10 Days Turkey Trip gives you opportunity to Discover Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus as well as the hidden treasures of Safranbolu, Ankara and Egirdir - it ticks off all of the \"must-sees\" for any visitor of Turkey and showcases the beauty and diversity of its landscape. Book this private tour, and you will delight in Turkey\'s rich history, architecture and scenery
Details of 10 Days Turkey Trip
DAY 1 Istanbul You will arrive to Istanbul / Turkey
You will be transferred to your hotel.
DAY 2 Old City Istanbul Tour
After meeting your tour guide at the lobby of hotel, your Istanbul adventure begins with a trip to the majestic Hagia Sophia, the Church of Divine Wisdom. The church, now a mosque and museum, was originally built by Constantine the Great in the fourth century and later rebuilt by Emperor Justinian to be the flagship Church of the Byzantine Empire. St. Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture and is richly decorated with mosaics, marble pillars, and other magnificent adornments. You will also see the Byzantine Hippodrome, once the heart of Constantinople's political and sporting life, and the scene of many athletic games through the history of the Byzantine Empire. Monuments on the site include the Snake Column from Delphi, as well as an Egyptian obelisk taken from the Temple of Karnak at Luxor. You will also visit another of the city’s most recognizable landmarks; the elegant Blue Mosque with its six graceful minarets and superb interior decorated with more than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles. We will then rest for lunch and you will have the opportunity to taste delicious and healthy traditional Turkish foods. Next on the agenda is the Topkapi Palace, a huge walled complex hugging the Bosphorus that was once the palace of Ottoman sultans and is now a museum that houses an extraordinary collection of Chinese porcelain, art, artifacts and jewels including the radiant Topkapi Diamond. Finally you will explore the famous Grand Bazaar, where you can shop or haggle with local merchants over unusual antiques, colorful spices, beautiful jewelry and richly textured fabrics. Afterwards you drive back to your hotel in Istanbul.
DAY 3 Istanbul & Safranbolu
After breakfast you will check out from hotel and drive from Istanbul to Safranbolu. (Approx. 400km) You will take traditional lunch when you arrived to Safranbolu. The Safranbolu tour will start from Hidirlik Hill to get a city view. Now you discover that there are a lot of well-preserved wooden houses in Safranbolu. Some of them are museum or pansion. Then we will visit Kaymakamlar Museum, Cinci Inn & Bath, Old goverment building, Clock tower, Arasta bazaar. You will drive to nearby Safranbolu and will see Dipsiz lake. After that, we are going toYoruk village, known well-preserved Ottoman houses. Lastly you will visit Sipahiler museum, Laundry museum and Safran Flower, which gives its name to the city, in the village. Afterwards you drive to your hotel in Safranbolu.
DAY 4 Safranbolu & Ankara
After breakfast you will check out from hotel and drive to Ankara. (Appox. 220km) Start the tour at the world-famous Anatolian Civilizations Museum. Housed in a wonderfully restored 15th-century covered market, the museum is a treasure trove of ancient artefacts and relics from early Anatolian civilizations. Starting with the Palaeolithic era the exhibits continue in chronological order to the Ottoman Empire, and include sculptures, reliefs, furniture, metalwork, and much more. There is also an ancient Greek and Roman exhibit and an informative display of the city’s history. Next head to the most recognizable landmark in the city, the impressive Citadel of Ankara, set on a hilltop overlooking the city below. Within the thick walls of the hisar find winding streets, beautifully restored buildings, ancient mosques, and castle towers. Explore the citadel on foot and admire panoramic views of Ankara from one of the many vantage points. Later visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the founder and first president of the modern Republic of Turkey. Afterwards you drive to your hotel in Ankara.
DAY 5 Ankara & Cappadocia Avanos & Derinkuyu Underground City Tour
After breakfast you will check out from hotel and drive to Avanos. (Appox. 285km) You will take lunch in Avanos, overlooking the Kizilirmak (Red) River, the longest river in Turkey. Clay from the silt of the Red River is used to produce the pottery for which Avanos is world-famous. The pottery trade of Avanos dates back to the Hittites. You will have an opportunity to watch the potters at work using techniques that have not changed in generations. We begin with a visit to Derinkuyu Underground City, the largest and the deepest of the underground cities in Cappadocia. You will be amazed by the low-key entrances which give way to elaborate subterranean systems which include air and waste shfats, wells, chimneys and lots of passageways. You will marvel at the design of the city which includes living quarters located in the upper levels and storage and wine-making areas and chapels in the lower levels. Afterwards you drive to your hotel in Cappadocia.
DAY 6 Cappadocia District (Red) Tour
Marvel at the beautiful Byzantine frescoes and the stunning landscape of Cappadocia in your Cappadocia Red Tour which will take you to Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar, Avanos, Pasabag, Rose Valley and more. We start the day by visiting World Heritage-listed Goreme Open Air Museum and its rock cut- Byzantine Orthodox churches. We continue on to Uchisar where you will have an opportunity to take photos of Uchisar Castle before we stop for lunch. The tour also visits Pasabag which translates to "the Pasha's Vineyard". Also known as the Moks Valley, Pasabag has some of the most eye-catching rock formations in Cappadocia and was a hideaway for some Simeon Monks in the 5th century. We finish with a visit to Devrent Valley whose landscape is likened to being similar to a lunar landscape. Afterwards you drive back to your hotel in Cappadocia.
DAY 7 Cappadocia – Konya – Egirdir
After beakfast you will drive to Konya (Approx. 240km) and visit the famous mausoleum of the Sufi philosopher, Mevlana. This was also the dervish lodge of the Mevlevi order, better known as the Whirling Dervishes. You will take traditional Turkish lunch in Konya and continue to Isparta Egirdir Lake (Approx. 220km). You will take dinner with an excellent Egirdir Lake view. Afterwards you drive to your hotel in Egirdir.
DAY 8 Egirdir – Pamukkale – Kusadasi
After beakfast you will drive to Pamukkale (Approx. 200km) and arrive at North Gate of Pamukkale (Hierapolis). You will see the Necropolis(cemetery) of Hierapolis which is one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Anatolia with 1.200 graves, Roman Bath, Domitian Gate, and the Main Street, Byzantium Gate. Then, you walk to the natural warm water terraces which were formed by running warm water that contains calcium. The temperature of the water is about 35. You can see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, located next to the ruins of Hierapolis. The extraordinary effect is created when water from the hot springs loses carbon dioxide as it flows down the slopes, leaving deposits of limestone. The layers of white calcium carbonate, built up in steps on the plateau, gave the site the name Pamukkale (cotton castle). After the open buffed lunch Swimming in hot red thermal pools in the hotel. Then If you like to swim in the Ancient Pool (excluded entrance fee for swimming in pool) which is also called Cleopatra s Pool they charge extra entrance fee. The Cleopatra Pool is warmed by hot springs and littered with underwater fragments of ancient marble columns. Possibly associated with the Temple of Apollo, the pool provides today's visitors a rare opportunity to swim with antiquities! During the Roman period, columned porticoes surrounded the pool; earthquakes toppled them into the water where they lie today. Afterwards you drive to your hotel in Kusadasi.
DAY 9 Kusadasi – Ephesus – Istanbul
After beakfast you will drive to House of the Virgin Mary where it is believed to have spent her last years. On November 29th, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed the House of the Virgin Mary at Ephesus to be sacred. Give a break to taste delicious, healty and traditional Turkish foods. You will visit the premiere Greco-Roman City of the ancient world, Ephesus. Explore the Temple of Hadrian, Domitians temple, Hercules gate, famous Celsus Library, Great theater and other Roman sites. The last visit will be to the Temple of Artemis, which is the one of the seven wonders of ancient world. Afterwards you drive to Izmir airport and flight to Istanbul. After this domestic flight you will be transferred to your hotel in Istanbul.
DAY 10 Istanbul Airport transfer for your international flight.
End of Services.
Notes
Includes of 10 Days Turkey Trip
Professional English-speaking tour guide for the duration of the tour
Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicle
Inbound Airport Transfer – Ataturk Airport (IST) to Hotel
Outbound Airport Transfer – Hotel to Ataturk Airport (IST)
Domestic flight from Izmir to Istanbul (KK4021 19:40 IZM – 20:35 IST)
All airport transfers as outlined in this itinerary
8 Lunches at the day tours,
9 Breakfast at the hotels
9 Nights accommodation in 4 stars hotels 3 Nights in Istanbul - Bed & Breakfast
1 Night in Safranbolu - Bed & Breakfast 1 Night in Ankara - Bed & Breakfast
2 Nights in Cappadocia - Bed & Breakfast
1 Night in Egirdir - Bed & Breakfast
1 Night in Kusadasi - Bed & Breakfast
Excludies of 10 Days Turkey Trip
Tips for guide & driver
Drinks in those day tours where lunch is included
Pick-up and Drop-off Details of 10 Days Turkey Trip
Istanbul
