Highlights:
-Visit Istanbul; where Asia meets Europe and was capital for 3 different empires.
-Explore Underground cities of Cappadocia and see rock cut churches, storage rooms and kitchens
-Walk on the ancient roads of greco-roman city of Ephesus and see the Holy Mary house where she spent her last days.
-Swim in Pamukkale's thermal springs and see Hierapolis Ancient City.
-Walk in the cobblestone paved with colorful flowers streets of Antalya and see clock tower, Hadrian Gate and Kesik Minare
-4 night cruise to Patmos, Heraklion, Rhodes, Santorini, Athens, Mykonos
-Join 2 days Half Day tour to heart of Rhodes and Acropolis
Overview:
Join us to discover the top-visited cities of Turkey with 14 Days package from/to Istanbul. Visit Istanbul; where Asia Meets Europe and was the capital of 3 different empires, Explore the Underground cities of Cappadocia and see rock cut churches, storege rooms and kitchens, learn history about early Christians from your local guide, take photos of the fairy chimneys from the best photoshoot points. Walk on the ancient roads of best-preserved greko-city with House of Holy Mary nearby. Swim in Pamukkale's healing thermal springs. Enjoy the sunset on the Mediterranean from the best panoramic point of Antalya. Walk in the cobblestone paved with colorful flowers streets of old town and see clock tower, Hadrian Gate and Kesik Minare.
Set sail with Celeystal Olympia to the most charming island of the Greece include Patmos, Heraklion, Rhodes, Santorini, Athens, Mykonos, enjoy a guided tours Halfday tours (2 tours) to heart of Rhodes and Acropolis. Immerse yourself in the flow of history with the narration of your guides .
Day 1 Arrival Istanbul (Sunday)
Upon arrival at Istanbul/SAW Airport, greeted by your driver and drives to your hotel. Check-in. The rest of the day is yours. Overnight in Istanbul.
(No Meal)
Day 2 Treasures of Istanbul (Monday)
(09:16:00)
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 drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 3 HD Cruising on Bosphorus / Flight to Cappadocia (Tuesday)
(09:00-12:30)
Upon breakfast at the hotel check out. According your tour pick up time meet with your guide at the lobby of your hotel and depart for your halfday tour. First visitng place is; Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar): The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other concievable herb and spice. Next; Bosphorus Cruise: A traditional excursion by boat along the waterway seperating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, Rustem Pasa Mosque, Rumeli Fortress and further along the parks and imperial pavillions of Yildiz Palace. After tour drive to Airport for your flight to Kayseri. Check in. Overnight in Cappadocia.
(Breakfast)
Day 4 Underground Cities of Cappadocia (Wednesday)
(09:30-16:30)
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 After the tour drive to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Optional: Hot Air Balloon Flight
Day 5 Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia (Thursday)
(09:30-16:30)
According to your tour pick-up time, meet with your guide 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. 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. At the end of the tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 6 Flight to Antalya (Friday)
Accordıng to your pick up tıme meet your drıver and drıve to AP for your flıght to Antalya. Upon arrival greeted and drıve to your hotel. Rest of the day ıs yours. Overnight in Antalya.
(Breakfast)
Day 7 Perge&Aspendos&Kursunlu Waterfall Tour (Saturday)
(08:30 - 16:30)
According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. The first visiting place is Perge, one of the largest and most popular ancient city in the Pamphylia region. Perge was the capital of Pamphylia then eventually came under Roman rule in 133B.C. and this is when it flourished most and indeed most of the ruins that are left today are from that area. You will see the Agora, Roman Baths, Colonnaded Street, Nympharium and also Grand amphitheater which could hold 15.000 people.
Our second visiting place is Aspendos Ancient Theatre. Probably an earlier ancient theatre, was built 2nd century on the site. The Aspendos theatre can hold over 20,000 and ıs still being used for festivals and music concerts.
After lunch at the local restaurant on a nearby river, we depart for Kursunlu Waterfall Enjoy fresh pine scent, cool atmosphere, and spectacular waterfalls. Overnight in Antalya
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 8 Pamukkale Tour / Travel to Kusadasi (Sunday)
(08:00 - 19:30)
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 9 Ancient Ephesus Tour (Monday)
(09:00-16:00)
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. Overnight in Kusadasi
(Breakfast-Lunch)
Day 10 Kusadasi - Patmos (Tuesday)
(11:00-21:30)
According to your pick up tıme meet your drıver and drıve to Kusadasi Port. After passport controls, Boarding your cruise (Celestyal Olympia).According to the cruise departure time(13:00), we are moving towards the island of Patmos.Arrive at Patmos port around 16:30. You will stay here until 21:30 in the evening. Overnight on Board.
(Breakfast-Dinner)
Day 11 Rhodes (Wednesday)
Today, you will have a free day to explore Medieval City of Rhodes. Its one of the best medieval preserved thoroughfares anywhere.Overnight on board.
(Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
Optional : Rhodes Tour
Day 12 Crete (Heraklion) - Santorini (Thursday)
(07:00-12:00 / 16:30-21:30)
Today you will have free time to explore Heraklion. At 12 o'clock we are heading towards the island of santorini, which is one of the most charming Greek İsland. We are here until 21:30. Overnight on Board.
(Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
Day 13 Atina (Lavrion)-Mykonos (Friday)
The ship will dock in Athens today. You can explore the city with your own.
Its a remınder of Ancient Greece's powerful civilisation and greatest architectural complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity.
Next ;move to Mikonos.
The cruise will stay here until 23:00. Explore city your own. Overnight on board.
(Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner)
Optional : Half Day Athens Tour
Day 14 Kusadasi / Flight to Istanbul (Saturday)
(07:00)
Today is the last of your cruise. Upon arrival at Kusadasi Port greeted by your driver and drive you Izmir Airport for your flight to Istanbul.End of our service.
(Breakfast)