10-Day Best of Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus , Pergamum , Canakkale

Upon our arrival at Istanbul International Airport, your guide will meet, assist and transfer you to the hotel. Istanbul was the capital city of Byzantium & Roman Empires and Ottoman State. It is a most fascinating city, which actually crosses two continents Europe and Asia. It is a city of amalgamation of museums, bazaars, minarets, mosques, churches, palaces, and restaurants catering to every one’s taste, customs and fifteen million people. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Open buffet breakfast included)

After breakfast, we have Istanbul City Tour. Our first visit will be HIPPODROME. Ancient Hippodrome was the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Than we will visit SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE. Across from Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, it was 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. Our next visit will be HAGIA SOPHIA GRAND MOSQUE. The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, previously known as the Church of Divine Wisdom, is simply the best of its kind! Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is the greatest surviving example of Byzantine Architecture. For 1000 years, it was once the largest church in the world, decorated with stunning 6th century golden mosaics. Today it is a mosque. Lunch break at 13:00 pm. After the lunch, board the beautiful sunset cruise of Bosphorus and get introduced to the fascinating European - Asian tales of Turkiye. Explore both the European and Asian shores of the Bosphorus, including iconic locations such as the Golden Horn, Beylerbeyi Palace, Rumeli Fortress, and Ortaköy Mosque to name a few.
After the tour, transfer back to your hotel. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

Please Note: Please do not forget to carry headscarf with you for the visit of religious places as Blue Mosque & Haghia Sophia Mosque.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
Istanbul - Ankara. Driving to Ankara we visit the mausoleum and museum of Kemal Ataturk, one of Turkey’s most revered leaders, famous for his progressive reform of Turkish society and his incredible strategic command during World War I, thwarting the Allied attempts at invading Turkey. You will then enjoy a picturesque journey through the Lakeland before arriving in Cappadocia.

Please Note: This tour will be done by domestic flight from Ankara  to Cappadocia if we can not reach the minimum 6 guests per departure. Kindly note that in that case Antalya to Cappadocia domestic flight is included in given rate and lunch will be excluded.

Please Note: If you wish to join our optional activity of Cappadocia Hor Air Ballooning for tomorrow, please contact with your guide and register because it will take place early the next morning.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
After breakfast at 09:30 depart for Cappadocia Tour. We will drive you to Ozkonak Underground City, one of the best preserved Underground cities in Cappadocia. After Underground City tour, you visit Goreme Open Air Museum, the Heart of Cappadocia. Goreme Open Air Museum is famous for frescoes dating to 10th century describing the life of Jesus Christ and monks. Next stop is Cavusin, which is an abandoned village with old cave Greek houses. After Cavusin you go to the restaurant in Avanos to have lunch. After lunch, you visit a pottery work shop, to see how to make potteries. Then you go to Love Valley. Love Valley Cappadocia is a hidden valley with scenic formations to say the least. Despite the resemblance to man hood, these amazing rock formations are far from man-made. Next stop is Devrent Valley, which is also called Imagination Valley, where you can see natural rock formations looking like animals. Last stop is Three Beauties, three beautiful fairy chimneys with their hats, which is the symbol of Cappadocia. This tour will end approximately at 18.00 and you will be returned back to your hotel. Dinner and Overnight in Cappadocia.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

Cappadocia – Pamukkale. Today we drive onward to Pamukkale via the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece of Sultanhan Caravanserai and Konya. In Konya visit the 13th century Mevlana Museum; the original lodge of the Mevlevi Whirling Dervishes, a mystical Sufi Muslim group. It contains the tomb of Mevlana, a leading philosopher and mystic of Islam, which remains an important place of pilgrimage. Afterwards continue your journey onward to Pamukkale. Overnight: Pamukkale

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

Pamukkale - Kusadasi. After breakfast visit the incredible white calcium terraces of Pamukkale and ancient Hierapolis, with its Necropolis graveyard of over 1200 graves. The Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium, dating back to third century BC and the sacred pool are some of the highlights of Hierapolis. The shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins that lie beneath.

 This afternoon, en route to Kusadasi we visit the ruins of the great Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World), which is situated in a marshy basin between Selcuk and Ephesus. Overnight: Kusadasi

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
Kusadasi. This morning you will drive to the ancient and magnificent city of Ephesus, one of the largest and most well-preserved ancient city’s in the Mediterranean, with Roman theatres, fountains, buildings, churches and temples. Ephesus was originally built on the north slope of Mount Pion in 1000 BC but was later relocated to its current location in 4th century BC. This afternoon you can visit a Turkish leather manufacturing house where products are available for sale. Overnight: Kusadasi

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
Kusadasi - Canakkale. This morning, departing early we visit Bergama, the site of the ancient city of Pergamum which remained hidden from the modern world until 1871 when the German engineer Carl Humann rediscovered it when some locals showed him an interesting and strange mosaic that turned out to be the Altar of Zeus. Pergamum, one of Turkey’s oldest civilised settlements, inhabited since pre-historic times through to Ionic, Roman and Byzantine civilizations. You will have the chance to visit the ancient acropolis situated on top of a steep hill and the aforementioned Altar of Zeus. We continue to Troy, the ancient city made famous by Homer’s Odyssey and the fable of Helen, Achilles and the Trojan horse. Afterwards drive on to Canakkale. .Overnight: Canakkale

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
Canakkale – Istanbul. After breakfast cross the Dardanelles to visit the evocative battlefields of Gallipoli. In World War 1 the Allies tried in vain to capture Turkey in order to better supply troops in Europe via access to the Black Sea and also open up better supply routes to Russia. It was on the beaches of the Gallipoli peninsula where the Allies landed and over 11,000 Anzacs lost their lives. Visit key sites such as Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, The Nek and other Turkish and Allied trenches. Later travel back to Istanbul. Overnight: Istanbul

(Open buffet breakfast included)
After breakfast check out from the hotel. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another TravelShop Booking Tour. Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Booking.