Architectural Package

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul, Check-in

Arrival in Istanbul, transfer, Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul

In the morning visit the Blue Mosque built in 1616 unequalled for its mosaics and St. Sophia dedicated in 536 AD.

During the reign of Justinian, then Topkapı Palace which was builty by Mehmet the Conqueror. In the afternoon visit the Grand Covered Bazaar.Overnight in İstanbul. (B,L)

Day 3: Istanbul / Ankara / Hittite Sites (Bogazkoy/Alacahoyuk)

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your early flight to Ankara, about 3 hours of driving to Yazilikaya to see the “open air sanctuary” as the sun light comes on the bas-reliefs.

Open air sanctuary
This civilization was founded on an Indo-European language that was deciphered in their hieroglyphic and cuneiform tablets.

Then proceed to Hattusas, the capital of Hittites. The capital of the Hittite Empire around 1.400 BC. Visit the Lion’s Gate, The King’s Tomb, the Citadel, the Tunnel, and the Grand Temple, thereafter, visit the pre-hittitie site ALACAHÖYÜK. Then drive back to your hotel in Ankara. Overnight in Ankara. (B, L)

Day 4: Ankara / Cappadocia

After breakfast visit Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey. Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and continue for Cappadocia.

After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake visit the 13th century Seljukian Caravanserai Ağzıkarahan. Arrival to Cappadocia region. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Cappadocia

A Full day tour of Cappadocia. Visit the Valley of Goreme, open-air museum of rock-cut churches and monasteries. Afternoon visit citadel of Uçhisar, the valley of Zelve and Avanos, the town famous for it’s hand-made pottery, Underground City of Kaymaklı, where the early Christians hid from persecutors. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia (B, L, D)

Day 6: Cappadocia/ Catalhoyuk / Konya

Departure to Catalhoyuk. Visit remains of Neolithic site where Mother Goddess was worshipped.

See the difference in accommodations for 13th century travelers during a stop at Sultanhani Caravanserai en route to Turkey’s oldest city – Konya, the capital of the Seljuk Empire, but known world-wide as the home of sect of the Whirling Dervishes. You will visit the Mevlana museum which is the burial place of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, an Islamic mystic and founder in the 13th century of the Mevlevi order of the Whirling Dervishes. Overnight in Konya (B, L, D)

Day 7: Konya / Pamukkale (Hierapolis)

After breakfast departure for Pamukkale, “the Cotton Castle”, where you will see the tiers of white limestone cascading down the hillside and near the waterfalls the ruins of the Roman city of Hierapolis. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Pamukkale / Miletus/ Priene / Kusadasi

MILETUS : Miletus was the principal port and the richest emporium on the Aegean coast. Thales of Miletus believed that “there was a fundamental unity beneath the apparent disorder and complexity of nature” and he postulated that “water was the material basis for all things.” the theater of Miletus is by far the most impressive of the town’s surviving monuments. There is also the council-chambre, market place, temples, baths and an Islamic monument: Ilyas Bey Mosque.

Priene : Despite its small size, Priene was a very important city in antiquity; because on its territory stood the Panionium, the central meeting-place and sanctuary of the lonian Confederacy. The theatre, the temple of Athena, the agora, the Bouleterion and the temenos of Zeus Olympios will be the steps of visit. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Kusadasi / Ephesus/ Kusadasi

After breakfast departure for Ephesus. Of all the ancient cities of Turkey, Ephesus is the best preserved and most visited in all ages, and is as popular a religious shrine today as it was in ancient times. This is due to the-miraculous-discovery of the House of the Blessed Virgin. The city which had many splendid buildings and was dedicated to the Goddess Artemis, whose temple was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the world. The main monuments that we will see during the visit of this fascinating city are: the street of Arcadiane, the majestic theatre, marble road, library of Celsus, market place, street of the Curetes, baths of Scholastica, stage agora, prytaneion, odeon. The Town of Selçuk, is dominated by a Byzantine citadel close to the basilica of St. John, built in the 5th century, on the site of the tomb of the Apostle. Selçuk has also an exceptionally fine archaeology museum. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Izmir/ Istanbul/ India

Transfer to Airport.