8 Days - Istanbul - Priene - Miletus - Didyma - Ephesus - Pamukkale - Cappadocia - By Plane & Bus

TOUR ITINERARY
 
 DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL
 Upon your arrival we will pick you up from the airport and transfer to the Boutique Hotel in Sultanahmet area. Overnight in Istanbul.
 
 DAY 2 - BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN RELICS TOUR (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
 08:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Old City. In this day you will be able to see:
 
 HAGIA SOPHIA: zantium largest cathedral, converted to mosque 1453 by the Ottoman Empire and today open as a museum to see both religion remains.
 
 BLUE MOSQUE: This mosque complex, containing Istanbul's only mosque with six minarets was built by Sedefkar Mehmet Aga for Sultan Ahmed 1st. early 17th century.
 
 HIPPODROME: Center of sport activities and political events of the Eastern Roman Empire.
 
 GRAND BAZAAR: Famous shopping center worldwide. Shopping possibilities for carpet, jewellery, leather etc
 
 TOPKAPI PALACE: Built between 1475 and 1478 by Mehmet II, Fatih, the conqueror of Istanbul, served as the residence of the sultan and administrative seat of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years.
 
 17:00 After the tour, you will be transfered back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
 
 DAY 3 - FLIGHT TO IZMIR / MILETUS, PRIENE, DIDYMA TOUR (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
 You will be picked up from your hotel around 06:00 and transfer to airport.
 Depart from Istanbul 07:30
 Arrive Izmir at 08:30. Met on arrival and transfer to Ephesus.
 (1 hour drive from Izmir to Priene - Miletus - Didyma)
 
 10.00 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Priene Miletus & Didyma. First you will see Priene which in its time was one of the most spectacular of all the ancient Ionians cities. Then we will lead our way to Miletus to see Miletus with its magnificent theatre and the Byzantine fortress on the acropolis above. Our last stop will be Didyma. Here you will find the largest Ionic Temple in the world, that of Apollo. Also in Didyma lies the huge, cracked head of Medusa which long ago fell from the freeze. End of the tour transfer to the hotel around 5:00 pm and overnight stay in Kusadasi.
 
 DAY 4 - EPHESUS TOUR (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
 08:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of of Ephesus & The House of Virgin Mary.
 First you will visit The Temple of Artemis, which once was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Then you will visit the world famous ancient Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, the most well preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a lunch break. After lunch you will visit The House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.
 
 DAY 5 - PAMUKKALE TOUR / BUS TO CAPPADOCIA (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
 08:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Pamukkale & Hierapolis. In Pamukkale, you will see the Cotton Cliffs, one of the natural wonders of the world formed by deposits of calcareous salts. Also visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its basilica , theatre and Roman Baths. After tour overnight bus to Cappadocia with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 21:00 or 22:00. (duration 10 hours). There are three breaks on the way for your personal needs.
 
 DAY 6 - CAPPADOCIA TOUR 1 (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
 07:30 Arrive Cappadocia. Met on arrival & transfer to hotel.
 You will have some time to relax and fresh up.
 
 09:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of North Cappadocia. In this day you will be able to see:
 
 DEVRENT VALLEY: Devrent is situated on the northern slopes of Aktepe, 1km from Pasabaglari (Monks’ Valley) and 5 km from Avanos. The ruins at Devrent are spread over three valleys, which also house several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems.
 
 MONKS VALLEY: The best place to see three-headed fairy chimneys. Pasabag, the Pasha's Vineyard, is surrounded by incredible natural rock formations; a spectacular scene.
 
 AVANOS: A center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC, it is a town where you will be invited to visit a traditional pottery workshop, which is possibly set deep into the hillsides. The clay, which comes from the Red River passing through the town, gives life both to the land and to the local economy.
 
 GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM: Goreme was an important Christian centre in the early years of the Middle Ages, was a bishopric administered by Mokissos near Aksaray in the 11th and 13th centuries. Despite the vast numer of monasteries, churches and chapels in the vicinity of Göreme, there are not many inscriptions bearing dates. For this reason, these religious buildings are mainly dated according to the iconography or architectural features.
 
 UCHISAR: Uchisar is a troglodyte town situated right in the middle of Cappadocia. It is named after the enormous piece of rock in the center of the town, which was once used as a castle. This extraordinary rock is the highest peak of the area with the view of whole Cappadocia and Erciyes (Argeus) Mountain. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
 
 DAY 7 - CAPPADOCIA TOUR 2 / FLIGHT BACK TO ISTANBUL (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
 Breakfast & check out the hotel.
 
 09:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of South Cappadocia. In this day you will be able to see:
 
 KIZILCUKUR: is an isolated valley behind Urgup. It has beautiful rock formation with some great hidden rock-carved churches. The most interesting part of this area is the countless tracks connecting the small villages and towns through vineyards and gardens like a spider net. It is always possible to see villagers working in the area and offering grapes, apples or apricots to you.
 
 CAVUSIN: One of the oldest settlements in the area, Cavusin is situated 2km from Goreme, on the Göreme-Avanos road. The Church of St.John the Baptist offers a panoramic view of the village. This church and its paintigs date back to the 5th century, making the oldest church in the region. It had a large courtyard which is unusual for Cappadocia, this has been eroded away however.
 
 HOSPITAL MONASTRY: One of the oldest monastries in Cappadocia.
 
 KAYMAKLI: Kaymakli and Derinkuyu underground cities are the two largest and deepest of the 40 others in Cappadocia. They both have eight floors, although not all are open to the public.
 
 PIGEON HOUSE: Visit the pigeon houses and rock formations.
 After the tour, transfer to airport.
 20:30 Depart from Kayseri.
 21:40 Arrive back in Istanbul & transfer to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
 
 DAY 8 - ISTANBUL / DEPARTURE (Meals: Breakfast)
 After breakfast check out from hotel (before 12:00), transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport regarding your flight details. End of tour and services. (If you would like, you can extend your trip by adding extra nights in Istanbul, please advise.
 
 
 Please contact us for more information: info@allistanbultours.com