DAY 1 [12/20/2017] : Istanbul - Arrival Transfer
Overnight : Istanbul
Daily Meal Plan : ---
Description : You will arrive to Istanbul / Turkey and transfer to your hotel in Istanbul.
DAY 2 [12/21/2017] : Istanbul
Tour to Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Hippodrome
Overnight : Istanbul
Daily Meal Plan : Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at tour
Description : After meeting your tour guide at the lobby of hotel, your Istanbul adventure begins with a trip to the majestic Hagia Sophia, the Church of Divine Wisdom. The church, now a mosque and museum, was originally built by Constantine the Great in the fourth century and later rebuilt by Emperor Justinian to be the flagship Church of the Byzantine Empire. St. Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture and is richly decorated with mosaics, marble pillars, and other magnificent adornments. You will also see the Byzantine Hippodrome, once the heart of Constantinople's political and sporting life, and the scene of many athletic games through the history of the Byzantine Empire. Monuments on the site include the Snake Column from Delphi, as well as an Egyptian obelisk taken from the Temple of Karnak at Luxor. You will also visit another of the city’s most recognizable landmarks; the elegant Blue Mosque with its six graceful minarets and superb interior decorated with more than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles. We will then rest for lunch and you will have the opportunity to taste delicious and healthy traditional Turkish foods. Next on the agenda is the Topkapi Palace, a huge walled complex hugging the Bosphorus that was once the palace of Ottoman sultans and is now a museum that houses an extraordinary collection of Chinese porcelain, art, artifacts and jewels including the radiant Topkapi Diamond. Finally you will explore the famous Grand Bazaar, where you can shop or haggle with local merchants over unusual antiques, colorful spices, beautiful jewelry and richly textured fabrics. Afterwards you drive back to your hotel in Istanbul.
DAY 3 [12/22/2017] : Istanbul - Izmir - Kusadasi
Tour to Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise, Bosphorus Bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace or Chora Museum, Camlica Hill
Overnight : Kusadasi
Flight : Istanbul to Izmir
Daily Meal Plan : Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at tour
Description : After beakfast, you will visit the following sights.
Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) : The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of various spices “cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other concievable herb and spice”. Shops selling spices, fruits, vegetables, flowers, turkish delights etc..
Bosphorus Tour on Boat: 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, and further along, the parks and imperial pavillions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of is marble facade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries.
Beylerbeyi Palace : The summer residence of Ottoman Sultans with its original furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian.
Bosphorus Bridge : Unique chance to step from one continent (ASIA) to another (EUROPE)
Camlica Hill : The highest point in Istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosphorus from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional style.
Afterwards you drive to airport for your flight to Izmir. After this domestic flight you will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi.
DAY 4 [12/23/2017] : Kusadasi - Ephesus
Tour to Ephesus Ancient City, House of Virgin Mary, Temple of Artemis, Selcuk Archaeology Museum
Overnight : Kusadasi
Daily Meal Plan : Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at tour
Description : After beakfast you will drive to House of the Virgin Mary where it is believed to have spent her last years. On November 29th, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed the House of the Virgin Mary at Ephesus to be sacred. Give a break to taste delicious, healty and traditional Turkish foods. You will visit the premiere Greco-Roman City of the ancient world, Ephesus. Explore the Temple of Hadrian, Domitians temple, Hercules gate, famous Celsus Library, Great theater and other Roman sites. After visited amazing ruins of Ephesus, you will continue to the Selcuk Archaeology Museum where you can see a lot ancient furnitures, sculptures, mosaics, frescos and more. Today's last visit will be to the Temple of Artemis, which is the one of the seven wonders of ancient world. Afterwards you drive back o your hotel.
DAY 5 [12/24/2017] : Aphrodisias - Pamukkale - Antalya
Tour to Aphrodisias, Pamukkale, Hierapolis Ancient City
Overnight : Antalya
Daily Meal Plan : Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at tour, Dinner at hotel
Description : You will check out from your hotel after breakfast and drive to the Aphrodisias ancient site. Visit all historical place with accompany of professional guide. Aphrodisias is one of the oldest sacred sites in Turkey. Dedicated to the ancient Mother Goddess and then the Greek goddess Aphrodite, it was the site of a magnificent Temple of Aphrodite and the home of a renewed school of marble sculpture. The Temple of Aphrodite later became a Christian basilica through an impressive swapping of columns. Today, the Temple of Aphrodite is well-preserved and partially restored; it is not hard to imagine its ancient splendour. Aphrodisias also offers ruins of a large theatre, a stadium and other structures, as well as an on-site museum displaying artifacts. Drive to Pamukkale (cotton Castle) Visiting to white Terraces, You can see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, located next to the ruins of Hierapolis. The extraordinary effect is created when water from the hot springs loses carbon dioxide as it flows down the slopes, leaving deposits of limestone. The layers of white calcium carbonate, built up in steps on the plateau, gave the site the name Pamukkale (cotton castle). Unfortunately, but understandably, visitors are no longer allowed to walk on the terraces in order to protect them from damage. Then walking to Hierapolis Ancient City, visit the Necropolis, Theatre, fountain, St. Philip Church. Afterwards you drive Antalya for overnight.
DAY 6 [12/25/2017] : Antalya - Christmas Day in Demre
Tour to the Home of the Original St. Nicholas (aka Santa Claus)
Overnight : Antalya
Daily Meal Plan : Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at tour, Christmas Dinner at Old City of Antalya
Description : Today you will visit Demre, home of the original St. Nicholas (aka Santa Claus), where he lived as the Bishop of the area. After visited his church and tomb, continue to Antalya Old Town for Christmas Day dinner.
DAY 7 [12/26/2017] : Antalya - Istanbul
Tour to Aspendos, Perge Ancient City
Overnight : Istanbul
Daily Meal Plan : Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at tour
Description : After breakfast, you will check out from hotel and drive for ancient ruins of Perge with its impressive stadium walls and Aspendos, known for one of the best preserved theatres of Asia Minor, still used today. After visited all those amazing ruins, you will drive to Antalya airport for your flight to Istanbul.
DAY 8 [12/27/2017] : Istanbul
Overnight : ---
Daily Meal Plan : Breakfast at hotel
Description : Airport transfer for your flight home or another destination. End of Services.
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