On arrival Istanbul Our transfer team will pick you up at Ataturk airport and transfer you to the hotel, giving information about tours. Overnight in Istanbul.
Begin your 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. Continue the tour with a visit to 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). Next visit the Blue Mosque, famous for its beautiful blue tiles decorating the interior walls. Built in the 17th century and both the mosque 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.
After breakfast we will visit the Sehzade Prince Mosque, an early master work by the great architect Sinan, built in 1543 – 47 during the reign of Süleyman and Roxalana in memory of their favorite son Mohammet; it has a charmingly decorated interior. Then we will use the backmost narrow alleys and walk from the Grand Bazaar to the Spice Bazaar on to the Galata Brigde to o enjoy a scenic cruise on the Bosphorus, 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.
At first you will enjoy a visit to Camlica Hill, the highest point in Istanbul, having a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Then visit the Kariye Museum (former Saint Savior in Chora church) and admire its golden mosaics. Our next stops are the Eyup Mosque and Pierre Loti which has a lovely panorama too.
You will have free time until afternoon then you will be transfered to the domestic airport for your flight to Kayseri. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Depart from your hotel to visit Red valley,and explore the famous rock- cut churches and hike 5 km through the Güllüdere valley (Rose valley). Then visit Çavusin village. This village is famous for the houses and churches of the christian clergymen. Drive to Pasabag (Monk's Valley) to see the most interesting mushroom-shaped pinnacles. In the afternoon visit another beautiful open air museum at Göreme where the remains of rock-cut churches and Christian settlements date back hundreds of years. On the way back to the hotel visit the natural castles at Ortahisar.
Our first stop will be a delightful 7 km walk through the dramatic Ihlara Gorge which has a pretty stream running along its bottom and many medieval frescoed churches clinging to its steep sides. Then visit the famous Derinkuyu Underground City.
After breakfast we will see a weaving school and production cooperative where you are given an educational and entertaining lecture on Turkish tribal art and weavings. Gain an excellent insight into this Turkish art with hands-on demonstrations. Depart from the little village to visit Devrent Valley to see the unigue fairy-chimneys. Lastly, before returning to your hotel, visit the natural castles at Uçhisar.
In the morning, you will head south, to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul and the home to one of the first Christian churches in Asia Minor. Visit St. Paul’s Well and St. Paul’s Church where the Vatican organized the St. Paul Symposium and Ceremony in 1992 and 1993, Ulu Cami Mosque, Eski Cami Mosque, the Gate of Cleopatra are other sites of interest. Continue to Kizkalesi.
In the morning we will get to the 7.th century castle, situated at a high point of Silifke, called Seleukia at Kalykadnos to enjoy a breathtaking view over the city and the river. Two other excursions today will bring us to the Grotto of the St. Thekla and her church. We will have lunch in the center of Silifke, to get a chance to have some contact to the locals and stroll through the busy streets of downtown. After a short drive you will reach the Hell and Heaven Grottos. They are sinkholes, created by underground rivers. After the visit there is the possibility to visit a stalactite cave and a hellenistic temple, dedicated to Zeus. Then you will drive to the place where the water flows out of the caves right into the sea. Here you will see the famous fresco of the Three Graces. Today ends in a nice restaurant, sipping a glass of tee. Then you will drive back to your hotel for diner.
After breakfast we get on a boat and sail along the beautiful coast of Mediterranean. After some swimming stops and lunch on board we go back to our hotel.
Today we will be driving a little higher into the Taurus Mountains. The destination is the Princess Gorge. Your hike passes through a glamorous nature. (moderate, 7,5km, +250m, 3-3,5h). Later on we will drive to Uzuncaburc. In hellenistic-roman period it was called Diokaiserea. Among others we will be seeing the theatre, the hellenistic tower and the Zeus temple. From Diokaiserea a trail brings us on an old roman road to Olba (easy, 1,5km,-100m, 45min). Upon arrival you will get to the temple toms of Imbriogon.
Before you get to the starting point of today’s hike, you will visit the theatre of Eliaussa Sebaste. Then you will drive to the Lamas Gorge to hike towards the spring of the river (moderate-challenging, 5km,+-70m, 2,5-3h). Today’s lunch will be a picnic by the river, where you can put the legs of the chairs and tables right into the water to refresh from the hike. Diner and overnight in Kizkalesi
Today, you have time to enjoy the facilities of your beautifuly situated 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.
Tour Highlights
Phone:+90 256 614 75 69
Phone:+90 256 612 73 87