Ultimate Türkiye

DAY 1: ISTANBUL [D]

Welcome to Istanbul! Upon arrival at the airport, meet your Sky Vacations ambassador for a group transfer to your hotel. This evening, your tour director hosts a welcome dinner and orientation at a local restaurant.

DAY 2: ISTANBUL [B]

Situated at the meeting point of Europe and Asia, Istanbul offers a fascinating blend of East and West. Your guided morning tour includes a visit to admire the exterior of the Hagia Sophia, a once-great Byzantine Basilica built in the 6th century which now serves as a mosque. Continue on with a visit to the vast and bustling Grand Bazaar, a world-famous labyrinth of passages housing numerous stores where you’ll have shopping opportunities galore. You’ll delight in a visit to the Spice Market, an exotic food market selling dried fruits and spices; and the underground cistern, the water source of the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. The balance of the day is at leisure and you might consider joining a leisurely cruise on the Bosphorus, enjoying a Turkish Bath, or watching a Dervish dancing ceremony.

Optional Activity – Bosphorus Cruise:

Glide along the iconic Bosphorus Strait, where Europe and Asia meet, on a leisurely cruise offering panoramic views of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks. See the majestic Dolmabahçe Palace, the medieval Rumeli Fortress, and charming Ottoman-era waterfront mansions. As the city’s skyline unfolds before you, you’ll witness the perfect blend of Istanbul’s imperial past and vibrant present, all from the unique vantage of the water.

Optional Activity – Turkish Bath: 

Enjoy a traditional Turkish Bath and experience its restorative and therapeutic qualities. After soaking in the warm pools and having a bubble wash, you will receive a full-body massage with a special focus on your head and neck before ending your time with a hair-washing ritual. 

Optional Activity – Whirling Dervish Ceremony:

Witness a spiritual Whirling Dervish Ceremony, where dancers engage in active meditation and imitate the spinning of planets by twirling in mesmerizing circles to ceremonial music. 

DAY 3: ANKARA [B]

Today you will depart for the Turkish capital of Ankara, the country’s second-largest city. Upon arrival, you’ll visit the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, founder of the first president of the Turkish Republic. Leading up to the Mausoleum is a vast brick courtyard and a monumental avenue lined with Neo Hitite stone statues and cenotaphs beneath its colonnades. You’ll also visit the fascinating Anatolian Civilization Museum. The balance of the day is free to explore.

DAY 4: CAPPADOCIA [B, D]

You’ll travel by road today through the Turkish countryside to the world-renowned region of Cappadocia, a breathtaking landscape with striking and bizarre rock formations and underground cities. Along the way, enjoy a short stop on the shore of the biggest salt lake in Türkiye where you might spot some flamingos. Upon arrival in Cappadocia, you’ll visit a private cave home where you can learn more about traditional Turkish life. Next, enjoy a relaxing wine-tasting experience with wines produced from Cappadocian grapes before checking into your Cappadocian hotel.

DAY 5: CAPPADOCIA [B,D]

Early this morning, you can take an exhilarating optional hot-air balloon ride above Cappadocia’s river valleys and cliffs. Later, on today’s guided excursion, you’ll visit the Open Air Museum in the Goreme Valley to view early Christian churches decorated with beautiful frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. You’ll also visit the Kaymakli Underground City, which was hollowed out of volcanic rock and extends seven to nine floors deep into the earth. This city is made up of a maze of corridors, chambers, storehouses, kitchens, and churches. Finally, visit the village of Avanos, famous for its beautiful old houses as well as pottery and onyx workshops.

Optional Activity – Hot Air Balloon Ride: 

Take to the skies on an unforgettable hot air balloon ride over the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia. As the sun rises, the soft light casts dramatic shadows across the region’s fairy chimneys, rock-cut churches, and winding valleys. Floating peacefully above this surreal terrain, you’ll experience breathtaking views in every direction, creating a magical, once-in-a-lifetime moment you’ll never forget.

DAY 6: ANTALYA [B, D]

This morning, visit the 13th-century Sultan Han located at a secluded point on the ancient Silk Road between Aksaray and Konya. It was used as a caravanserai during the Seljuk period when trade flourished, requiring roads for caravan transport and inns for the traveling traders and their camels. Next, stop in Konya for lunch with a visit to the Museum of Mevlana Rumi. Afterward, you’ll continue your journey by road, passing through lush forests, orchards, and olive groves on the sloping hills downward to the splendid Mediterranean Sea.

DAY 7: ANTALYA [B, D]

Today is at leisure, so enjoy Antalya at your own pace.

DAY 8: KUŞADASI [B, D]

Today, journey to Pamukkale and visit the Necropolis and the ancient city of Hieropolis (“Holy City”), situated atop the Pamukkale hot springs. These hot springs have served as thermal baths since the 2nd century B.C. Later, you’ll drive further west to the Aegean Coastal city of Kuşadası, which is not only one of Türkiye’s most popular holiday destinations but also convenient for visiting the ancient city of Ephesus. Kuşadası was a popular port during the middle ages for exporting the figs and cotton of the Meander Valley to Europe and was the very last stop for the caravans.

DAY 9: KUŞADASI [B, L, D]

Today, venture to Ephesus—considered the world’s best-preserved classical city and famous for its Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ephesus was one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world and among its impressive structures are the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Great Theater, and the Odeon. Next, you’ll visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a shrine said to be the final home of the Virgin Mary. You’ll also visit a Women’s Weaving Co-Op for a Turkish BBQ lunch, a wine tasting, and lastly, Turkish coffee, which plays a central role in the culture of Turkish hospitality and friendship. After a short drive, visit the village of Sirince, one of the few historical villages kept as a national monument with some of the best examples of GrecoOttoman architecture. As a popular wine-producing center, you’ll also have a chance to taste some of the locally produced wines.

DAY 10: ÇANAKKALE [B, D]

Drive to Pergamum, a powerful kingdom during the ancient Hellenistic period, and visit the Acropolis, an impressive structure that houses the Temple of Trajan; the Heroon Shrine; the Sanctuary of Athena, and the Altar of Zeus. You’ll also view the Theater and the Library of Pergamum, whose collection came second only to that of Egypt’s Alexandria. After your independent lunch, you’ll stop at an olive oil museum en route. Marvel at the classical city of Troy as you tour this 4,000-year-old city and legendary center of the Trojan War, made immortal by Homer’s epic poem the Iliad. Later, arrive in Canakkale and check into your hotel with the balance of the day free to relax or explore.

DAY 11: ISTANBUL [B, D]

This morning, depart for Istanbul, crossing the Dardanelles, a narrow strait connecting the Aegean and the Black Sea by ferry. Upon arrival, a local expert will introduce you to some of the highlights of the city, previously known as Constantinople, and the seat of the Eastern Roman Empire. You’ll visit the splendid Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans for almost 600 years and now a fascinating museum. Here, see the crown jewels and the unique collection of Chinese porcelains in the Treasury Section. Continue to the ancient Hippodrome, where the chariot races and competitive athletic events took place during the Roman period, and finally, explore the elegant Blue Mosque, a 17th-century Ottoman Mosque famous for its six minarets and magnificent interior with blue tiles. This evening, you’ll savor a festive farewell dinner.

DAY 12: DEPARTURE [B]

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Take a group transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

Please Note: B = Breakfast | L = Lunch | D = Dinner. MAPI Members: Optional Indian meals available upon request

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