Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, Egirdir, Antalya Tour

Tur Programı Tur Programı Yazdır

DAY 1: ISTANBUL
Transfer from Airport to hotel according to your arrival time. Your tour guide will give you information about your tour. Accomodation at Istanbul.
DAY 2: ISTANBUL
Meet at hotel lobby in the morning. Today we will visit St.Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Sultan Ahmet Mosque, Sultanahmet Square (Hippodrome), Yerebatan Palace, Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. Accomodation at Istanbul.
St.Sophia : The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque / Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, with its innovative architecture, rich history, religious significance and extraordinary characteristics has been fighting against time for centuries, was the largest Eastern Roman Church in Istanbul. Constructed three times in the same location, it is the world’s oldest and fastest-completed cathedral. With its breathtaking domes that look like hanging in the air, monolithic marble columns and unparalleled mosaics, is one of the wonders of world’s architecture history. The sheer dazzling beauty of mosque with its magnificent play on space, light, and color provokes worship in the believer! Hagia Sophia pose on the ground of the first hill of Istanbul, precisely at the tip of the historic peninsula, surrounded by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn on three sides. Built 1,500 years ago as an Orthodox Christian cathedral, Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453. In 1934 it became a museum and is now a Unesco World Heritage site. The opening as a mosque of Hagia Sophia Mosque held on 24 July 2020. Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) : The bazaar was first built by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and was expanded during the reign of Sultan Süleyman the Great (1520-1566), and reached its present form in 1701. Its extends over 65 streets, covering an area of 30.702 square meters. It contains a mosque, 21 inns, two vaulted bazaars, seven fountains, a well and 3300 shops. It possesses 18 gates, eight of them large, ten of then smaller. It has surrived five fires, and has been restored and repaired and has reached our present times. Sultanahmet Mosque : This mosque was built by Sultan Ahmet I during 1609-1616 in the square carrying his name in İstanbul. The architect is Sedefhar Mehmet Ağa. It is the only mosque in Turkey with six minarets. Due to its beautiful blue, green and white tilings it has been named the "Blue Mosque" by Europeans. The inscriptions were made by Seyyid Kasım Gubari. Sultanahmet Square (Hippodrome) : The 4th century Hippodrome was built by the Constantine the Great, after his declaration of Istanbul as the capital of the Roman Empire. It was located in what we now call Sultanahmet Square. The hippodrome was a lively place during the Byzantium period, where the races take place. The racers were turning around the hippodrome seven times to win the race. Once being a Byzantium hippodrome, the square itself hosts the famous historic places and sights that include; the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, the Colossus or the Column of Costantine Porphyrgenitus and the German Fountain. Topkapi Palace Museum : It is located on the promontory of the historical peninsula in İstanbul which overlooks both the Marmara Sea and the İstanbul strait. The walls enclosing the palace grounds, the main gate on the land side and the first buildings were constructed during the time of Fatih Sultan Mehmet (the Conqueror) (1451 - 81). The palace has taken its present layout with the addition of new structures in the later centuries. Topkapı Palace was the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans, starting with Fatih Sultan Mehmet until 1856, when Abdülmecid moved to the Dolmabahçe palace, functioned as the administrative centre of the state. The Enderun section also gained importance as a school. Topkapı Palace was converted to a museum in 1924. Parts of the Palace such as the Harem, Baghdat Pavilion, Revan Pavilion, Sofa Pavilion, and the Audiance Chamber distinguish themselves with their architectural assets,while in other sections artefacts are displayed which reflect the palace life. Yerebatan Palace : One of the magnificent ancient buildings of İstanbul is the Basilica Cistern located in the southwest of Hagia Sofia. Constructed for Justinianus I, the Byzantium Emperor (527-565), this big underground water reservoir is called as “Yerebatan Cistern” among the public because of the underground marble columns. As there used to be a basilica in the place of the cistern, it is also called Basilica Cistern. The cistern is 140 m long, and 70 m wide, and covers a rectangular area as a giant structure. Accessible with 52-step staircase, the Cistern shelters 336 columns, each of which is 9m high. Two Medusa heads, which are used as supports under the two columns at the northwest edge of the cistern, are the great work of art from the Roman period. Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Market) : Build in 1660. The bazaar was the center for spice trade in Istanbul. Spice Bazaar attracts travelers with magnificent colors, fragrance and tastes just found inside.
DAY 3: ISTANBUL
Meet at hotel lobby in the morning. Today we will visit Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Galata Tower and Ortakoy Square. Accomodation at Istanbul.
Dolmabahçe Palace : Until the 17th century the area where Dolmabahçe Palace stands today was a small bay on the İstanbul Strait, claimed by some to be where the Argonauts anchored during their quest for the Golden Fleece, and where in 1453 Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror had his fleet hauled ashore and across the hills to be refloated in the Golden Horn. Construction of the new palace and its periphery walls was completed in 1856. Dolmabahçe Palace had a total area of over 110.000 square metres and consisted of sixteen separate sections apart from the palace proper. Taksim Square : It is an important commercial, entertainment and sightseeing area for both locals and tourists in Istanbul. Taksim Square is also a popular meeting point and ideal place to have a nice Istanbul city walking tour from Taksim.
İstiklal Street : Historically known as the Grand Avenue of Pera is one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul. Located in the historic Beyoğlu (Pera) district, it is an elegant pedestrian street, 1.4 kilometres long, which houses boutiques, music stores, bookstores, art galleries, cinemas, theatres, libraries, cafés, pubs, nightclubs with live music, historical patisseries, chocolateries and restaurants. The avenue, surrounded by late Ottoman era buildings which were designed with the Neo-Classical, Art Nouveau and First Turkish National Architecture styles; as well as a few Art Deco style buildings from the early years of the Turkish Republic. It starts from Taksim Square and ultimately leads up to Galata Tower (the medieval Genoese quarter) at Tunel Square. The Galata Tower : Its 63 meter high tower provides a panoramic view of the old town. It was built in the 14th century by the Genoese colony as part of the defense wall surrounding their district at Galata directly opposite ancient Constantinopolis. They called the tower as "Tower of Christ". The Genoese were involved in trade with the Byzantines and the tower was used for the surveillance of the Harbor in the Golden Horn. After the conquest of Constantinople by Mehmet II, it served to detect fires in the city. Galata Tower was restored and opened to the public in 1967. Ortakoy Sqaure : The Ortakoy Sqaure is a famous and one of the most touristic ones in Istanbul, located in Ortakoy neighborhood of Besiktas district, nearby the beautiful Bosphorus. The excellent location makes it a very popular and lively places full of young people and all Istanbul sightseeing takers. The Ortakoy Mosque, built in the 19th century, has reached our times as the main component onlooking the Bosphorus.
DAY 4 : ISTANBUL - ANKARA
Today we will get a domestic flight from Istanbul to Ankara. After arriving to Ankara we will visit Anitkabir. Accomodation at Ankara.
The Mausoleum of Atatürk : Anıtkabir, situated on a hill called Rasattepe behind the Maltepe area of Ankara, covers 700.000 square metres of land and includes a Peace Park, which contains plants from all parts of Turkey and the world. It took nine years to complete the mausoleum. On November 10 th, 1953, fifteen years after Atatürk's death, his casket was taken from the Ethnographical Museum with great ceremony and was laid to final rest in its assigned place in Anıtkabir. The Mausoleum is rectangular and is surrounded by columns on all four sides. On the front of the Mausoleum to the left the Atatürk's speech to the Turkish Youth is inscribed. To the right his speech on the occasion of the 10 th anniversary of the Rupublic is presented.
DAY 5 : ANKARA – CAPPADOCIA
Today we will visit Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara. At the afternoon we will transfer to Cappodocia via Salt Lake. Accomodation at Cappadocia. Anatolian Civilizations Museum : One of the top-rated museums in the world with its unique collections and is the winner the “Museum of the year in Europe” in 1997, are exhibited in chronologically separated sections. The upper hall area holds Palaeolithic Age, Chalcolithic Age, Old Bronze Age, Assyrian Trade Colonies Age, The Old Hittite and Hittite Imperial Age, Phrygian Kingdom, Late Hittite Kingdom, Urartian Kingdom sections, and the lower hall holds Ankara; Down the Ages and Classical Periods sections. The Anatolian Civilizations Museum, which has been the home of the original works of Anatolian lands since the Paleolithic age, consists of two historical buildings . These buildings are the Ottoman Period buildings; Mahmutpaşa Covered Bazaar and Kurşunlu Inn. Having been renovated in 2014, this museum allows you to travel through history via virtual tours, animations and replicas of T-shaped stone pillars and other replicas of Göbeklitepe. Salt Lake : It is located about 120 kilometers south of Ankara. With its 1500 square kilometers is the second largest lake in Turkey but in summer the surface is often reduced to about one thousan square kilometers. Generally this amazing salt lake is 80 kilometers long by 48 wide, with a depth of 1.2 meters at present, as it is estimated that before it must be much deeper. Today, the surface is covered by blocks of salt up to 20 inches thick.
Cappadocia : Located on the central Anatolia plateau within a volcanic landscape sculpted by erosion to form a succession of mountain ridges, valleys and pinnacles known as “fairy chimneys” or hoodoos, Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia cover the region between the cities of Nevşehir, Ürgüp and Avanos, the sites of Karain, Karlık, Yeşilöz, Soğanlı and the subterranean cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu. The area is bounded on the south and east by ranges of extinct volcanoes with Erciyes Dağ (3916 m) at one end and Hasan Dağ (3253 m) at the other. The density of its rock-hewn cells, churches, troglodyte villages and subterranean cities within the rock formations make it one of the world's most striking and largest cave-dwelling complexes. Though interesting from a geological and ethnological point of view, the incomparable beauty of the decor of the Christian sanctuaries makes Cappadocia one of the leading examples of the post-iconoclastic Byzantine art period.
DAY 6 : CAPPADOCIA
Today we will visit Ihlara Valley, Narlıgol and Kaymakli Underground City. Accomodation at Cappadocia. Ihlara Valley : It is near Mount Hasan and Mount Melendiz (two of the three volcanoes of Cappadocia) is a canyon with a depth of approximately 100m and was formed by the Melendiz River thousands of years ago. It begins at Ihlara village and ends with Selime Monastery at Selime village along 14 kilometers. There many cave churches in Ihlara Valley. Most of them display scenes dissimilar to the scenes depicted in other Cappadocian churches. In fact, they are reminiscent of the early churches of Syria and the Coptic churches of Egypt. Narli Lake : Nar Lake or Lake Pomegranate is a crater lake that was formed when a volcano blew its top some time in the not too distant geological past. The hot sulfurous water, which still bubbles up from somewhere below the surface, is supposed to be good for curing all kinds of skin problems. It is about 36 km southeast of Aksaray in Cappadocia.Kaymaklı Underground City : The city is situated 15km to Nevşehir, in the Kaymaklı province. It was built during the 9th - 10th centuries during the period of the spreading of christianity as a city of defence and hiding sites. The 8 floors of this underground city are built around a ventilation stack.The ceiling height of rooms on each floor, surrounding a ball, is 2m. the chapels are larger than the rooms and the ceilings are higher.
DAY 7 : CAPPADOCIA
Today we will visit Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Pigeon Valley and also see pottery making at Avanos. We will also enjoy sunset at Kizilcukur Valley. Accomodation at Cappadocia.
Goreme Open Air Museum : In the 2nd century AD there were ascetic monks who had adopted seclusion alone in the Cappadocia region, especially around Göreme. Although they were independent of monasteries and churches, they were an important social community. What made Cappadocia the centre of religious thought and life in the 3rd century was the presence of clergy with powerful character. In the following century, the region was known as the hometown of the three great clergy. These were the Bishop of Kaisareia, Basileios, his brother Gregorios of Nyssagia and Gregorios of Nazianus. Basileios, known as the ‘Great’, returned to his hometown, Kaisareia, the headquarters of the Cappadocia region, to devote himself to the monastic life. He was also effective in spreading the monastery life collectively. A monastic life was present intensively in Göreme from 4th century AD to 13th century. There are churches, chapels, cafeterias and seating areas in almost every rock block. Today’s Göreme Open Air Museum is the place where this education system was launched. The open air museum was opened to visitors in 1967.
Uchisar Pigeon Valley : Uchisar is famous with its wonderfull panoramic views expecially pigeon houses on the valley. Guvercinlik Vadisi (Pigeon Valley) earned its name from the countless man made Pigeon Houses that have been carved into the soft volcanic rock. Since ancient times Pigeons have been used in the Cappadocia region for food and fertiliser for the infertile soil.
Avanos : Set on the banks of the Kızılırmak (Red River), Avanos is about 8 kilometers from Cappadocia’s historical center of Göreme. The town of Avanos it is also the tradition of pottery making in the ateliers of craftsmen that attracts visitors. The Red River, which also happens to be one of Turkey’s longest rivers, has supplied the many generations of craftsmen with the red clay used to create their iconic art. Pottery has been produced in this region as far back as around 2000 BC, the time of the Hittites. Kizilcukur Valley : It is located on the border of Ürgüp district and one of the most famous destinations of Cappadocia. This place offers its guests a Kızılçukur Valley is one of the most important places to visit in Cappadocia region. The biggest reason is the unique unique panoramicview expesially at sunset.
DAY 8 : CAPPADOCIA – CATALHOYUK - KONYA
Today we will transfer from Cappadocia to Konya. On our way we will visit Obrukhan and Catalhoyuk. At the afternoon we will visit Rumi’s Mevlana Museum and Karatay (Encaustic Tile Works) Museum. Accomodation at Konya. Obruk Han : It is located 74 km from Konya in the village of Obruk on the historical Silk Road. This han (inn) was an important stop on the Konya-Aksaray route, and is located between the Zazadin Han (1236) and the Aksaray Sultan Han (1229). This 800 years old inn was built by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I. The han sits on a cliff above a small, 30m deep crater lake, called the Obruk ("Sinkhole") Lake), filled with vivid, turquoise blue water. This lake was formed by a land collapse. The Obruk Lake is one of the 300 registered sinkholes in the region.Catalhoyuk : Catalhoyuk is renowned as one of the earliest settlements of the Neolithic era, and sheds light on the dawn of human settlement with unique examples of the earliest domestic architecture and landscape painting as well as the sacred objects of mother goddess cult. Among the most significant objects unearthed in Catalhoyuk were the figurines of the mother goddess. Neolithic Site of Catalhoyuk, which is located within the boundaries of Konya province, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. The Neolithic Site of Catalhoyuk has extraordinary arts and crafts, with the earliest finds dating from 7400 BC, and it has been an inportant key to unlocking the mysteries of the beginnings of agriculture and civilisation.
Mevlana (Rumi's) Museum : Mevlana Lodge which is presently used as a museum was the Rose Garden of the Seljuks Palace in the 13th century. When Mevlâna Celaleddin Rumi died on 17 December 1273 his son Sultan Waled accepted the request of those who wanted to build a mausoleum over Mevlana’s grave. The museum covers approximately 18.000 m2 area. Also, that miraculous mausoleum also called "’Kubbe-i Hadra" (Green Dome in English) was placed on four special pillars. Mevlana Lodge and the mausoleum started to function as a museum in 1926 under the name of “Konya Museum of Historical Antique Works”. In 1954 the display pattern of the museum was once more refurbished and it was renamed as the “Mevlana Museum”. Karatay (Encaustic Tile Works) Museum : Karatay Madrasa has been constructed by Emir Celaleddin Karatay in Sultan İzzeddin Keykavus II period, in the year 1251. Entrance door is a masterpiece of Seljuk Period stone workmanship. Karatay Madrasa, having an important place in Anatolian Seljuk Period encaustic tile workmanship has been opened to the public as "Museum of Encaustic Tile Works" in 1955. In the domed hall, glass plates, encaustic tile parts belonging to the Seljuk Period, ceiling centres of Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque and ceramics belonging to the Ottoman Period are located.
DAY 9 : KONYA - EGIRDIR
Today we will transfer from Konya to Egirdir. On our way we will visit Beysehir Lake, Esrefoglu Mosque, Eflatunpinari and Psidia Ancient City. Accomodation at Egirdir.
Beysehir Lake : It is the third largest lake in Turkey, and as a result of chemical reaction it has formed many islands, which are the remains of cavernous geological structures. The water is alkaline, and within it are carp, trout, bass, turtles and snakes. In addition to the natural beauty of the area, it also has an interesting history as it was governed by Hittites, Friesian, Lydias, Persians and Byzantines. Finally, the Anatolian Seljuks conquered the area in 1076, and since then it has been under the reign of the Turks.
Esrefoglu Mosque : This mosque was constructed in a rich cultural environment as a complex with a tomb, caravanserai and a Turkish bath. The buildings around the mosque like madrasah and badastan belong to the later periods. Esrefoglu Mosque was built in 1299, by Emir Suleyman Bey. The composition of the portal maintains the Seldjukid tradition. Inner door to the harim and mihrap surfaces were plated by tile mosaics that are prominent examples of their era and maintain the Seldjukid Konya tradition. The composition on the tile mosaics consists of geometrical and botanical adornments, stalactites, rosettes and epigraphy. Wooden parts of the mosque was adorned by the richest examples of Kalemisi (hand-drawn) ornaments. The building is the biggest, best preserved wooden columned and roofed mosque in Islamic World. Eflatun Pinar (The Hittite Spring Sanctuary) : The Hittite spring sanctuary of Eflatun Pınar lies about 100 kilometres west of Konya close to the lake of Beyşehir in a hilly, quite arid landscape. At the top of a little river valley, that flows in the further progress into the lake, the “lilac coloured spring” (translation of Eflatun Pınar) produces an astonishing quantity of ice cold, clear water. Directly next to the spring, a relief-covered wall of huge boulders was erected more than three thousand years ago. Eflatun Pınar constitutes a major cult monument with an extensive theological iconography that was built in the late phase of the Hitttite Empire. Pisidia Ancient City : Ancient Pisidia was a mountainous district bounded to the west and north by Phrygia, to the east by Lycaonia, and to the south by Lycia and Pamphylia. These lands more or less correspond to the Turkey's Lakes Region plus the mountains to the north of Antalya. Surveys and excavations of this region reveal that it has been continuously occupied since prehistoric times. Strabo, in naming the thirteen Pisidian cities quotes Artemidoros, a man who is know to have lived in the first century BC. However, according to recent reckoning, the names of 51 the Hellenistic and Roman period sites are now known, in addition to the five colonies already mentioned above.
DAY 10 : EGIRDIR - ANTALYA
Today we will transfer from Egirdir to Antalya via Burdur. On our way we will visit Sagalassos and Termessos Ancient Cities. Accomodation at Antalya. Sagalassos Ancient City : The archaeological site of Sagalassos is located in southwest Turkey, near the present town of Ağlasun (Burdur province); roughly 110 km to the north of the well-known port and holiday resort of Antalya. The ancient city was founded on the south facing slopes of the Taurus mountain range and was the metropolis of the Roman province of Pisidia. As a result of its remote location, Sagalassos was not really looted in later periods and remained to be one of the best preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean.
Termessos Ancient City : Termessos is one of the most spectacular ruined cities in Turkey, mainly because of its stunning location. It is situated on the slopes of Gulluk mountain to the north of Antalya. Its history is not clearly known, but is known to have started with Alexander the Great’s arrival in 333 BC, who was then fought off. The city is split into three areas; downtown, city centre and the cemetery. Its best years were during the Roman Empire, and its best remains are the city walls, King’s road, Harian’s Gate, gymnasium, theatre, Odeon, decorated walls and cisterns. The forests and variety of plants are typical examples of the Mediterranean. There are very rare species of wildlife living in the area, like wild mountain goats, roe deer, and shah eagle. The best time to visit the area is between April and December.
DAY 11 : ANTALYA
Today we will visit Olympos Ancient City and Cirali. Also we will make tour to Tahtali Peak with cable car. Accomodation at Antalya.
Olympos Ancient City and Chimera : It is between Kemer and Adrasan. After passing Phaselis, a plate on Antalya - Kumluca road, shows Olympos road. Çıralı is an ancient coastal village beside Olympos.The city, which is found on 2nd century B. C. is emptied in 6th century. Famous Bellerophontres -Chimera war is made here. An hour of walking on a tight and uneven slope coming from a river bed after Çıralı will bring you to Chimera's unique natural ambient. Chimera is known by the natives as "Yanartaş" due to continuously burning natural gas, which is coming from mountain. Tahtali Peak with Olympos Cable Car : Olympos cable car facility is the most popular tourist attraction in the region. Tahtali peak is 2365 meters above the sea level. Journey starts with getting on a panoramic cabin equipped with large windows that can accommodate up to 80 people. After the place where the tree cover is finished and the pure limestone surface starts to be seen is 1900 meters high from the sea level.
DAY 12 : ANTALYA
Today we will visit Aspendos and Perge Ancient Cities. Also we will make Antalya city tour at the afternoon. Accomodation at Antalya.
Aspendos Theatre : This antique city established in the Early age is 48km east of Antalya. Its most important feature is its theatre. The theatre and its stage are the best preserved of the Roman theatres in anatolia which have reached our times. It was built during the reign of Emperor Antonius Pius (134 - 164) by architect Zenon. Aspendos, which is among the examples of the best designed Roman theaters, is one of the best-preserved ancient amphitheater and is still used for concerts and festivals.
Perge Ancient City : It is one of the Pamphylian cities and was believed to have been built in the 12th to 13th centuries BC. After coming under the rule of Lydia and Persia, the city surrendered to Alexander the Great in 334 BC. The brightest era of the city was during the reign of the Romans in the 2nd to 3rd centuries AD. Ancient Perge is famous by the fact that when Saint Paul started his journeys, he visited Perge in 46 AD. and preached his first sermon here. That is why it became an important city for the Christians during Byzantine period. Being part of Pamphylia, the ancient city of Perge says the rise and fall of many civilisations, with their remains surviving to today.
DAY 13 : ANTALYA
Today is the last day of your tour and after breakfast, we will check out from the hotel and transfer to Antalya Airport. End of our tour.

INCLUDING SERVICES:
- 12 days accomodation at 4* hotels
- 12 breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Domestic flight ticket from Istanbul to Ankara at day 4
- English speaking tour guide during all the tour
- All transfers, parking, road tolls writen in the programme
- 2 bottles of water per person, per day
- Travel insurance

EXCLUDING SERVICES:
- International flight tickets
- First day breakfast and lunch
- Last day lunch and dinner
- Tipping to guide, driver, hotels and restaurants
- Any soft or alcohol drinks at restaurants and hotels