emperor Hadrian's visit in 130 A.D. was commemorated with new monuments. Check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to discover Antalya. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 8 - Antalya & Perge Aspendos Tour

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

After breakfast at 08:30 am depart to Antalya (30 minutes drive).

PERGE : According to the geographer Strabon. Perge has been founded by Akhas who came down here after the Trojan wars. Perge was first mentioned in 334 BC when Alexander the Great passed through here. In the following years, Perge went under the control of Pergamon when the Kingdom of Pergamon became a part of the Roman city. Especially in the first and the second centuries BC, Perge became one of the richest towns in Pamphylia. Therefore it is not a surprising that St. Paul started his campaign in Anatolia from Perge in 46 AD.

After the tour, departure for Aspendos. Lunch break on the way.

ASPENDOS: The eastern land of Antalya was called Pamphylia in ancient times. Aspendos (Belkis) lies 47 km east of Antalya in the Pamphylian plain. In 486 BC, Greeks and Persians had a great battle here (Greeks won, they didn't stay for long). During the reign of he Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-80 AD) Aspendos got its theatre, which is the best preserved of all. It was built by Romans and maintained by Byzantines and Seljuks. The ruins of the ancient city are extensive and include a stadium, an agora, and a basilica. Dinner at your Hotel. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 9 - Antalya & Cappadocia

(Breakfast and dinner included)

After breakfast, we depart for Antalya Airport for our domestic flight to Cappadocia. Transfer from Kayseri airport to your Cave hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore Cappadocia. Overnight in Cave Hotel in Cappadocia.

Day 10 - Cappadocia Tour

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

After breakfast at 09:00 am we shall start our Cappadocia tour including Goreme Open Air Museum, Dervent Valley, and Pasabag Valley. After lunch, we will make a shopping tour in which you will be aware of the ancient arts of Turkey like carpet weaving, leather manufacturing and jewellery. As this will be a guided tour, you will avoid being hassled which will enable you enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen. Free evening. Overnight in Cappadocia. Before the tour there is an option to go hot air ballooning:

The Hot Air Balloon descends at sunrise and the ride lasts for approximately 45 minutes; in which we will float through valleys, between fairy chimneys and caves. The balloon will rise approximately 1000 feet in which you will experience the extraordinary views Cappadocia has to offer. On landing, champagne will be served to toast arrival. It is a fantastic journey made by the eccentric landscapes and the rising sun.

Day 11 - Cappadocia Tour

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

After breakfast at 09:00 am we head to one of the most interesting sites of Cappadocia: Kaymakli Underground City. The Christians hid from the armies of Rome and the raids of hostile tribes in these self sufficient cities in which there were halls for stocks of crop, barns, rooms, kitchens & ventilation channels. The second part of our Cappadocia Tour will include Uchisar Castle, Avcilar, and Pidgeon Valley. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 12 - Cappadocia to Istanbul

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast you will have free time shoping in Cappadocia. Evening we depart for Kayseri Airport for our domestic flight to Istanbul. Transfer from Ataturk airport to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 13 - Istanbul

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast at 08:30am we depart for Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise. 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 14 - Istanbul

(Breakfast included)

We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the future in one of our tours again.After breakfast check out from the hotel. We make your return airport transfer services. Have a nice trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Turkey.

14 DAYS FLYING CARPET TOUR INCLUDES:

Arrival airport transfer from Istanbul Ataturk Airport

Domestic flight from Istanbul to Izmir

Domestic flight from Antalya to Cappadocia

Domestic flight from Cappadocia to Istanbul

4 nights hotel in Istanbul

3 nights hotel in Kusadasi

1 night hotel in Pamukkale

2 nights hotel in Antalya

3 nights hotel in Cappadocia

13 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 9 dinners

1 Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise

1 fully guided Istanbul City Tour

1 fully guided Ephesus tour

1 fully guided Turkish village tour

1 fully guided Pamukkale tour

1 fully guided Antalya tour

2 fully guided Cappadocia tour

All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary

Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach

Professional English-speaking tour guides

Please Note: Hagia Sophia closed on mondays, Topkapi Palace closed on tuesdays, Grand Bazaar closed on sundays.

Per Person | Shared Double | Single

3 Star Hotel | € 1,259.00 | € 1,391.00

4 Star Hotel | € 1,415.00 | € 1,450.00

5 Star Hotel | € 1,769.00 | € 2,195.00

NOTE: The above tour is based on a Daily Tour by plane in Turkey. This tour includes everything, you pay no extra charges !! Entrance fees make up 30% of your tour costs. If you would like to visit any other places not mentioned in this itinerary we are happy to make a tailor-made tour to suit your individual requirements. Just let us know how long you would like to stay and which places you are interested in visiting. If there are less than 4 weeks between your tour Booking date and tour start date, then the tour price is subject to change according to domestic flight prices. 40% deposit needs to be paid after the confirmation and the balance needs to be paid 4 weeks before the tour start date. When you book this tour you will get the TravelShop Turkey guarantee that no promise will be broken every aspect has been taken into account for your enjoyment, and all the hard work is done on your behalf.

GROUP BOOKING DISCOUNTS

Please ask for special group discount if you are a group more than 6 people.

OFFICE LOCATIONS:

If you are looking for a local agency in your area to book this tour, please inform us so we can pass you our local agency contact details. We have representative agencies working for us worldwide. Forward us your contact details today so we can assist you with our nearest local agency.