SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR CULTURAL & CRUISING COMBINATIONS
Arrive in Istanbul Int’l Airport… Upon arrival, you will be met and be transferred to your hotel in Istanbul. Depending on the time of your arrival, the remainder of the day can be at leisure to relax and take some time on your own or can be dedicated to an orientation tour or sight-seeing. Overnight is at your hotel in Istanbul.
After breakfast, meet your guide at the lobby of your hotel for your private full day tour and spend the day exploring Istanbul. Start touring with a visit to the famous Rustem Pasa Mosque designed by the court architect Sinan. Built in 1561, it is considered to be a skillful accomplishment of the famous architect.
Then, you will transfer to the pier for an exciting cruise on the Bosphorus by private or public boat. This is for sure the best way to get an overview of Istanbul and an amazing cruise between the two continents, Europe and Asia.
After lunch at a local restaurant, your guide will take you on a visit to the extraordinary Imperial residence of 25 Ottoman Sultans – the Topkapi Palace. The palace served as the residence of the Ottoman Sultans from 15th to 19th centuries. Today, the palace is a museum holding a wealth of treasures. You may also explore the Harem section which offers a glimpse into the lives of the Ottoman imperial family. At the end of the day, return your hotel. Overnight is at your hotel in Istanbul.
Today, your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel for an overview city tour which covers the most historic section of Istanbul, called Sultanahmet. Our first stop is at the Church of Divine Wisdom (Aya Sofya in Turkish, Sancta Sophia in Latin, Hagia Sofia in Greek). Converted into a museum by Ataturk, Aya Sofya was built by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. After seeing Aya Sofya, proceed to The Hippodrome which served as the center of Byzantine civic life for 1000 years, including coronations and Roman chariot races. The vast Hippodrome, also known as “At Meydani” or “Plaza of the Horses” stretches between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque with its four monuments. Across from Hagia Sophia, is the elegant “Blue Mosque” of Sultan Ahmed I, with its six minarets. Built in the early 17th century, Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul. Its popular name is derived from its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.
Continue touring with a visit to the mysterious and surreal Underground Cistern which is also known as Yerebatan Sarayi, one of the grand underground cisterns which were an important source of water for the city during the Byzantine and Ottoman times.
Our last stop will be at the famous Grand Covered Bazaar; the oldest and the largest covered marketplace in the world. In this reputed bazaar’s more than 4000 shops, any kind of item can be found… At the end of the tour, return your hotel. Overnight is at your hotel in Istanbul.
Today early in the morning, you will be transferred to Istanbul airport for your morning flight to Kayseri… Upon arrival, another transfer will take you to the region of Cappadocia. Upon arrival at your hotel, you will be met by your guide at the lobby.
The rest of the day will be dedicated to discovering the beautiful region of Cappadocia, the land of fairy chimneys.
Cappadocia is a dreamland, a true highlight one should not miss to see in Turkey. The land of fairy chimneys impresses each traveler it welcomes with the variety of activities it offers along with its fascinating landscape.
First, meet with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; walking in Pasabag near Zelve; “fairy chimneys”….
Lunch can be served in Avanos.
Avanos is the centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. In the afternoon, explore the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia. Continue to the Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. At the end of the day, return your hotel.
Upon your request, you can experience a Whirling Dervishes Ceremony this evening!!!
Today you may choose to start the day early in the morning with hot air balloon ride. They fly early in the morning because this time of day provides calm, cool air for gentle and stable flights, soft landings and maximum lifting capacity of the balloon. It is also the ideal time for photography, with splendid colors and contrasts and the beauty of the sunrise.
In the morning, visit Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Next on our program is Soganlı Valley which is an open air museum in a wild natural setting near a typical Cappadocian village with its different style rock-cut churches and frescoes. Our tour finishes with a visit to Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses. In the late afternoon, after your tour finishes, you will be dropped-off by your guide at your hotel.
(Bursa – Pergamum 182 miles, about 2 hours 45 min. one way / Pergamum – Thyatira 45 miles, 1 hour / Thyatira – Izmir 52 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes)
On our drive south from Bursa to Izmir, we will visit the ancient city of Pergamum (modern Bergama), one of the Seven Churches of Revelation and center of the Attalid dynasty. The oldest portion of the city is the acropolis that rises steeply to a height of nearly 1.300 feet above the plain of the Caicus River. The library on the acropolis became in the second century B.C. one of the great centers of learning of the ancient world. Here are also found the famous temples of Athena, Trajan, the famous Altar of Zeus, as well as the steepest theatre in the ancient world. At the base of the acropolis, we’ll visit the Asklepion, an important center of healing in Asia Minor and dedicated to the god of healing Asklepios. Here the famous physician Galen was not only born but taught medicine early in his career. From Pergamum, we continue our trip to Thyatira, which is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. St. Paul may have visited on his missionary journeys (Acts 19:10). Drive to Izmir, Smyrna. After visiting the Church of St. Policarp, the oldest Church in ancient Smyrna and symbolized the community of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse, check into hotel in Izmir for overnight. The visit to the Church of St. Policarp can also be replaced by the ancient agora of Smyrna.
(Izmir airport – Ephesus 38 miles, 45 minutes one way / Ephesus – Sirince 7 miles, 20 minutes one way)
Early in the morning, you will be transferred to Kayseri Airport for your flight to Izmir via Istanbul. Upon arrival at Izmir Airport, you will be met by your private guide holding a sign with your name on it.
Then you will be escorted to your private vehicle driven by a private chauffeur to head on to Ephesus grounds.
Given the fact that you will start the day very early this morning, you can do today’s touring on a slower pace.
Upon arrival in Ephesus area, start touring with a visit to Ephesus Museum. Then proceed to lunch at a local restaurant around the area to relax for a while before we continue on to the main site of Ephesus.
Ephesus is a must-to-see site that impresses each visitor that it welcomes. Main site of Ephesus houses two big agoras (one commercial and political) Gymnasiums, Odeon, Prytaneion, Fountains, Domitian Temple, Celsus Library, Grand Theater, Harbor Street etc…
Our tour of Ephesus will also include a special visit to the Private Houses belonging to the rich Roman citizens. Since they are constructed on three artificial terraces, we also call these houses “Terrace Houses”. That’s what makes them so unique and special in Roman architecture. After seeing the Temple of Artemis, which was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, in the afternoon, continue to the delightful village of Sirince. Located in the hills near Ephesus, set at 400 meters from sea level, full of historic houses facing a peaceful landscape of vineyards and olive groves, Sirince is a pretty village. At the end of the day, you will be dropped off at your hotel.
Overnight at your hotel in Kusadasi or Sirince.
After a leisure breakfast at your hotel, you will check-out and be transferred to Gocek by a private vehicle to embark your privately chartered gullet. The skipper of your boat and the crew will welcome you and give you a brief orientation about the trip. Dependant on the departure time from Kusadasi or Sirince, lunch would either be on the way to Gocek or on the boat if you arrive there at noon time.
Evening meal and overnight on board, either in the harbor of Gocek or in a bay nearby…
Suggested bays
Göcek, Boynuzbükü Bay, Kille Bay
Breakfast can be held at Bedri Rahmi Bay. Later in the day, Hurma bükü Bay, Sarsala Bay
After breakfast, continue to Hamam Yavan Su.
Merdivenli Bay or Aga Limani for overnight.
Aga Limanı, Akvaryum, Panço Bay for overnight.
Panço Bay, Tersane Bay, Yassıca Island, Gocek Island, Gocek.
Today, you will disembark from your gullet and be transferred to Dalaman Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, head to your hotel for your last evening in Istanbul.
Transfer to the airport for your independent flight homeward. (You will be transferred to the airport)
The above itinerary is a sample program. It is customizable. To tailor the program to your own interest or for more information and prices, please contact us. (bu contact us formuna gidecek)
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