CAPPADOCIA - ANKARA

DAY 1: ANKARA-CAPPADOCIA

Morning visit of Ankara with the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations museum which has the most unique and pricelesscollection dating back to the Prehistoric Era. The Mausoleum of Atatürk is the next stop.This magnificent structure serves as a tribute to the founder of modern Turkey. After lunch drive to Cappadocia via Salt Lake. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY 2: CAPPADOCIA

After breakfast full day tour of Cappadocia begins with the naturel citadel of Uçhisar which will enable you to get a panaromic view of the region and continues with the Göreme valley which is the highlight of the day houses tge Göreme open air museum with is churches hewn out of rock and the colourful frescoes which decorate them.The next stop is Zelve and the caves of this ancient village, continuing with the Avanos and Çavuşin villages. Lunch will be served at a typical regional restaurant. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 3: CAPPADOCIA-ANKARA

After breakfast morning visits will begin with the underground city of Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu which are refuges carved out in the aerly Christian Era as safeheavens from persecutors. Lunch will be taken on the way to Ankara, transfer back to Istanbul in the evening.




CAPPADOCIA & WEST ANATOLIA

DAY 1: ANKARA-CAPPADOCIA

Morning tour of Ankara to visit the Hittite Museum and Mausoleum of Atatürk. After lunch drive to Cappadocia. Dinner & overnight.
DAY 2: CAPPADOCIA

After breakfast, morning visit to the underground city of Kaymaklı & Citadel of Uçhisar. After lunch continue with the valley of "Göreme" open air museum. The last sites will be Paşabağ valley and Avanos. Return to hotel for dinner & overnight.
DAY 3: CAPPADOCIA / KONYA / PAMUKKALE

Early departure for Konya. On the way visit the 13th century Seljukian caravanserai "Sultanhan". The next stop will be Konya which is famous with Mevlana Museum and the Theological School of Whirling Dervishes. Lunch enroute, drive to Pamukkale.
DAY 4: PAMUKKALE / APHRODISIAS / KUŞADASI
Breakfast and visit the ancient city of Hierapolis. The ruins of the biggest Necropolis Graveyard of the ancient world, Roman Baths, Bazilica and calcium cliffs. Drive to Aphrodisias. After lunch visit the Greco-Roman settlement which is remarkably well preserved. The ancient city is dedicated to the goddes of Love, Aphrodite. Drive to Kuşadası, dinner and overnight.
DAY 5: KUŞADASI / İZMİR

After breakfast at the hotel drive to Meryemana and visit the House of Virgin Mary. Continue to Ephesus, the Roman Capital of Asia Minor. Visit the ruins of Odeon, Hercules Gate, the temple of Hadrian, the magnificient library, Agora and fantastic greco-roman theatre. After lunch visit the Basilica of St.John drive to İzmir.




EPHESUS & VIRGIN MARY'S HOUSE

THE MOST FAMOUS AND THE MOST VISITED HISTORIC SITE IN TURKEY
Early flight to IZMIR, birth place of Homer, and departure for EPHESUS and visist the HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY, where she spent her last days. Then, visit EPHESUS, the most complete ancient city ever excavated. Ypu will feel yourself as if you were in ancient Ephesus while you are walking through the FOUNTAINS of POLIO HADRIAN - TRAJAN and temples of DOMITION AND HADRIAN VARIUS OR SCHOLASTICA BATHS, BROTHL, CELCIUS LIBRARY, BOULETORION and the GREAT THEATER. After a delicious lunch in Selçuk, we will visit the TEMPLE of ARTEMIS, once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, St. JOHN BASILICA and ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM of Ephesus. Return to Izmir and flight to Istanbul.




PERGAMUM

FAMOUS FOR ITS ONE OF THE LARGEST LIBRARIES AND MAGICAL CENTERS IN THE ANCIENT WORLD.
Early flight to Izmir and drive to PERGAMUM, once the ancient world's major power and center of learning and the arts. Visit the LIBRARY, once held 200.000 bokks, TEMPLE of ATHENA, TEMPLE of TROJAN, ALTAR of ZEUS, the GYMNASIUM situated on terraces, the lower AGORA, and the RED BASILICA dedicated to God Serapis. After lunch, visit the ARCHEOLOGICAL and the ETHONOGRAPHICAL MUSEUMS, then the ASCLEPION, the ancient health center. return to Izmir and flight to Istanbul.




PAMUKKALE ( HIERAPOLIS )

NATURAL WONDER KNOWN AS "COTTON CASTLE"
Early flight to IZMIR, drive to PAMUKKALE which is unique in the world with is cascading water from the ciffs forming crystallized, dazzling white "Frozen Waterfalls The thermal waters have been used for therapeutic treatments since the Roman period. You will have time to enjoy the therapeutic hot spring waters. Then, visit the Roman city. HIERAPOLIS which contains wonderful necropolis and the theatre. Return to Izmir and flight to Istanbul.




ANTALYA

Flight to ANTALYA, visit to Perge Theatre, Agora, Stadium and Columned Street. Proceed to ASPENDOS one of the best preserved theatres in the world. Lunch and swimming break at SIDE and visit the site, museum, theatre and temples.
MANAVGAT WATER FALLS before return to ANTALYA. Dinner and overnight. Flight to Istanbul.




TROY & ANZACS

Early start to the ancient city of TROY, famous with the legendary TROJAN HORSE from the times of beautiful Helen and Paris. Ferry across DARDENELLES Visit to GALLIPOLI, famous battle-field of ANZACS of World War I. Late evening return.




AEGEAN PEARLS

Day 1 Early morning start for "GALLIPOLI", famous battle-field of World War I, graveyards and memorials of ANZACS, Crossing DARDANELLES, lunch at Canakkale, visit to the ancient city of TROY and TROJAN HORSE. Walking back to "Bronze Age" 3000 B. C. at ASSOS, who had hosted Lydians, Persians, Romans, Byzantians and Ottomans finally, Dinner and overnight.
Day 2 Start after breakfast. Visit to PERGAMUM, ancient center of healing and culture, AESCULAPIUM, built in the name of Aesculapis, "God Of Medicine". Drive to Izmir, birthplace of Homer. A short tour of the city. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3 Start after breakfast and drive to EPHESUS, famous ancient settlemet, visit to the HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY at Mount Solmissos, St. JOHN BASILICA and TEMPLE OF DIANA, one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World". Return back to Izmir. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4 Start after breakfast, visit to SARDES, capital of ancient Lydia. View the TEMPLE OF CYBELE and DIANA, ACROPOLIS. Visit to one of world's oldest synagogues. drive to BURSA and Lunch of famous "Kebab of Alexander the Great" and city tour seeing ULUCAMI (Grand Mosque), GREEN MAUSOLEUM, GREEN MOSQUE, OLD SILK MARKET. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5 Start after breakfast. Cable-Car (Teleferik) to the first stage of ULUDAG, the legendary "MOUNT OLYMPOS". Drive to IZNIK (Nicea) the meeting place of the Oecumenial Council at 325, also very famous with the tiles. Evening return to Istanbul.