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8-Day Classical Tour of Turkey
8 Days / 7 Overnights
You land at Izmir airport. We meet you there and, for the 7 following days, we take you to visit the most important archaeological sites in Ephesus, Hierapolis, Konya, Cappadocia, Kayseri and Istanbul. We combine the Meditteranean climate of Ephesus with the Continental one of Cappadocia, but your transfers will be in air-conditioned coaches; no reason to worry. We also combine visits to Turkey's Greco-Roman past and monuments of importance to the local Muslim tradition. You will always feel that you are in a country forming a geographical, historical and cultural bridge between Asia and Europe, as well as between the Classical antiquity and the modern Muslim civilization.
Izmir - Kousadasi
Kusadasi Harbor View |
After your flight to Izmir, we meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Kusadasi, where you will overnight. Or, you may have disembarked from the Samos - Kousadasi ferry, following a visit to the Greek Isles, and we just transfer you to your hotel. |
Kusadasi - Ephesus – Kusadasi
Ephesus Archaeological Site: The Street of Curetes |
In the morning, we pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport, where we will catch our plane for Izmir. Once there, we meet to drive you to the ancient city of Ephesus (Please, see our relative album below). Our first visit will be to the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was burnt down by Erostratos, a crazy guy who wanted his name to remain immortal, which he did, but in the most dishonorable way! More impressive structures included in our tour are the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Theater and Odeon and St. John's Basilica. We will also visit the House of Our Lady, while she lived in the area (There is a second Album further down the page). During the day there will be time for lunch. We will overnight in Kusadasi. |
Pamukkale - Hierapolis
Hierapolis Theater |
After breakfast we start to Pamukkale (literally 'The Cotton Castle'). The ancient city of Hierapolis was built on top of this cotton-white "castle", made of white salts dissolved in the hot water springs of the area; the 'castle is in total about 2700 meters (1.7 miles) long and 160m (480 ft) high. We visit the Roman Health Spa with terraced hot springs adorned by white calcium mineral deposits. Lunch break; we then visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, an ancient health spa with the largest necropolis (cemetery) in Asia Minor, with impressive ruins and a splendid theater (see photo). We overnight in Pamukkale. |
Konya – Cappadocia
Whirling Dervishes |
Today, after breakfast, we set off for Konya, where we shall visit Karatay Medrese, built in 1251 from the local Muslim governor of the city in the honor of his Sultan. Today, it is a museum with exquisite ceramic tiles, enriched with tiles found in the Kubadabud Palace. We will also visit the Mevlana Tekke, the tomb of the mystic Jala ad-Din ar-Rumi, better known as Mevlana, the founder of the whirling dervishes. We go on with driving to Cappadocia, through the surreal landscapes of volcanic ash, formed 3 million years ago, spectacular red-rock cones, troglodyte churches and homes dating from 4000 BC.
Arrival, dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. |
Cappadocia
Cappadocia |
After breafast we drive through Uchisar, whose unique landscape is a combination of ravines and rocks beaten by wind and rain into odd-shaped cones and pyramids. The view of the Goreme Valley Museum is breathtaking. We see the Fairy Chimneys of Pasabagi and go on to Zelve Valley, which could be considered as an open-air museum of unique beauty, inhabited until 1960; then to Avanos, to visit one of its famous pottery workshops. We also pay a visit to Derinkuyu and its Underground City consisting of dwellings dug in the rocks with many levels underground. According to legends, they connected by underground secret passages to the other underground town 10 km (6.2 miles) away, the one of Anakus!
Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. |
Kayseri – Istanbul
Istanbul |
After breakfast we are transferred to the airport of Kayseri. Flight from to Istanbul, landing and transfer to our hotel in Istanbul Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. |
Istanbul
Istanbul's Top Kapi Palace |
After breakfast, we depart on our first day Istanbul Classical sightseeing tours. We shall first visit the St. Sophia Museum (built in the 6th century, once the largest Christian Church in the world), and the Topkapi Palace (Ιmperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans, exhibiting priceless collections of artifacts, jewellery and rare porcelain). Then follows the Blue Mosque (unique for its six minarets and famous for its blue and white Iznik tiles), and the Hippodrome Square, where the Byzantine chariot races were held. Next comes a visit to the world famous Grand Covered Bazaar. There will be time for a lunch for those who wish. In the afternoon, we are transferred to our Istanbul hotel where we shall have dinner and overnight. |
Departure Flight from Istanbul
Istanbul |
We transfer you to the International Airport of Istanbul for your flight home or to Athens, where the second chapter of your vacation starts! |
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- 7 nights at 4 star hotels
- Kayseri – Istanbul domestic flight ticket
- All transportation in Turkey by private a/c tour coach
- All entrance fees to the sites and to the museums mentioned in the above program
- Meals mentioned in the itinerary
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- English speaking professional guide throughout
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