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| BLUE MOSQUE TURKEY |
9D8N Turkey DIscovery
ITINERARY
Day 01: ISTANBUL – DOMESTIC FLIGHT – CAPPADOCIA (D)
Arrival Istanbul and transit for a domestic flight to Nevsehir or Kayseri airports for the flight to Cappadocia. . Transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia for dinner and overnight.
Day 02: CAPPADOCIA (B/L/D)
Optional hot air balloon tour. After breakfast depart for the Cappadocia tour, visit the valleys where animal-like natural formations like camels and fair chimneys are abundant. Drive on to Pasabagi in Zelve area where monks used to live in seclusion in rock cut rooms. Proceed to the pottery town of Avanos where Kizilirmak (Hallys), the longest river of Turkey, meanders leaving the red clay on its banks that has been the raw material of pottery for centuries. In the afternoon visit to Open Air Museum in Goreme to visit to the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. Stop by Pigeon Valley near Uchisar. Shopping time for the well-known merits of the area. Overnight in Cappadocia. After visiting Kaymakli Underground City, the place early Christians hid from persecutors, proceed to the hotel in Cappadocia for overnight.
Day 03: CAPPADOCIA – KONYA – PAMUKKALE (B/L/D)
Early departure for Pamukkale. On the way, visit to the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece Sultanhan Caravanserai and arrival in Konya and lunch. After visiting the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the world-wide famous mystic figure, drive to Pamukkale and overnight.
Day 04: PAMUKKALE – KUSADASI (B/L/D)
Tour the ruins of Hierapolis including the magnificently preserved cemetery "Necropolis", the Main Street and Gates, the Thermal Baths, the Roman Theater and the Museum. In the afternoon transfer to Kusadasi and enjoy world famous town of holiday paradise. Proceed to the hotel in Kusadasi for overnight.
Day 05: KUSADASI (B/L/D)
Morning tour to Ephesus area with Ephesus Antique City, one of the most popular ancient sites of Turkey with many acres of carefully excavated ruins; Virgin Mary’s House, where St. Mary is supposed to spend her last years together with St. John. In the afternoon time for shopping and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 06: KUSADASI – CANAKKALE (B/L/D)
Early departure for Bergama and visit to the Asclepion with the well preserved remains. In the afternoon continue on to Troy, the place where the legendary Trojan War took place as described in the historical work of Homer of Smyrna. After visiting the site with nine in habitation levelscovering a period of 3000 years, drive to Canakkale for overnight.
Day 07: CANAKKALE – ISTANBUL (B/L)
After breakfast sail to the other side of Dardanelles by a ferryboat and drive to Istanbul with visit to Gallipoli, historically famous for being the site of many battles - particularly involving the Allied Forces including Australians and New Zealanders during World War I. Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel or airport.
Day 08: ISTANBUL (B/L)
A full day tour with St. Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture constructed as a basilica in 536 by Emperor Justinian); Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its more than 20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet in the 17th century, one of the best examples of classical Turkish art; Hippodrome, the scene of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory celebrations, and political activities of the old city where one can also see today the “Obelisk of Theodosius” from Egypt, “Serpentine Column” from Delphi, the “German Fountain of Wilhelm II” and the “Colossus”. After lunch in the afternoon, proceed to Topkapi Palace built in 1468 by Mehmet the Conqueror, the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury, Chinese porcelains, weapons and calligraphy section.
Day 09: ISTANBUL (B)
After breakfast fee time until transfer to the Airport for your flight home
