Turkish Wonders 8 Nights 9 Days -( Customized )

Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel. You can arrive at any time today as there are no planned activities until dinner time. Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city, with an estimated population of around 17 million. You will be blown away by the beauty and grandeur of its architecture and history. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (Dinner)

After breakfast we will visit Topkapı Palace, residence of the Ottoman Sultans for almost four centuries and Istanbul’s must-see attraction. Our historical tour of Istanbul will include the Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia, BasilicaCistern and the Hippodrome. Overnight in Istanbul. (Breakfast, )

Blue Mosque: The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a historic mosque located in Istanbul. A popular tourist site, theSultan Ahmed Mosque continues to function as a mosque today: men still kneel in prayer on the mosque’s lush red carpet after the call to prayer. The Blue Mosque, as it is popularly known, was constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I.

Hippodrome: The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square named Sultanahmet Meydanı (Sultan Ahmet Square) in the Turkish city of Istanbul, with a few fragments of the original structure surviving.

Topkapı Palace: The Topkapı Palace, or the Seraglio, is a large museum in Istanbul, Turkey. In the 15th century it served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans.

Hagia Sophia: The Hagia Sophia, the biggest church constructed by the East Roman Empire in Istanbul, has been constructed three times in the same location. The Church of Holy Wisdom, undoubtedly one of the greatest architectural creations in the World, used as a mosque during Ottomans and serving as a museum today.

After breakfast we will drive to Bursa, former capital city of Ottomans, then visit the Grand Mosque, the Green Mosque, the Green Mausoleum and the Silk Market, where time will be allocated to shop for local souvenirs. You can also see many Han (Caravanserais) and Turkish Baths in the Bursa City centre. Opportunity to see local products of the region like chestnut, honey, olive oil, Turkish delight. Visit the Turkish Delight & Olive Oil Outlet centre. Drive to the coastal town of Kuşadası. Overnight in Kuşadası. (Breakfast, )

Grand Mosque: Bursa Grand Mosque is a mosque in Bursa, built in the Seljuk style and ordered by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I, built between 1396 and 1399. The mosque has 20 domes and 2 minarets.

Green Mosque: Green Mosque, also known as Mosque of Mehmed I, is a part of the larger complex (a külliye) located on the east side of Bursa, former capital of the Ottoman Turks before they captured Constantinople in 1453. The complex consists of a mosque, türbe, madrasah, kitchen and bath.

Green Mausoleum: The Green Tomb is a mausoleum of the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I. It was built by Mehmed’s son and successor Murad II following the death of the sovereign in 1421. The architect, Hacı Ivaz Pasha, designed the tomb and the Green Mosque opposite to it.

Silk Market: Situated between Bursa Grand Mosque and Orhan Mosque, Kozahan was built by the great architect Abdul Ula Bin Pulat Sah as a foundation for historical works in Istanbul by the order of Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II in 1491.

Selçuk – Pamukkale

After breakfast we will visit the home of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last days, the Selçuk Museum and tour the ruins of Ephesus, the most visited ruins site in Turkey. Visit to the Temple of Artemis and Isa Bey Mosque. After lunch we will drive to Pamukkale, where we will visit the amazing travertines (calcium pools) and explore the ruins of the ancient Roman spa town of Hierapolis. This World Heritage-listed site stands as a monument to the wonder of nature. Our tour through Hierapolis includes its very large amphitheatre and free time to swim in the Cleopatra Antique Pool, where the water allegedly cures almost every ailment known to mankind. Overnight in Pamukkale. (Breakfast, )

Ephesus: It was an ancient port city whose well-preserved ruins are in modern-day Turkey. The city was once considered the most important Greek city and the most important trading center in the Mediterranean region. Throughout history, Ephesus survived multiple attacks and changed hands many times between conquerors. It was also a hotbed of early Christian evangelism and remains an important archaeological site and Christian pilgrimage destination. Of all the ruins and archaeological attractions in Turkey, Ephesus is the most famous. Tourists from around the world come here to walk down the well-preserved Roman streets, gaze at the mighty monuments, and soak up the ancient soul of this ruined city.

Hierapolis: Deriving from springs in a cliff almost 200 m high overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have created at Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) an unreal landscape, made up of mineral forests, petrified waterfalls and a series of terraced basins. The hot springs have been used as a spa since the 2nd century BC, with many patrons retiring or dying there. The large necropolis is filled with sarcophagi, most famously that of Marcus Aureliu Ammianos. The great baths were constructed with huge stone blocks without the use of cement and consisted of various closed or open sections linked together. It was added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Konya – Cappadocia

Today we drive to Konya, where we will visit the Whirling Dervish Museum and Mevlana Mausoleum. Konya is the most religious city in Turkey, best known for its devout followers of the Sufi sect of Islam. The Dervish Museum is filled with religious relics. We will continue our drive towards Cappadocia, stopping along the way at Sultan Hanı, the largest Caravan Saray in the world. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Mevlana Museum: Konya’s iconic sight is the distinctive green conical dome above the tomb of 13th-century philosopher,poet, and religious leader Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi. Right in the center of town, this mausoleum and attached historic tekke (lodge) of the world famous whirling dervish sect of Sufism, which Mevlana Rumi founded, is the city’s main sightseeing attraction. Today, it’s the Mevlana Museum, and both pilgrims and tourists flock here to pay their respects to one of Turkey’s greatest religious mystics.

Sultan Hanı: It is a large 13th-century Seljuk caravanserai located in the town of Sultanhanı, Aksaray Province.

It is one of the three monumental caravanserais in the neighbourhood of Aksaray. The caravanserai is considered one of the best examples of Seljuk architecture in Turkey. Covering an area of 4,900 square meters, it is the largest medieval caravanserai in Turkey.

Cappadocia

Optional: One-hour hot air balloon flight early in the morning. This is one of the highlights of the trip. You will

enjoy the unique view from the air of this stunning landscape. Full day tour of Cappadocia, where you can wander through the desert, surrounded on every side by cave housesdug by hand in the natural rock formations that form this magical landscape. This is a place where your imagination can run free. We will visit places such as Paşabağ and Derinkuyu Underground City, extending 8 levels below the ground and carved out of volcanic rock. In the evening we will enjoy dinner, local drinks and a Turkish Cultural Show with a lively dance performance. Overnight in Cappadocia. (Breakfast, )

Derinkuyu underground city: It is an ancient multi-level underground city in the Nevşehir Province, extending to a depth of approximately 85 metres. It is large enough to have sheltered as many as 20,000 people together with their livestock and food stores. It is the largest excavated underground city in Turkey and is one of several underground complexes found throughout Cappadocia. The city at Derinkuyu was fully formed in the Byzantine era, when it was heavily used as protection from Muslim Arabs during the Arab–Byzantine wars.

Ankara – Salt Lake

After breakfast we will drive to Ankara, as a capital city of Turkey, where we will visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk, founder of theTurkish Republic. Along the way we will stop at Salt Lake, largest salt lake in Turkey. Drive to Bolu. Overnight in Bolu. (Breakfast,  Dinner)

Ankara: Turkey’s cosmopolitan capital, sits in the country’s central Anatolia region. It is a center for the performing arts, home to the State Opera and Ballet, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra and several national theater companies. Overlooking the city is Anitkabir, the enormous hilltop mausoleum of Kemal Atatürk, modern Turkey’s first president, who declared Ankara the capital in 1923.

 Istanbul Bosphorus Tour

After breakfast we will drive to Istanbul, stopping along the way at Sapanca Lake. Upon arrival in Istanbul we will visit the Spice Market, see the Galata Bridge and Golden Horn and then join the Bosphorus boat tour. Overnight in Istanbul. (Breakfast,Dinner)

Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar): The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of various spices. Shops selling spices, fruits, vegetables, flowers, turkish delights etc. 

Bosphorus Boat Tour: 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 pavillion ofYildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of its marble facade faces the shore.