8 Days Turkey Trip covers Istanbul, Antalya, Pamukkale, Ephesus, This private tour itinerary gives guests who are short on time a chance to sample some of Turkey's finest sites with the help of our expert guides.
Details of 8 Days Turkey Trip
DAY 1 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 Bosphorus Cruise & Antalya
After beakfast, your Bosphorus adventure begins with a visit to Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Bazaar), it was built in 1664 as a part of the Yeni Cami complex which is located next to it. Misir in Turkish means Egypt and it is called the Egyptian Bazaar because the shopkeepers used to sell spices and herbs which were brought from or through Egypt. During the Ottoman period it was known as a place where shops sold only spices. Today there are only a few spice and herb specialists. The rest sell dried fruit, borek, basket work, jewelry, haberdashery, drapery and suchlike. The bazaar has an "L" shape with six gates. Bosphorus Cruise, Discover the absolute best of Istanbul by sea for a memorable Bosphorus Cruise between two continents Asia and Europe. Beylerbeyi Palace, Beylerbeyi, built by under Sultan Abdulaziz by another member of the talented Balyan family of architects in the Europoean style of Dolmabahce, was the second palace to be built on the Bosphorus and served as a summer residence and guest quarters for visiting dignitaries during thie visits to the city. Bosphorus Bridge, Also known as the First Bosphorus Bridge, the Bosphorus Bridge is just one of the two bridges in Istanbul, Turkey. It spans the Bosphorus Strait and bridges the gap between Asia and Europe. The other bridge across the Bosphorus Straight is the Second Bosphorus Bridge, more formally known as the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. Camlica Hill, After the tour you will be transferred back to your Cruise Ship. Afterwards you drive to Istanbul Airport and flight to Antalya. After this domestic flight you will be transferred to your hotel in Antalya.
DAY 4 Perge, Aspendos & Side Tour
After beakfast you will drive to Perga now commonly spells Perge which was the capital city of the Pamphylia region, south western Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Today it is a large site of ancient ruins 15km east of Antalya in the coastal line. There is an acropolis located, dating back to the Bronze Age. In Perge you will see city gate, Roman Bath, Column Street, Agora and Stadium. Then we will drive toAspendos. Aspendos was an ancient city in Pamphylia, Asia Minor. It was situated on the Eurymedon River about 10miles (16km) inland from the Mediterranean Sea. The Greek spelling of the name is Aspendos. According to mythology, the city was founded around 1000 B.C. by Greeks who may have come from Argos. Here we will visit the best protected theatre of the little Asia, which the theatre has amazing acoustics and during the summer months concerts are held here (listening to an opera or a musical under the stars in such an ancient setting is an evening not to be missed). Afterwards you will have your lunch at a nice restaurant. Then we will drive to Side antique city, and we will see the splendid Agora, Theatre and Temples built in the seventh century B.C. Afterwards you drive back to your hotel in Antalya.
DAY 5 Antalya City Tour
A half day city sightseeing tour is the perfect introduction to Antalya on the Mediterranean Sea, an area known as the Turquoise Coast. The highlights on this four-hour tour include a visit to Hadrianus Gate, Clock Tower, Republican Square and finally Antalya Archaeological Museum. Afterwards you drive back to your hotel in Antalya.
DAY 6 Antalya - Pamukkale - Kusadasi
After beakfast you will drive to Pamukkale (Approx. 230km) 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 (Approx. 185km).
DAY 7 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 8 Istanbul Airport transfer for your international flight.
End of Services.
Notes
Includes of 8 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 flights from Istanbul to Antalya (KK18 19:50 IST – 21:00 ANT)
Izmir to Istanbul (KK4021 19:40 IZM – 20:35 IST)
All airport transfers as outlined in this itinerary
6 Lunches at the day tours,
7 Breakfast at the hotels
7 Nights accommodation in 4 stars hotels
3 Nights in Istanbul - Bed & Breakfast
3 Nights in Antalya - Bed & Breakfast
1 Night in Kusadasi - Bed & Breakfast
Excludies of 8 Days Turkey Trip
Tips for guide & driver Drinks in those day tours where lunch is included
Pick-up and Drop-off Details of 8 Days Turkey Trip
Istanbul
