Meet at the lobby 8:30 am. –

Pick up time from hotel: 9:00 am 

Tour of the old city including historical sites of:

• Topkapi Palace (Built in 1460 by Fatih Sultan Mehmet)
• Hagia Sophia (Built in 537 by Byzantine Emperor Constantius)
• Blue Mosque (Built in 1609 by Sultan Ahmet)
• Hippodrome (Built by Roman Emperor Severus in early 3^rd Century)
• The Basilica Cistern (Built in by Emperor Justanian in 532 AD)

Note: Due to pandemic, some sites may be closed by ministry of tourism.

Lunch break: 12.00- 13.00. Tour ends at 17.00 hours and the bus will take you to the hotel.

Whirling Dervishes Live Show at 19.00 (1 hour).

Istanbul sight-seeing Tour:

Meet at the lobby 9:30 am. – Pick up time from hotel: 10:00 am

Sight-seeing tour of Istanbul including following sites to see:

1. Dolmabahce Palace:
Dolmabahçe Palace was the first European-style palace in Istanbul and was built by Sultan Abdülmecid between 1842 and 1853, at a cost of five million Ottoman gold pounds, the equivalent of 35 tons of gold. Fourteen tons of gold leaf was used to adorn the ceilings of the palace. At the centre of the hall, the world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier can be found; it was a gift from Queen Victoria. The chandelier has 750 lamps and weighs 4.5 tons. Dolmabahçe has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world, and one of the great staircases has bannisters of Baccarat crystal, brass and mahogany, all in the shape of a horseshoe. Another notable feature is the 150-year-old bearskin, a gift from the Tsar of Russia.

2. Covered Market:
Covered Bazar, built in 15th century, is the oldest and the largest covered market in the world. It covers approximately 55,000 sq. meters, and has 21 gates, 51 streets, in addition to over 4,000 shops, selling numerous items, including tiles, ceramics, gold, silver, leather goods, carpets, kilims and myriad other gift items.

Lunch break 12.00-13.00. Tour will end 17.00 hours.

20.00-23.00 hours’ Bosporus tour with dinner.

Meet at the lobby 8:30 am. – Pick up time from hotel: 9.00 am 

Discover the fairy tale landscape of the Cappadocia region

A geological peculiarity, world heritage site and area of exceptional natural wonders, the fairy tale landscapes of Cappadocia fire the imagination like nowhere else in Turkey or the world.  A fascinating history, and topography of honeycombed hills, unfathomably large boulders , and rock formations define this area of Anatolia in central Turkey. Thousands of years ago, people carved a tunnel and chamber complex into the soft rock and in  the 4^th century, an underground urbanisation was created here.  The landscape is a honeycomb of  man made caves, places to live, work, and worship.  Entire towns were formed by tunnel complexes.

There are many popular attractions in Cappadocia such as fresco adorned churches chiselled out of rock, fairy chimneys, as well as the open air museum in Goreme. Subterranean cities of Kaymakli and rock fortress of Ortahisar are also among the most visited sites in Capadoccia. A truly unique hospitality experience.

Balloon Ride: Optional (2-3 hours) costing around US Dollars 100

Your tour begins with hotel pick up one hour before the sunrise. Experience a one-hour hot balloon ride across Cappadocia.

What to expect:

• Take a scenic hot-air balloon ride through Cappadocia’s the rocky crags, stone peaks,
• Admire Turkey’s most unique attraction with a thrilling airborne flight. A bird’s eye panorama of Turkey’s most surreal heritage site.
• Your pilot gives you background on the Cappadocia region as you glide through the air,
• Balloons hold up to 16 people, perfect for larger groups

Meet at the lobby 9.00 am. – Pick up time from hotel: 9.30 am 

With the guidance of our experienced professional guides, you will see the main places to visit in Cappadocia such as Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Castle, Love Valley, Three Beauties Fairy Chimneys. You can also see traditional carpet weaving techniques in Cappadocia’s crafts center Avanos, as well as watch pottery making in pottery making workshops and even try making pottery.

Lunch break: 12.30 to 1.30 – Dinner at 8.30pm

Meet at the lobby 9.00 am. – Pick up time from hotel: 9.30

It is believed that the underground cities of Cappadocia were initially built during the eighth and seventh centuries BCE by the Phrygians, who carved their living spaces into the region’s soft volcanic rock. There are around 200 cities in total in Cappadocia, with the most visited including Derinkuyu and Kaymakli.

We will be taking you to one of the most famous underground cities in Cappadocia is Derinkuyu, built during the Byzantine era, when its inhabitants used it to protect themselves from Muslim Arabs during the Arab-Byzantine wars between 780 and 1180 CE. The multi-level city was composed of many passages and caves lying at around 60m (197ft) under the ground and was able to shelter around 20,000 people as well as their livestock and food.

Lunch break: 12.30 to 1.30 – Dinner at 8.30pm

Meet at the lobby 9.00 am. – Pick up time from hotel: 9.30

The Central Anatolian City of Konya, once a capital of Anatolian Seljuk Empire, is the seventh largest city of Turkey with a population of 2.2 million. It is a pilgrimage destination for Sufis, and was the hometown for Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic, and his master Shams Tabrezi. It is also known as lodge of whirling dervishes.

The main attraction for tourists coming from all over the world is the tomb of Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi, built in 1274.

Reach Konya by 13.00 hours

Meet at the lobby 14.00 am. – Pick up time from hotel: 14.15

Mevlana Museum- 1 hour
The symbol of Konya is this tekke (Sufi lodge) complex that holds the tomb of the 13th-century religious leader, philosopher, and poet Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, who founded the whirling dervish sect of Sufism. The museum is set within lovingly tended rose gardens

Tile Museum (Karatay Medresisi)- 1 hour
This old madrassa (theological college) was founded in 1251 by the Seljuk emir Celaleddin Karatay. The sheer beauty of this tiled building makes it one of the top attractions in Konya.

Konyanuma Panorama Museum- 1 hour
Konyanuma panorama museum shows Konya’s social life in the 13th century. The Panorama Museum details the historical medreses, its mosques, the walls, the soldiers, Sultans, and houses many sculptures from various nations around the globe.

Gathering at the lobby 8:30 am. – Pick up time from hotel: 9:00 am

Drive to Pamukkale, famous for its mineral-rich hot springs and it’s white terraces. Visit the Necropolis, and the ancient city of Hierapolis ”Holy City,” a UNESCO a World Heritage Site, situated uphill from the Pamukkale hot springs. The Pamukkale hot springs have served as a therapeutic thermal spa since the 2nd century B.C. Water of Pamukkale is known to have miraculous healing powers, not only in recent times, but for thousands of years. Universities have researched and proven that it is good for skin, veins and it keeps one young.

Lunch break 12.30 to 13.45 – Dinner at 8.30pm

Gathering at the lobby 7:30 am. – Pick up time from hotel: 8:00 am

One hour stop in Sogut

Lunch break at 12.00 to 12.30

Sogut is a small town in the province of Bilecik. This town is notable as the founding location of the Ottoman Empire; given to Ertugurul Gazi (“Kayi Tribe”) by Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Kayqubad. The Mausoleum of Ertugrul Gazi, his wife Halime Hatun and his Alps are situated here.

Sogut / Bursa (130 km with 2 hours’ drive)

Probably founded in 3^rd century BC, it is the fourth largest city of Turkey and the first Capital of the Ottoman Empire, conquered by Sultan Orhan Gazi, son of Osman Gazi, founder of Ottoman Empire.

On arrival in Bursa, you will be on your own to explore the areas around the hotel.

Dinner at 8.30

Gathering at the lobby 8:30 am. – Pick up time from hotel: 9:00 am

Tour of the city includes Mausoleums of Osman and Orhan Gazi; Green Mosque (build in 1424 by Sultan Mehmet Celebi); Ulu Mosque, also called Grand Mosque of Bursa (build in 1399 by Sultan Bayezid I); and Covered market, famous for its silk and gold shops, next to Ulu Mosque (built in 1335 by Orhan Bey).

Lunch break: 13.30 to 14.00  

Bursa/Istanbul: (169 km from Istanbul, about 2-hour drive)

Leave Bursa after lunch to arrive in Istanbul at 5.00 pm

Taksim:

After arriving in Istanbul, you will be staying on the European side in an area called “Taksim”. You will explore this liveliest part of Istanbul, at your leisure.

The Taksim Square is a cosmopolitan communications hub, and an important commercial, entertainment and sightseeing area for both locals and tourists. Taksim Square is also a popular meeting point, and an ideal place to conduct an Istanbul city walking tour, including a long colorful pedestrian street, also known as “Istiklal Street”. It is a 24-hour hot spot for people young and old, local, and foreign.

You will find “The Galata Tower” at the end of Istiklal street, built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinianos in 507-508AD. The Genoese rebuilt the current tower in 1348-49, it is a medieval stone tower with cone-capped cylinder that dominates the skyline and offers a panoramic view of Istanbul.  It is a nine-story tower with an observation deck and was the city’s tallest structure at the time it was built. Year 1717 AD onwards, the Ottomans used the tower for assessing the incoming naval threats coming up the Bosporus, in addition to spotting city and forest fires.

Depart for the Airport. Time to be decided depending on the flight timings.