Arrival to Istanbul, Transfer to hotel. After check in to the hotel a welcome cocktail will be held covering the information on tour route and the days ahead. Overnight in Istanbul.
Visits in the Old-City: Hagia Sophia, one of the oldest and most famous churches of the world; Topkapı-Palace, the imperial residence of Ottoman Sultans for 400 years; Sultan Ahmet Mosque, the so-called ‘‘Blue Mosque“ known for the beauty of the walls that are covered with blue-colored Iznik ceramics; Hippodrom with the Egyptian Obelisk, and where horses and chariots raced once upon a time with tens of thousands of people cheered for them. Serpentine Column and the Colossus (column of Constantine Porphyrgenitus); finally the Covered Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest shopping malls of the world. Overnight in Istanbul (B)
Visits in the Old-City: Süleymaniye Mosque, a splendid Mosque known for the finesse of its inner and outer design; Chora Church, an outstanding example of Byzantine Architect, known for its beautiful frescoes. Afternoon ride to Safranbolu; Safranbolu is an open-air museum, known for its houses mostly built in the late 19th century as examples of the unique civilian architectural tradition in the region. Overnight in Safranbolu (B, D)
Visits in Safranbolu; for 700 years, Safranbolu was an important station placed on one of the branches of the Silkroad. The Marketplace, Fest-Hill Hidirlik and the Subgovernors House – a typical traditional Ottoman building. Overnight in Ankara (B, D)
Visit the Galatian’s Ancyra to visit the Museum of Anatolian civilizations This visit will take you to the mysteries as far back as Paleolithic age. Their exhibit includes miraculously preserved wooden furniture from the tomb of Phrygian kind Midas. Next walk to the Bakircilar Carsisi ( Quarter of the Coppersmiths ) with its narrow alleys and old styled shops where artisans are still performing thousands of years old copper art passed from generation to generation . Watch the artisans hammering their copper plates to give them the most beautiful form with intricate motifs ever seen on earth. Proceed to Augustus Temple, known for the famous wall carvings Res Gestae Divi Augusti – the Deeds of Godlike Augustus. Afternoon ride to Hattushas. Overnight in Corum (B, D)
Today we will visit Alacahöyük and Hattusshas, the capital city of Hitite Civilisation. Hatussas , the Capital City of the Hittites. The history of Hattusas can be traced back to the 3rd millennium B.C. to the settlement of an Anatolian tribe of unknown origin called the Hatti. This city became a bone of contention between the Egyptians and the Hittites, which resulted in the historic Battle of Kadesh. However, with the war ending in an impasse, a truce was called. This is considered to be the first such treaty in human history. The ruins of 4000 years old Hitite City Hatusshas includes Lion Gate , Great Temple and many impressive structure. Then drive to Yazilikaya Shrine, the Hittite Pantheon dedicated to gods and goddesses and where there are two recesses in the rock, one to the northeast and the other to the east, form natural open-air galleries. In northeastern recess is carved a long procession of mostly male figures to the west and female to the east, meeting on the far northeastern wall. The east gallery contains a relief of a procession of warriors; on the opposite wall is a large relief showing a king in the embrace of his patron. Next drive to Sivas. Overnight in Sivas (B, D)
Drive to Divrigi, Divrigi-Mosque and Hospital, an architectural complex built in 13th century. Portal ornamented with geometrical designs and plant figures, the Minber and the inner design of the Hospital display the unique characteristics of the Seljukian architectural tradition. The entrance is created by four portals elaborately decorated with sacred trees, rosettes, ornamental plaques, the double-headed eagle, falcons, floral and geometric designs, reminiscent of Persian Stucco and Armenian Manuscripts. Due to its architecture and stone engravings, they have been included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Afternoon ride to Malatya. Overnight in Malatya (B, D)
Early morning drive to Nemrut-Mountain, visit of the tomb- sanctuary from 1st BC on the mountain top, spectacular sunrise amongst the gigantic statues of Apollo-Mitras gods. Next we drive to Kasaba village to board a boat waiting to take us on a one of its kind river cruise, Euphrates cruise which is again rarely done by a tourist group in Turkey. Our cruise will take us to Rumkale (founded by the Assyrian king Salmaneser III in 9th century B.C.) legend has it that it was here where the disciple John copied the drafts of the New Testament and kept them in this fortress, and later they were said to have been transferred to Beirut. As we reach Halfeti, that has a long history of at least thousand years and housed many ancient civilizations, you will have a feeling that you have reached an Aegean beach town or a fisherman’s village on the Mediterranean. Late afternoon we will make our way to the city of heroes, called Kahramanmaraş in Turkish and renowned as the ice cream capital of country. Have the evening hours of the day to discover the old streets and bazaars with the daily panoramas of this Anatolian Town. Overnight in Kahramanmaras (B, D)
Today we will drive to Cappadocia through Adana and visit one of the Underground Cities of the area. Check in to our hotel after several photographic breaks in the moon like space of vast Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia (B, D)
An optional Hot-Air Balloon Flight at the sunrise is highly recommended in Cappadocia. Visit the Göreme Openair Museum where you will see the wonderful residential and religious places carved into the hills of tuff-stone. During our visit to the open air museum at Goreme we will visit a selection of churches dating from the 8th century and decorated with murals illustrating biblical scenes. There you will see the superb 800-900 year’s old frescoes. Photographic breaks all over Cappadocia including Pigeon Valley, Dervent Valley, Uchisar, Pashabag and Zelve. Overnight in Cappadocia (B, D)
This morning we will head out to the Neolithic site of Çatal Höyük via Konya, one of the most important archaeological site in Turkey. Çatalhöyük is a very rare example of a well-preserved Neolithic Settlement and has been considered one of the key sites for understanding human prehistory for some decades. The site is exceptional for its substantial size and great longevity of the settlement, its distinctive layout of houses adjacent each other with roof access, the presence of a large assemblage of features including wall paintings and reliefs representing the symbolic world of the inhabitants. On the basis of the extensively documented research at the site, the above features make it the most significant human settlement documenting early settled agricultural life of a Neolithic community. Next return back to Konya, city of the Roman Time Iconium, the capital city of Anatolian-Seljuk Sultanates in 11 th century. Visit the Mevlana Museum, named after the famous poet of middle ages, known for his mystical poems written in Persian language. This place, Mevlana Celaleddinʹs Mausoleum, was first opened to the public as a museum in 1927. Items and works belonging to Mevlana and the Mevlevi Order, such as Mevlevi musical instrument, specimens of calligraphy, fabrics and carpets, are on display in the museum. Then continue onto Antalya. Overnight in Konya (B, D)
Visit to Perge, an antique city of Late Hellenic – Roman civilization. Perge had one of the oldest Christian communities in Asia Minor. The city prospered under Alexander the Great and the Romans. The substantial remains of a great theatre, stadium, Agora, Bath Complex, huge Hellenistic and Roman Gates and an impressive colonnaded street are highly worth to see and the Theater of Aspendos which is still intact and in use for some festivals at present. Overnight in Antalya (B, D)
Proceed to Demre, Pay a visit to St. Nicholas Church and the ancient city of Myra nearby with its rock tombs and beautiful theater. Then set out for Kinik, the current local name for Xanthos and Letoon area, next to the remnants of the antique Greek city of Xanthos, visits of unique Lycian statues, tombs and Sarcophagi with rich carvings. Letoon was the divination center of Xanthos. East to Xanthos, Lyciaʹs pre eminent city, full of tombs, grand civic buildings and a vast church floored with mosaics. Some say Alexander sacked it as Brutus later did. Xanthos was captured by Alexander the Great in 334 B.C. The Xanthians' dealings with him are a matter of uncertainty. The historian Appian, writing in the 2nd century A.D., records that 'they are said to have been unwilling to submit to him, and to have suffered as one the previous occasion, destroying themselves in the name of freedom.'Visit to the temple of three main ancient gods (Leto, his twin Artemis and Apollon). Overnight in Fethiye (B, D)
Head out to Pamukkale where we will have a chance to relax and enjoy the blissful thermal pools at our hotel. Visit the ancient spa city of Hierapolis, the ancient healing center for the Romans and the chalk white of the Cotton Fortress terraces. This place is famous for its chalk white array of fantastically shaped limestone. Overnight in Pamukkale (B, D)
Today we continue onto Selcuk to see the Hellenistic-Roman antique city Ephesus which is the most visited archeological site of Turkey. The first inhabitants built a temple to Artemis which, after several renovations, became one of the Seven Wonders of Antiquity. Ephesus, one of the cities of the Ionian Confederation, counted about 100.000 inhabitants (agriculture,olives, grapes, figs, honey bees,stone carvers and smiths) who ensured that their town would become an important commercial harbor. As first town in the world that knew democracy, she was also the first one to offer street lightening. During your visit, you will visit the agora, Odeon, the Curetes Street, the Hadrian Temple, more temples and fountains, the library of Celsius and the amphitheater with Agora, Celsus Library, Marble Street and Curetia Street, Theater. Overnight in Kusadasi (B, D)
Drive to Canakkale, en route visit to Pergamon, the Hellenistic- Roman Acropolis with the steepest Theater of Anatolia, the Cistern, second largest theater of the ancient world, palace of King Trajan and Zeus Altar. Proceed to see the legendary Troy where Alexander paid homage to the hero, running naked anointed with oil. At the legendary city itself, we explore the ruins swathed in myth. At the great temple of Athena, the fabled shield of Achilles was presented to Alexander it would save his life during a siege in India. And many more such as the city walls of Troy the Sixth, the trench where Schiliman unearthed the priceless treasures of King Priamos. Overnight in Canakkale (B, D)
An early morning departure to cross the Dardanelles and drive to Edirne to visit the Selimiye Mosque, known as the masterpiece the Court-Architect Sinan and the complex belonging to the same mosque. Selimiye is the most successful example for a mosque with polygonal roof, sequence of the numerous studies of Mimar Sinan. The dome which represents the most developed level of attachment after a thousand years of development of this architecture is supported by eight “elephant foot” style columns and has a diameter of 31,50m. The most beautiful frontal composition of the Osman architecture on one hand, and on the other hand the four minarets with height of 70,89m, possessing three balconies each, attached to the prayer hall bring extraordinary grace and esthetics. Overnight in Edirne (B, D)
Depart for Istanbul and as we arrive in Istanbul, proceed to the airport for your flight back home. Our services end here (B)
