13 Days East and West Turkiye Tour
Ancient civilisations, cultures and landscapes of East and West Turkiye: Istanbul, Mardin, Urfa, Mount Nemrut, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Ephesus
Day 1: Istanbul
On your arrival at Istanbul Airport you will be met by one of our staff and transferred to your hotel in Istanbul. The rest of the day is free time for you to explore this magical city. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2: Istanbul – Walking City Tour ( B / L )
Breakfast at your hotel then you will be picked up from your hotel then our full day guided city tour starts, we will visit the Byzantine and Ottoman Relics found in historical peninsula. The tour is on foot as the places of visit are in walking distance to each other. You will visit Hagia Sophia Museum, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar tour. End of the tour, we will drop you to your hotel and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3: Mardin and Midyat Tour ( B / L )
Early morning we will pick you up from your hotel at 04:30 am and transfer to the airport for an early morning flight to Mardin. You will be met at the airport on arrival by your private guide and driver, You will visit Deyr-uz Zafaran Monestry (Saffron Monestry), Sultan Isa Medresesi, Kasim Pascha Medresesi, Midyat town and Mor Gabriel. Late in the afternoon , you will be driven to Urfa by your private car. Overnight in Urfa.
Day 4: Urfa and Harran Tour ( B / L )
Breakfast at your hotel then we will start our mystic tour of Urfa today, we will visit Abrahams Cave and the Pools of Holy Carp surrounding it, Halil’ur rahman Mosque, Urfa Castle, Rizvaniye Medresesi, Historical İnns and Coppersmith’s Market area then walk around oriental covered bazaar. We can visit Gobeklitepe depending on your interest. Drive to Harran , to see the village of Spellbinding Mud-Birck "beehive" houses mentioned in the book of genesis where Abraham spend last years of his life. Visit the ruins of Harran including city walls, oldest islamic university and the castle dated to eighteen century. In the afternoon, you will drive to Adiyaman and overnight in Adiyaman.
Day 5: Mount Nemrut Tour ( B / L )
Early morning we will depart from the hotel then drive to the best possible point of Mt Nemrut to watch the sun rise in here between the colossal size statues and heads of the kings and Gods. After sun rised time to walk in National Park of Mount Nemrut and taking some photos. Then we will get back to the hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the bus station to take a public bus to Cappadocia. It will take about seven hours, arrival and transfer to your hotel, overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 6: North Cappadocia Tour ( B / L )
Breakfast at your hotel then you will be picked up from your hotel to discover the natural and historical beauties of Cappadocia .
You will be driven to Devrent Valley which occured as a result of geographical formations. Then visit Pasabag Valley with its surpirisng mushroom-shaped formations, there you'll be able to take a stroll among the amazing fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. From there we drive a short distance to the pretty riverside town of Avanos. Cappadocia is also famous with traditional pottery production where you will see how a pottery is made with the magic fingers. Our next visit will be to Goreme Open Air Museum keeping the best preserved Byzantine cave churches in the area. End of the tour, we will drop you to your hotel and overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 7: South Cappadocia Tour ( B / L )
*Balloon Flight is highly recommended
We will depart from your hotel after breakfast then start with a 4km hike through the Rose Valley visiting the churches. The next visit is to Christian&Greek village of Cavusin. Pigeons Valley unique pigeron nests in holes in the rocks. Then we will visit the underground city of Derinkuyu or Kaymakli which are the most famous ones in the area. You will also visit the Ortahisar Natural Rock Castle offering a beautiful view over the valley. End of the tour you will take a public bus to Konya which will take about four hours, arrival and overnight in Konya.
Day 8: Konya ( B)
After you have your breakfast at your hotel, free time for you. You can visit Mevlana Museum, the former Dervish hall that now holds the tomb of Mevlana, dervish cells, kitchens, Mevlevi musical enstruments, calligraphy specimens, and various textiles, old books, carpets. Karatay Medresesi : features tiles from the Seljuk period, particularly from Kubadabat palace. Ince Minare Museum, Alaeddin Hill, Alaeddin Mosque, Aziziye Mosque, Sırcalı Medrese are the other important places to be visited in Konya, then you can have a chance to taste delicious Konya Meals; like 'Etliekmek, Fırın Kebap, Tandır Kebap'', Overnight in Konya.
Day 9: Konya to Pamukkale ( B )
Breakfast at your hotel then free time, transfer to bus station then take a bus to Pamukkale, It will take about 7 hours. Arrive in Pamukkale, you will be met at the bus station then transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Day 10: Pamukkale Tour ( B / L )
After you have your breakfast at your hotel in Pamukkale, you will join our full day guided Pamukkale tour and these magnificent cotton castles that you may not see in any other place in the world.
Pamukkale, means cotton castle in Turkish, has been formed over time by the natural hot springs, rich in calcium and carbonate, flow down the slope. After lunch we will visit the ancient Roman Health Spa of Hierapolis, made most famous for its thermal springs, theatre, Agoras. End of the day you will be driven about three hours to reach to your hotel in Kusadası. Overnight in Kusadası.
Day 11: Ephesus Tour ( B/ L )
After you have your breakfast at your hotel in Kusadası, our daily guided Ephesus Tour will start with the Ephesus Ruins, Temple of Artemis, the Hadrian, CelciusLibrary and House of the Virgin Mary.
End of the day we will transfer you to Izmir airport for a flight to Istanbul, arrival and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 12:Istanbul–Dolmabahce Palace & Bosphorus Tour (B/L)
Breakfast at your hotel then pick up from your hotel then start the day by visiting Dolmabahce Palace, the last residence of Ottoman Sultans located on the shores of Bosphorus. Following the palace, you will take an unforgettable Bosphorus tour by boat about 2 hours. You will see; Ciragan Palace, Bosphorus bridges, Rumeli Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace and Maiden’s Tower during the tour from the sea. In the afternoon, you will visit the City Walls, Spice Market and Pier Loti Hill then end of the tour transfer to your hotel and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 13: Istanbul ( B )
Breakfast at your hotel then it will be your free time to do some shopping or more sightseeing. We will transfer you to the airport depending on your international flights or we can extend your holiday depending on your holiday duration.