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| Day 1 |
Istanbul
Upon arrival in Istanbul, you will be met by your personal VIP service representative to assist you throughout all the airport procedures and let you meet your private guide to transfer you to your hotel by your private vehicle. Overnight at your hotel. |
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| Day 2 |
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Cappadocia
Depart Istanbul on a morning flight to Kayseri, for the visit to Cappadocia; is the place where nature and history come together most beautifully within the world. While geographic events are forming fairy chimneys, during the historical period, humans had carried the signs of thousand years old civilizations with carving houses and churches within these earth pillars |
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and decorating them with frisks. Also visit Kaymakli Underground City; the early Christians suffered a lot from the Romans, Pagans and Arab invaders. Therefore they refuge in the underground cities and they enlarged them. Overnight at your hotel. (B L D) |
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| Day 3 |
Cappadocia
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Goreme Open Air Museum with "fairy chimneys", pyramids and sand castles. Continue to visit Uchisar; is situated at the highest point in the region and lunch in Avanos; the most famous historical feature of Avanos, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery. |
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The afternoon is at your leisure. Overnight at your hotel. (B L D)
Our Suggestions:
- You may consider an optional hot air balloon ride over the unusual landscape
early in the morning
- Famous Whirling Dervishes Show in the evening
- Dinner in a restaurant outside your hotel to taste the local dishes and the
famous wines of the region
- Test your culinary skills during a cooking lesson at a family-run country
restaurant
- Experience Cappadocia culture first hand when you join a local family for
lunch in their home (and even learn how to cook village bread and Turkish
coffee with them) |
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| Day 4 |
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Konya
Start the day at Sultanhani Caravanserai, considered one of the largest and finest caravanserais in this part of the world. Continue to Konya where "Mevlana" lived and see Mevlana Museum (Tekke), where he is buried. Archaeology shows that the Konya region is one of the most ancient settlements of Anatolia. |
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One of the most beautiful verses of Mevlana is; "Come, come again, whoever, whatever you may be, come. Heathen, fire worshipper, sinner of idolatry, come. Come if you have broken your vows a hundred times. Ours is not the portal of despair or misery, come." Overnight at your hotel. (B L D) |
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| Day 5 |
Antalya
Drive across the rugged Taurus Mountains and to the ancient site of Aspendos. Aspendos Theater is the most undamaged theater, which came today from antic world. Architecture of the theater, which is established at the foot of a small hill, is Zenon, son of Thedoros of Aspendos. Its most important characteristic is the great acoustics. See one of the finest examples of classical Roman Theater. |
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Continue to Perge; was an important city for Christians who had worshipped the mother goddess Artemis. St. Paul and Barnabas visited the city and wealthy benefactors like Magna Plancia had a number of important memorials built here. Overnight at your hotel. (B L D) |
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| Day 6 |
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Pamukkale
Drive from Antalya to Pamukkale; was visited frequently by the people from the nearest cities and Laodicea in the ancient time and the site established before Hierapolis, for using the thermal springs known for its curing properties to various illnesses. Overnight at your hotel.
(B L D) |
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| Day 7 |
Kusadasi
After breakfast, drive for a full day tour of world famous ancient city of Ephesus; once the most important commercial center of the western Anatolia the Asia Minor. The tour will include the visit to Ephesus, the Terrace Houses located inside Ephesus; also called the "houses of rich", The House of Virgin Mary where she spent her last days (if required), |
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Ephesus Museum; exhibition of the artifacts found in Ephesus, The Basilica of St. John; believed that the evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and buried in the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill. Return to Kusadasi. Overnight at your hotel. (B L D)
Our Suggestions:
- Kusadasi is also known with specialties of Aegean kitchen including fishes of
the region. You may consider dining in one of the local restaurant in Kusadasi
for tasting their delicious foods |
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| Day 8 |
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Kusadasi
Today we will discover the village life of Turkey. Our first stop will be the Sirince Village used to be an pretty old Orthodox village, 12 km away from Ephesus and 30 km from Kusadasi, was once Cirkince ("ugly"). Indeed its habitants gave this name on purpose as they did not want to be bothered by foreigners nor to share |
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the beauty of their village. Continue to your visit to second and the last village called Kirazli Village; just 15 kms from Sirince Village; is the first village in Turkey dealing with eco-agriculture, surrounded by flowering fields of cherry trees, figs, vines and olives the village is a traditional Turkish village of narrow twisting streets, stone and |
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whitewashed houses and terracotta roofs. With only around 600 inhabitants Kirazli Village is a close knit, endlessly fascinating community. Family ties are strong throughout the village and everyone works together to bring in the various harvests and stage the festivals that occur throughout the year. The few European's who have chosen to move permanently to this |
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lovely valley have been welcomed and integrated into the village and are valued as contributors to the community as a whole. Lunch will be served in this village to let you taste the Turkish village kitchen. Return to Kusadasi. Overnight at your hotel. (B L D) |
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| Day 9 |
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Istanbul
Early flight to Istanbul. Our first stop will be the Hippodrome, where chariot races were held and competitive athletic events took place during the Roman period. Then world famous Hagia Sophia following the Blue Mosque famous for its six minarets and magnificent interior blue tiles. |
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Today you will visit the Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman sultans housing richness of 700 years. Later on you will be browsing the Grand Bazaar. Overnight at your hotel. (B L)
Our Suggestions:
- Dinner in a restaurant by the Bosphorus |
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| Day 11 |
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Istanbul
Pick up from hotel for your private Bosphorus boat cruise. A traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz |
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Palace. Free afternoon to explore the city on your own and overnight stay in Istanbul. (B L)
Our Suggestions:
- You may also dine onboard your private boat viewing the magnificent city of
Istanbul by night with all the famous monuments lit up
- Turkish Bath experience in a very famous The Cagaloglu Hamam, constructed
in 1741, is the last hamam (bath) to be built during the Ottoman Empire |
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| Day 12 |
Home
You will be met by your guide at your hotel and transferred to Istanbul International Airport. Your personal VIP representative will assist you throughout all the airport procedures for the flight home. (B) |
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Meander Travel Advantages |
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Avoid long lines with express visa acquisition and private VIP meet and greet on arrival and departure |
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One expert local guide travels with you throughout the program, understanding your interests from day one |
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Explore the tuff-filled landscapes of Cappadocia, with its underground villages |
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Stay in a unique, boutique cave hotel, adorned with antiques from the Seljuk, Ottoman, Roman and Hittite eras |
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View the stunning frescoes in the Dark Church at the Goreme Open Air Museum in Cappadocia |
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In Cappadocia, visit the rock-carved churches at Goreme and the Kaymakli Underground City |
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Pay a visit to the center of Sufism, Konya |
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Listen to the great acoustics of Aspendos and the wealthy ancient city of Perge |
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See the blisteringly white terraced pools of Pamukkale's hot springs in the ancient city of Hierapolis, a world heritage site and swim in the sacred pool amongst fallen Roman columns |
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Discover ancient Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean |
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You will be impressed with a visit to the stunning Terrace Houses in Ephesus |
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Enjoy the beautiful skyline of Istanbul on a private afternoon cruise on the Bosphorus |
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Stay in two different Istanbul hotels for the opportunity to experience both the old and the new sides of the city |
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Explore Istanbul's magnificent Hagia Sophia, sixth-century Underground Cistern, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace along with the Chora Church, Grand Bazaar and Spice Market |
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We can shorten or extend the above itinerary according to your interest |
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You may continue to Cappadocia on the first day of your arrival instead of overnight stay in Istanbul |
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You may start your tour with Istanbul instead of Cappadocia |
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