Best of Turkey Tour

TOUR ITINERARY : Best of Turkey Tour

Meet at the airport Transfer to your hotel. You will be given your room key and the rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul.

Pick up in the morning from your hotel for a day tour of old Istanbul city. Visit to TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. Then proceed to SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. HIPPODROME Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine.

Tour starts sailing over Golden Horn Sea, get off at Eyüp and visit the Eyüp districts most significant mosque before riding up a cable car to Pierre Loti Café. Eyup Mosque, The mosque complex includes a mausoleum marking the spot where Eyüp (Job) al-Ansari, the standard-bearer and friend of the Islamic prophetMuhammad, is said to have been buried. Enjoy stunning views of the Golden Horn during the day and final destination is Dolmabahce Palace located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul and the largest palace in Turkey.
It has an area of 45,000 m2 (11.1 acres), and contains 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths (hamam) and 68 toilets. Once you entered the complex, enjoy the well-maintained gardens surrounding the palace as well as the magnificent Bosphorus views. Just before entering the palace itself, please note the working flower clock and beautiful Imperial Gate at the left.

After breakfast you will be picked-up from your hotel to visit the Spice Bazaar (or Egyptian Bazaar). Filled with spices, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, lokum (Turkish delight) and other edibles, Spice Bazaar has a smell of the fragrance of the exotic East. Then join a boat excursion on the Bosphorus on a shared tour. Enjoy viewing Ottoman palaces, Bosphorus bridge, citadels, centuries-old mansions and the European and Asian shorelines at the same time. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel at around 12:45 pm.
Breakfast. Transfer from hotel to airport in Istanbul to board the flight for Kayseri. On arrival, you will be transferred from airport in Kayseri to hotel in Cappadocia. En route, visit Red Valley; one of the most beautiful trekking valleys in Cappadocia. Check-in at your hotel and relax.

Our first real encounter with Cappadocia almost Martian landscape is in the Dervent valley. We visit Pasabag’s “fairy chimneys”, where the voice of the wind harmonizes with songs of the fairies. From here we pause at Avanos center of terracotta art which is a popular destination because of its attractive old town with cobbled streets, and views over the river and is its production of earthenware pottery, it is also the most economic activity in the town. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date right back to the Hittites, and the ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kızılırmak has always been used. A visit to ceramic & tile center to see how the ceramics made by hand. After lunch we visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia. People of Goreme, at the heart of the Cappadocia Region, realized that these soft rocks could be easily carved out to form houses, churches, monasteries. These Christian sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art from the post-iconoclastic period. These frescoes are a unique artistic achievement from this period. You visit a carpet cooperative, where you'll see how exquisite Turkish carpets are hand-woven. We complete the tour with a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.

After breakfast check out of the hotel in Istanbul. You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Istanbul airport to take your flight to Antalya. a gateway to the Turkish Riviera. A wonderfully preserved historical city cum port, tucked into a crescent-shaped bay amidst the Taurus Mountains, Antalya is a splendid Roman-era harbour with some of the finest beaches. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Antalya. Check into your hotel in Antalya and rest of the day is free.
This evening you will see Belly Dancers, Turkish folkdance, taste Turkish food and wine, and enjoy a lot of music and dancing. The program usually starts at 20:30 and goes on until midnight. Turks really know how to have fun all together. Join us for an evening of eastern promise; sample the local cuisine, local mezzes and soft drinks. You will be amazed the folk dances from all over the country and be entranced by the belly dancers in addition to traditional Turkish hospitality. Overnight in Antalya.

Depart in the morning to visit Perge. Perge an important city of ancient Pamphylia. St. Paul visited Perge on his first missionary journey. The theatre stage has finely carved marble reliefs & other carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium. Then proceed to Aspendos Aspendos, which bears one of the best preserved Roman theatres in Asia Minor. After lunch by the river, we visit Manavgat Waterfalls Manevgat Waterfalls before continuing to Side. Side is one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey. It was an ancient harbor; today Side is a pretty resort town with its ancient ruins, two sandy beaches & numerous tiny souvenir shops. The magnificent theatre of the ancient city, built on colonnaded arches, is the largest in the whole area. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back to your hotel at approximately 5:45 pm. Overnight in Antalya.

After breakfast check out from hotel (before 12:00), transfer to Antalya airport as per your international or domestic flight details. End of tour and services.