11 Days Turkey Tour By Public Buses

Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul (-) 

On your first day, you will arrive at Istanbul airport where an arranged transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel as it's here within the magical city of Istanbul that you will have your first overnight stay in preparation for tomorrow's adventures.

Day 2 – Byzantine & Ottoman Relics Tour, Overnight in Istanbul 

Today is your first day of exploring the history that Istanbul has hiding away and shall come to a start by you being picked up from your hotel at 08:30 am where we will go on to visit St. Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture and is of great artistic value with its decorated interior being made up of mosaics and marble pillars. The actual temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian proclaimed “Solomon, I have outdone thee “ Justinian himself had overseen the completion of the greatest cathedral ever built up to that time, and it was to remain the largest cathedral for 1,000 years more up until the completion of the cathedral in Seville in Spain. Just across from St. Sophia is the Blue Mosque, which is most recognizable from its six minarets, the mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 for Sultan Ahmet I had decorated the inside with 21,043 tiles from Iznik in a dominant blue color and because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles is how the mosque came to be called ‘ Blue Mosque’. After we will head on to see the Ancient Hippodrome, here was the scene of all chariot races that took place, and also houses the three famously known monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Our journey will continue to Topkapi Palace, this great palace was home to the Ottoman sultans from the 15th – 19th centuries and is host to an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, also the robes which were worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, and the Holy Mantle; with enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. To conclude your first day of touring we will take a short drive to the exotic Grand Bazaar (Closed on Sundays and Feast days), it is one of the oldest/largest covered markets in the world with having upto 61 covered streets and more than 3,000 shops for you to delve into. Your first-day tour will come to an end at around 17:00, where you will then take the transfer back to your hotel for the evening and get well rested for tomorrow which will be the 2nd part of your Istanbul tour. (Breakfast and Lunch Included)

Day 3 – Bosphorus Cruise & Two Continents Tour, Overnight in Istanbul 

After a good breakfast, a transfer will come to pick you up at 08:30 am from your hotel reception and take us to our first point of call for today which is to go and visit the Spice Market / Spice Bazaar (May be closed at feast days) you will notice that the air in here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice that you can name, once we are at the Spice Market you will be given free time so you can take yourself around and explore, and of course, you will be able to buy yourself some of the fresh herbs and spices that you can strongly smell for take back home. Onwards our journey will take us next to join the Bosphorus Tour By Boat, This boat trip is a very traditional excursion and as we sail along the coastline you will be able to understand why, the narrow waterway separates the 2 continents that are Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages, during the excursion you will pass by some of the most amazing buildings such as –  the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, the parks and imperial pavillions of Yildiz Palace. You will also be able to see Ciragan Palace which is 300 meters from its marble facade facing the shoreline. Rumeli Fortress was built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 before the conquest of Istanbul and was completed in only four months its purpose was to control and protect Bosphorus from any raiders/attack. Rumeli Fortress is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture to be seen anywhere in the world. Also Beylerbeyi Palace, – the summer residence of the Ottoman sultans and its original furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem- can be seen in the Asian side of Istanbul. As we approach Bosphorus Bridge it truly shows a unique change from one continent to the other (Asia to Europe). After we can see Camlica Hill which is the highest point in Istanbul and as you reach the top of it you can take a rest to admire the magnificent panorama of Mystical Istanbul and also Bosphorus with its beautiful gardens, landscaped in a traditional style. After your boat tour, you will then be taken back to your Hotel as the evening is then yours. (Breakfast and Lunch Included)

Day 4 – Gallipoli Tour, Overnight in Canakkale 

Today you will need to take your suitcases and all of your belongings with you as today, as will be checking out from the hotel to head on to your next destination. Today is an early start as there is so much to see and do so you will be picked up at 06:30 am from your hotel and go on to make your departure for Gallipoli which is 5 hours drive from Istanbul. When we reach Gallipoli we will be visiting; Kabatepe Museum, which contains relics from the campaign including original diary extracts and letters, and Brighton Beach, the intended landing place. There will then be a stop for Lunch so you can recharge for the afternoon. On the Southern tip of Anzac Cove is where you can see the Beach Cemetery and the landing place of the first wave of Australian and New Zealand troops and home to up to 30.000 troops during the campaign. Lone Pine Australian Memorial, site of the successful attack and capture of Turkish trenches by the Australians during the August offensive, Johnston’s Jolly – where you will visit the original Allied and Turkish trenches and tunnels, The Nek, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, captured by the New Zealanders during the August offensive.   (Lunch included).

Day 5 –  Troy and Pergamum Tour, Overnight in Kusadasi

Today you will need to take your suitcases and all of your belongings with you as today, as will be checking out from the hotel to head on to your next destination.  The day will come to a start at 08:30 am with pick up from your hotel to go and make our way to visit the ancient city of Troy, and as we all know its most famous for the legendary Trojan horse from the times of Beautiful Helen, Queen of Sparta, and Paris, the Trojan Prince. You will also go to see The ancient town of Pergamon, we will drive up to Asclepion which is situated on the hilltop and was once a world-renowned medical center of for physicians and scholars. Now our time here is complete we will then start our road trip down to the area of Kusadasi as tomorrow we will visit the World's most famous ancient city there. (Breakfast, Lunch included).

Day 6 – Ephesus Tour,  Overnight in Kusadasi 

Today you will do full-day Ephesus sightseeing which will begin at 09:00 am. We will come to pick you up from your hotel in Kusadasi and hit the road for a short drive to Ephesus (You have the choice to do this tour by group or as your private tour). Firstly we will take you to see the The House of Virgin Mary which is situated on the top of Bulbul Mountain, the house was discovered back in the 19th century. Catherina Emmerich (1775-1824), an invalid German nun who had never visited Ephesus went on to describe in great detail the house and its location which she had been known to have seen in a vision. It is also believed that St.John brought Mary (the mother of Jesus) to Ephesus sometime between AD 37-48 and it is the place she spent the last years of her life. After seeing The House Of the Virgin Mary we will continue on tour to the ancient city of Ephesus and the Virgin Mary House. Today you will first go to see the Ancient City of Ephesus where you will see one of the most spectacular excavations to ever exist in the world, you will have the chance to see also the Odeon, The Fountain of Trajan, the stream baths of Scholastika, the Temple of Hadrian, the Grand Theater and last but no means the least the very impressive library of Ephesus. The Ephesus library is adorned with columns and statues and is still in relatively excellent condition, by standing in the middle of the Library or taking a walk down the main street in Ephesus you will feel like you have stepped back in time amongst the Romans and the visuals here are fantastic to see. Also within Ephesus is The Grand Theater where Saint Paul preached its believed to be the largest outdoor theater in the ancient world with a capacity of 25,000 seats. The last and perhaps the most important, site in Selcuk is the great Temple of Artemis (Diana), which is one of the Seventh Wonders of the Ancient World. The Ephesus Artemis was a goddess of fertility and was often pictured draped with eggs or multiple breasts as symbols of fertility. Our tour today will come to an end after visiting the Mosque of Isa Bey, which was built in the 19th century, it was also used as a caravanserai, it is a perfect architectural building that you must see. ( your breakfast & lunch will be included).

Day 7 – Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour, Overnight in Bus

Today you will need to take your suitcases and all of your belongings with you as today. As will be checking out from the hotel to head on to your next destination. Your pick-up to start your day discovering Pamukkale & Hierapolis will be from your hotel in Kusadasi. Pamukkale when translated means ‘Cotton Castle’ and has been drawing the weary and the curious from all around the world to its thermal springs for more than 23 centuries. The Turkish name refers to the extraordinary surface of the snow-white cliffs, shaped over millennia by the accumulation of calcium deposited by mineral springs. Legend has it that the formations are solidified cotton (the area’s principal crop) that was left out to dry by giants. Dripping slowly down a vast mountainside, mineral-rich water foams and collects in bowls that terrace the decline, spilling over petrified cascades of stalactites into milky pools below. The site of ancient Hierapolis and the accompanying museums are overshadowed by the springs but are nevertheless fascinating. You shouldn’t leave Pamukkale without having a healing dip in the sacred fountain of Cleopatra’s pool. Cleopatras Pool has warm clear fizzy water that bubbles from the spring's source, but these days has now been blocked off to prevent divers from disappearing into its hidden depths. On the bottom surface of the pool, you can see the Ancient remains of the Roman columns – Cleopatras Pool is an Oasis. After taking a walk along the terraces we will take a short walk to Hierapolis City which can also be known as ‘Holy City’ just outside the main entrance is the Necropolis (Graveyard), with more than 1200 tombs and sarcophagi the people who wished to have been buried here believed that bee within proximity to the hot springs and vapor-emitting that the cracks would ease their trip to the Underworld. Among the tombs lies the Martyrium which is an octagonal 5th-century edifice believed to have been erected upon the site where St.Philip was martyred in 80 CE. Hierapolis CityBath – The springs of Hierapolis were particularly popular among vacationing Romans. The city's baths had a glossy marble interior that has now been converted into a mediocre Archaelogical Museum. You will notice that carved into the side of the mountain is the monstrous Grand Theater that dominates the Vista of Hierapolis, almost all of the seating area which had a capacity for 25.000 is still intact, and so are various ornately sculpted decorative elements adorning the 3rd century CE. During today's tour, you will have one hour of free break time to rest, and of course, if you like you can take some refreshments to the cafeteria on site. After the tour we will make the move to Cappadocia by bus at 21:00 or 22:00, so we will spend the night in the bus so we can reach our destination friendly and early in the morning – Our buses are all non-smoking, fully air-conditioned, and of course we make sure that for such long journeys, we provide you with our most comfortable bus seats. (duration is 10 hours) Breakfast and Lunch are included.

Day 8 – Cappadocia Tour 1, Overnight in Cappadocia

As we arrive in Cappadocia you will be transferred to your hotel so you have the chance to freshen up before we start our exploration of Cappadocia's secrets. We will leave from your hotel at 09:00 am and our first visit of the day will be to Devrent Valley – Devrent Valley is also known by the name of ‘Imagination Valley’ This valley has none of the cave churches, Byzantine frescoes, or Roman citadel ruins that are famous throughout the rest of Cappadocia; but don't be put off as what it does have is very unique and extraordinary landscape shapes that are formed in many kinds of animals, so let your imagination run away with you and see what your animals you can spot, it will most certainly make you laugh with wonder. Our next visit will be to Pasabag (Monk’s Valley) where you will be able to take a look at the mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys, these chimneys are very interesting structures and were formed due to the harder rock material deposited above. The valley gets the nickname Monks Valley because of the ascetic monks who came here as early as the 5th century and lived hermit lifestyles here. It was a so-called ‘stylite’ way of living, from the Greek work stylos, meaning pillar – the Christian monks built dwellings inside the pillars, and it's where they lived, fasted, and prayed. After discovering Pasabag we will then head over to the town of Avanos, Avanos is set on the banks of Kizilirmak which are translated to ‘The Red River’. We will first start with the old village of Avanos that winds up the hills leading away from the town it truly is a beautiful magical maze of old stone houses, some that have been restored over time and some that have been converted for other purposes. In some of the abandoned houses, the features of traditional Ottoman architecture can still be seen along with ancient decorations, motifs, and murals. You will also get the chance to participate in a hands-on pottery workshop. We will then take a lunch break (that's included) to recharge our batteries. After your lunch we will proceed to the Goreme Open Air Museum, this museum has incredible rock formations and the most fascinating rock-cut churches, you will enjoy your time exploring the depth of Goreme, and certain that you will need extra camera film. Our last stop for today will be Uchisar – which is a village perched on a steep rock formation, this town provides some of the most dramatic panoramas of the astonishing Cappadocia that you will never want to leave. Take a wander into the town as it is a very nice place to sit and watch the harmony between nature and humans. During the tour today there will be 1 hour of free time for you to relax, grab some cold refreshments and just simply soak up the panoramic views that surround you. Our tour for today shall finish around 17:00 and we will then transfer you back you your hotel for the evening. (Lunch Included).

Day 9 – Cappadocia Tour 2, Overnight in Bus

Today you will need to take your suitcases and all of your belongings with you as today. As will be checking out from the hotel to head on to your next destination. During our tour today we will be first visiting Red Valley and Rose Valley. Red Valley has to be one of the nicest and most beautiful places to go walking in Cappadocia. The two valleys are next to each other and are easily combined. Once in Rose Valley, you don’t want to miss the Hacli Church and the Ayvali Church, both of which have astounding painted decorations on the interior. Afterward, we will take a visit to the old Christian Village of Cavusin, followed by a tour to Pigeon Valley, the path through Pigeon Valley offers spectacular views of the natural cliffs and the man-made caves, it passes through a few tunnels that have been carved into the rock side. Finally, we will visit Kaymakli Underground City (Which can be replaced with OZKONAK), and Ortahisar Castle, here in Kaymakli. the underground city There are 8 levels of the underground city that date from the 6th – 9th centuries and 5 of which are open to the public. The tunnels, cellars, store rooms, and stables have all been excavated from the soft volcanic rock they are astonishing in your eyes. The Castle of Ortahisar is situated at 86 m height cave in the period of Eti and is the most pronounced structure of Nevsehir. During your today you will have 1 hour free so if you wish you can take some refreshments and take the time to relax. Our adventure through Cappadocia will come to an end around 5:00 pm, and our next destination in our schedule is the Magical city of Istanbul, to reach there we will leave Cappadocia at around 21.00 and travel through the night by coach (duration about 11 hours – Our buses are all non-smoking, fully air-conditioned and of course we make sure that for such long journeys we provide you with our most comfortable bus seats).  Breakfast and Lunch Included.
Optional: Hot air Balloon tour

Day 10 – Istanbul, Overnight in Istanbul

Once we arrive in Istanbul in the morning you will then be transferred to your arranged hotel by shuttle and from here the day is completely yours to spend how you wish. Whether you want to get some rest to relax or if you want to spend the day getting to discover the Magical city of Istanbul it's up to you. Below are some MUST-SEE ideas for you too – Basilica Cistern (unexpected romantic place to visit, the cistern that once stored the water has been fitted with lights and music. Fish flitter around the bases of the 336 columns that support the ceiling. Don’t miss the upside-down head of Medusa that forms the bottom of one column. Suleymaniye Mosque (stand on Galata Bridge and gaze up at the city’s historic skyline and you will see the mosque that was designed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan for Suleiman the Magnificent. It’s regarded to be the finest of the 42 surviving mosques he designed for Istanbul. Unusually, it retains much of the original complex of social service buildings that came attached to it, including several madrasahs, a hospital, a library, and a bath. There are also a few museums that are worth a visit such as Istanbul Archaeology Museums – Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum.

There will be an overnight stay within Istanbul, as tomorrow is the final day of your Historical tour around Turkey.

Day 11 – End of Tour

After you have had breakfast it's time to check out from your hotel room before noon, You will then be transferred to Istanbul Ataturk Airport to catch your flight back home (your transfer to the airport will be scheduled for your flight details). Your time with us has now come to an end and we trust that your time with us discovering and exploring some of Turkey's hidden treasures has been everything that you wanted and more, we would also like to wish you a pleasant journey home and shall look forward to seeing you again on one of our many other time traveling packages. (Breakfast shall be included)

PS: Normally check-in time of the hotels is at noon,  if your room is not ready (in case of early check-in) please leave your suitcases in the hotel's luggage room.

 No extra hidden cost..!

What’s Included
Transfers mentioned in the itinerary (regular group transfers).
Local taxes and service charges.
Hotel accommodations on the itinerary according to your selection as 3, 4 or 5 star.
Meals mentioned in the itinerary.
Professional English speaking guidance.
(You can ask for other language options for groups).
Entrance fees to the various sites
Transportation with A/C and non smoking coaches

What’s Not Included
Dinner, Drinks.
Tips to guide , driver and hotel personnel(optional).
Personal expenses.