Greater Turkey Tour

Day 1 Italy - Istanbul (-)

Arrival at the airport where you will be met by our assistant and taken directly to your hotel. Free meals. Overnight stay

Day 2 Istanbul (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and depart for the Topkapi Palace, the imperial palace of the Ottoman Sultans and their court, where you can admire their treasures and discover the most interesting aspects of daily life in an imperial court. We continue to the Underground Cistern, a large underground space used in antiquity as a cistern and which today, with its ancient and majestic columns, is considered one of the most impressive sights in the city. You will then head down to the sea, first for a nice seafood lunch in one of the classic restaurants under the Galata Bridge, taking advantage of one of the most iconic views in the world, and afterwards for a nice cruise on the Bosphorus, on one of the scheduled boats. Eventually you will pass by the Spice Market. Immediately you will leave for the Byzantine Hippodrome, where you can still admire many relics of the ancient Roman Empire and then reach the Grand Bazaar and its thousands of shops. Here, in the world's largest and oldest indoor market, you have time to indulge in some shopping. Return to the hotel. Free dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3 Istanbul (B, L, C) 450 km

We start by walking (the hotel is within walking distance of the city's main attractions) to the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet) with its more than twenty thousand turquoise ceramics; we then reach one of Turkey's and the world's most important monuments, Hagia Sophia, which, with its dome, defines the landscape of the entire city, and finally we reach a fascinating place. Lunch in a restaurant to taste one of the most typical dishes of Turkish cuisine: the Döner Kebab, one of the most famous 'street foods' in the world. At around 13:00 an assistant will pick you up for your journey to Ankara, the capital of Turkey, arrival expected around dinner time. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.

Day 4 Ankara - Cappadocia (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 300 km

You will have the first part of the morning free, to get a breather from the fast pace of the tour, where you can explore the streets of the capital on your own, and meet back at the hotel at 11:00 with the rest of the group on your way to one of Europe's most award-winning museums, The Museum of Anatolian Civilisations, which encompasses millennia of history of civilisations that have inhabited the Anatolian Peninsula, after the visit you will depart for Cappadocia, after lunch with typical Turkish dishes you will stop for a break at the Salt Lake with its impressive view. Arrival before dinner at the hotel.

Day 5 Cappadocia (B, L, D)

We depart at dawn in the morning to join the excursion (optional, paid and subject to weather conditions) of a hot-air balloon ride to admire the 'lunar' landscape of Cappadocia, starting in the Devrent Valley, famous for its characteristic rock formations and pinkish volcanic cones, and observe the famous fairy chimneys. Lunch in Avanos, a village on the banks of the Kizilirmak (Red River), famous for its terracotta pottery; you will also pass through the ancient Greek village of Cavusin, before visiting the open-air museum of Göreme, one of the largest monastic complexes of churches and rock chapels in Turkey and the world. The last stop will be an outdoor tour of Uchisar Castle.

Day 6 Cappadocia - Pamukkale (B, L, D) 850 km

This morning you will leave very early to arrive in Pamukkale, a packed breakfast will be prepared for you by the hotel, departure is scheduled for 06:30. On the way you will visit an ancient Caravanserai, typical markets of the Middle East places of exchange of cultures and trade, the Seljuk market of Sultanhani. You will stop for lunch with typical Central Anatolian dishes. In
evening you will arrive at the ancient capital of Phrygia: Hierapolis, if there is time
visit it on this occasion, otherwise the following morning, the
archaeological site has been curated since 1957 by the University of Turin, and its Necropolis. You will then visit one of the most impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the petrified waterfalls of Pamukkale (Cotton Castle in Turkish) after which you will return to your hotel before dinner where you can enjoy the natural thermal waters right in your hotel room.

Day 7 Pamukkale - Kusadasi (B, L, D) 220 km

After breakfast you will visit the ruins of Hierapolis, an ancient Greek city in Phrygia, the archaeological site has been under the care of the University of Turin since 1957, and its Necropolis. You will then visit one of the most evocative UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the petrified waterfalls of Pamukkale (Cotton Castle in Turkish) to Ephesus (the only one of the ancient seven wonders that is not a monument!). On the way, you will visit one of the most evocative places of worship in Christendom: the home of the Virgin Mary, where she spent the last years of her earthly life. You will then stop at a restaurant on the way to Ephesus to taste typical Aegean dishes. The afternoon is dedicated to visiting Ephesus: the Ruins of Ephesus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre. You will then move on to one of Turkey's most famous holiday resorts: Kusadasi. The hotel will be very close to the beach and you will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to walk around the marina and perhaps take a dip! Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day 8 Kusadasi - Italy (B)

Our drivers will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast to take you to Izmir (Izmir) airport for your return to Italy.

The fee includes:

7 nights' accommodation in 5* or Special Category hotels, Luxory

Full board: 7 (B) Breakfasts, 6 (L) Lunches and 5 (D) Dinners included (excluding drinks).

Children 0-6 years do not pay entrance fees

Professional Italian-speaking guide.

All transfers and visits by air-conditioned motor coach

The fee does not include:

Admission to museums 200€ to be paid directly to the guide on arrival (children 6/12 included)

International and domestic flights.

Tips for the guide and driver (40€ per person).

Personal extras and optional excursions.

Insurance.

Hotels Provided:
- Istanbul - Lokal-Ist Bosphorus view room
- Ankara -New Park5*
- Cappadocia - Dere Suites cave hotel
- Pamukkale Doga Thermal 5*
- Kusadası Elite Wolrd 5*

Important Notes:
- Quadruple room for accommodation 2 Adults + 2 Children 2 - 11.99 is on request and the fee for 3 adults (3 x PP in DBL) applies.
- There is no triple room in city hotels and an additional small bed (sofa bed type) for the third adult is meant.
- Tours of Istanbul will be conducted using public transport or on foot
- Costs include the service of local guides in Italian
- The arrival transfer on the first day includes the service of an Italian- or English-speaking assistant.