Arrival and meet and greet by our representative at the Istanbul airport. Transfer to the hotel.

Your transfer representative will be waiting for you with a name plate.

Breakfast.

Departure for Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey, passing through the Bolu Mountains. Arrival and visit to the Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic. Completed in 1953, it is an impressive fusion of ancient and modern architectural styles. Visit to the Independence Museum, which houses a wax statue of Ataturk, his writings, letters, and personal belongings, as well as a photography exhibition and recordings of important moments in his life and the establishment of the new Turkish Republic. Stop for lunch and continue to Cappadocia. Upon arrival in Cappadocia, we visit a pottery factory.

Arrival at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

At dawn, you will have the opportunity to take part in an optional hot-air balloon excursion. (Approx. $350 p/p)

After breakfast, visit this fantastic region for its fascinating and unique landscape formed by the lava spewed by the Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes 3 million years ago. We will stop in Esentepe to photograph the beautiful Göreme Valley, where we will then visit its numerous monasteries, churches, and chapels carved into the rocks. We will continue to the valleys of Amor, Devrent, Avcilar, and Guvercinlik, which boast spectacular views of the “Fairy Chimneys.” We will stop for lunch. We will then visit one of the onyx and turquoise jewelry workshops. We will visit a troglodyte city, Uchisar or Cavusin. We will stop in Avanos, famous for its clay works, which have been the city’s livelihood. We finish at one of the traditional carpet workshops to learn how to make this centuries-old Turkish tradition.

Dinner at the hotel.

In the evening, you will attend the famous “Turkish Night,” a folk dance show in a typical cave with unlimited regional alcoholic beverages.

Breakfast.

Early departure via Konya. Stop at an old 13th-century caravanserai that was part of the ancient Silk Road. After lunch, we continue to Pamukkale, a spectacular and unique site in the world for its dazzling white waterfalls and natural pools. Its Turkish translation is “cotton castle.” Next to it is Ancient Hierapolis, with one of the largest necropolises of antiquity. Dinner and overnight stay.

Optional Opportunity: Hot air balloon ride over Pamukkale.

Breakfast. Departure to Ephesus, the ancient Greco-Roman city and one of the best-preserved archaeological sites today. We will visit the Temple of Hadrian, Temple of Trajan, the Theatre, the magnificent Library of Celsus, and more.
Lunch. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Start your day strolling through the cobbled streets of the village, exploring local handicraft shops, and enjoying a tea in the town square. Then, walk up to the Church of St. John the Baptist to take in the view and learn about its history. Next, visit a local winery to taste fruit wines typical of the region. Finally, relax in a traditional café with a Turkish coffee or a gözleme before ending the visit.

Continue to the House of the Virgin Mary, the place where she is believed to have spent her final years.
Optional visit to a traditional leather goods factory.
Arrival in Izmir. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Ottoman and Byzantine Tour with lunch:
We begin by exploring the historic old city, home to the most iconic Ottoman and Byzantine monuments. The tour starts at the ancient Roman Hippodrome, where you’ll see the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column, and the German Fountain.

Next, we visit the famous Blue Mosque, Istanbul’s most important mosque and, until 2016, the only one in the world with six minarets.

We continue with a photo stop and included entry to the world-renowned Hagia Sophia, a symbol of Istanbul and a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

We then visit the Basilica Cistern, used as a water reservoir during the Ottoman period.

Our next stop is the Topkapi Palace, the vast and legendary complex from which the Ottoman Empire was ruled for nearly 400 years.

To conclude, your guide will lead you to the Grand Bazaar, where you’ll have free time for shopping.