Cultural triangle tour (8 days)

Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale  - the highlights of Turkey hassle-free! This package is commonly booked starting and ending in Istanbul but it can also be combined with a transfer to the Turkish coast at the end. Email to enquiry. 

Day 1 
Arrive at Istanbul Airport,
Private transfer to Sultanahmet
Night at Henna Hotel Istanbul, superior room with breakfast

Day 2

Full day Highlights of historical Istanbul tour
We will pick you up from your hotel at around 09:00 and your day begins with a visit to the amazing Topkapi Palace – home to the Ottoman Sultans for almost 400 years. Today, the palace houses amazing artifacts from the Ottoman period as well as many religious pieces and the famous Harem. On to the Roman Hippodrome – this Byzantine scene was home to Constantinople's sporting and political life. Today we can see many monuments including a 3500 year old Egyptian Obelisk. Our next destination is a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we continue with our walking tour by visiting the famous Aya Sofia (Hagia Sophia) museum – this architectural wonder was built in 360 A.D. and was used as a house of worship by different religions until finally being converted to a museum in 1935. The next stop is the Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque – built in the 16th century, this working mosque gets its name from the intricate blue Iznik tiles which adorn the inside. We continue on to The Grand Bazaar – the ultimate Old World shopping center with some 4000 shops. The tour will end in the Grand Bazaar around 17:00
Night at Henna Hotel Istanbul, superior room with breakfast

Day 3
Half Day Morning Bosporus Cruise Tour
You will be picked up from your hotel at around 08:00-08:30 and the tour starts with the Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar), one of the most colorful sites in the city with many shops selling spices, cheese, olives, eggs, meat products, dried fruits and peddlers everywhere. Once, the Bazaar was the last stop of the Silk Road from where all the commodities carried on camels from India and Far East was delivered to Europe with ships. Today, it is still very popular among the locals who want to buy spices, sweets, cheese and dried fruits. When you come out of the Spice Market, you will see Yeni Cami (also called The New Mosque or the actual name Valide Sultan Mosque) constructed in 1665. There are bird seeders in front of Mosque and the people sitting on the marble stairs viewing the Golden Horn bridge. Later, you will embark the boat for Bosporus Tour. This a large, safe and comfortable public boat with open and covered areas convenient for any weather conditions. You may buy snacks and drinks in the boat. The cruise takes about 1,5 hours and you will see Ciragan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosporus Bridges, Maiden’s Tower and fabulous Ottoman Yalis (sea-side Mansions) during your tour. Your guide will be with you on the boat to give you information about the places you see on the tour. The tour ends with free time in Eminonu at around 12:00 from where you may either visit Spice Market again for shopping or have a walk over the Golden Horn Bridge. The guide is going to recommend you the best way to get your hotel on your own.
Free afternoon
Overnight Henna Istanbul Hotel (superior room) with  breakfast  

Day 4

Private transfer to Istanbul airport for morning direct flight to Cappadocia 

Upon arrival shuttle transfer to special cave hotel in Goreme

Full Day Cappadocia Heritage Tour - Starting from your hotel at 10:00, you will be greeted by your guide and the driver. Our first stop is the majestic vista point overlooking Pigeon Valley where you will receive information about the rich history of Cappadocia and the unique rock formations. After the panoramic view point, we visit the Monk’s Valley (Pasabag) with the famous mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys as well as St. Simeon’s monk cell carved into the rock. Next stop will be Zelve Open-Air Museum, which once housed one of the largest communities in the region is an amazing cave town, honeycombed with dwellings, religious and secular chambers. Now, Old Zelve is a ghost town but we will see some churches like the Church with the Deer, The Church with Grapes, The Church with Fishes. Before lunch we make a photo stop at Devrent’s animal-shaped rock formations. Then, we will drive to Goreme for lunch. Our lunch will be in the remote King’s Valley. After lunch, we will see a kick-wheel pottery demonstration and our guests are welcome to try their hand at this tradition. We will continue our tour with the Ozkonak Underground City offers an alternative to the busy sites in other areas. Although only four floors are now open, the complex contains a total of ten floors, to a depth of 40m (130 feet). In addition, there were holes above the tunnels used for dumping hot oil on the enemy, as well as a water well, ventilation system, winery and moving stone doors. Our last will be at the picturesque Love Valley. You will arrive back at your hotel around 5 pm.

Overnight Luvi Cave Hotel (junior suite room) with breakfast

 
Day 5 

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon flight with Butterfly Balloons
Full day Cappadocia Green tour - Our professional guide and the driver will pick you up at your hotel at 9:30. Our first stop is the amazing Kaymakli Underground City. Kaymakli was one of the biggest settlements in Cappadocia and its 8 level underground city is the deepest of the region today. We will explore the caves of this interesting city and talk about the way of life here. After departing Kaymakli, we will drive further south to the magnificent verdant Ihlara Valley. We walk alongside the Melendiz River for about 1 hour which winds its way through the Ihlara gorge, stopping for lunch in a restaurant on the river in the village of Belisirma. After lunch, we continue to the Selime Monastery, the largest rock-cut monastery in Cappadocia with large cave cathedral and breathtaking views over the area. On our way back to Goreme we stop at the spectacular vista point overlooking Pigeon Valley. Our final stop will be at a local onyx factory to see a demonstration on carving and shaping onyx. You will arrive back at your hotel around 5 pm.
Overnight Luvi Cave Hotel (junior suite room) with breakfast

Day 6 
Shuttle transfer to Kayseri Airport for flight to Izmir 
Upon arrival shuttle transfer to hotel in Selcuk
Overnight Cella Boutique Hotel (double room) with breakfast

Day 7 
Full Day Ephesus Tour
First we will visit Virgin Mary House. This place was discovered by Lazarist priests after a German nun described the house and the mountain as the last residence of Virgin Mary after she had some visions about the place. Today this place is a Muslim and Catholic, being cared by Lazarist Fathers. Lazarist Fathers still celebrate the mass every day. Then we will drive to Ephesus. Ephesus was one of the most important harbor cities in the ancient world and also it is mentioned in the book of Revelations as one of the seven churches. Also Celsus Library and theater in Ephesus are the other highlights. In Ephesus we will see, Celcus Library, Temple of Hadrian, the fountain of Trajan and the Theater. We will have lunch in a local Turkish restaurant. After lunch we will visit Isa Bey Mosque which was built in 1375 by Anatolian Seljuks. The last stop of the tour will be the Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, standing today next to Ephesus antique city.
Overnight Cella Boutique Hotel (double room) with breakfast  

Day 8
Full Day Pamukkale Tour
You will be picked from your hotel between 08:00 and 08:30. We will drive for 3 hours for Pamukkale (Hierapolis). We will first arrive at North Gate of Pamukkale (Hierapolis). You will see the Necropolis (Cemetery) of Hierapolis which is one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Anatolia with 1.200 graves, Roman Bath, Domitian Gate, and the Main Street, Byzantium Gate. Then, you walk to the natural warm water terraces which were formed by running hot water that contains calcium. The temperature of the water is about 35oC. You can see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, located next to the ruins of Hierapolis. After the open buffed lunch if you like to swim in the Ancient Hot Pool, also called Cleopatra's Pool (entrance fee extra). The Cleopatra Pool is warmed by hot springs and littered with underwater fragments of ancient marble columns. Possibly associated with the Temple of Apollo, the pool provides today's visitors a rare opportunity to swim with antiquities! During the Roman period, columned porticoes surrounded the pool; earthquakes toppled them into the water where they lie today. 
Shuttle transfer to Izmir Airport for flight to Istanbul or transfer to destinations like Bodrum, Oludeniz, Antalya...