7 Nights 8 Days / Istanbul – Cappadocia – Ephesus and Pamukkale Tour (from Istanbul – by Plane)

Day 1:

Your Arrival to Istanbul – Bosphorus Dinner Cruise (Optional)

Upon your arrival at Istanbul International Airport, we will pick you up and transfer you to your Istanbul hotel. You will rest at your leisure.

We offer you a luxurious dinner cruise night out in Istanbul. Enjoy delicious gourmet foods while you dance with the panoramic view of the Bosphorus that separates two continents Europe and Asia.

Enjoy as you cruise the Bosphorus and see historical places like Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Ortakoy, Rumeli Fortress, Fatih Bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace, Maiden’s Tower, and also Istanbul’s very famous night clubs as you wine and dine the night away. No other Istanbul experience can match this unique combination of romantic ambiance. We combine fresh food with unparalleled views of Istanbul and live entertainment to create Istanbul‘s leading Bosphorus Dinner Cruise.

After dinner, you can enjoy the entertaining music provided by professional DJs and traditional show programs or simply relax with a drink and enjoy the view.

Overnight in Istanbul

Day 2:

Istanbul Classics & Highlights Full-Day Tour

This tour is a great opportunity to visit a must-place in Istanbul. The tour starts with Roman Hippodrome, where the chariot races were organized by the Romans and Byzantines. Following Roman Hippodrome next place is Blue Mosque – the only mosque with six minarets and its surroundings to visit, next, you will see the gift of Kaiser Wilhelm 2 and learn the history of his liaison with the Orient at the German Fountain.

Now, it is time to visit the highlight of this day; The Church of Divine Wisdom – Hagia Sophia. After the above visits, your tour guide will take you to Grand Bazaar for various kinds of Turkish Handicrafts.

After lunch in Turkish cuisine, our tour starts at the Topkapi Museum which exhibits the imperial collections of the Ottoman Empire and maintains an extensive collection of books and manuscripts in its library. It is housed in a palace complex that served as the administrative center and residence of the imperial Ottoman court from about 1478 to 1856. It opened as a museum in 1924, a year after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. The Topkapi Palace Museum is notable not only for its architecture and collections but also for the history and culture of the Ottoman Empire with first, second, third, and fourth courtyards, the audience hall, Divan the high court, historical kitchens, royal stables, the treasury, gardens, and kiosks that it recalls.

Our next stop is Hagia Irene Church (from outside) and will be finalized with Caferaga Medrese and Sogukcesme Street. After the tour, we will transfer you back to your hotel.

Special Note:

Hagia Sophia is closed on Monday and will be replaced with Chora Museum.
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
Blue Mosque is closed on Fridays until 2 pm and will be replaced by Caferaga Medrese.

Overnight in Istanbul

Day 3:

Bosphorus Cruise & Dolmabahce Palace Full-Day Tour

Our tour will start with the first breach of the city walls from the Fourth Crusade in 1204, and the second by the cannons and troops of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453.

Next, we will drive through a natural and extremely secure harbor the Golden Horn which has played an important role in the development of Istanbul. The inlet separates the European shore into two. It is approximately 8 km long, and the widest part is the entrance from the Bosphorus. Two streams drain into this inlet at its far end.

Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme, and every other conceivable herb and spice.

An amazing cruise between two continents; Europe and Asia, along the Bosphorus by Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, wooden villas, and mansions up to the Rumeli Fortress will take place Boat Trip on The Bosphorus viewing The Rumeli Fortress closely from the sea.

After lunch, we will first drive over the first intercontinental bridge called Bosphorus Bridge which connects Europe and Asia continents. Bosphorus Bridge was built in 1973 having a length between two legs is 1074 meters. At the time of construction, it was the fourth-longest suspension bridge in the world.

After reaching the Asian part of Istanbul through Bosphorus Bridge our bus will take you to Camlica Hill a height of 268 meters making it the highest peak in Istanbul. Here we will see the splendid panorama of the Bosphorus Strait from different angles and gives a great opportunity to photographers for the best picture alternatives.

After Camlica Hill, we will drive back to the European part of Istanbul through Bosphorus Bridge again to visit Dolmabahce Palace Museum. After the tour, we will transfer you to your hotel.

Special Note:

Dolmabahce Palace Museum is closed on Mondays & Thursdays. It will be replaced by the Chora Museum.

Overnight in Istanbul

Day 4:

Your Flight to Cappadocia & Full-Day Cappadocia Red (North) Tour

Our tour will start by picking you up from Cappadocia Airport and transfer you to Cappadocia then head to Devrent Valley where you can see many different rock formations and small fairy chimneys that form a lunar landscape with their strange look. After a short walk in this impressive valley, our tour will continue to Pasabagi (Monk’s Valley) where the most striking fairy chimneys are in Cappadocia with twin and triple rock caps. These shapes are unique for Cappadocia and named ‘mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys.

After visiting Pasabagi, we will drive to Avanos, which is very famous for its pottery craft dating back to the Hittite period. Red color clay comes from the residue of the longest river in Turkey called Kizilirmak. In one of the pottery shops, you will be able to watch the demonstration of making pottery or you can try to do it yourself.

We will give a break to our tour for lunch in a local restaurant to taste the various kinds of Turkish cuisine.

After lunch, our destination will be Goreme Open Air Museum. Churches, chapels, and monasteries carved into the fairy chimneys from the 10^th to 13^th centuries A.D. will be the highlights of the day with frescos painted on the walls. You will be able to take pictures to carry the moments for your future memories.

**Dark Church entrance requires an additional admission fee for this tour.

End of the tour you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Overnight in Cappadocia

Day 5:

Hot Air Ballooning (Optional) & Full-Day Cappadocia Blue (South) Tour

Once-in-a-lifetime experience in Cappadocia!

Your pickup time is almost one hour before sunrise and will be transferred to the meeting point. Complimentary breakfast is ready before you are transferred to the launch area. When you arrive in to launch area, you will watch the amazing views of the preparation of hot air balloons gives you the best opportunity to take unforgettable pictures.

Your flight will begin at sunrise, where your pilot will climb to a comfortable altitude of about 700 to 1000 meters above ground level.

During certain segments of the flight, our pilots are also capable of flying as low as 1 meter above the rock formations which will allow you perfect photo-taking opportunities.

The flight is around 60 minutes. There will be a champagne celebration at the end of the flight, and you will be presented with a Flight Certificate signed by your pilot.

** Kindly note that starting from your pick-up total duration of this tour will last approximately 3 hours till your drop-off at your hotel.

End of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

After breakfast and a short rest at your hotel, we will pick you up from your hotel and our tour will start from the icon of Cappadocia, the fairy chimneys shaped like a family; father, mother, and daughter called Three Beauties. It is exciting to take pictures of these fairy chimneys with the valley in the background in the early lights of the morning.

Your tour guide will lead you to hike in the most impressive valley of Cappadocia, Red Valley. During your hiking in the valley, you will see the famous rock churches.

We will give a break to our tour for lunch in a local restaurant to taste the various kinds of Turkish cuisine.

After lunch, we will drive to the second biggest underground city of Cappadocia, Kaymakli Underground City. This is a great opportunity to take pictures in one of the biggest underground cities in Cappadocia.

Now it is time to catch some part of the sunset in the panoramic Pigeon Valley hosting countless pigeons in natural pigeon houses. These pigeons contribute to the living of locals with their manure to fertilize the vineyards.

You will have ample time to take pictures before transferring you to Cappadocia Airport for your flight to Izmir, on your arrival we will transfer you to your hotel.

Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 6:

Full-Day Ephesus Tour

This unique tour will start picking you up from your hotel.

The first site to explore is the marble ruins of the ancient capital of Roman Asia. The Ancient City of Ephesus was the most important commercial center of western Anatolia and was established as a port on the mouth of the river Cayster

You will be guided to the Temple of Artemis which is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world and has been built in the Ephesus area. You can see the remaining the foundations from Hellenistic age which are made of marble and full of sculptured columns capitals and shafts.

After lunch in a local restaurant, we will drive to Bulbul Mountain to visit the House of the Virgin Mary, the most popular place of pilgrimage for Catholics which is believed the Virgin Mary spent the remainder of her life.

We will drive back to town to visit the Isabey Mosque which is one of the best examples of Seljukian architecture, located below the Basilica of Saint John.

End of the tour we will transfer you to your hotel.

Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 7:

Full-Day Pamukkale Tour

This tour will start by picking you up from your hotel and driving you to Pamukkale.

On our arrival to Pamukkale, we will visit Pamukkale Travertines and Hierapolis Ancient City which is considered one of the oldest thermal cities in the world with healing properties.

The chemical properties in the water created pure white-colored travertines and stepped water terraces on the mountain slope.

The Pamukkale area includes the Antique City Hierapolis, Necropolis, the Cleopatra Pool, and Red Water. You will have free time to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

After lunch, you can swim in thermal red waters. Then visit the travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis which has the biggest Necropolis with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia.

The entrance fee to Cleopatra Pool is not included in the rate.

After the tour you will be transferred to Denizli Airport for your flight back to Istanbul, on your arrival, you will be transferred to your Istanbul hotel.

Overnight in Istanbul

Day 8:

Your International Flight

We will pick you up from your hotel 5 hours before your international flight time and transfer you to Istanbul International Airport.

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