Day 1 - Arrive Istanbul Ataturk Airport , meet &greet with assistance and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon we will pick you up for half day Bosphorus Cruise tour.Golden Horn (from the bus), the arm of the Bosphorus and a natural harbour of the historical peninsula separating the old and the new parts of İstanbul where the first colonies settled during the Byzantines. The residential area for Byzantine Jews, Italian traders and other non-muslim minorities. Drive along the traces of history at Balat viewing Fener Orthodox Patriarchate, Metal Church of St. Stephen the Bulgarian, Ahrida Synagogue, Eyüp Sultan Mosque, named after the flagbearer of Prophet Mohammed, a place to worship and pilgrimage for the faithful and religious visitors, 22 kms. long Byzantine City Walls, the strongest fortification of the middle age.Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, fish, flowers etc. Bosphorus Cruise, through the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials and luxurious apartments.
Rumeli Fortress (from the boat- no interior visit), historical armament built by the Conqueror to control and protect the Bosphorus. A unique example of military architecture. Transfer to hotel.
Day 2 – Full Day City Tour. HAGIA (St.) SOPHIA • BLUE MOSQUE ,HIPPODROME,OBELISK OF THEODOSIUS • SERPENTINE COLUMN,GERMAN FOUNTAIN OF WILHELM II,GRAND COVERED BAZAAR (Art Demonstration of Handmade Turkish Carpets) Lunch, TOPKAPI PALACE(Harem section is not included in the program and visit is due to extra entrance fee) RÜSTEM PAŞA MOSQUE, also visited during the tour GALATA BRIDGE • GOLDEN HORN • LEANDER' S TOWER. Evening transfer to your hotel
Day 3 - After breakfast check out from hotel and transfer to Ataturk airport for flight back to home.
3 NIGHTS – 4 DAYS: ISTANBUL ANKARA CAPPADOCIA From Saturday to Tuesday
Day 1 Arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, meet with assistance ,transfer to the hotel . In the afternoon we will pick you up for half day Bosphorus Cruise tour.Golden Horn (from the bus), the arm of the Bosphorus and a natural harbour of the historical peninsula separating the old and the new parts of İstanbul where the first colonies settled during the Byzantines. The residential area for Byzantine Jews, Italian traders and other non-muslim minorities. Drive along the traces of history at Balat viewing Fener Orthodox Patriarchate, Metal Church of St. Stephen the Bulgarian, Ahrida Synagogue, Eyüp Sultan Mosque, named after the flagbearer of Prophet Mohammed, a place to worship and pilgrimage for the faithful and religious visitors, 22 kms. long Byzantine City Walls, the strongest fortification of the middle age.Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, fish, flowers etc. Bosphorus Cruise, through the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials and luxurious apartments.
Rumeli Fortress (from the boat - no interior visit), historical armament built by the Conqueror to control and protect the Bosphorus. A unique example of military architecture. Evening transfer to the hotel.
Day 2 – Ankara-Cappadocia Early in the morning transfer to Ataturk airport for flight to Ankara In the morning visit to the AnatolianCivilizations Museum at which numerous remnants from Stone Age, Neolithic Age, Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians and many others are on display; Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the national hero who founded modern Republic of Turkey. Then continue on to Cappadocia. After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake pass by the 13th century Seljukian Caravanserai Agzikarahan. After visiting Kaymakli Underground City, the place early Christians hid from persecutors, proceed to the hotel in Cappadocia for overnight.
Day 3 – Cappadocia-Istanbul Optional balloon tour. Depart from the hotel at 09.30-10.00 depending on the arrival time of the participants and visit the valleys where animal-like natural formations like camels and fair chimneys are abundant. Drive on to Pasabagi in Zelve area where monks used to live in seclusion in rock cut rooms. Proceed to the pottery town of Avanos where Kizilirmak (Hallys), the longest river of Turkey, meanders leaving the red clay on its banks that has been the raw material of pottery for centuries. In the afternoon visit to Open Air Museum in Goreme to visit to the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. Stop by Pigeon Valley near Uchisar. After shopping time for the well-known merits of the area, transfer to the airport in Kayseri to return back to Istanbul.
Day 4 - In the morning proceed for half day tour. Tour of "Sultan Ahmet Center", the heart of the "Old City" from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled.HAGIA SOPHIA, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian.BLUE MOSQUE, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its blue İznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet.HIPPODROME, center of sportive events (chariot races, athletics) and political activities of the old city. Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius, German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating the Hippodrome.GRAND COVERED BAZAAR, most attractive shopping center and biggest "souk" in the world with nearly 4000 shops selling antiques, jewellery, gold, carpets, leatherware and souvenirs. After tour transfer to the hotel : check out and transfer to Ataturk Airport for flight back to home.