13 Day Essential Turkey 2017 Itinerary

Half Day Istanbul with St. Sophia & Grand Bazaar This tour's highlights include the Underground Cistern - water source of the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, the largest of its kind in Istanbul, the structure's interior includes a few hundred marble columns. Your tour will also take you to visit St. Sophia – the great Byzantine Basilica built in the 6th century, which remained the largest cathedral in the world for almost a thousand years, it was later converted to a mosque and now serves as a museum. Finally, visit the Grand Bazaar, world famous shopping center where you can shop for carpets, jewelry, leather and more at your own leisure. Approximate tour duration is 4.75 hours. OnDay : 3 Price : $67 Full Day Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary with lunch Tour the Ancient City of Ephesus where the Temple of Artemis, one of the "seven wonders of the ancient world" once stood. Once an important trade center as well as a religious center of early Christianity, the ruins at Ephesus are among the best preserved in the region. Walk along the 2000 year old marble and cobblestone streets. See the Great Theatre that once seated over 24,000 people, dating back to the 1st century AD. Now an open-air archaeological museum, Ephesus was once home to notable philosophers, gladiators, and rulers. The Odeon, the Fountain of Trajan, the steam baths of Scholastica, Temple of Hadrian, and the two-storied Library of Celsus are some the ancient sites you’ll behold on the walking tour. Visit the Great Theatre, where St. Paul preached and one of the largest theaters in antiquity. Pass through the Arcadian Way, where Mark Antony and Cleopatra once rode in procession and visit the peaceful House of the Virgin Mary near a grove of olive trees, believed to be her last residence and the Basilica of St. John, who came here to write his gospel. Lunch at a local restaurant follows the tour. Pickup details to be advised locally. Approximate tour duration is 8.5 hours, subject to hotel location. OnDay : 6 Price : $88 Perge, Aspendos & Antalya Archaeological Museum Drive to Perge, a Pamphylian city. Perge was founded in 13th century B.C. It is the most attractive and well preserved Pamphylian city. The ancient theater, stadium, towers, Agora, Acropolis and the Palaestra which were given to Emperor Claudius are the highlights of the ancient city. Continue to Aspendos, founded in 1000 B.C. by the colonists from Argos. Though it is well-known for its theater with a capacity of 30,000 people, the city also boasts a stadium and a fountain. All the ruins in the city have remained from the Roman period and the theater is still being used for contemporary concerts. Later, return to Antalya and visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum which houses artifacts and antiques from 2500 years of Anatolian culture. Departs approximately 8:30 am. Approximate tour duration is 6 hours. OnDay : 8 Price : $72 Whirling Dervishes Performance Also known as the "Sema Ritual", Whirling Dervish performances began with the inspiration of Mawlana Jalaleddin Rumi, one of the greatest mystical poets of Islam. The Mevlevi Sufi order was founded to follow his teachings. The captivating dance of the Whirling Dervishes, which displays infinite spinning in perfect harmony, is part of Turkish custom, history, beliefs and culture. It is a rare opportunity to experience a seven-century old ritual, featuring beautiful costumes, live music with flutes, string and percussion, and the amazing sight of the Dervishes whirling on the stage. Pickup details to be advised locally. Approximate tour duration is 3 hours. OnDay : 9 Price : $45 Cappadocia Balloon Ride Depart early in the morning for a fantastic hot air balloon tour that takes you soaring over the magnificent Cappadocian landscape with its incredible fairy chimney rock formations. A hot-air balloon flight is unique from all other methods of flying in that there is no sensation of motion, creating an experience of tranquility unlike any other. Traveling at heights of up to 1500 feet, the feeling is both serene and sublime. Within moments of lifting off, drift over the treetops and discover the spectacular landscape from an unrivaled perspective. The deep canyons and lush, fertile valleys of Cappadocia provide an ideal setting for a memorable flight and it may even be possible to pick apricots from the trees when they are in season. Departs at 5:00 am. Approximate tour duration is 3.5 hours. Please note: The take-off time and the duration of the flight may vary due to weather conditions. Balloon rides will vary between 50 and 75 minutes according to the wind. If the weather conditions are determined to be less than optimal, the flight may be canceled. OnDay : 10 Price : $169 Full Day Cappadocia Depart your hotel for a full day tour in Cappadocia. Visit the Open Air Museum in Goreme Valley to see the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescos depicting various scenes from the Bible. Afterwards, stop by a carpet factory and learn about the long process to create the beautiful Turkish carpets that once furnished the homes of the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. There is an opportunity to purchase a carpet. Later, visit the Ozkonak Underground City, an ancient city built on the northern slopes of Mt. Idis. The city has many strata made up of volcanic granite. Its larger areas are connected to each other by tunnels. Ozkonak had a built-in communication system of pipes on each of its levels, unlike Kaymakli and Derinkuyu, which have no such systems. Each carved out room had ventilation provided by holes when the city was closed against enemies. Lastly, visit the village of Avanos that is famous for its beautiful old houses, pottery and onyx. Departs approximately 8:30 am. Approximate tour duration is 8.75 hours. *Carpet store visit is during Apr-Oct departures. Nov- Mar departures visit carpet store upon arrival to Cappadocia. OnDay : 10 Price : $72 Half Day Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise No stay in Istanbul would be complete without a traditional and unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the winding straits separating Europe and Asia. The humble fishing villages and suspension bridges set against the dramatic outline of the Strait exemplify the newest link between the East and West. Approximate tour duration is 2 hours. OnDay : 12 Price : $61

Additional Information: Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers, but does include intra-flight from Cappadocia to Istanbul. Arrival and departure transfers are only included with arrival into Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).