Highlights:
- Begin your journey by understanding the architectural marvels and historical significance of City of the World’s Desire Istanbul
- Experience the sensation of troglodytic living in a cave hotel
- Staying in characteristic hotels in Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya & Konya
- Enjoy the mineral-rich springs of Pamukkale’s striking travertine terraces
- Unique Sunset & Sunrise views of special creation in the valleys of Cappadocia
- A gate to the ancient wisdom of 12000 years through which you will discover spiritual abodes, legendary temples, ancient myths of origin as well as canonical religions. Home of Sufii Mystics, Artemis Temple (Seven wonders of Ancient World), House of Mother Mary…
- Delve into Turkey's rich ceramic tradition dating back to 2000 BC, during the Hittites period.
- The opportunity to taste local flavors through Anatolia by selected family-owned local restaurants.
Overview:
•Choose this tour if you are deeply curious about the world and how it works, how history, architecture, food, fashion, art, and everything sensual, exciting, and intelligent is connected. How your way is never the only way
•If you’re returning to Turkey and wish to go deeper on some of the city's most iconic sites
•If you ever felt lost in the crowd on those massive "follow-the-umbrella" group tours? That's not us.
•We craft Small Group Tours that offer intimate insights into iconic venues.
•SGT is steered by local experts who bring their city's secrets to life & designed with the same careful curation
•The beauty of our small groups lies in the camaraderie formed among travelers. With personalized attention from our local experts, you have the unique opportunity to ask any spontaneous questions that pop up, ensuring a richer understanding of your destination.
•Academic insights alongside untold stories. Wonderful nuances and local subtleties. Real-world wisdom.
•Welcome. We're delighted to meet you.
Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul
Upon arrival at Istanbul / SAW Airport, you will be greeted and drives to your hotel. Check-in. Overnight in Istanbul.
(No Meal)
Day 2: Treasures of Istanbul
(09:00-16:00)
According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Explore Hagia Sophia; was the largest building on earth barring the Egyptian Pyramids or the Great Wall of China. It was the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period. Next; Topkapı Palace; As well as being the imperial residence of the Sultan, the palace was also the seat of government for the ottoman empire. It housed the ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. Continue to with Hippodrome; Built by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203AD, during the Roman period hippodrome was the civil center for the people of the city where once 100,000 spectators could be held. Next, Blue Mosque; Built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in the year 1616, Blue mosque today is one of the most famous landmarks of the old city with its famous six minarets and magnificent dome. Next; Grand Bazaar; With 18 entrances and more than 4000 shops it is one of the greatest bazaars in the World. At the end of the tour back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 3: Flight to Kayseri / Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia
According your pick up time meet with your driver at the lobby of your hotel and drive to Airport for your flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival you wıll be greeted by your driver and drive to Cappadocia, meet with your group participants and start your full-day tour. Explore Goreme Museum; consists of many rock-cut churches from the second half of 9C with beautiful colorful frescoes decorating the walls. Next; Devrent Valley; famous for its quirky animal shaped rocks. It looks like a sculpture zoo made by nature. Take in the unique lunar landscape of the valley and feel like you're in another World. Next; Pasabagi which means: the Pacha's vineyard. This site is also called Monks Valley. The hermitage of Simeon monks was here. Next Avanos; where you will enjoy typical Turkish Lunch and experience make Potter with local experts. Next we continues to Goreme Panaroma, which has one of the best panoramic view of the Fairy chimneys. Next Uchisar the Naturel highest Rock Castle provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area. After tour drive you to your hotel. Check in. Overnight in Cappadocia.
(Breakfast Box-Lunch)
Day 4 Underground Cities of Cappadocia
(10:00-16:00)
According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour.Visit Rose Valley; is an incredibly unique area of Cappadocia with sharp ridges, tinted in pink especially during sunset!the minerals in the sandstone have a pink tinge. Next Cavusin; is surrounded by a valley, which becomes gradually wider, called as Red Valley. The houses of the village were cut into massive rock formations. The village is famous with its rock-chuches. Next; Pigeon Valley; earned its name from the countless man made dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) that have been carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Pigeon Valley is one of the best spots for walking in the marvelous Cappadocia region. Next; Underground Cities; once a place of refuge for 15000 christians. These settlements were of enormous value to the development of christianity as they provided shelter and worship and were in use until the end of 7C AD. Witness the ancient bedrooms, church, meeting hall and food storage rooms in this eight-storey city connected by 30km of corridors and passageways. Tour continue with Ortahisar; famous for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets and lovely churches as well as the castle-like rock formation after which the town is named. At the end of the tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 5 Flight to Antalya
Today is the yours to explore city your own. According your pick up time meet your driver and drive to Airport for your to Antalya. Upon arrival you wıll be greeted by your drıver who wıll drıve you safely to your hotel. Check in. Overnight in Antalya.
(Breakfast)
Day 6 Antalya City Tour
(09:30-16:00)
Today you visit the cable car ride 'from sea to sky'. Enjoy amazing views from the top of Tunektepe which stands 1365 mt above sea level. You will see the beautiful coastline of the Antalya region, gorgeous mountains, pine forests, and turquoise Mediterranean sea. Great pictures taken during the trip will remind you of this unforgettable experience. Next; Duden waterfalls are the most beautiful and the most visited in the Antalya region. Walk through the beautiful park and listen to the sound of falling water.
After lunch at a local restaurant with a beautiful panoramic view you will have 1-1.5 hours of free time to explore the old town (Kaleici). You will see top attractions of the city: Hadrianus Gate, Clock Tower, Kesik Minare (Truncated Minaret) and city walls dated back to the 2d century. Old Town with its narrow stone streets is also a great place to explore numerous boutiques, art galleries, and interesting museums. Do not forget to buy some memorable souvenirs from the authentic shops before leaving Kaleici. Overnight in Antalya.
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 7 Pamukkale Tour / Drive to Kusadasi
(07:30-19:00)
Upon early pick up from your hotel, drives to Pamukkale; Pools of Heaven on Earth… Pamukkale has always been a very popular settlement where hot springs were believed to have healing powers so it is considered to be the earliest spa on earth where, in history, people traveled long distances in order to find a cure. The unique terraces were formed by running warm spring water at a temperature of 35 C, containing calcium bicarbonate. Today Pamukkale is declared a worlds heritage site by UNESCO. Visit; the ancient city of Hierapolis which has the biggest Necropolis with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. Also, The Sacred Pool is one of the highlights of the site. Theır shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins that lie beneath.. After tour travel to Kusadasi. Check-in. Overnight in Kusadasi.
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 8 Ancient Ephesus Tour / Flight to Istanbul
(09:00-16:00)
Upon breakfast at the hotel check out. According to your tour pick-up time, meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Visit The House of Virgin Mary; a church was built from the 6C AD to the top of the foundations of a house from 1C AD and it is declared by the church to be the final house where Mary spent her last days. Your tour continues with the Ancient Ephesus; The best-preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean. During the 1C AD, Ephesus was the second-largest city on the planet after Rome with more than 250,000 citizens. Ephesus is also so well preserved that, walking on the ancient streets among the beautiful monuments such as the third largest library of the ancient world or the largest roman theatre on the Asia continent, gives you the feeling of a time traveler. Next; Temple of Artemis or Artemision was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its ancient cult dedicated to Artemis was very famous in antiquity and made Ephesus a much-visited pilgrimage place.
After tour drives to Izmır Airport for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival you wıll be greeted by your driver who wıll drıve you safely to your hotel. Check in. Overnight in Istanbul.
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 9 Departure Day
Upon breakfast at the hotel check out and according to your flight deperture time drives to Istanbul Airport. End of our service.
(Breakfast)