| Day 1 : Up on your arrival in Istanbul, Esendal Travel’s representative will greet you at Istanbul airport and are transferred to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)
Day 2: Istanbul
Your guide will meet you at your hotel after breakfast for a tour of the Ottoman Istanbul. A short drive or walk takes you to the Blue Mosque which was completed in 1616. Famous for its slender six minarets and blue Iznik tiles decorating the interior of mosque. Our next stop will be the Topkapi Palace Museum which was the residence of Ottoman Sultans and centre of vast Ottoman Empire for almost 400 years. It is an assemblage of museums containing collections amassed by the Sultans for almost four centuries. Our visit also takes you to the famous hidden Harem where the Imperial Family and hundreds of girls resided. After lunch break we will walk through the old cobbled streets down to Rustem Pasha Mosque a charming mosque with its beautiful interior tiles and then the Spice Market, where Genoese and Venetian goods and spices, herbs from the orient were sold at a time when there was no Suez Canal, and all the spices from the East were also brought here after being loaded on vessels in Egypt.
We end the tour with a visit to the Grand Bazaar.
Dinner will be at one of our selected restaurants serving you specialties of Turkish Cuisine. Overnight in Istanbul.
Meals: (B,L,D) B:Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: dinner
Day 3: Istanbul
We will visit some Byzantine Relics Istanbul in our second day
We first stroll to the great square which was once the Byzantine Hippodrome where the chariot races, sport competitions, military and sate ceremonies took place . Now it is a great park like area surrounded by the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Underground Cistern, commonly called the Basilica Cistern which was first built by Roman and extended by Justinian in 532 AD. Providing water for the centre of Byzantine Empire .It is a unique great construction that attracts many visitors from all over the world. Next we visit the Hagia Sophia, the jewel and masterpiece of world’s architecture and engineering, the great monument(Cathedral) built in 537 by Justinian, that world still admire
After lunch at a local restaurant we take a short drive to The Chora Church to see the climax of Byzantine Mosaic Art. We will end up our day with a visit to Suleymaniye Mosque and Complex (The Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent). The mosque complex and settlement around it has an important place within the Golden Horn silhouette of the Historic Peninsula. Suleymaniye Mosque with the complex of buildings clustered around it is a grand establishment reflecting the glory of Ottoman Empire in the sixteenth century. The mosque and complexes were built in 1557 by the renowned architect Mimar Sinan (The chief Ottoman architect in 16th century)in honour of his most illustrious patron ,Suleiman the Magnificent. Its huge domes and slender minarets dominate the skyline of city and it is one of the best mosques Ottoman ever built.
Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.(B,L,D)
Day 4: Istanbul - Flight to Izmir - Kusadasi
On our last day in Istanbul, we check out after a leisurely breakfast and take a short drive to the shores of the Bosphorus to visit the Dolmabahce Palace.
Overlooking the Bosphorus, its beauty is incomparable with 14 tons of pure gold used for its interior decoration, its priceless paintings, furniture, and a rich collection of Bohemian crystal in addition to its famous Harem section.
Then we get on board at Eminonu for the leisurely cruise of the Bosphorus to the still unspoiled village of Sariyer.
In the afternoon, we are transferred to Istanbul Airport for the 17:00 flight to Izmir, then we take an hour’s transfer to our hotel in Kusadasi.
Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Ephesus
We start early in the morning to beat the crowds and first drive to the Virgin Mary's House; afterwards, we visit Ephesus which was founded in the eleventh century BC by the Ionians. Strolling through the streets of Ephesus, we see the Fountain of Traian, the temple of Hadrian and the Library of Celsus to name a few. We also visit the Terrace Houses: A number of living units where the rich and the dignitary of Ephesus with the most beautiful ground mosaics, frescoes, terra cotta pipe lines and private baths, and Ephesus Museum
Later in the afternoon we will visit St John's Basilica, believed to be the tomb of the Apostle John, Christ's beloved disciple. From the basilica, we will be able to look down on the remains of the temple of Artemis. We end the day with our visit to srince Village ( a former Turkish –Greek villge) was settled when Ephesus was abandoned I the 15th century but most of the what you see today . the beautiful wooden houses a on stone foundation dates from 19th century and it is a perfect synthesis Turk –Greek culture as of the 1920’s . Sirince village is famous for its abundant of fruit orchards, olive-olive oil and local wineries, the charming cobble narrow street s of the village belong to village women , selling handcarts of all kinds. Then we head on to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Priene - Miletus - Didyma
After breakfast, we drive first to Prienne, formerly a leading member of the Pan ionic League. As we drive further South, we visit Miletus and then arrive at Didyma, where we have lunch at a local restaurant, circumstances permitting, across the road from the temple. As the historian Pausanias wrote; 'The sanctuary of Apollo at Didymoi, and the oracle there are more ancient than the Ionian settlement.'
Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Aphrodisias - Pamukkale
As we check out, we drive to Pamukkale giving an en route visit to Aphrodisias, which was the city dedicated to the cult of Aphrodite. As we visit the Sculptor's Museum in Aphrodisias, we have lunch at a local restaurant. We visit Hierapolis on arrival, then have time to stroll over the calcareous terraces of Pamukkale, or to enjoy the thermal facilities.
Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
(B,L,D)
Day 8: Phaselis - Antalya
Do not forget to bring your swim wear for this day. After a spectacular drive enjoying views of the mountains, and then pine and cedar trees, we arrive at the scenic coastal route which is surrounded by the turquoise blue waters of the Mediterranean and the pine forests above. Phaselis, where Alexander the Great wintered before he marched on for the rest of his campaign, is a beautiful Roman port city. If Alexander ever took his armour off and went for a swim, it should be the harbor at Phaselis; and our guests will enjoy swimming in the same harbor with a view of the ruins and the Taurus Mountains.
On arrival to Antalya, we visit the Archaeology Museum which was awarded the Museum of the Year in Europe.
Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,L,D)
Day 9: Perge - Aspendos
In the morning, we first visit Perge, one of the most impressive sites of Pamphylia, and then Aspendos, the world's best preserved ancient theatre. After lunch at a local restaurant near the Aspendos Theatre, we will allow you time in the afternoon to rest & relax at the Lara Beach.
Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Antalya/Konya
An early departure after breakfast and a scenic route through Burdur takes us to the beautiful site of Sagalassos. This is one of the very few ancient cities where we can witness how sacred fountains function. After lunch at the town of Aglasun, we continue our drive to the town of Beysehir to visit Esrefoglu Mosque. We arrive at Konya in the late afternoon hours to visit the world famous Mevlana Museum, formerly the place where the mystic philosophy of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi was taught.
Dinner and overnight in Konya. (B,L,D)
Day 11: Konya/Cappadocia
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