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Tour Code: 538-19735

10-Day Turkey Tour from Istanbul - Mediterranean and Balkans

 

Our Price: from

$1224
￥8621
€1042
C$1686
(per person, based on double occupancy) Available: Mon Depart from: Istanbul, 34
Overview
Visit Ankara, Bosporus Strait, Cappadocia, Bursa, Egridir, Hacibektas, Istanbul, Izmir, Konya, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Uskudar.

Day 1: Istanbul

After gathering in Istanbul, we will transfer to hotel and then have free time. Check the information boards in the hotel reception area for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travelers.

Dulexe Hotel: Ramada Suites Istanbul Merter/Ramada Plaza Tekstilkent/Elite World Business/Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe or similar

Meal: Excluded

Day 2: Istanbul

Panoramic tour of the city, we are in a city built on two continents. On our tour we will enter the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent (the largest in Istanbul), we will visit the walls, the golden horn, the fishing district and admire the exterior of Hagia Sophia.

At the end of the afternoon, we will provide a transfer to the neighborhood of Taksim, the most commercial and local area of the city. Time for dining in one of its many restaurants, you can also take the old tram that crosses the area or approach the nearby Galata Tower.

The most populous city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural and historic center. The city's biggest attraction is its historic center, partially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its cultural and entertainment hub is across the city's natural harbor, the Golden Horn, in the Beyoglu district.

  • The Suleymaniye Mosque was built on the order of Sultan Suleiman, who was nicknamed The Magnificent. The imperial architect Mimar Sinan built it. It is also one of the most important cultural heritage buildings in Turkey. It is the largest in the city of Istanbul and also boasts of one of the best-known panoramas in the city.

  • The Hagia Sophia ("Holy Wisdom" in English) is a former Greek Orthodox basilica, built in the 6th century by the Byzantines, that was later converted to an imperial mosque under Ottoman rule. It now houses a museum.

  • Considered the heart of modern Istanbul, Taksim Square is one of the city’s main tourist attractions and cosmopolitan hubs. Here, you can find a variety of restaurants, bars, clubs, theaters and shopping stores.

Dulexe Hotel: Ramada Suites Istanbul Merter/Ramada Plaza Tekstilkent/Elite World Business/Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe or similar

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded

Day 3: Istanbul - Bosporus Strait - Uskudar - Ankara (11654 km)

Early in the morning we will include the entrance and visit to the Topkapi Palace, which was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire with its magnificent courtyards and pavilions.

After that, we will take a boat trip on the Bosporus of about two hours. We will travel on a private boat. The Bosporus is a strait that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara separating Istanbul into two parts: European and Asian. We will enjoy watching the animation of the strait with all its boats, we will pass under the two bridges that connect Europe and Asia and we will admire the palaces of the sultans, the typical wooden houses, the Ottoman villas.

We will disembark on the Asian side and we will have time to walk through the neighborhood of Uskudar, with its large mosques, where Yemi Valide, the maiden´s tower and its quiet streets are a stand out. Time for lunch. In the afternoon we continue our route to the Anatolian peninsula. Arrival in Ankara, dinner included.

The most populous city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural and historic center. The city's biggest attraction is its historic center, partially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its cultural and entertainment hub is across the city's natural harbor, the Golden Horn, in the Beyoglu district.

  • This magnificent palace in Istanbul was once home to all the Ottoman sultans until the reign of Abdulmecid I (1839-1860). The complex served as a royal residence and a setting for various state occasions and royal entertainment.

Bosphorus connect the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas to the Black Sea, is one of the few straits that act as a boundary between two continents and at the same time divides a country into two portions. It has played an important role in politics, commerce, and European history.

Uskudar is the district located on the Asian shores of the Bosphorus, Istanbul, just across Besiktas. Uskudar is famous for its beautiful shoreline, the Maiden’s Tower, Camlica Hill, Fethi Pasha Grove, historic places such as 16th century Mosques, fountains and many more.

Dulexe Hotel: Radisson Blu Ankara/ Bilkent Ankara

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (CENA TIPO BUFFET)

Day 4: Ankara - Hacibektas - Cappadocia - Nevsehir (10412 km)

After breakfast we include a visit to Ankara, the cosmopolitan capital of Turkey, with more than 5 million inhabitants and a lot of cultural life with its performing arts center, which houses the State Ballet and Opera, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra and many national theater companies. We will visit the impressive Mausoleum of Ataturk, the powerful castle of Ankara, whose first construction was 8 centuries before Christ. We also include the entrance to the Museum of Anatolian civilizations that allows us to understand the different cultures that left their mark on Turkey. At the end of the morning, we will stop at a large shopping mall, with different choices of food in its food court.
After lunch we continue to the region of Cappadocia, on route we will stop next to the Salt lake, with its incredible landscapes and visit Hacibektas, with the utmost respect to the pilgrims (appropriate clothing and silence suggested during the visit). This sanctuary houses the tomb of Hacibecktas, a Sufi mystic of the thirteenth century. Continuation to Nevsheir.

As the capital of Turkey, Ankara is the center of the country's government and an important commercial and industrial city. A very old city, it contains ancient Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman archaeological sites.

  • This mausoleum in Ankara houses the remains of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey.

  • This museum in Anakra, founded in 1921, contains countless artifacts that detail the rich history of the different peoples and groups that have inhabited the Turkish peninsula.

  • The Ankara Castle is one of the Turkish capital’s oldest sights, dating back to the Roman, Seljuk, and Ottoman Empires. Overlooking the city from its perch, here is a look at the history of the structure, which has become a very popular destination for visitors as well as locals.

Hacibektas, is located in northern Cappadocia. It is the center of Bektasi sect of Islam founded by the great philosopher Haci Bektas-i Veli in 13th century. You can visit the dervis dergah (lodge) which is a museum today, cilehane (suffering house), bestaslar (five stones) and a cemevi (an alevi temple) in Hacibektas.

Cappadocia, located in central Turkey, is known for its fairy-tale speckled rock formations: strange rock formations, caves, and historical relics of semi-hermit people. It is also one of the two most popular place for hot air balloon rides on earth.

  • The Cappadocia Salt Lake, located in the Central Anatolian region of Turkey, is an amazing destination for a holiday or day trip. With its stunning scenery, unique history, and rich culture, the lake is a great place to explore and experience.

Dulexe Hotel: Crowne Plaza Cappadocia Nevsehir/Ramada Cappadocia or similar

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Buffet)

Day 5: Cappadocia

Full day in the fantastic region of Cappadocia, with its lunar landscapes, its churches and troglodyte villages. We will discover the Goreme Valley with its open air museum and its churches carved into the rocks, entry tickets included. We will visit Uchisar, a natural fortress. In Kaimacli we will visit the underground city that could house 30,000 people. Returning to Avanos we stop at Pasabag, the valley of the fairies, we will walk in this spectacular natural area. Free time and dinner included.

Cappadocia, located in central Turkey, is known for its fairy-tale speckled rock formations: strange rock formations, caves, and historical relics of semi-hermit people. It is also one of the two most popular place for hot air balloon rides on earth.

  • A break from the traditional museum, this outdoor area in the heart of Cappadocia showcases the some of the region's famous churches and monasteries that have been built in the caves of these impressive rock formations.

  • The name "Uchisar" means "castle at the top," due to the citadel that was constructed in the caves of this rock, the highest point in all of Cappadocia. The town built on the slopes of the citadel offers fun experiences.

  • The ancient citadel of Kaymakli in Cappadocia features a series of subterranean cave-dwellings. It appears that an entire community lived underground here. The ruins have helped archaeologists piece together some information about the lives led by the settlers here.

  • Monks Valley, known in Turkish as "Pasabag," is an area of Cappadocia known for its breathtaking geological formations: tall rock pillars, many of which were carved out for shelter hundreds of years in the past.

  • Tour Fee (Optional): Adult $333 / €280; Child $333 / €280; Prices vary according to the time of the year, 3-4 hrs desde salida del hotel, Private transport service+ Assistance at the base of the balloon companies+Light breakfast.

Dulexe Hotel: Crowne Plaza Cappadocia Nevsehir/Ramada Cappadocia or similar

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Buffet)

Day 6: Cappadocia - Konya (251 km)

At the far end of Cappadocia, we will visit the Ihlara Valley; known for the freshness of its waters, its churches and villages excavated in the rock. Then we continue our route, with a stop in an old Caravanserai from the 13th Century before arriving in Konya where we visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana (Rumi). Here we will learn about the sect of the Dervishes (entrance included). Dinner included.
At night, we suggest that you attend the dance performance of the whirling dervishes in the cultural centre.

Cappadocia, located in central Turkey, is known for its fairy-tale speckled rock formations: strange rock formations, caves, and historical relics of semi-hermit people. It is also one of the two most popular place for hot air balloon rides on earth.

  • A 16 km long gorge cut into volcanic rock in the southern part of Cappadocia, following several eruptions of Mount Erciyes. The whole canyon is honeycombed with rock-cut underground dwellings and churches from the Byzantine period built by the Cappadocian Greeks. Sixteen of the valley's 105 churches are open to visitors, and most of these are within 1km of the official valley entrance in Ihlara.

Located in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, Konya is a city with population of 1,174,536. Historically, it was the capital of the Seljuq Sultanate of Rum and the Karamanids.

  • This museum was built in the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammed Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic, most commonly known as Rumi. Because he was the founder of the whirling dervishes, many of the exhibits are dedicated to their history.

Dulexe Hotel: Novotel Konya/Grand Millennium Konya or similar

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Buffet)

Day 7: Konya - Egridir - Pamukkale (302 km)

We take a scenic road between the lakes, and get to know Egridir, a beautiful town next to a large lake, with its walls and mosques. There’s time to have lunch. We then continue to Pamukkale- Hierapolis, whose calcareous waters have created the Cotton Castle (entrance included). Dinner included

Egirdir is a town situated on the southern tip of Lake Egirdir, overlooking Mount Davraz.

This site near Denizli, Turkey is known as the "White Castle" for its white limestone cliffs. For thousands of years, the inhabitants of and visitors to the area have used the thermal pools to relax.

  • Translated from ancient Greek, Hierapolis means "Holy City." Built atop the hot springs near Pamukkale, the city was abandoned in the late medieval period. It's Roman theater is one of the best-preserved examples of such theaters in the world.

Dulexe Hotel: Lycus River/Richmond Pamukkale Thermal or similar

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Buffet)

Day 8: Pamukkale - Kusadasi (167 km)

We leave in the direction of Ephesus, the best preserved ancient city of Asia Minor; 2000 years ago it had a quarter of a million inhabitants. We will discover the house of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of Saint John and the impressive ruins at Ephesus (entrance included). We then go on to Kusadasi, a popular coastal town with a lot of atmosphere, commercial life and a small castle. Dinner included.

Note: During high season, from May through October, accommodations will be provided in Aydin instead of Kusadasi. In this case, after exploring Ephesus, we’ll make a stop in Kusadasi (4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.), where we’ll include a panoramic tour of the city before continuing on to Aydin.

Kusadasi is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast. The municipality's primary industry is tourism.

  • The amphitheater at the ruins of Ephesus is still in excellent condition. The Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Basilica are other notable buildings. The Temple of Artemis was located on the outskirts of the city.

  • This small cottage in the hills above Ephesus is supposedly the home where Mary, mother of Jesus, lived out her life after the events of the New Testament. It is regarded as a holy site for both Christians and Muslims.

Dulexe Hotel: Ramada Izmir Kemalpasa/Anemon Aydin or similar 4 stars hotel

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Included (Buffet)

Day 9: Kusadasi - Izmir - Bursa - Istanbul (11529 km)

We leave for the city with the fourth largest population in Turkey: Izmir. We make a brief visit with our guide to this city considered the most westernized and modern city in the country in terms of values, ideology and lifestyle. We then return to inland Turkey. Stop en route for lunch before reaching Bursa, the fourth largest city in Turkey, whose historic centre has been declared UNESCO World Heritage, with its traditional commercial districts, mosques, religious schools, public baths … The green mosque stands out. Arrival in Istanbul at the end of the day.
End of our services. Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night.

Kusadasi is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast. The municipality's primary industry is tourism.

Modern, industrial Bursa is built around the mosques, mausoleums and other sites from its incarnation as first Ottoman capital. Despite being built-up and somewhat chaotic, its durable Ottoman core and abundant parks keep it remarkably placid in places.

The most populous city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural and historic center. The city's biggest attraction is its historic center, partially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its cultural and entertainment hub is across the city's natural harbor, the Golden Horn, in the Beyoglu district.

Dulexe Hotel: Ramada Suites Istanbul Merter/Ramada Plaza Tekstilkent/Elite World Business/Wyndham Grand Istanbul Europe or similar

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded

Day 10: Istanbul

The tour concludes after breakfast, and you'll be responsible for your own departure from the hotel. Please note that the standard check-out time is typically 10:00 a.m. For your convenience, you can store your luggage at the reception after check-out, allowing you to explore the city unencumbered. You may retrieve your belongings later at your leisure.

The most populous city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural and historic center. The city's biggest attraction is its historic center, partially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its cultural and entertainment hub is across the city's natural harbor, the Golden Horn, in the Beyoglu district.

Breakfast: Included|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded

 

Price Includes:

Price Excludes:

Destination Adult Child
Cappadocia
Hot Air Ballooning (Optional)
Prices vary according to the time of the year, 3-4 hrs desde salida del hotel, Private transport service+ Assistance at the base of the balloon companies+Light breakfast.
 $333 / €280 $333 / €280
TheTurkish Night (2 hours, Bus service+Assistance from our guide+Free drinks+Folk performance of traditional dances and music) (Optional) $72 / €60 $72 / €60
Istanbul
4-hour Istanbul Historic Visit (Entrance to the Blue Mosque -Entrance to Cistern Basilica -Lunch -Visit of the Grand Bazaar -Transfers by bus. -Local guide service) (Optional) $113 / €95 $113 / €95