8 Days MINI Group Tour Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia

Day 1: Welcome to Istanbul Arrival day.

1. 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 Guided Istanbul Walking Tour (Breakfast)

1. Blue Mosque
   25m
   09:00 a.m. After breakfast , our guided tour starts with Blue Mosque has its fame from its beautiful blue Iznik tiles
2. Hippodrome
   20m
   Our next stop is Hippodrome Square where used to take place for chariot races and the Byzantine riots during Roman & Byzantine period.
3. TopkapI Palace
   1h 30m · 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.
4. Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
   45m · Admission ticket included
   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 .
5. Grand Bazaar
   1h 30m
   Last stop is 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 the Hotel

Day 3: Cappadocia by flight – Cappadocia Tour - Cave Hotel (Breakfast)

1. 20m
   Early morning pick up from hotel in Istanbul and transfer to Istanbul airport for flight to Cappadocia . Arrival to Cappadocia. Our Tour guide will meet you at the airport and start for Cappadocia tour.
2. Fairy Chimneys
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Drive to Cappadocia and 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.
3. Ozkonak Underground City
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Our Next stop is Ozkonak Underground City. The city has many strata made up of volcanic granite. Its larger areas are connected to each other by tunnels, and it contains a pipe communication system reaching each of its levels. This feature is unique when compared to the Kaymaklı Underground City and the Derinkuyu Underground City. Each carved room had ventilation provided by further piping when the city was sealed during sieges. After the tour program transfer to your hotel.

Day 4: Full Day Tour of Cappadocia - Cave Hotel (Breakfast)

1. Pasabag Vadisi
   1h · 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 Oren Yeri
   45m · Admission ticket included
   Avanos, center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop
3. Goreme Open Air Museum
   1h 30m · 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.

Day 5: Cappadocia – Konya – Pamukkale (Breakfast – Dinner )

1. Sultanhani Kervansarayi
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Early departure for Pamukkale. On the way visit to the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece Sultanhan Caravanserai
2. Mevlana Muzesi
   3h · Admission ticket included
   Early departure for Pamukkale. Upon arrival to Konya visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the world-wide famous mystic, Drive to Pamukkale.
3. Pamukkale
   Pass by
   Upon our arrival to Pamukkale, check in to your thermal hotel for overnight. You will have a chance to swim in thermal pools until 22.30.

Day 6: Pamukkale ( Hierapolis ) – Kusadasi (Breakfast – Dinner )

1. Hierapolis & Pamukkale
   4h · 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).
   Then drive to Kusadasi and overnight.

Day 7: Kusadasi - Ephesus - The House of Virgin Mary - Artemission temple and flight to Istanbul

1. The House of the Virgin Mary
   45m · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast drive to 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.
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.After Ephesus
3. The Temple of Artemis
   20m
   Our last stop the Artemis Temple where is one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World.
   
   After Ephesus tour Drive to Izmir airport for our flight back to Istanbul. Arrival to Istanbul, met by our representative and transfer to the hotel for overnight

Day 8: Private Transfer to Istanbul Airport (Breakfast)

1. 1h
   After breakfast check out from the hotel and private transfer to Istanbul airport or Sabiha Gokcen airport for your flight back home.
   
   The end of our services

Pickup details

Mini Group Max 10 pax : Istanbul - Cappadocia - Konya - Pamukkale - Ephesus - Istanbul.
7 nights & 8 days Domestic flights from Istanbul to Cappadocia and from Izmir to Istanbul are included.

Fully guided, Cave and 4 and 5 star hotels .This is the best program to visit popular highlights in a short time. We will visit Topkapi Palace, St. Sophia, Hipodromme, Blue Mosque, Grand bazaar in Istanbul. Ephesus, The House of Virgin Mary, Artemission temple in Ephesus, White Terraces and Hierapolis in Pamukkale, Whirling Dervishes museum in Konya, Underground city, Goreme, Uchisar in Cappadocia and many more.
* Selected centrally Located Boutique , Cave and 4 star Hotels
* Small group ensures personal service with
* Informative, friendly and professional guide
* Domestic flights included.
* Option with Private Tour for your family

• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• A minimum of 2 people per booking is required. Depends upon availabilties in domestic flight and public holidays, Tour operator can change the itinerary between Cappadocia airport on Day 3 to Izmir airport on Day 6 and do the reverse itinerary without changing any site visits, hotel accommodations and other service standards
• In the event of any museum closures, an alternative similar museum will be visited. On Tuesdays : Topkapi Palace replaced by Underground Cistern, On Sundays: Grand Bazaar will be replaced by Spice Market. Grand Bazaar on religious holidays will be replaced by Arasta Bazaar. On Fridays: Blue Mosque is open from 14.30 to 16.30
• Depends upon flights/hotel availabilities, reverse (Istanbul-Capp.-Pamukkale-Ephesus-Izmir-Istanbul) can be organized.
• Saturday arrivals : Istanbul tour will be at the end of the tour on Friday. Istanbul to Izmir flight will be on Day 2.