Mini packages
Istanbul Mini Package
Day 1: ARRIVE Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul for a 3-night stay. Meet your escort and transfer to your hotel. Dinner at guests' expense.
Day 2: Istanbul
After breakfast start your visits of the Highlights: The Hagia Sophia Church, built in the 6th century AD by Justinian and became the largest church in the world for many centuries until its conversion into a mosque by the Ottoman Sultan where you can see beautiful mosaics of Byzantine art. The Byzantine Hippodrome where horses and chariots raced once upon a time. The Blue Mosque, famous for its tiles and interior decorations, the most important mosque of the city. Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans for about 400 years. The Grand Bazaar for a leisure afternoon with more than 4,000 shops. (B-L)
Day 3: Istanbul
Depart from your hotel after breakfast. Visit the Egyptian Bazaar known as Spice Market to smell and buy hundreds of lively colored spices; you can also explore small street markets around it. Then take a ferry to start your cruise on the Bosphorus Strait, while sailing along the European and Asian shores enjoy viewing Ottoman Palaces, Fortresses, Ottoman wooden houses, Suspension bridges, and fishermen. After this lovely cruise, lunch in a restaurant along the Bosphorus. After lunch take the Intercontinental Suspension Bridge and set your foot on Asian Continent with a pleasant panoramic drive viewing residential areas of the city. Visit also Beylerbeyi Palace on this side, which was the summer residence of the last Ottoman Sultans for many years until the Republic. Today it's used as a museum housing original furniture, curtains and carpets showing luxurious life of the ancient rulers. Transfer back to your hotel at the end of the day. (B-L)
Day 4: DEPART Istanbul
In the morning, transfer to the airport and depart. It's possible to combine Istanbul with Cappadocia and/or Izmir Mini Packages or both. (B)
(B) Breakfast - (L) Lunch
Please note: Istanbul Mini Package Tour is run every day all year around. Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays, Topkapi Palace on Tuesdays, Grand Bazaar on Sundays & Turkish public holidays, Beylerbeyi Palace on Mondays & Thursdays. On these specific days, they'll be substituted with other museums/sites depending on the convenience of the program and schedule. Order of the visits may be changed for the convenience of the tour.
Cappadocia Mini Package
Day 1: ARRIVE Ankara / Cappadocia
Arrival at Ankara at AM and visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum in the Citadel, one of the best museums in Turkey, housing an extensive display of ancient settlers in Asia Minor starting from Stone Age and especially dating back to Neolithic and Bronze Ages such as Catalhoyuk and the Hittites. Also see the Mausoleum of Ataturk where the founder of the Turkish Republic rests in peace. Proceed to Cappadocia by bus via Salt Lake. En route lunch in the restaurant. (L-D).
Day 2: Cappadocia
Breakfast and a full day visit of this extraordinary region. Today you'll visit Kaymakli or Derinkuyu underground city carved like a maze by early Christians escaping from persecutions. The Goreme Valley, famous for its rock churches with incredible Byzantine frescoes. The Pasabag Valley reminding a lunar surface with its panorama and typical formations of "fairy chimneys". Uchisar, a natural citadel in the region, a great opportunity of picturing these unusual formations. Avanos, which has the longest river of Turkey passing from it and thus making this small town an attraction for its pottery and other handicrafts. Lunch during visits and stay in the hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 3: Cappadocia / Ankara
After breakfast set off for Ankara. En route view more unique valleys and traditional villages of the region and then visit Agzikarahan Caravanserai, an ancient motel for caravans on the Silk Road. Lunch en route. Arrive at Ankara and stay in the hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 4: DEPART Ankara
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight. You can combine this tour with Izmir Mini Package. (B)
(B) Breakfast - (L) Lunch - (D) Dinner
Please note: Cappadocia Mini Package Tour is a Guaranteed Departure Tour and run all year around from Ankara on Tuesdays and Sundays only. Order of the visits may be changed for the convenience of the tour.
Izmir Mini Package
Day 1: ARRIVE Izmir / Ephesus / Izmir
Arrival at Izmir early in the morning and drive to Selcuk to visit Ephesus, ancient capital of Asia Minor with its magnificent theater, library, temples and baths. The Temple of Artemis nearby was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The House of Virgin Mary is considered as a place of Christian pilgrimage, and there is a small chapel as well. After lunch, visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis and drive back to Izmir for overnight. Dinner at guests' expense. (L)
Day 2: Izmir / Pamukkale / Izmir
Breakfast at hotel and early morning departure for Pamukkale to visit Hierapolis which has the largest "Necropolis" in Asia Minor and a very well preserved theater. Pamukkale's white cascades are formed by calcium deposits and they are unique with their incredible views and thermal waters. After lunch, drive back to Izmir. (B-L)
Day 3: Izmir / Pergamon / Izmir
Breakfast in the hotel and drive to Pergamon to visit this great civilization dating back to the 4th century BC. The Acropolis has a great view over the valley and the temple of Trajan is the most impressive building on top of a very steep theater. The Aesclepion was an important healing center/hospital dedicated to Aesclepius, god of medicine. Especially mentally ill people tried to get a cure here while it became the second most famous Aesclepion after the one on the island of Cos. After lunch drive back to Izmir for overnight. (B-L)
Day 4: DEPART Izmir
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight. This can be combined with Cappadocia Mini Package. (B)
(B) Breakfast - (L) Lunch
Please note: Izmir Mini Package is a Guaranteed Departure Tour and run every day all year around. Order of the visits may be changed for the convenience of the tour. Depending on seasonal occupancies Izmir stay may be swapped to Kusadasi or vice versa. If you prefer to spend less nights in Izmir, we can take the last night out and arrange your flight in the evening of Day 3 so you fly back in the late afternoon after your tour to Pergamon.
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