On arrival Istanbul Our transfer team will pick you up at Ataturk airport and transfer you to the hotel, giving information about the program. Overnight in Istanbul

We begin our day with a tour of Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman Sultans for about 400 years, with its fabulous collections of jewels and other artifacts. Next is a visit to the Blue Mosque, famous for its beautiful blue tiles decorating the interior walls. Built in the 17th century and both it and Hagia Sophia are considered masterpieces of their period. Later, we will discover the highlights of the ancient Hippodrome: Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and others. Then we will walk to the Covered Bazaar, a labyrinth of streets filled with all sorts of tempting items to purchase: harem bracelets, colorful carpets, hand-painted ceramics, and more

After breakfast we will discover the Hagia Sophia, originally built as a church by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and used as a mosque during the Ottoman era until 1935 (today it's a museum encompassing both Christianity and Islam). Facultative: Enjoy a morning scenic cruise on the Bosporus, the strait connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The ferry stops on both the Asian and European sides for several times during the one-hour cruise. Transfer to the domestic airport for your flight to Kayseri. You are met upon arrival and transferred to the Hotel (a one-hour drive). Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Morning visit to the Göreme Valley and its Open Air Museum, including reconstructed Dark Church with its preserved frescoes. The entire valley is the place where early Christianity flourished. After lunch in a local restaurant, we will walk up to Uchisar Castle with its panoramic views of the Cappadocia region and see pointed rock formations known as the Fairy Chimneys. Return to the hotel. (Option to hot-air balloon in the early morning, additional fees applies. Ask us for details)

We will start the day driving to Derinkuyu to visit the extraordinary underground city, which dates back to Hittite times and penetrates five layers deep into the soil. Next we will visit Pasabag to see some of Cappadocia’s most spectacular fairy chimneys. After lunch we will drive to Dervent, which is famous for its animal-shaped rocks. Then we will stop in Avanos, where you will have your chance to throw pottery at one of the town’s many small potters’ workshops. Our tour will finish with the adventurous Rose Valley hike where we will use ropes to slide down by some rocks. Optional whirling dervish’s ceremony can be viewed in the evening. Overnight at the Hotel

We will first see the Sultanhan Kervansaray and than drive to Konya in the morning that was known as Iconium in the days of St. Paul. Centuries later, the city became the capital of the Sultanate of Rum and the holy city of the Seljuk Turks. You will visit the Museum of Mevlana, the famous mystic and poet who founded the Sufi Order of the Whirling Dervishes in the 13th century. We will also visit the medrese of Karatay and the mosque of Aladdin. Overnight at the Hotel

After breakfast early in the morning we will drive to Ankara. Upon arrival in Ankara we will explore the impressive modern form of Ataturk's Mausoleum, (Anitkabir) where ancient and modern architectural concepts testify to the power and grace of Turkish architecture. Next we'll see the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (Also called Hittite Museum) with its priceless collection of Paleolithic, Neolithic, Hattie, Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian and Roman artifacts. Overnight at the Hotel

All too soon it is time to bid this magical land “gule gule” (goodbye) as you are transferred to the airport for your return flight home.