About this trip
Turkey Escape Tour
- 6 nights/ 7 days cultural private guided tour (also available as Small Group Tour)
- Scenic land journey + 3 domestic flights
- Guaranteed departures from Istanbul, roundtrip
- Prices starting at US$1540
- Accommodation in 4 star special class and cave hotels based on double occupancy.
- Fully Guided sightseeing
- Includes all breakfasts
- Transfers and tours by private A/C motor coach
- Highlights: Istanbul - Cappadocia - Ephesus - Kusadasi
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey. Arrival at Istanbul International Ataturk Airport. Meet, assist and transfer to hotel. Its original name is Byzantium then Constantinople. It is a most fascinating city, which actually crosses two continents Europe and Asia. It is a city of amalgamation of bazaars, minarets, mosques, churches, palaces, and restaurants catering to every one's taste, museums, customs and twelve million people. We will enjoy a panoramic bus drive showing the various highlights of this cosmopolitan city such as the Byzantine Walls of Constantinople, the Sea of Marmara and Bosphorus shorelines. Overnight stay in Istanbul
Day 2: Full Day Istanbul Tour (B)
09.00 a.m. After breakfast pick up from hotel and our journey begins in Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents. Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul - it's three names span more than 2600 years, nearly 1600 of them as the capital of two of the greatest empires the world has known, Byzantine and Ottoman. We visit the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place. Visit the Grand Bazaar for shopping (Egyptian Spice Bazaar will be visited instead of Grand Bazaar on Sundays) . Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3: Full Day Istanbul Tour (B)
08.30 a.m. After breakfast, pick up from hotel . First visit Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar): The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other concievable herb and spice then Boat trip on the bosphorus : A traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. Afternoon visit Underground cistern. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4: Istanbul to Cappadocia by flight - Cappadocia Tour (B)
Early morning pick up from hotel and transfer to Istanbul airport for flight to Cappadocia . Arrival to Cappadocia. Our Tour guide will meet you at the airport and start for Cappadocia tour. First meeting with Cappadocia, visiting Three Sisters Fairy Chimneys in Urgup which are the most popular and seen on advertisements. That's why people carved some pigeon houses to keep them in certain places. You will see that the houses for the pigeons are like the houses for the people. Then we descend into the center of the earth in the Kaymakli Underground City one of the largest and the deepest of 200 others in Cappadocia. After the tour program transfer to your hotel
Day 5 : Cappadocia Tour - Izmir - Kusadasi (B)
Optional : Hot Air Ballooning Tour After breakfast take our second day private Cappadocia tour. Drive to Devrent Valley, take a walk through this lunar landscape where different rock formations can be seen.. Seeing the best examples of the fairy chimneys at Pasabag Fairy Chimneys Valley, we drive further to Avanos Town, which is famous with tile and pottery workshops. After lunch our next stop is Goreme Open Air Museum where you will enjoy the fantastic rock churches and beautiful frescos from various centuries decorating the walls of the churches. Then we drive to the Uchisar Rock Castle, which is the highest and the most dominant point, giving us a breathtaking panorama. We end the day visiting Esentepe Windy Hill for panaromic view and taking photos. Transfer to the airport for flight back to Izmir via Istanbul. Arrival to Izmir and transfer to Kusadasi for overnight.
Day 6 : Kusadasi - Ephesus - Istanbul by flight (B)
First visit the Artemis Temple where is one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Continue to Ephesus, Walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them The State Agora, Odeon, Memnius Monument, the Temple of Domitian, , Polio Fountain, Curetes Street, The Trajan Fountain, The Baths of Scholastica, Hadrian Temple, Latrina, Celcus Library, the gate of Mihridates and Mazues, Commercial Agora and The Grand Theater are two of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus. Grand theatre was built in 3rd century B.C and it was later expanded to 24.000 spectators by the Romans in the 1st century A.D.After Ephesus, Visit House of Virgin Mary. This house is located on the Aladag Mountains 5 miles from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council of 431 in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared it a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed here. After Ephesus tour Drive to Izmir airport for our flight back to Istanbul. Arrival to Istanbul, met by our representative and transfer to the hotel for overnight
Day 7: Istanbul - Departure (B)
Check-out and private transfer to airport for your flight back home.
End of Services
Price
2024-2025 Departures |
Guaranteed departures from Istanbul. You can join the tour upon your arrival in Istanbul airport. All rates are in US$ per person in Dbl Room. Single room supplement is available and starting from $590 |
|
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2024-2025 TOUR DATES |
HOTEL CATEGORY |
PRICE PER PERSON IN DBL ROOM |
Small Group: Departs Fri, Sat & Tue |
||
Small Group Tour Max. 10 Travelers |
4 Star & Special Class |
$1540 |
Private: Departs Everyday |
||
2-3 Travelers |
4 Star & Special Class |
$1970 |
4-5 Travelers |
4 Star & Special Class |
$1720 |
Accommodation
Hotels as below or similar |
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---|---|---|
CITY |
# OF NIGTHS |
4 STAR & SPECIAL CLASS HOTELS |
Istanbul |
3 |
Yasmak Sultan or Celal Sultan or Recital |
Cappadocia |
1 |
Zeydem Cave or Yunak Cave or Gamirasu Cave Hotel |
Kusadasi |
1 |
Efe Boutique or Neopol |
Istanbul |
1 |
Yasmak Sultan or Celal Sultan or Recital |
What's Included
Package Includes
- 6 nights accommodation in 4 star /special class and cave hotels as above or similar
- All airport transfers (on scheduled tour dates)
- 6 buffet breakfasts (B)
- Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned non-smoking vehicle
- English speaking professional private guides
- Entrance fees per itinerary
- Istanbul - Cappadocia, Cappadocia- Izmir & Izmir - Istanbul domestic flight tickets including airport taxes
- Local taxes and service charges
Not Included: Any international airfare, departure & airport taxes and fees if any, Passport and visa services & fees, Beverages with meals, Meals other than mentioned above, Tips to drivers, guides and tour escorts, Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, taxi, excess baggage etc. Travel insurance, Optional tours