Jewels of Turkey Tours 10 Days

This 10-day Jewels of Turkey Tours takes you from the Bosphorus to the Mediterranean and Turkey’s Riviera. You will see ancient ruins (Ephesus, Pamukkale, Side, Perge, Aspendos), Byzantine and Ottoman ruins, and step on two continents (Istanbul),the geographical wonder of Cappadocia

DAY 01: ISTANBUL – WELCOME TO ISTANBUL!

Our representative will meet you at your point of arrival and transfer you to your hotel in Istanbul. You will then enjoy rest of your day on your own.

*Optional Bosphorous dinner cruise. See description.

DAY 02: ISTANBUL (OLD CITY) TOUR  (B,L)

After breakfast at your hotel, we’ll depart around 08:30 AM for your tour of the Istanbul Old City. We will visit the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, the German Fountain of Wilhelm II. After lunch we will explore Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 03: ISTANBUL  BOSPHORUS CRUISE AND TWO CONTINENTS TOUR– KUSADASI(B,L)

This Day Tour of Istanbul combines the best of both worlds, experiencing the Bosphorus up close and personal, viewing Istanbul’s extraordinary skyline and visiting a few of Istanbul’s historic sights. You will spend a few hours in Asia before crossing from Asia back to Europe in the blink of an eye over the Bosphorus Bridge

The Bosphorus, a waterway famed in the ancient world, provides the backdrop to all that makes Istanbul – exotic (the song of the Muezzin, crowded bazaars),  Eastern (domes and minarets) and yet Western (cafes and the Tram), ferry traffic, oil tankers and container ships, an extraordinary skyline. In addition to visiting the Spice Bazaar, the Rustem Pasa Mosque and touring Dolmabahce Palace, you will have lunch on the Asia side of Istanbul, view Istanbul’s famous landmarks from the Bosphorus, drive through several of Istanbul’s neighbourhoods and drive across the Bosphorus Bridge. In the afternoon we will take a flight to Izmir and transfer to the hotel in Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.

DAY 04: KUSADASI (EPHESUS) TOUR (B,L)

Meet your driver and guide in the hotel lobby at 9:00 AM and depart for your tour of Ephesus, an important city of the ancient world. You’ll visit the Temple of Artemis (Diana), one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the House of Virgin Mary, where many believe she spent the final years of her life and Isa Bey Mosque, an impressive mosque from the XIV century AD in Selcuk. Transfer to your hotel in Kusadasi.  Overnight in Kusadasi.

 DAY 05: PAMUKKALE (TOUR) ANTALYA (B,L)

After breakfast at your hotel, you will depart for Pamukkale at 06:45AM with your driver and guide. Pamukkale or the “Cotton Castle” is famous for its healing thermal mineral waters, and beautiful snow-white petrified waterfalls. After lunch in Pamukkale, you’ll visit Hierapolis, the ancient city known for its magnificently preserved Necropolis. You will see the Main Street and Gates, the Thermal Baths, the Devil’s Hole, and the Theatre. Optional: Swimming in Cleopatra’s Pool. At the end of the tour, about 4:30PM, transfer to a bus or car and depart for Antalya.  Arrive in Antalya about 8:30PM, and transfer to your hotel in Antalya.  Overnight in Antalya.

DAY 06: ANTALYA – (PERGE-ASPENDOS-KURSUNLU) TOUR   (B,L)

After breakfast meet your guide in the hotel lobby at 7:45AM. The tour starts with Perge. After Perge we will visit the Aspendos Roman theatre.  Our last stop will be the Kursunlu waterfall. End of the tour transfer to your hotel in Antalya.  Overnight in Antalya.

DAY 07: ANTALYA-CAPPADOCIA 9 HRS (B)

After breakfast meet your driver in the hotel lobby at 9AM for a full day bus to Cappadocia, stopping along the way for lunch.  Note that this lunch is not included in the tour price.  Arrive in Cappadocia about 7PM.  Transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia.  Overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY 08: CAPPADOCIA (UNDERGROUND CITY) TOUR (B,L)

After breakfast, meet your driver and guide in the hotel lobby. We’ll depart for your Cappadocia Underground City tour. First, we will visit Red valley to explore its famous rock – cut churches and Hike 5 km through the Gulludere valley. We’ll visit Cavusin village, famous for its houses and churches of Christian clergymen. After lunch we’ll drive to Pigeon Valley and we’ll visit the underground city where early Christians lived in fear of invaders. Overnight in Cappadocia.

 DAY 09: CAPPADOCIA (REGIONAL) TOUR (B,L)

After breakfast at your hotel, we’ll depart around 09:00AM to visit the sights and unique geographical landscape of Cappadocia, including the Devrent Valley and its fairy-chimneys; Pasabag (Monk’s Valley)and its mushroom-shaped pinnacles; Avanos, a center of terra-cotta art, for a pottery demonstration and lunch. After lunch, we will visit the Open Air Museum with its rock-cut churches that date back hundreds of years, many filled with excellent examples of Byzantine art. Our last stop is a visit to the Uchisar rock castle for a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY 10: CAPPADOCIA-ISTANBUL GOODBYE TURKEY! (B)

Meet your driver in the hotel lobby and transfer to airport, according to the time of your international flight.  Fly to Istanbul and to connect with your international flight.