This 10 day guided tour explores the best of Turkey.
Welcome to Turkey! If you are looking for something special and extraordinary then look no further. The best tour in Turkey, including Istanbul - Kusadasi - Ephesus - Pamukkale - Antalya & Capppadocia. This an exquisite tour for you with all the bells and whistles. There are no long bus rides just domestic flights getting you to your destination comfortable and relaxed.
Itinerary
Welcome to Turkey Istanbul airport. Meet with the guide and transfer from airport & check in to your hotel. Tonight we have an Indian dinner at an Indian restaurant. Overnight in Istanbul.
There are two airports in Istanbul. Istanbul Airport is 20 km away from the city centre and Sabiha Gokcen airport is 55 km away from the city centre. Transfer from Ataturk airport to your hotel is included.
Pick up at 08:30 am from your hotel for a day tour of old Istanbul city. Visit ST. 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. 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. 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. Lunch break at 1:00 pm after the lunch Murtis Tour will then take you to the GRAND COVERED BAZAAR In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more than 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. After the tour, transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Please Note: Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays, Topkapi Palace closed on Tuesdays, Grand Bazaar closed on Sundays. If your tour is on one of these days we would offer you to visit Underground Cistern instead of Hagia Sophia and Topkapi palace museum, instead of Grand Bazaar you will visit Spice Bazaar. B, L, D
After breakfast, we will depart for Perge and Aspendos.
PERGE: According to the geographer Strabon. Perge has been founded by Akhas who came down here after the Trojan wars. Perge was first mentioned in 334 BC when Alexander the Great passed through here. In the following years, Perge went under the control of Pergamon when the Kingdom of Pergamon became a part of the Roman city. In the first and the second centuries BC, Perge became one of the richest towns in Pamphylia. Therefore it is not a surprise that St. Paul started his campaign in Anatolia from Perge in 46 AD. After Perge, we will depart for Aspendos. Lunch break on the way.
ASPENDOS: The eastern land of Antalya was called Pamphylia in ancient times. Aspendos (Belkis) lies 47 km east of Antalya in the Pamphylian plain. In 486 BC, Greeks and Persians had a great battle here (Greeks won, they didn't stay for long). During the reign of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-80 AD) Aspendos got its theatre, which is the best preserved of all. It was built by Romans and maintained by Byzantines and Seljuks. The ruins of the ancient city are extensive and include a stadium, an agora, and a basilica. Dinner and overnight in Antalya. B, L, D