Turkey Explorer

Day 1 Fri: Istanbul | Arrival and transfer to hotel. Welcome briefing will be held.

Day 2 Sat: Istanbul | Full day tour to include: Topkapi Palace (excluding harem), Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar. Optional: Dinner with belly dancing entertainment. B

Day 3 Sun: Istanbul – Ankara | This morning Optional tour of St. Sophia and Bosphorus cruise. Depart for the capital city of Ankara for overnight. B D

Day 4 Mon: Ankara – Cappadocia | Morning departure to view Hittite artifacts at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, father of modern Turkey. Drive to Cappadocia, touring a 13th century caravan inn en route. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and join an optional Whirling Dervishes performance. Overnight in Cappadocia. B D

Day 5 Tue: Cappadocia | Early Morning Optional: Hot Air Balloon Tour. Experience of floating through volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves with the sunrise of Cappadocia. After breakfast, visit Goreme, Avanos, Pasabagi, Red Valley, and have a brief regional pottery workshop in a cave. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. Visit the underground city of Sarhatli. B D

Day 6 Wed: Cappadocia – Pamukkale | Drive to Pamukkale. En route we visit the famous mausoleum of the sufi philosopher Mevlana. Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale. B D

Day 7 Thu: Pamukkale – Marmaris or Antalya | Today is the day to pay an early morning visit to the unique Cotton Fortress, the white calcium cascades and also pay a visit to one of the first modern spa centers of the ancient world, Hierapolis. Transfer to Marmaris and overnight. B D

Day 8 Fri: Marmaris – Return | Transfer to pier for ferry to Rhodes. B

Price Includes:

• First Class hotels with private facilities

• Meals are indicated on itineraries by B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner

• Licensed guides throughout Turkey

• Private air-conditioned transportation

• Luggage handling

• Local taxes and service charges

• Arrival/departure transfers: only on arrival and departure days. Pre or post stay transfers are not included

Price Excludes:

• Personal expenses

• Optional tours

• Customary tips to guide and drivers