11-Day Turkey Heritage Tour from Istanbul with Cappadocia and Ephesus

1

Day 01

Arrival in Istanbul

• Meet us at Istanbul International Airport and transfer to your hotel.
• Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

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Day 02

Ottoman and Byzantine Treasures of Istanbul

• Visit Topkapı Palace. The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housed an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, and the Holy Mantle enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. Visit the Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque.
• Across from St. Sophia, built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, it is known as the "Blue Mosque" because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. Continue to the ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with its three monuments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine.
• We will continue to Hagia Sophia to admire its wonderful Byzantine mosaics. Imagine entering one of the oldest and once the largest cathedrals in the world, built by the Byzantines 1,500 years ago and used by both Christians and Muslims for years. In many aspects, it is unique in the world.
• Today, it serves as a mosque again.
• We will then take you to the Grand Bazaar.
• Overnight in Istanbul.

3

Day 03

Istiklal Street and the Spice Bazaar

• After breakfast, walk along Istiklal Street. The heart of Istanbul is undoubtedly Istiklal Street. This street, set in the middle of a thousand years of history, has hosted people from tens of nationalities and preserved parts of their cultures for hundreds of years. It contains dozens of local and global brands, as well as historical monuments from different cultures. Continue to the Spice Bazaar, otherwise known as the Egyptian Bazaar, the place to stock up on fresh spices, nuts, honeycomb, Turkish delight, dried figs, caviar, and mature hard Turkish cheese. The market was called Mısır Çarşısı, literally translated as Egyptian Market, because it is said to have been built with money paid as duty on Egyptian imports. The annual "Cairo caravan" would bring spices from Egypt, just as Istanbul stood on the trade route between the East and Europe.
• Overnight in Istanbul.

4

Day 04

Drive to Ankara and Explore Its Heritage

• After breakfast, we drive to the capital city of Türkiye, Ankara.
• The first stop will be the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The museum has a number of exhibits on Anatolian archaeology.
• The displays begin with the Paleolithic era and continue chronologically through the Neolithic, Early Bronze, Assyrian trading colonies, Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuq, and Ottoman periods. There is also an extensive collection of artifacts from the excavations at Karain, Çatalhöyük, Hacılar, Canhasan, Beyce Sultan, Alacahöyük, Kültepe, Acemhöyük, Boğazköy (Gordion), Pazarlı, Altıntepe, Adilcevaz, and Patnos, as well as examples from several periods. Continue to Atatürk Mausoleum. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a great leader who made Turkey a member of contemporary civilization with all its institutions and holds a special place in the history of humanity. The idea of building a mausoleum to reflect his greatness in every respect and to present his thoughts on principles, reforms, and modernization was the common desire of the Turkish Nation in the deepest grief of losing Atatürk.
• Overnight in Ankara.

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Day 05

Salt Lake and Arrival in Cappadocia

• Today we drive to Cappadocia, and on the way we will visit Tuz Gölü. The Salt Lake basin is home to many different species of birds and has about 6,000 bird nesting sites. In addition, 279 plant and bacterial species have been identified in the area. The Salt Lake is a Special Environmental Conservation Area, one of the most important natural areas in the world, and has been registered on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List because of its features.
• The first stop in Cappadocia is Göreme Panorama, a point from which to see and understand Cappadocia. Here, your guide will tell you about the history of Cappadocia and its unique rock formations.
• The second stop is the Underground City. The Underground City has open floors for visiting. It is the largest underground settlement in Cappadocia and dates back centuries. You go down 8 floors, each connected by narrow tunnels and stone-carved stairs. Continue to Avanos, which rests on the banks of the longest river in Turkey, the Kızılırmak, or Red River. The name of the Red River comes from the large amounts of clay deposits that have been used for centuries in the town for pottery. The pottery trade in Avanos dates back to the Hittites, and you can still visit workshops and see them in action today.
• Overnight in Cappadocia.

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Day 06

Fairy Chimneys and Valleys of Cappadocia

• Visit Devrent Valley, also known as Imaginary Valley and Pink Valley. It does not have cave churches like the other valleys of Cappadocia. There are no Roman castles or Roman tombs in Devrent Valley either. In fact, it was never inhabited. So, what makes it so famous? Its lunar landscape. Continue to Zelve (Paşabağ), the center of the fairy chimneys. Life in Zelve Valley, one of the important settlements in the region from the fourth until the thirteenth centuries, continued until 1952. It is generally acknowledged that the variety of large and small, conical, pyramid-shaped, pointed, or blunt fairy chimneys in Zelve are the most beautiful in the region. Zelve presents a picture of the abandonment of a village that still existed until a short time ago, with a Seljuk-type mosque and adjacent homes carved from the rock, some of which still resist the ravages of time. Continue to Uçhisar, situated on the edge of Göreme National Park and dominated by a 60-metre-high Castle Mountain, visible from a wide distance and shaped like a large cylindrical tower. This massif is crisscrossed by numerous underground passageways and rooms, most of which are now blocked or impassable.
• Overnight in Cappadocia.

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Day 07

Pigeon Valley and Konya

• Today we depart for Konya, the capital of the ancient Seljuk period.
• Before leaving Cappadocia, we will visit Pigeon Valley. Pigeon Valley is a lovely valley located near the town of Uçhisar, named after the thousands of pigeon houses carved into the soft tufa since ancient times. It offers another spectacular panoramic view over Cappadocia together with remarkable views of the dovecotes. The valley takes its name from pigeons and ranks among the most popular, best-known, and impressive valleys of Cappadocia. Continue to the Mevlâna Museum in Konya, the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammed Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic. It was also the dervish lodge (tekke) of the Mevlevi order, better known as the whirling dervishes.
• Overnight in Konya.

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Day 08

Pamukkale and Hierapolis

• Visit Pamukkale, the UNESCO-listed site known for its cotton-colored travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis.
• Enjoy a therapeutic hot spring soak in one of the world's most ancient and awe-inspiring locations, dating back thousands of years.
• Listen to guided commentary on the fascinating ruins of Hierapolis, with plenty of free time to take a dip in Turkey's own "Cotton Castle."
• Free time at the spa hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale.

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Day 09

Ephesus, Artemision Temple, and Şirince

• Depart from the hotel for Kusadasi. Visit Ephesus and marvel at the UNESCO-listed ruins, pausing to admire archaeological wonders such as the Temple of Hadrian, the magnificent Celsus Library, and the Great Theatre, which seats up to 24,000 people.
• Learn more about life in ancient Roman times as you peek into the Public Latrines and Roman Baths, stroll around the Agora, and walk down the grand marble-paved Arcadian Way.
• Visit the Artemision Temple, which was once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• Continue to Şirince, a beautiful village where you'll get a glimpse of life in a traditional Turkish village and indulge in a wine tasting of local wines.
• One of the things that makes Şirince stand out among tourist destinations is its fruit wines.
• Be sure to sample the village's famous pomegranate wine. Overnight in Kusadasi.

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Day 10

Bursa Heritage and Bosphorus Cruise

• Drive to Bursa, the former Ottoman capital, founded by the Bithynian King Prusius I Cholos (223-185 BC), who also gave the city its name, altered to the Hellenistic "Prusa." The city is frequently cited as "Yeşil Bursa," meaning "Green Bursa," in reference to the beautiful parks and gardens spread across its urban fabric, as well as the vast forests of rich variety that extend through the surrounding region.
• We will visit Ottoman heritage sites such as the Green Tomb, Green Mosque, and Ulu Mosque.
• After lunch, drive to Istanbul and, upon arrival, explore the city by cruise. The Bosphorus Strait defines Istanbul. It is the divide between Europe and Asia and the main connection between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Dotted with parks and elaborate Ottoman mansions, including Dolmabahçe Palace, and spanned by three intercontinental bridges, the Bosphorus is the veritable heart of the city.
• Overnight in Istanbul.

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Day 11

Departure from Istanbul

• After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Istanbul Airport.