DAY 1  Istanbul: Arrival & Transfer to Hotel

Upon your arrival in Istanbul, you will be met with our company representative in the arrivals area of the airport who will be holding a signboard with your name on it. After meet and greet, you will then be transferred from the airport to your hotel in Istanbul. Rest of the day will be at leisure.

DAY 2 Istanbul: Full-Day Istanbul Byzantine & Ottoman History Tour
(Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

• Breakfast at hotel
• 08:30 Picked up from your hotel for Full Day Tour.
• Visiting Sites: Hagia Sophia, Byzantine, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace
• 13:00 Lunch
• After the tour transfer back to your hotel
• Stay Overnight in Istanbul

Hagia Sophia: This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time.

Sultanahmet 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.

Grand Cover Bazaar: In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more then 4,000 shops with each trade having its own area: the goldsmiths' street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as handpainted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes.

Topkapi Palace: The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of cyrstal, 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. Overnight at your hotel in Istanbul.

Day 3 Istanbul: Bosphorus Cruise
(Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

• Breakfast at hotel
• 08:30 Picked up from your hotel for Full Day Tour
• Visiting Sites: Egyptian Bazaar, Bosphorus Bridge, Citadels, Centuries-old Mansions
• After the tour transfer back to your hotel
• Stay Overnight in Istanbul

After breakfast at around 8:30 am, you will join the Half-day Morning Bosphorus Cruise. At the start of this tour, you will enjoy a drive to the pier in Eminonu for a short visit to the historical Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar). Following this, you will join a shared boat tour and cruise along the Bosphorus which is a narrow strait between the continents of Europe and Asia connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. You will be able to view the Ottoman palaces, Bosphorus bridge, citadels, centuries-old mansions, and the European and Asian shorelines while onboard the boat. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel.

Day 4 Kusadasi: Fly to Izmir from Istanbul — Ephesus Tour
(Included Meals: Breakfast& Lunch)

• 8:30 Picked up from your hotel for full day tour.
• Visiting Sites: Temple of Artemis, Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, House of Virgin Mary, Sirince Village
• 13:00 Lunch
• After the tour finishes, transfer to your hotel
• Stay Overnight in Kusadasi

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:30 and will be transferred to the domestic airport for your flight from Istanbul to Izmir between 6:00 – 7:30. Upon arrival at Izmir airport, you will be picked up and transferred to Selçuk. In Selçuk, you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus.

Ephesus Antique Site: Enter through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takes you past the Odeum, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater. The Theater had seating for 25,000, was the site where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians, and is used today for a local spring festival.

Temple Of Artemis: The temple of Artemision is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Antic world. It has been built in the areas of Ephesus on a flat area which has over the centuries turned into a swamp.

House Of Virgin Mary: House of Virgin Mary, one of the most sacred places for Christianity, is located near Ephesus. Some believe the Virgin Mary had spent her last days in the vicinity of Ephesus.

Isabey Mosque: Isa Bey Mosque is one of the most delicate examples of Seljukian architecture, situated below the basilica of Saint John. The mosque was built by the master Syrian architecture Ali son of Mushimish al -Damishki, between the years of 1374 and 1375.

Sirince Village: The Sirince Village; which is an old Greek village and is well-know for its quaint beauty and wine tasting and production. Here you will have one hour free to explore on your own without a guide the different foods and wines of the area and visit various small traditional village shops.

After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi for check-in.

Day 5 Pamukkale: Drive to Pamukkale, Visit Hierapolis ancient city

• Breakfast at hotel
• 9:30 Picked up from your hotel to Pamukkale
• Visiting Sites: Pamukkale, Hot Spring Waterfal, Hierapolis, Amphitheaters, Roman Stone Pillars, Antique Pool
• 13:00 Lunch
• After the tour, transfer to hotel for check in
• Stay Overnight in Pamukkale

After breakfast you will be picked up from your Kusadasi hotel and taken to the meeting point in Selcuk. 

You will visit the first destination of Karahayit to see the Red Spring Waters. After Karahayit we will drive to Pamukkale.

In Pamukkale, you will see the Cotton Cliffs, one of the natural wonders of the world formed by deposits of calcareous salts.

Continue to Hierapolis, the ancient Roman city perched on a plateau formed over centuries by sedimentary limestone rock.

You will visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis. The highlights of Hierapolis are Necropolis, Roman Baths, Basilica, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Frontinious Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, Theater and Antique Pool.

You will also be able to take some photos from the nicest corners of Pamukkale.

will be given some free time for approximately 60 minutes to explore the natural beauties of Pamukkale. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (at own expense) during this free time.The tour guide will inform you about the exact meeting point and time.

Return back to the hotel and we'll stay overnight in Pamukkale.

DAY 6 Cappadocia: Fly to Kayseri or Nevsehir
(Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

• Breakfast at hotel
• Picked up from your hotel to Airport
• Stay Overnight in Cappadocia

After breakfast check out of the hotel in Pamukkale. You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Denizli airport to take your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. Check into your hotel in Cappadocia and the rest of the day is free.

Day 7 Cappadocia: North Cappadocia Tour
(Included Meals: Breakfast& Lunch)

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visiting Sites: Devrent Valley, Pasabag Monk’s Valley, Avanos, Open-air Museum of Goreme, Castles of Uchisar
• 13:00 Lunch
• After the tour, transfer back to hotel
• Stay Overnight in Cappadocia

After breakfast at the hotel, the guide will pick you up to start the wonderful North Cappadocia tour, which is the highlight of our 9 days Turkey tour

DEVRENT VALLEY: Devrent is situated on the northern slopes of Aktepe, 1km from Pasabaglari (Monks’ Valley) and 5 km from Avanos. The ruins at Devrent are spread over three valleys, which also house several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems.

MONKS VALLEY: The best place to see three-headed fairy chimneys. Pasabag, the Pasha’s Vineyard, is surrounded by incredible natural rock formations; a spectacular scene.

AVANOS: A center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC, it is a town where you will be invited to visit a traditional pottery workshop, which is possibly set deep into the hillsides. The clay, which comes from the Red River passing through the town, gives life both to the land and to the local economy.

GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM: Goreme was an important Christian center in the early years of the Middle Ages, was a bishopric administered by Mokissos near Aksaray in the 11th and 13th centuries. Despite the vast number of monasteries, churches and chapels in the vicinity of Göreme, there are not many inscriptions bearing dates. For this reason, these religious buildings are mainly dated according to the iconography or architectural features.

UCHISAR: Uchisar is a troglodyte town situated right in the middle of Cappadocia. It is named after the enormous piece of rock in the center of the town, which was once used as a castle. This extraordinary rock is the highest peak of the area with the view of whole Cappadocia and Erciyes (Argeus) Mountain.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Day 8 Cappadocia:  South Cappadocia Tour, Fly to Istanbul

(Included Meals: Breakfast& Lunch)

• Breakfast at hotel
• 9:30 Picked up from your hotel for full day tour.
• Visiting Sites: Red Valley, Rose Valley, Cavusin Village, Pigeon Valley, Kaymakli Underground city
• 13:00 Lunch
• After the tour, transfer back to Kayseri Airport

After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Güllüdere (Rose) Valley.

CAVUSIN: One of the oldest settlements in the area, Cavusin is situated 2km from Goreme, on the Göreme-Avanos road. The Church of St.John the Baptist offers a panoramic view of the village. This church and its paintings date back to the 5th century, making the oldest church in the region. It also has a large courtyard which is unusual for Cappadocia, however, much of it has eroded away.

KAYMAKLI: Kaymakli and Derinkuyu underground cities are the two largest and deepest of the 40 others in Cappadocia. They both have eight floors, although not all are open to the public.

PIGEON HOUSE: Visit the pigeon houses and rock formations. 

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your late evening return flight to Istanbul. Upon your arrival in Istanbul, you will be met at the airport and transferred from the airport to your hotel.

DAY 9 Istanbul: Istanbul Departure & Transfer to Airport
(Included Meals: Breakfast)

• 08:00 Breakfast at Hotel
• 10:30  Check Out from Hotel
• ** : ** Transfer to Airport regarding your flight

We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on one of our tours. Have a safe trip back home and thank you for choosing TOUR BOOK TURKEY

Included: 

• Arrival, departure airport transfers and ground transportation
• Domestic flight tickets as per the itinerary
• 4 nights in Istanbul at Special Class or 4-star Hotels including breakfast
• 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel including breakfast
• 1 night in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel including breakfast
• 1 night in Pamukkale at a 4-star hotel including breakfast
• Professional licensed English speaking guide during the tours
• Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch)
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Local taxes and service charges

Excluded: 

• International airfare & airport taxes
• Visa to enter Turkey
• Any optional tours
• Hot Air Balloon Ride
• Travel insurance
• Tips & Personal Items
• Drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast)

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• St. Sophia is closed on Monday, this will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici)
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the Beylerbeyi Palace
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday
• During religious holidays, the spice market and Grand Bazaar are closed