Turkish Delight - 8 Nights / 9 Days

      Detailed Itinerary:

 

 

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Day 01:

ISTANBUL 
Arrival in Istanbul at 0905hrs and transfer to the hotel. Early check-in  depends upon availability. After a short rest ,departure for Bosphorus Cruise and Egyptian Bazaar tour. Egyptian Spice Market which is filled with the fragrances of the exotic East since the 1660s. Spices, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, lokum (Turkish Delight) and other edibles fill most of the shops in Istanbul's Misir Carsisi, along with jewelry and souvenirs. Bosphorus Cruise, through the magnificient 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.

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Day 02:

ISTANBUL/ ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA - (B,L,D) 
After breakfast transfer to the airport for early flight to Ankara at approximate 0800am.The capital of Turkey and one of the fastest growing cities in the world with a history that can be dated back 3000 years. Upon arrival visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, which also exhibits the remains of Catalhoyuk, the Neolithic village dating back to 6500 BC. Then visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. After lunch at a local restaurant in Ankara, destination is the mysterious Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Cappadocia.

 

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Day 03:

CAPPADOCIA - (B ,L ,D)
Sightseeing in this unique corner of the world. Visit to Pasabag Valley and the natural citadel of Uchisar, followed by Goreme Open-Air Museum, which is full of pink, rose and white tapering columns. These tall free standing cones of stone curve and twist as if pulled from earth like taffy. Others are tall like fairy chimneys. The caves were settled in the 4th century as monasteries. Visit some caves on the cliffs to see Byzantine frescoes decorating early Christian churches Kaymakli Underground City; carved out of rock and completely self contained. More than 200 people lived on each of seven floors with the last one 250 feet underground. It is connected to Derinkuyu Underground city by six miles of tunnel. Lunch at a typical restaurant of the region and visit Avanos Village. Time for shopping. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

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Day 04:

CAPPADOCIA / KONYA / PAMUKKALE - (B,L,D) Transfer to Konya. On the way to Konya, visit 13th century Selcuk caravanserai "Sultanhan".  Visit the tomb of Mevlana, the great mystic poet and Islamic spiritual leader, who founded the sect of ''Whirling Dervishes''.  After lunch continue to Pamukkale, the cotton fortress, which rises above the fertile Menderes Valley. Hot mineral waters burst from the earth and cascade over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. The therapeutic waters here were known to founders of the cure city of Hierapolis in 190 BC.

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Day 05:

PAMUKKALE / KUSADASI - (B,L,D) 
Stroll through the ruins of ancient Hierapolis, the Roman city, and transfer to Kusadas?ONT>En route lunch at a local restaurant and visit Aphrodisias, the ancient city dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Dinner and overnight.

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Day 06:

KUSADASI - (B,L,D)
Visit the ruins of Ephesus, which played a major role in the development of architecture, religions, governmental and economic systems and arts.The temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of ancient world and centre of pagan religion for 15 centuries. Here Marc Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession, St. Paul preached in the Great Theatre and in a little house outside the city the Virgin Mary spent her last days.

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Day 07:

KUSADASI / CANAKKALE - (B,L,D)
In the morning visit Bergama (ancient Pergamon) where the parchment was invented.This was the hometown of Galen, renowned doctor and surgeon and site of his temple devoted to healing, the Asclepion. The library once held 200,000 books; all parchmentLunch at a local restaurant in Bergama and in the afternoon drive to Troy, the immortal city of the legendary Helen of Troy and Trojan Horse, which was destroyed and rebuilt nine times.

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Day 08:

CANAKKALE / ISTANBUL - (B,L)
In the morning drive to Istanbul by crossing the Dardanelles Strait. Lunch en route. Arrival to Istanbul and transfer to the Grand Covered Bazaar, which covers over 4,000 shops under one roof Later check-in the hotel. Overnight at hotel.

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Day 09:

ISTANBUL (B)
In the morning after breakfast, join the tour to visit St Sophia, the Byzantine Hippodrome and Blue Mosque, which has six minarets and a middle dome of 109 feet. Drop back at the hotel by noon. Departure transfer to the airport to catch the flight to home.

Includes:

 * Accommodation on twin sharing basis at 3 star hotel

 * Meal as per the Itinerary Daily Breakfast

 * Round trip transfers from the airport

 * Hotel Tax & service charges

Doesn't Includes

 * Return economy class airfare

 * Visa Charges :

 * Airport taxes

 * Any Porterage at hotels

 * Any personal expenses

 * Anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary