Tripology

Departure from Istanbul to take the Ferry to pass trough the Marmara Sea and arrive to Yalova in the Asian side to continue Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Lunch and visit the Ulu Camii and Green Mausoleum. Dinner and overnight. (L, D)

Breakfast and drive to Pergamon to visit Acropolis where we can see the steepest theatre of the world, the temple of Trajan, the piece of the famous Zeus Altar. The visit continues to Asklepion, the famous hospital of the ancient world where the famous doctor 'galeno' lived. The tunnel, Long Street ‘vila tecta’, the portico is left from those great Eros. Lunch and continue to Izmir. Dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

After breakfast drive to Ephesus one of the biggest and best preserved city of the ancient times and probably the most important archeological site of Turkey. The Odeon, magnificent temple of Hadrian, famous Celcus Library and the theatre for 25.000 capacities of spectators can be seen during the visit. Continue to visit the house of Virgin Mary, built in II. century, place for pilgrimage. Lunch and drive to Pamukkale, known also as 'Cotton Castle' to see the calcium cliffs with the natural pools. Continue to visit Hierapolis, the ruins with one and a half km extension, established by Eumenos II in the II. BC but the most important findings are from Roman Empire. Dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Breakfast and drive to Antalya through the mountains of Taurus. Arrive and visit Perge, ancient capital of Pamphilia during the Byzantine era which was a religious centre. After lunch continue to Aspendos, the ancient city known with its theatre. Dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Breakfast and drive to Konya, the famous capital of Seljuk Empire and also known with its religious order of the Whirling Dervishes. Arrive and visit to the mausoleum of Mevlana, founder of the school of the Whirling Dervishes. Lunch and drive to Cappadocia. On the route, visit Caravanserai of Sultanhani where in the ancient times the caravans with camels stopped and rest on the Silk Road. (B, L, D)

Breakfast and full day tour for extraordinary Cappadocia. After the heavy eruptions of the volcanoes for three million years the lava and ash of the volcanoes covered the landscape. We will visit the valley of Göreme, incredible churches, rocks with paintings and frescoes of the XI century. The valley of Güvercinlik which is the best panoramic spot for the natural citadel of Uçhisar where water and wind gave a spectacular shape to the volcanic earth, the valley of Pasabag where the Fairy Chimney can be seen. After lunch visit of an underground city of Kaymakli. Continue to visit a factory/shop of typical handcraft of the region. (B, L, D)

Museums

After breakfast drive to Ankara, capital of Turkey. On the way, the Salt Lake can be seen. Arrive to Ankara and visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum to see the findings of Çatalhöyük from Neolithic Era, Assyrian trading colonies, Hittites, Phrygians, and Romans. Lunch and transfer to the airport. (B)