TOUR Itinerary
On arrival at Istanbul International Airport, you will be met by our local representative in Turkey for a brief meet and greet. Later, proceed to your city centre hotel in Istanbul for check-in.
With one leg of the city in Europe and the other in Asia, Istanbul is the only city in the world that stretches across both the continents. Its strategic location and marvellous natural beauty shaped it into one of world’s most important historic and cultural city. For over 1500 years, Istanbul served as the imperial capital for the great Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. The rulers of these great empires beautified the city with magnificent monuments and turned Istanbul into a city where people from diverse cultures, religions and nations thrive.
Rest of the day is free for you to explore Istanbul on your own.
In the evening, enjoy the popular Bosphorus dinner cruise. Bosphorus strait separates Istanbul’s European side from its Asian side. So, a cruise along the Bosphorus gives you the opportunity to see Asia on one side and Europe on the other and offers a glimpse of the complete charm of Istanbul. Enjoy your dinner on the cruise while watching fabulous Turkish folk dance performances.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will proceed for a sightseeing tour of Sultanahmet area, Istanbul’s old city.
We will begin the sightseeing tour of the Old city with a visit to Hippodrome to see the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpent Column, remnants of a now extinct stadium for horse racing and chariot racing. Next, we will visit the beautiful Sultanahmet Mosque, also popularly known as Blue Mosque. This Ottoman era mosque incorporates many elements of Byzantine architecture into the Islamic architecture and is considered by many as the last great mosque of Classical period. Afterwards, we will visit magnificent Haggia Sophia. Built in the 6th century, it was the largest church in the whole world for almost a thousand years. In 1453, when the Ottoman empire expanded to Istanbul, it was repurposed as a Mosque. Till today, Hagia Sophia remains the epitome of Byzantine architecture.
After lunch, we will continue our tour of Istanbul as we visit the Topkapi Palace. Built in the 15th century, it was home to the family of Ottoman Sultans and also their administrative headquarters. Today it serves as a museum showcasing Ottoman clothing, weapons, religious relics and the wondrous Spoonmaker’s diamond, the fourth largest diamond in the world. After the palace tour, we will conclude our tour at the Grand Bazaar, the world’s first shopping mall. This huge market is completely covered and comprises of over 4000 shops selling all things, from Turkish Lamps and teas to ceramics and rugs.
Overnight stay at hotel in Istanbul.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will proceed for a tour of Princess Island from Istanbul.
Enjoy a 1-hr boat ride to Büyükada island – the biggest among Princess islands. Byzantine princes used to holiday on these islands! Today, they are famous for their sandy beaches, wooden mansions and natural beauty. On the island, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy glamorous views of Kınalıada, Burgazada and Heybeliada. Later, you will have free time to swim or explore on your own.
Overnight stay in Istanbul.
After breakfast, check-out from the hotel. We will proceed to the airport to catch a flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, we will transfer to Kusadasi and check-in at our city-centre hotel there.
Kusadasi is a harbour town known for its lively entertainment scene and bargain shopping experience. This small-town brims to life in summers when major cruise ships make their pit stop while sailing across the Mediterranean Sea. A jumping off point for visiting Ephesus and Pamukkale, its sea front promenade is lined with cafes and restaurants.
Rest of the day is free for you to explore Kusadasi on your own.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Kusadasi.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will proceed to the ancient city of Ephesus for a guided tour.
Founded in 11th century BC, Ephesus was once the most important and prosperous Greek city. During the tour of Ephesus, we will visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis. The grand temple which features amongst the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was dedicated to the Greek Goddess Artemis. We will also visit the House of Virgin Mary where Mother Mary is believed to have spent her last years. Another highlight of the Ephesus tour is the Ephesus Theatre. With a capacity of 25000 seats, the open-air theatre showcased gladiator fights, plays and was also ground for political and philosophical discussions.
After the tour, we will visit Sirince village. Set on a hill, the town’s architecture and culture is inspired from both the Turkish and the Greeks. Surrounded by vineyards and olive orchards, it is a perfect place to relax and enjoy the food and amazing scenery.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Kusadasi.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will proceed to Pamukkale – The Cotton Palace and the city of Hierapolis.
Located in Southern Turkey, Pamukkale is a site of other-worldly natural beauty. For millions of years, mineral rich water from nearby hot springs have deposited Calcium Carbonate, leading to formation of the exquisite Travertine terraces. You can wander about this cotton castle on your own and dip in the hot water canals that have served as a natural spa since 2nd BCE.
After the tour of the beautiful Travertine terraces, we will explore the ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis. Apart from being a major religious centre, the city was a popular thermal spa resort where elite visitors come from far and wide to dip into the hot springs. During the tour of this surprisingly well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage site, we will visit the Temple of Apollo, Cleopatra’s Pool, Necropolis (Cemetery), Antique Pool and the amphitheatre.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Kusadasi.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will proceed to the airport to catch a flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival, we will transfer to and check-in at our boutique Cave hotel there.
Renowned for its unique and surreal rock structures, Cappadocia is a region in central Turkey that comprises of multiple towns and cities. Located on the silk road, the region’s affluent resources were often looted forcing locals to live in caves. These caves gradually developed into underground cities. The region was plagued by volcanic activity over millions of years – dispersing lava over the entire region. This lava was eroded by the actions of wind, rain and ice, leading to formation of these fantastic and uniquely shaped structures that are today synonymous with Cappadocia.
Overnight stay at the Cave Hotel in Cappadocia.
Early morning, catch a breath taking hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia. With over hundreds of hot-air balloons taking off each morning, Cappadocia is indeed one of the best places in the world to enjoy this fun activity. Generally lasting for about an hour, you get to hover above the region and enjoy aerial views of the lunar landscape below.
After the hot-air balloon experience, return to the hotel for freshening up and a lovely breakfast. Afterwards, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Cappadocia.
We will begin the tour with a visit to the underground city of Kaymakli. The underground cities developed in this region as a way of natives to safeguard themselves against plundering tribes. These cities were built over multiple stories, with stables, tunnels, cellars and shafts to reach underground rivers. After exploring the underground, we will move above the surface and climb to the top of Uchisar Castle and be rewarded by magnificent views of the fairy chimneys in the surrounding valley. After marvelling at these fantastic rock structures, we will head over to Göreme National Park, a spectacular and unique UNESCO World Heritage site. At Göreme valley you can see the beautiful rock-cut churches with decorative frescoes on the roof. Finally try your hand at pottery making in Çavuşin village.
After breakfast at the hotel, the day is free for you to explore Cappadocia on our own.
Depending on your interests, you can choose from one of our curated speciality experiential tours :
- Jet Boat Ride Adventure : The Jet Boat Cappadocia is a thrilling experience and a must-do activity for the whole family and adrenaline enthusiasts. The jet boat takes off from Avanos and takes you along the historical Kizilirmak River. Performing exciting manoeuvres of 360-degree spins and high speed drifting, the Jet Boat experience will leave you breathless with excitement and laughter.
- Horse riding/ATV tour – The word Cappadocia means the ‘land of beautiful horses’. Having a number of beautiful valleys and fascinating scenery, Cappadocia is a popular spot for horse riding tours and ATV tours. These tours offer a chance for the visitors to explore the vineyards, orchards and rock formations that are off the roads and away from popular tourist attractions.
Overnight stay at your hotel in Cappadocia.
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Cappadocia airport to catch a flight back to India via Istanbul.
Arrive home with pleasant memories of your Turkey tour organized by State Express Global Voyages, which we are sure you will treasure for a lifetime.
