Turkey Grand Tour

Meet your guide for a full day tour of Istanbul. Our first stop is at the Church of Divine Wisdom, Aya Sofya was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th Century and reigned as the grandest church in Christendom until its conversion into a mosque by Sultan Mehmet II just after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Next stop is at The Hippodrome which served as the center of Byzantine civic life for 1000 years, including coronations, Roman chariot races and more than one royal execution. At the opposite end of the Hippodrome (At Meydani) is the elegant 'Blue Mosque' of Sultan Ahmed I, with its six minarets. Built in the early 17th century, its popular name is derived from the 20.000 predominately blue Iznik tiles lining the interior walls. In the afternoon explore the mysterious and surreal Underground Cistern which is also known as Yerebatan Sarayi, one of the Grand underground cisterns which were an important source of water for the city during the Byzantine and Ottoman times. In the afternoon, return to your hotel.

After breakfast, meet your guide at the lobby and depart from your hotel. Enjoy a full day exploring Istanbul. Visit the magnificent Chora Museum, an 11th century church with Byzantine mosaics and frescoes considered to be among the world's most important. In the afternoon visit Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans for three centuries. Now a museum, it consists of gardens and buildings of the former palace restored to hold a wealth of treasures. Among the most notable are one of the world’s finest collections of Chinese porcelain, a spectacular collection of jewellery, gems and gold, and the wardrobes of the Sultans, consisting of more than 13,000 customers. Our last stop will be the famous covered Grand Bazaar; the largest covered marketplace in the world where a dazzling array of items-from Furniture and carpets to jewellery and clothing are sold in the bazaar’s more than 4,000 shops.

Airport transfer with your private car and driver.

Enjoy a direct flight from Istanbul to Capadoccia. The flight duration is about 1 hour.

Enjoy a full day tour with your own private car and guide in Cappadocia. You will be driven to Devrent Valley and then to Pasabagi Valley, to see the amazing fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. From here you will be driven to Avanos, the famous pottery town, to have lunch. After lunch depart from Avanos to see the beautiful examples of Byzantine art in the churches of Goreme Open Air Museum. Then you will be driven to Uchisar Castle, the highest point of the region, where we have a fabulous panoramic view over Cappadocia. Conclude with a visit to the Pidgeon Valley.

Enjoy a full day tour in Capadoccia and visit the Ortahisar, a natural citadel carved in rocks. Then visit the subterrenean city of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu, established in the 7th century by Christians fleeing persecution, in which a visitor is able to descend several levels underground. You will be driven to Cavusin Valley to see the troglodyte dwellings where people lived until mid 20th century. After lunch a visit to the Red valley, finally a visit to a Wine House, Cappadocia is famous for its fertile vineyards due to the mineral-laden volcanic soil of the area.

Early depart from hotel. Today we drive to Konya which once served as the capital of the Seljuk Empire and which is adorned with elaborate monuments of the 12th and 13th century. First visit will be the Mevlana Museum, a sacred Islamic shrine which is object to pilgrimage from all over Turkey. It also houses the tomb of the world famous mystic philosopher Mevlana.

Today we drive south to Antalya, the most famous resort center on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Continue to Aspendos, visit the best preserved Roman Theatre built by Marcus Aurelius in Asia Minor. Then we drive to the impressive aqueducts of the city better preserved than the ones in France, Campagna. Drive to Perge which was once the greatest learning center and visited by St. Paul. It is still one of the most impressive Greco-Roman sites of Turkey. In the evening you arrive in Antalya.

Explore Myra and Demre with a private guide and vehicle. Visit historic Lycian tombs at Myra and the Church of St. Nicholas, otherwise known as Santa Claus. Sail over turquoise waters to the picturesque Kekova Island. Discover the extraordinary underwater ruins of the sunken city of Simena and visit the noteworthy Lycian necropolis at Teimiussa. There are opportunities to swim and snorkel if desired, so don't forget your bathing suit and towel. The tour is not included in the cost. Please contact our sales representative for a customized itinerary.

After breakfast at your hotel, we drive north to Pamukkale. We’ll explore the ancient city of Hierapolis overlooking the Lycus river valley with its well-preserved theatre and large necropolis. Pamukkale is very popular for its pools and hot mineral springs that overflow to cover the rocks beneath with white deposits of lime that give the appearance of a frozen cascade. It is to these formations that the Turkish name Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) is probably due.

After breakfast, depart hotel to drive to the ancient city of Aphrodisias which is dedicated to Aphrodite and rewarded by Augustus. This beautiful site was the most sophisticated school of sculpture ever founded in Asia Minor and was also famous for its high quality white marble. We also visit a local museum which solely displays artifacts found in the city.

Enjoy a full day tour to Ephesus with private car and guide. Drive to Selcuk, to visit the world-famous Antique City of Ephesus, including the Arcadian Way, the Antique Theater, the Roman Baths, and the Celsus Library. In the afternoon a visit to the Shrine of Virgin Mary, where she lived her last years and Basilica of St. John. At the end of the tour you'll be dropped at your hotel.

Enjoy a full day tour with your own private car to Pergamum. You'll visit the Sanctuary of Asclepius, and the Pergamum Acropolis where you can find the Altar of Zeus (said to be "the place where Satan has his throne"). Other spectacular relics are the Trojan Temple, and the world's steepest ancient theater. After the drive back to Izmir you will be transfered back to your hotel.

Enjoy a tour of Troy, immortalized by Homer in his stories of King Priam, Hector, Paris and the beautiful Helen. Archaeological excavations have revealed nine separate periods of settlements including ruins of city walls, house foundations, a temple and a theatre. A symbolic wooden Trojan horse commemorates the legendary war. The outing concludes with a tour of Canakkale.

Enjoy a half day tour of Gallipoli before you return to Istanbul. Visit Anzac Cove is a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula, which became famous as the site of World War I landing of the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) on April 25, 1915. The cove is a mere 600m long, bounded by the headlands of Ari Burnu to the north and Little Ari Burnu, known as Hell Spit, to the south. Following the landing at Anzac Cove, the beach became the main base for the Australian and New Zealand troops for the eight months of the Battle of Gallipoli.

Airport transfer with your private car and driver.