Charming Turkiye (Small Group) 11 Days
11 Days: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Izmir & Canakkale
Tour overview:
Discover the charms of Turkiye in 11 days. In Istanbul, see the famous Blue Mosque and take in the colors and smells on a foodie back street tour. Visit the World Heritage site of Cappadocia and the lime cascades of Pamukkale. And explore one of the world’s finest archeological sites, Ephesus.
Day 1 - Istanbul
Upon arrival in Istanbul, after clearing customs and immigration formalities, enter the arrivals hall, turn left, and exit through door #8 to meet your transfer representative. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 2 - Istanbul Full Day
After breakfast at the hotel, a guided tour to Topkapi Palace, St. Sophia, Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar will commence. The day ends with an overnight stay in Istanbul.(B)
Day 3 - Istanbul – Cappadocia
After breakfast, we will be transferred to airport for our flight to Kayseri. Upon to your arrival you will visit Turasan wine factory and enjoy tasting beautiful wines of Cappadocia. Then continue for an exciting jeep safari adventure in Cappadocia. Driving from Goreme to Cavusin through Love Valley, we’ll make frequent photo stops en route. Arriving into Cavusin town we’ll walk up to the old city carved on to the rocks and see the Church of St. John the Baptist, one of the oldest cave churches in Cappadocia. Next we head to Ortahisar via the Rose Valley. After visiting the picturesque Ortahisar Castle we make our way to Uzengi Valley, our drive takes us along the brook bank, where we’ll be able to see the pigeon houses carved into the rocks. Later we arrive into Mustafapasa Village (Sinasos), a former Greek town that was inhabited by the Greeks until the population exchange in 1924. After some relaxing time in the town we drive back to Goreme via Pancarlik, Pigeons and Babaccik valleys. After the tour you will be transferred to your hotel. Over night Cappadocia. (BD)
Day 4 - Cappadocia Full Day
Early in the morning an optional Balloon tour is available. Then, full day excursion in Cappadocia including visits to the Kaymakli Underground City, Open Air Museum in Goreme and natural fortress in Uchisar. Lunch in a cave rest. to taste famous Pottery Kebap. Here, we will have the opportunity to discover and understand the rich history behind local handicrafts like hand-made carpets, Turkish tiles, onyx and potteries. Optional night tour with a Turkish show and dinner is avaliable tonight. Overnight stay in Cappadocia. (BL)
Day 5 - Cappadocia – Konya – Pamukkale
Early departure for Pamukkale. On the way, visit the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece Sultanhan Caravanserai before arrival in Konya. After visiting the Mausoleum of Mevlana, we continue our drive to Pamukkale for an overnight stay. (BD)
Day 6 - Pamukkale – Izmir
After breakfast, visit the ancient Hierapolis with the magnificent Necropolis, graveyard and the lime cascade. Thereafter, we continue our drive to Selcuk to visit Temple of Artemis “one of the seven wonders of the ancient world” then continue to Izmir for overnight stay. (BD)
Day 7 - Izmir – Ephesus – Sirince – Izmir
Morning drive to Ancient city of Ephesus where we will visit its magnificent library, theater and temples. Lunch in nomadic tent in Selcuk to taste Turkish Gozleme. Continue to marvelous village of Sirince where you be able to experience one of the most beautiful villages in Turkiye . You can do shopping and taste delicious wines of the village. Return to Izmir for overnight stay. (BLD)
Day 8 - Izmir – Pergamum – Canakkale
Early departure for Bergama to visit the Asklepion with its well preserved remains before continuing to Troy; the site where the legendary Trojan War took place. Drive to Canakkale for an overnight stay. (BD)
Day 9 - Canakkale – Gallipoli – Istanbul
After breakfast, we will cross the Dardanelles then continue to Gallipoli to visit Anzac Cove, Nek, Conk Bair, Lone Pine and 57th Regiment Memorial. Arrival in Istanbul for an overnight stay. (B)
Day 10 - Istanbul – Back Streets
We will start our tour from Spice Market area learning about spices which dominated Ottoman cuisine. We will try sherbet (spice juice), Turkish Delight and nuts. We will experience the smells and the colours of Istanbul…Then we will walk through Galata Bridge to Galata area. We will stop to taste ethnic dishes from all regions of Anatolia. Galata district is coming a cutural center with design shops, heute cuture designers, wine cellars, boutique hotels… We taste Turkish coffee cooked on chacoal, maybe sesamy pretzel and roasted chestnuts on the way to Beyoglu. Beyoglu has little labrinth like streets with hidden tastes of different Greek mezes, Blacksea style Turkish pizza, fried mussels, pickles, tripe soup etc. We will conclude out tour with desert, either mastic rice pudding ot asure or elastic ice cream or Beyoglu chocolate or tasting all of them if you have a sweet tooth. (B)
Day 11 - Return
After breakfast transfer to the airport (Ataturk airport). (B)