Elite Anatolian Crossroads
Visits : Istanbul - Ankara - Hattusa - Cappadocia - Konya - Antalya - Aspendos - Perge
Departure Day : Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
Start City : Istanbul
End City : Istanbul

Category Departure Date(s) Land Only
Per Person in Double
Single Supplement Additional Bed
First Class Between Jan.01.10 to Mar.31.10 every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 739 221 739
First Class Between Apr.01.10 to May.19.10 every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 1.079 221 1.079
First Class Between May.20.10 to Jun.12.10 every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 1.159 221 1.159
First Class Between Jun.13.10 to Sep.15.10 every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 1.079 221 1.079
First Class Between Sep.16.10 to Nov.06.10 every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 1.159 221 1.159
First Class Between Nov.07.10 to Dec.18.10 every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 959 221 959
First Class Between Dec.19.10 to Dec.28.10 every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 1.079 221 1.079


DAY 1 - Arrival in Istanbul
Upon arrival meet with our representative and transfer to the hotel. Dinner not included.
DAY 2 - Istanbul
In the morning, visit imposing Haghia Sophia which marked the apogee of Byzantine Emperor Justinian's reign; St Savior in Chora whose mosaics and frescoes are among the most beautiful in the Byzantine World. After lunch at a fish restaurant visit Rustempasa Mosque with its beautiful Iznik (Nicea) tiles and ; the livelySpice Market with its exotic colors and aromas. You can take a Bosphorus cruise excursion. Dinner not included. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 3 - Istanbul
A full day tour to explore Istanbul, a fascinating city straddling two continents which, under the name Byzantium and Constantinople was the capital of the Roman and Byzantine Empires, and in 1453, became the third and last Capital of the Ottomans. Visit the Blue Mosque, recognizable from its six minarets, built between 1609 and 1616 for Sultan Ahmet I and decorated inside with 21,043 tiles from Iznik in a dominant blue color; the Hippodrome where political, cultural, and sports activities took place during Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman times; Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans between the end of the 15th and the first half of the 19th centuries, with its treasures; and free time to wander and shop at the historical Grand BazaarLunch during sightseeing. Dinner not included. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4 - Istanbul - Ankara In the morning, drive to Ankara, the Turkish capital since 1923. Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations which displays rich and unique collections such as the treasures in the Hittite section; We will briefly stop to see the Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 5 - Ankara - Hattusa - Cappadocia
In the morning, drive to Bogazkale to visit Hattusa, the capital of the powerful Hittites, where numerous cuneiform tablets have been discovered: you will see the Lower City with the Great Temple, the Upper City with the citadel and the double walls, the Royal Gate, the Lions Gate, the tunnel. You will also visit the rock sanctuary of Yazilikaya with its friezes and reliefs depicting the Hittite divinities. Continue south into the heart of central Anatolia to the volcanic region of Cappadocia. Upon arrival, visit charming Uchisar village, with its tufa rock crowned with a citadel which provides a magnificent panorama over the area, and the Valley of the Pigeon Houses. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 6 - Cappadocia
A full day tour to explore Cappadocia, a fantastic region with lunar landscapes. Visit the Red Valley; Goreme Valley, an open-air museum with rock-cut churches (7th-13th centuries) decorated with fine frescoes: the Church of St Barbara, the Church of the Serpent, the Church of the Sandal, the Church of the Apple, the Church of the Buckle... Also visit Avcilar Valley and Kiliclar Valley with their old cave-dwellings and fairy chimneys; underground city, a labyrinth organized on seven levels and used as shelter by the local population in period of invasions. Learn about arts and and crafts of rural Turkey with a pottery atelier visit and attend a lecture on Turkish hand-made rugs. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 7 - Cappadocia - Konya - Antalya
In the morning, drive through the Plain of Konya, the granery of Turkey. En route, stop at the Sultanhan Caravanserai built during the Seljuk period in the 13th century and which is the largest in Anatolia. Upon arrival in Konya, the capital of the Sultanate of Rum and the holy city of the Seljuk Turks, visit the Museum of Mevlana, the famous mystic and poet who founded the Sufi Order of the Whirling Dervishes in the 13th century. Crossing the Taurus Mountains, drive to Antalya, overlooking the Turquoise depths of the Mediterranean. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 8 - Antalya - Aspendus - Perge - Antalya
Through the coastal plain of Pamphylia, drive to Aspendus, whose 2C AD theatre is the best preserved Roman theatre in Asia Minor. Continue to Perge, and visit this other Hellenistico-Roman ancient city with its stadium, colonnaded street and theatre. Drive back to Antalya. Stroll in the narrow streets of the picturesque old town (kalei?i) with its narrow streets and typical wooden houses overlooking the marina, to discover the Hadrian Gate, the Fluted Minaret, the Truncated Minaret, and Hidirlik Tower. Late flight to Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel.
DAY 9 - Departure
Transfer to the airport.
General Features

 

This tour is designed for the traveler who has been to Ephesus and now wants to explore other ancient civilizations of Anatolia, such as the Hittites.

This 8 nights tour enables travelers to discover Western Anatolia and Istanbul in comfortable tourist class hotels at a very competitive price.

  • Possibility of taking a break during the tour to enjoy a stay or a cruise in Antalya
  • Possibility of extending the tour in Istanbul

The attached program is based on Saturday arrival in Turkey. You will receive your itinerary after your reservation has been confirmed by us. There will not be any changes in the itinerary, overnights and places to visit. Dates of your accommodations and visits in Istanbul may change depending on your arrival day.

Special Features

Included

  • Transportation in air-conditioned vehicles throughout as stated in the Tours general features
  • Escort by a professional guide-lecturer throughout
  • Entrance fees to the museums stated in itinerary
  • All meals mentioned in the program
  • Accommodation in shared twin rooms in stated or similar hotels
  • Arrival and departure transfers from Istanbul Ataturk Airport.

Not Included

  • Visits and services not mentioned in program.
  • Domestic flights:
    TK419 Istanbul - Antalya 18:40 - 20.00 pm.
  • Insurance
  • Personal expenses and all beverages
  • Tips