| |
Tour Itinerary
06 Nights / 07 Days |
| Day 01 |
Begin Your Tour | Arrive Istanbul | Spice Market | Bosphorus Cruise | Rustem Pacha Mosque | Optional Turkish Dinner and Show |
.jpg) |
Welcome to you FAIRSKY TRAVEL HOUSE 'Turkish Delight' tour ! On arrival in Istanbul, you will be met and escorted by a FAIRSKY TRAVEL HOUSE representative to your hotel (check in after 1400 hours). Later proceed to the aromatic Spice Market. Thereafter embark on the Bosphorus Cruise, through the magnificient waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with opportunities to photograph the shoreline with its landmarks - Dolmabahce & Beylerbeyi palaces, Ortakoy Mosque, the defensive Rumeli Fortress, Bosphorous Bridge - one of the world's largest suspension bridges, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture, besides modern residential and luxurious apartments, all alongside passing fishing boats, yachts, cargo ships and tankers. Next we head for the Rustem Pacha Mosque, another skillful accomplishment of the architect Sinan, was built in 1561 by order of Rustem Pacha, Grand Vizier and son-in-law of Suleyman the Magnificent. Exquisite Iznik tiles panel the small and superbly proportioned interior. This evening you have an option of enjoying a Turkish Dinner and Show. Taste Turkish cuisine which is a fabulous four course meal including a divine Turkish desert. (D) |
| Day 02 |
Onto Cappadocia | Dervent Valley | Pasabagi Valley | Goreme Open- Air Museum | Uchisar | Kaymakli Underground City |
.jpg) |
Today after breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia. Later, visit the enchanting "fairy chimneys" (conical and unusual rock formations) in Dervent Valley. Enjoy Pasabagi Valley, while walking through vineyards among strange multiple "mushroom-capped" volcanic rock formations. Continue to the Goreme Open Air Museum - a complex of several painted cave-churches carved out by Orthodox monks between 900 and 1200 AD. Also see some caves on the cliffs to see Byzantine frescoes decorating early Christian churches. Continue to the natural citadel of Uchisar to see the unique lunar landscape of the region where the wind and weather have eroded the soft volcanic rock, leaving pillars, cones and Fairy Chimneys. Next see Kaymakli Underground City, which has built by early Christians to evade invading armies. The city has been carved out of rock and is completely selfcontained. More than 200 people lived on each of seven floors with the last one 250 feet underground. It is connected to Derinkuyu Underground city by six miles of tunnel. (B, D) |
| Day 03 |
Onto Konya | Selcuk Caravanserai Sultanhan | Mevlana Museum | Onto Pamukkale | Hierapolis |
.jpg) |
After an early breakfast, drive to Konya; one of the first centers of population in the history of humankind and was once the famous capital city of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire. En route, visit the 13th century Selcuk Caravansarai Sultanhan, an ancient fortified way station along the Silk Route where caravans found safety during the night. Continue onto Konya to visit the Tomb of Mevlana, founder of the Whirling Dervishes and Karatay Medrese complex, formerly a theological school but now a small museum, housing examples of some of the superb tile work of the Selcuk period. After lunch, continue to Pamukkale and visit its impressive calcium terraces which rise above the fertile Menderes Valley. Hot mineral waters burst from the earth and cascade wonderfully over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. Next visit the ancient city of Hierapolis and strolling through its ruins see the Temple of Apollo, the Theatre, a large and extensive Necropolis and an ancient thermal pool. (B, D) |
| Day 04 |
Onto Kusadasi | Ephesus |
.jpg) |
After breakfast, depart for Kusadasi via Ephesus, the Ionian city of ancient Anatolia, which played a major role in the development of architecture, religions, governmental and economic systems and arts. Visit the ruins - the Theatre, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Odeon, the Gymnasium, a 2000 year-old marble street, etc. See the site of the Temple of Artemis, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and centre of pagan religion for 15 centuries. (B, D) |
| Day 05 |
Onto Canakkale | Asclepion | Troy |
.jpg) |
After breakfast, depart for Canakkale via Izmir. En route visit Asclepion the ancient healing center where famous Galen worked as a doctor during the Roman period. After lunch, visit ancient Troy. Homer immortalized Troy in his stories of King Priam, Hector, Paris and beautiful Helen. Visit nine separate periods of settlements including ruins of city walls, house foundations, a temple and a theatre. A symbolic wooden Trojan Horse commemorates the legendary war. (B, D) |
| Day 06 |
Onto Istanbul | Blue Mosque | Hippodrome | Topkapi Palace | Grand Bazaar |
.jpg) |
After an early breakfast, ferry crossing over the Dardanelles Strait, we drive to Istanbul. Lunch enroute. On arrival, we proceed to pay a visit to the last great Imperial Blue Mosque - the heart of the 'old city' from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled. Its name is derived from the blue Iznik tiles decorating its interior. Also known as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, this predominantly blue structure, unique with 6 minarets, is floodlit with 260 windows that give it a bejeweled look in bright sunshine. Leaving the mosque, we proceed to the most obviously ancient landmarks in the city - the Roman Hippodrome, an open-air stadium built by Roman Emperors way back in 203 AD, in the manner of their Forum and Colosseum. The hippodrome served as the venue for chariot racing, wrestling, boxing, archery, gladiator sports and other athletic activities. Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column, Constantine Column & German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating the Hippodrome. Having looked around and absorbed the sense of history prevalent in the ruins and rubble, we proceed to Topkapi Palace, the Imperial residence of Ottoman Sultans for almost 400 years. Exhibiting Chinese porcelain, weapons, calligraphy section etc. this palace is one of the finest examples of Ottaman Civil Architecture in existence. Lastly, we visit the Grand Bazaar, the most attractive shopping center and biggest "souk" from Ottoman Empire, with nearly 4000 shops selling antiques, jewellery, gold, carpets, leatherware and souvenirs. (B, D) |
| Day 07 |
In Istanbul | Hagia Sophia | Beyoglu District | Homeward Bound |
.jpg) |
After breakfast, visit Hagia Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. Drive to Beyoglu district which was known as Pera during the Ottoman period. Beyoglu is the most active art, entertainment and night life centre of Istanbul. The pedestrian Istiklal Street with attractive buildings from the 19th century is one of the most crowded parts of Istanbul having shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and discos surrounding it.
Good times need never end! As you get ready for the airport and your flight back home, relive the high points of your FAIRSKY TRAVEL HOUSE tour.
We are confident you will join us again, sometime soon… (B). |
 |
