Istanbul Mini Package
Day 1: ARRIVE Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul for a 3-night stay. Meet your driver and transfer to your hotel. Meals at guests' expense.
Day 2: Istanbul
After breakfast, start your visits of the city Highlights: the Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century AD by Justinian and became the largest church in the world for many centuries until its conversion into a mosque by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II where you can see beautiful mosaics of Byzantine art. The Byzantine Hippodrome where horses and chariots raced once upon a time. The Blue Mosque, famous for its tiles and interior decorations, the most important mosque of the city. Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans for about 400 years. The Grand Bazaar for a leisure afternoon with more than 3,000 shops. Dinner at guests' expense. (B-L)
Day 3: Istanbul
Depart from your hotel after breakfast. Visit the Egyptian Bazaar known as Spice Market to smell and buy hundreds of lively colored spices; you can also explore small street markets around it. Then take a ferry to start your cruise on the Bosphorus Strait, while sailing along the European and Asian shores enjoy viewing Ottoman Palaces, Fortresses, Ottoman wooden houses, Suspension bridges, and fishermen. After this lovely cruise, lunch in a restaurant along the Bosphorus and then take the Intercontinental Suspension Bridge to set your foot on the Asian Continent with a pleasant panoramic drive viewing residential areas of the city. Visit also Beylerbeyi Palace on this side, which was the summer residence of the last Ottoman Sultans for many years until the Republic. Today it's used as a museum housing original furniture, curtains and carpets showing luxurious life of the ancient rulers. Transfer back to your hotel at the end of the day. Dinner at guests' expense. (B-L)
Day 4: DEPART Istanbul
In the morning, transfer to the airport and depart. End of services. (B)
It's possible to combine Istanbul with Cappadocia and/or Izmir Mini Packages, or both.
(B) Breakfast - (L) Lunch
Important Notes
- Istanbul Mini Package Tour is run every day all year around on group basis in English or on private basis in several languages.
- Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays, Grand Bazaar on Sundays & Turkish public holidays, Beylerbeyi Palace on Mondays. On these specific days, they'll be substituted with other museums or sights depending on the convenience of the program and schedule.
- Order of the visits may be changed for the convenience of the tour.
- On regular group tours, the Harem section inside the Topkapi palace is not included in the tour program.
- This tour operates with a minimum of 8 participants!
Cappadocia Mini Package
Day 1: ARRIVE Ankara / Cappadocia
Arrival in Ankara in the morning or collection from the hotels, and visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum in the old Citadel, one of the best museums in Turkey, housing an extensive display of ancient settlers in Asia Minor starting from the Stone Age and especially dating back to Neolithic and Bronze Ages such as Catalhoyuk and the Hittites. Also see the Mausoleum of Ataturk where the founder of the Turkish Republic rests in peace. Proceed to Cappadocia by bus driving around the Salt Lake. En route lunch in the restaurant. Arrive in Cappadocia in the late afternoon and overnight at your hotel. (L-D).
Day 2: Cappadocia
Breakfast and a full day visit of this extraordinary region. Today you'll visit Kaymakli (or Derinkuyu) underground city carved like a maze by early Christians escaping from persecutions. The Goreme Valley, famous for its rock churches with incredible Byzantine frescoes. The Pasabag Valley reminding a lunar surface with its panorama and typical formations of "fairy chimneys". Uchisar valley, with rock houses and a natural citadel. Avanos village, which has the longest river of Turkey passing through and thus making this small town an attraction for its pottery and other handicrafts. Lunch during visits and overnight in your hotel. (B-L-D)
Day 3: DEPART Cappadocia
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight. End of services. (B)
You can combine this tour with Izmir Mini Package.
(B) Breakfast - (L) Lunch - (D) Dinner
Important Notes
- Cappadocia Mini Package Tour is a Guaranteed Departure Tour and run in English all year around from Ankara on Sundays only.
- Order of the visits may be changed for the convenience of the tour.
- This tour operates with a minimum of 8 participants!
Izmir Mini Package
Day 1: ARRIVE Izmir / Ephesus / Izmir
Arrival in Izmir early in the morning or collection from the hotels, and drive to Selcuk town to visit Ephesus site, ancient capital of Asia Minor with its magnificent theater, library, temples and baths. The House of Virgin Mary is considered as a place of Christian pilgrimage, and there is a small chapel as well. After lunch, visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis which was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, and drive back to Izmir for overnight. Dinner at guests' expense. (L)
Day 2: Izmir / Pamukkale / Izmir
Breakfast at hotel and early morning departure for Pamukkale to visit Hierapolis which has the largest "Necropolis" (old cemetary) in Asia Minor and a very well preserved theater. Pamukkale's white cascades are formed by calcium deposits and they are unique with their incredible views and thermal waters. After lunch, drive back to Izmir in the late afternoon. Dinner at guests' expense. (B-L)
Day 3: Izmir / Pergamon / Izmir
Breakfast in the hotel and drive to Pergamon to visit this great civilization dating back to the 4th century BC. located in a large valley. The Aesclepion was an important healing center dedicated to Aesclepius, god of medicine. Especially mentally ill people tried to get a cure here while it became the second most famous Aesclepion after the one on the island of Cos. After lunch, drive back to Izmir for overnight. Dinner at guests' expense. (B-L)
Day 4: DEPART Izmir
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight. End of services. (B)
This can be combined with Cappadocia Mini Package.
(B) Breakfast - (L) Lunch
Important Notes
- Izmir Mini Package is run in English language every day and all year around with a certain number of participants.
- Order of the visits may be changed for the convenience of the tour.
- Depending on seasonal occupancies Izmir stay may be swapped to Kusadasi or vice versa.
- If you prefer to spend less nights in Izmir, we can take the last night out and arrange your flight in the evening of Day 3 so you can fly back in the late afternoon after your tour to Pergamon.
- This tour operates with a minimum of 8 participants!
ALL TRAVEL SERVICES FOR THESE TOURS ARE BEEN ARRANGED BY A GOVERNMENT LICENSED & RELIABLE TRAVEL AGENCY