Round Trips 2: Istanbul+Cappadocia+West Coast 9 Days-8 Nights

Tour visits to Hippodrome the former center of sportive and political activities of Constantinople, Blue Mosque for famous for its blue Iznik tiles and unique six minarets, St. Sophia Museum the magnificent Byzantine Church of all times. After lunch visit Topkapi Palace (Treasury and Harem Sections not included!) the former imperial residence from where the Ottoman Empire was ruled. Late afternoon shopping will be done. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel.

After a short visit to the famous Egyptian Spice Market Bazaar embark on a Cruise along the Bosphorus. Disembark at Sariyer and have lunch than drive to the Asian Part of Istanbul. Visit to Yeditepe Hill for a panoramic view of the city. Also visit Beylerbeyi Palace the summer resident of the Ottoman Sultans. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel transfer to the airport and flight to Ankara. Arrival and transfer to the city center. Tour starts in the morning with the tour of Ankara. The first site is the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations which is located in a restored bazaar. The museum has the most unique and priceless collection dating back to the Prehistoric Era. The Mausoleum of Atatürk is the next stop. This magnificent structure serves as a tribute to the founder of modern Turkey. Lunch will be taken in Ankara and the drive for Cappadocia will start after lunch. Dinner and overnight is at the hotel in Cappadocia.

Breakfast will be served at the hotel and the full day tour of Cappadocia begins with the Natural Citadel of Uchisar which will enable you to get a panoramic view of the region and continues with the Göreme Valley which is the highlight of the day. This valley houses, the Göreme Open Air Museum with its churches hewn out of rock and the colorful frescoes which decorate them. The tour visits to Avanos Village. Lunch will be served enroute at a typical regional restaurant. Then the tour visits to Underground City of Kaymakli or Ozkonak which are refuges carved out in the early Christian Era as safe-heavens from persecutors. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel in Cappadocia.

Departure will be early in the morning for Konya. Enroute there will be a stop to visit the 13 th century Caravanserai of Sultanhan which is authentically kept. The next stop will be in Konya which was the capital of the Selcuk Turks in the 13th century. This city which hosts The Mevlana Museum is also known for its theological school of whirling dervishes. Lunch will be served enroute. Arrive at Pamukkale will be late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel in Pamukkale.

After breakfast at the hotel the visits will begin early in Hierapolis will start in the morning with the ruins of the Magnificent Temple of Apollo, continuing with the breathtaking theatre, the fascinating Necropolis and the last stop before lunch will be at the great baths of Hieropolis Antique City. Lunch will be taken enroute at a typical restaurant and in the afternoon the tour program will continue by visiting Aphrodisias. This is one of the most recent discoveries in Turkey. This ancient city is dedicated to the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite. After then drive to Kusadasi and the tour will begin. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel in Kusadasi.

After breakfast at the hotel there will be a morning tour of Ephesus. This is the best preserved and the most often visited of all sites in Turkey. It is dedicated to Artemis who is the Virgin Goddess of Chase. The visits will continue with the House of Virgin Mary which is famous in the world. Lunch will be served in Selcuk and then drive to Izmir will follow. On arrival in Izmir you will be transferred to the airport. Fly to Istanbul. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight will be at hotel.