DAY 1: ISTANBUL
Upon arrival to Istanbul, you will be transferred to the hotel.
DAY 2: ISTANBUL
After having a traditional Turkish breakfast in the hotel, we visit Blue Mosque that Turks admire as the most beautiful mosque. Then we walk to the site of the Roman Hippodrome and see monuments to decorate centre of Roman life. Then we visit Saint Sophia that is the most important human structure ever. Then walk across the road to visit Cistern Basilica that is a great atmospheric site.
We will have our lunch in a nearby traditional meatball and beans salad restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit Topkapi Palace the administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire.
In the evening, we go to Galatasaray district visit St Anthony Church, Koska Sweet & Confection Shop and fish and fruit market. We will have dinner in a Nevizade Street meyhane.
DAY 3: ISTANBUL
After having a traditional Turkish breakfast in the hotel, Chora magnificent mosaics and frescoes. Then we visit Eyup Mosque and Tomb to see real Muslim character of the town. Then we will visit Egyptian Bazaar and surroundings. We will visit Haci Bekir 17th century sweet & confection shop, Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi oldest ground coffee seller in the town, flower and pet market. We will see a lot of spices, Turkish delights, cheeses, pastramis, honeys, wooden spoons etc.
We will have our lunch in Pandeli Restaurant in 17th century Egyptian Bazaar.
In the afternoon, we visit Rustem Pasha Mosque with tremendous tiles. Then we will visit Grand Bazaar with more than 4000 shops.
In the evening, we go across Bosphorus to Kadikoy district. We will have a look to lively street market and then have our dinner in Ciya Restaurant that has a wide range of northern Mesopotamia food. Then we will have a visit to Baylan sweet and confection shop.
DAY 4: CANAKKALE
After having traditional Turkish breakfast in the hotel, we drive to the pier, enjoy Bosphorus cruise and then drive to Canakkale.
On the way, we will have our lunch in Rumeli Koftecisi in Tekirdag. The specialty of the town is meatballs with beans salad.
Then drive to Dardanelles, take a ferry across from European side to Asian side and then drive to legendary Troy.
We will have dinner and stay overnight in the hotel overlooking Dardanelles.
DAY 5: IZMIR
After having a traditional Turkish breakfast in the hotel, we drive to Bergama.
We will have our lunch in Saglam Restaurant best with grills and pide, Turkish pizza.
In the afternoon, we visit Pergamon Acropolis, once capital of a Hellenistic Pergamon Kingdom.
Then drive to Izmir and visit Kemeraltı district in the heart of the town. You can stroll in the lively narrow streets full of people.
We will have our dinner in Deniz Restaurant best seafood restaurant in Izmir and enjoy a nice walk by the seaside.
We will stay overnight in the hotel.
DAY 6: KUSADASI
After traditional Turkish breakfast in the hotel, we drive to Ephesus and visit ancient site of Ephesus, second biggest town of the early Roman Empire period.
We will have our lunch in Kazım Restaurant in Kusadası. It is very delicious seafood restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit the museum to see the artifacts excavated from the site, including mind-stirring statues of Mother Goddess Artemis. We also visit House of Mother Mary. She believed to come and live in Ephesus with bellowed apostle John.
We will have dinner in the hotel by the Aegean Sea.
DAY 7: PAMUKKALE
We visit a leather factory and enjoy having a fashion show. Then we drive to Pamukkale. On the way, we will have a lunch in Marla Restaurant in Nazilli.
When we reach to Pamukkale, we visit calcareous mass terraces and Hierapolis ancient site.
You may enjoy indoor and outdoor thermal pools in the hotel.
We will have dinner in Marla Restaurant in nearby Denizli town.
We will stay overnight in the hotel.
DAY 8: CAPPADOCIA
After early breakfast in the hotel, we drive to Cappadocia and on the way; we will have lunch in Konya and visit Mevlana Museum that has the tomb of 13th century philosopher poet who established whirling dervishes order.
On the way to Cappadocia, we will visit Sultan Han that is a Caravanserai from Silk Road period. We will have dinner in the hotel.
DAY 9: CAPPADOCIA
After traditional Turkish breakfast in the hotel, we will drive to Goreme Open Air Museum, which was a medieval monastery complex. We will see marvelously preserved medieval frescoes well explain about Orthodox Christian belief.
Then we will visit a carpet factory and enjoy listening a lecture on carpet weaving, silk tread making out of cocoons and dying techniques. We will also have a simple lunch here. They will serve us Turkish pizza called pide that goes well with apple tea or Cappadocian wine. Then we will visit an underground town to see in what circumstances people lived in dangerous periods. We will spend our afternoon in several scenery stops to see mind stirring rock formations.
We will have our dinner in a cave nightclub. We will have stew cooked in an earthenware pot as main dish. Meanwhile we will see folk dances and belly dance show.
We will stay in the hotel.
DAY 10: ANKARA
After breakfast in the hotel, we go to a pottery factory in Avanos to see local art. Then we will go to a house in Goreme village and see how to cook and make bread and enjoy meal there. After lunch, we will drive to Ankara, capital of modern Turkey.
We will have our dinner in Yakamoz Fish Restaurant.
We will stay overnight in the hotel.
DAY 11: ISTANBUL
After breakfast in the hotel, we will visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and see unbelievable artifacts from Old Stone Age to Early Iron Age.
Neolithic and Bronze Age artifacts are exceptional. Then we will visit Ataturk Mausoleum, the resting place of the first president of Turkey.
We will have our lunch in Uludag Et Lokantası and then drive to Istanbul. On the way, we will have a stop in Berceste to see spices, nuts and other local delicacies.
We will stay overnight in the hotel.
DAY 12: ISTANBUL
After breakfast in the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport.