Turkey Taste 12 Days Istanbul-Cap-Ephesus-P. Kale-Bodrum Private

Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul

1. Istanbul
   1h
   Welcome to Turkey. Arrive in Istanbul Airport ( IST ) or to Sabiha Gokcen Airport ( SAW ) , Our representative will meet you at the airport with your name sign and private transfer to the hotel for overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 2: Full Day Walking Istanbul Tour (Breakfast)

1. Hippodrome
   20m
   Our tour starts with Hippodrome Square where used to take place for chariot races and the Byzantine riots during Roman and Byzantine period.
2. Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
   1h
   Only a short walk away, reaches Hagia Sophia built in 532 AD by Roman Emperor Justinian I.
   
   Update for St. Sophia interior visit :
   Live guiding is not allowed in St. Sophia after the 15th January 2024. Guests have to have their smart phones and headphones during their visit. If guests do not have a headphone, they can buy at the entrance at the cost of 3,5-USD
   The system is similar to audio guide system. Guests who does not have smart phones will follow the signs and the given informations on the signs .
3. Blue Mosque
   45m
   Visit Blue Mosque, which has its fame from its beautiful blue Iznik tiles
4. TopkapI Palace
   2h · Admission ticket included
   We will continue walking to Topkapi Palace, was not only the residence of the Ottoman sultans, but also the administrative and educational center of the state. It was constructed between 1460 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople. We will visit the Topkapi Palace including weapons section.
5. Grand Bazaar
   1h 30m
   We will visit Grand Bazaar where is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. Opened in 1461, it is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops.
   
   Drive back to our hotel

Day 3: Istanbul Walking Tour with Bosphorus Cruise (Breakfast)

1. Misir Carsisi
   1h
   You will have time in Spice Bazaar. Than visit to the Spice Bazaar with its domed and vaulted shops selling spices and herbs, also known as Egyptian Bazaar.
2. Bosphorus Strait
   1h 15m · Admission ticket included
   Then to the pier for a Bosporus cruise on a public ferry. Starting the trip from the Golden Horn and sailing through the waterway separating the two continents, Asia and Europe- with a possibility to take pictures of the marble palaces, old wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials. We get on land in Sariyer district which has the old and modern taste together. Visit Ortakoy where mostly locals go. Ortakoy, once literally “the village in the middle” (orta) the European Bosphorus Shore, is now among Istanbul ‘ s coolest, chic-est, most artsy neighborhoods, with trendy boutiques, atmospheric cafes and bistrots, and crowds of young, sophisticated residents and visitors.
3. Istanbul
   Pass by
   After the tour program drive to your hotel for overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4: Istanbul - Fly to Cappadocia & Tour (Breakfast)

1. Istanbul
   Pass by
   Early morning Pick up from hotel and transfer to Istanbul airport for your flight to Kayseri.
2. Cappadocia
   Pass by
   Upon your arrival to Kayseri / Nevsehir airport, you will be welcomed and transfer to Cappadocia region.
3. Fairy Chimneys
   1h · Admission ticket included
   First meeting with Cappadocia, visiting Three Sisters Fairy Chimneys in Urgup which are the most popular and seen on advertisements. That’s why people carved some pigeon houses to keep them in certain places. You will see that the houses for the pigeons are like the houses for the people.
4. Kaymakli Underground City
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Then we descend into the center of the earth in the Kaymakli Underground City one of the largest and the deepest of 200 others in Cappadocia.
5. Cappadocia
   Pass by
   End of the tour, drive to your hotel for overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 5: Cappadocia Tour (Breakfast)

1. Devrent Valley
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   In the morning, first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; a journey in the past with its troglodyte houses, visit to Pasabag “fairy chimneys” where the voice of wind mixes with the “songs of fairies” near Zelve.
2. Avanos
   1h
   Lunch in Avanos, centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.
3. Goreme Open Air Museum
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century).
4. Uchisar Castle
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. After the tour program transfer to your hotel. Stay overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 6: Cappadocia - Fly to Izmir & Kusadasi Overnight (Breakfast)

1. Cappadocia
   Pass by
   After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Kayseri / Nevsehir airport for your flight to Izmir.
2. Izmir
   1h
   Upon your arrival to Izmir Airport, our representative will welcome you with your name sign and transfer you to Sirince Villiage for overnight.
3. Kusadasi
   Pass by
   Upon your arrival to Kusadasi, check in to your Ocean View room. Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 7: Kusadasi – Ephesus - Kusadasi (Breakfast)

1. Kusadasi
   Pass by
   After breakfast, drive to Ephesus region around 20 minutes.
2. Ephesus Ancient City
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Continue to Ephesus, walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them The State Agora, Odeon, Memnius Monument, the Temple of Domitian, Polio Fountain, Curetes Street, The Trajan Fountain, The Baths of Scholastica, Hadrian Temple, Latrina, Celcus Library, the gate of Mihridates and Mazues, Commercial Agora and The Grand Theater are two of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus. Grand theatre was built in 3rd century B.C and it was later expanded to 24.000 spectators by the Romans in the 1st century A.D.
3. The House of the Virgin Mary
   50m · Admission ticket included
   Then, we will visit the House of Virgin Mary. This house is located on the Aladag Mountains 5 miles from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council of 431 in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared it a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed here.
4. Kusadasi
   Pass by
   End of the tour, drive back to your hotel for overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 8: Kusadasi – Pamukkale ( Breakfast – Dinner )

1. Kusadasi
   Pass by
   After breakfast, check out from your hotel and drive to Pamukkale around 3 hours.
2. Hierapolis & Pamukkale
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis with the Theatre, Apollo Temple and magnificent Necropolis, the graveyard . We wil visit The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are one of the most spectacular natural wonders we ever have seen from various mineral springs in a vast white cliff side. It looks like creations from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle).
3. Pamukkale
   Pass by
   After the tour, check in to your thermal hotel in Pamukkale. You can use the thermal pool until 22:00

Day 9: Pamukkale - Bodrum ( Breakfast)

1. Pamukkale
   Pass by
   After breakfast check out from your hotel and drive to Bodrum around 3,5 hours.
2. Bodrum City
   Pass by
   Upon your arrival to Bodrum in the afternoon, you will check in to your hotel for overnight in Bodrum.
3. Bodrum Castle
   2h · Admission ticket included
   We will start visiting St. Peter’s Castle, including underwater archeology museum. Castle was built by the Knights of St John in 1402 to dominate the harbour and it is one of the last and finest examples of Crusader architecture in the east.
4. Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
   30m · Admission ticket included
   hen we will visit Halicarnassos Mausoleum which used to be one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World. Next stop will be the ancient theater of Halicarnassos, dated back to the 4th century BC with 5.000 capacity.

Day 10: Bodrum Tour ( Breakfast )

1. Bodrum City
   12h
   Free day in Bodrum

Day 11: Bodrum – Istanbul by flight (Breakfast)

1. Bodrum City
   Pass by
   After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and transfer to Bodrum Airport for your flight back to Istanbul.
2. Istanbul
   Pass by
   Upon your arrival to Istanbul, our representative will welcome you with your name sign. Then transfer you to your hotel in Istanbul, for overnight.

Day 12: Home (Breakfast)

1. Istanbul
   Pass by
   Our driver will take you from your hotel upon your departure flight time, and transfer you to airport for your flight back home.
   End of our services.

Pickup details

Private transfers from Istanbul Airport ( IST ) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport ( SAW )

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness