Day 1 Arrival in Istanbul D
Upon arrival meet with our representative and transfer to the hotel. Dinner included.
Day 2 Istanbul - Antalya BLD
Visit of city of art and history synthesis, Istanbul
Full day city tour of Istanbul: visit the Blue Mosque, recognizable from its six minarets, built between 1609 and 1616 for Sultan Ahmet I and decorated inside with 21,043 tiles from Iznik in a dominant blue color;
The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) was built opposite Haghia Sophia for sultan Ahmet I between 1609 and 1616 by Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa, who was one of Sinan's apprentices. The mosque was part of a complex comprising an hospice, an hospital (insane asylum), a soup kitchen, an open air market street, rental rooms and mansions, a hammam. Most of these sections have been destroyed by fire or razed. The sultan's pavilion where he used to rest before entering the mosque (now the Carpets and Kilims museum), the medrese and the Mausoleum still remain today.
The Hippodrome (At Meydani) was the center of the city's public life during centuriesmentioned above, wrenched from their mountings and sent to Venice with many other riches: they were placed on top of the facade of the San Marco church. In 1797 Napoleon sent the statues as spoils of war to Paris where they were placed on top of the Arch of Carrousel, but upon his defeat the horses were taken back to Venice where they still remain. Following the Ottoman conquest, the Hippodrome, taking the Turkish name "At Meydanı" (horse square) was used to train horses and for the equestrian game of cirit. The Hippodrome was the scene of Janissary rebellions but also of splendid festivities with parades and fireworks, like on the occasion of the marriage of Princess Hatice (a sister of Süleyman the Magnificent) to Grand Vizier İbrahim Pasha (whose palace stands on the western side of the Hippodrome) in 1524, or on the occasion of the circumcision feast held for Süleyman's sons Mustafa, Mehmet, and Selim in 1530.
Haghia Sophia which marked the apogée of Byzantine Emperor Justinian's reign.
Lunch at Konyali Restaurant ( In Topkapi Palace, with a splendid view on the Bosphorus )
Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans between the end of the 15th and the first half of the 19th centuries with its Imperial Treasury;
Extraordinary Basilica Cistern whose vaults are supported by a forest of columns topped with ancient capitals.
Late afternoon, transfer to the airport for a flight to Antalya. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 Antalya - Perge - Aspendos BLD
Morning, through the coastal plain of Pamphylia, drive to Perge to visit this Hellenistico-Roman ancient city with its stadium, colonnaded street and theatre.
Perge, Because of the names of legendary heroes Calchas and Mopsus written on the basis of statues, the inhabitants of Perge believed that their city had been founded after the Trojan War. However, Perge did not appear in history until Alexander the Great came here in 333 BC. From that period, it became an important city surrounded by fortifications. Under the domination of the Seleucid kings, Perge enjoyed a considerable freedom and rights of minting. On most of the coins, Artemis Of Perge was represented because at the time, there was in the city a sanctuary dedicated to Artemis that was famous in the whole Pamphylia. In 188 BC, Perge came under the Roman domination and went on flourishing and expanding through the first three centuries AD. At the time of their apostolic trips through Asia Minor, St Paul and Barnabas staid in Perge.
Apollonius, mathematician of the 3-2C BC and known as the "Great Geometer" (Treaty of Conic Sections) was born in Perge.
The beautiful sculptures from Perge are displayed in Antalya Archaeological Museum.
Continue to Aspendos, whose 2C AD theatre is the best preserved Roman theatre in Asia Minor.
Aspendos, According to the tradition, Aspendus was founded by colonists from Argus led by legendary Mopsos in the 13C BC., near the Eurymedon river (Köprüçay) which at the time was navigable. Through the centuries, it was a prosperous city due to the ships that could reach its walls, making maritime trade easier and active in the whole Mediterranean sea. In the 6C BC, it was taken by Lydian king Croesus, and later came under the domination of Persia. In 468 BC, the Persians were defeated during a famous battle that took place at the mouth of the Eurymedon. Later the rich city was punished for not being willing to pay tribute to Alexander the Great, and was compelled to show obedience. Having become vassal of Pergamum, it was rallied to Rome in 190 and in 129 BC it was incorporated to the Roman Province of Asia and enjoyed its most prosperous period. The city declined under the Byzantine rule and was finally abandoned.
After lunch, stroll in the narrow streets of the picturesque old town (kaleiçi) with its narrow streets and typical wooden houses overlooking the marina, to discover the Hadrian Gate, the Fluted Minaret, the Truncated Minaret, and Hidirlik Tower…
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 4 Antalya - Konya - Cappadocia BLD
In the morning, you will drive to Konya along a scenic road which runs right across the Taurus Mountains. Arrive for lunch in Konya, the holy city and old Seljuk capital of the Sultanate of Rum.
Then visit the Museum of Mevlâna, the famous mystic and poet who founded the Order of the Whirling Dervishes in the 13th century.
Through the Plain of Konya, the granery of Turkey, continue into the heart of central Anatolia to the volcanic region of Cappadocia.
Arrive in Urgup.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel..
Day 5 Cappadocia BLD
Departure from the hotel.
Visit Uchisar to discover the fatastic view.
Uçhisar : in spite of its different shapes, this tufa rock resembles Ortahisar with which it formed a defensive chain of natural fortresses. From the top (60m/200 ft) there is a beautiful panorama over the town and neighborhood, as well as the Valley of the Pigeon Houses.
Visit Goreme open-air museum.
Göreme is an open-air museum. A religious community used to live in this valley. Monks carved churches and monastic buildings out of the rocks. The splendid decoration painted by artists adds to the picturesque architectural decoration. The churches which can be seen there date back to the second half of the 9th century and afterwards, and frescoes were painted around the 11th century.
Return to hotel.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 6 Cappadocia - Ankara - Bolu BLD
Proceed to Ankara along the Salt Lake. Upon arrival in Ankara, the Turkish capital since 1923, visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations which displays rich and unique collections like the treasures of the Hittite section.
The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Muzesi) displays rich and unique collections including prehistoric, Hatti, Hittite, Assyrian, Phrygian, Urartian, Persian and later period collections. In 1968, the museum was installed inside two 15th century restored Ottoman buildings, the Mahmut Paşa Bedesteni (covered bazaar) and Kurşunlu Han.
The museum is located at the foot of the citadel in the old town and can be reached from Ulus Square, one of the busiest area in the city which is easily identifiable by the equestrian statue of Atatürk.
Continue towards the green landscapes. Arrive in Bolu. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 Bolu - Istanbul BLD
Morning, drive to Istanbul and cross the Bosphorus that separates Asia from Europe and connects the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea. Lunch upon arrival. Afternoon at leisure.
Dinner
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 Istanbul BLD
In the morning, you will enjoy a cruise on the Bosphorus, the unique winding strait separating two continents offering a delightful mixture of past and present ; see a wonderful skyline of minarets and domes, pine-wood hills and landmarks of Istanbul.
The Bosphorus is a 31km/20miles long strait between Asia and Europe, linking the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. Its average depth is 50m/ 164 ft and its width varies between 1 and 2.5 km / 0.5 and 1.5 miles. Its narrowest part (700m / 2.300 ft) is situated between the Rumeli and Anadolu Fortresses. Because the level of the Black Sea is a little higher than that of the Marmara Sea, this causes strong currents on the surface and under water. Another current is caused by the difference of salt rate between the two sees.
Lunch at Hamdi restaurant with a splandid view on the Golden Horn.
St. Savior in Chora where the theological themes on mosaics and frescoes follow through all of the decorations.
Last, shop in the labyrinth tunnels of the Grand Bazaar.
The Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) is a covered trade center (bedesten) that was built between 1455 and 1461 by Mehmet II the Conqueror, and later enlarged with “hans”. Following fires and earthquakes, the bedesten was restored several times. It is a huge labyrinth composed of thousands shops and hundreds workshops. Most of them are grouped according to their speciality: jewels, copper items, carpets, leather, clothing, souvenirs...
Dinner.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 9 Sunday Departure B
Transfer to airport
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner