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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 |
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houses and churches within these earth pillars and decorating them with frisks. Also visit the Kaymakli underground city; the early Christians suffered a lot from the Romans, Pagans and Arab invaders. Therefore they refugied 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 Valley is an 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, considered one of the largest and finest caravaseraies 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 |
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the great acoustics. See one of the finest examples of classical Roman Theater. Overnight at your hotel. (B L D) |
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| Day 6 |
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Antalya
After breakfast, a morning visit 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. Continue your visit to the Antalya Museum's archaeological and ethnographical exhibits, |
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displayed in chronological order from the Stone Age then head for the Side, was once an ancient harbor with magnificent theater. Return to Antalya. Overnight at your hotel. (B L D) |
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| Day 7 |
Fethiye
After breakfast, depart for ancient city Myra now called Demre or Kale; was on the sea and was the port where St. Paul changed ships on his way to Rome in about 60 AD. The city is well known for its amphitheatre (the largest in Lycia) and the plethora of rock-cut tombs carved in the cliff above the theatre, and St. Nicholas; who is known worldwide as Santa |
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Claus, was born in the ancient Lycian city of Patara, an important city on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Continue to Kas for the lunch break. Then continue to Fethiye for the visit to Xanthos, one time Lycian capital. Overnight at your hotel. (B L D) |
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| Day 8 |
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Kusadasi
Depart for the visit to Gumuskesen best preserved Roman Tomb in Turkey and drive for Miletos, was a great Ionian port as well as the birthplace of several philosophers and sages. Didyma, the Temple of Apollo was one of antiquity's most sacred places, continue to Priene, was once most active ports of Ionian Federation. Overnight at your hotel. (B L D) |
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| Day
9 |
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 House of Virgin Mary where she spent her last days (if required), Terrace Houses; also called "the houses of rich". Ephesus Museum; exhibition of the artifacts found in Ephesus, The Basilica |
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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 three hundred years after the death of Saint Paul. Return to Kusadasi for 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 10 |
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Istanbul
Early flight to Istanbul to visit to one of the world's greatest buildings, Hagia Sophia; the great Byzantine Basilica built in the 6th century, following the Blue Mosque famous for its six minarets and magnificent interior blue tiles, The Blue Mosque, built in the 17th century; it takes its name from the thousands |
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of Iznik tiles lining the walls. Continue to your private Bosphorus Cruise. 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, Ciragan and Beylerbeyi Palaces. By the end of your cruise return to your hotel for overnight. Overnight at your hotel. (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 11 |
Istanbul
One of the most interesting sights in Istanbul is the former residence of the Sultans, the exotic Topkapi Palace. See the famous jewel-studded dagger, the unique Chinese porcelain collection, imperial costumes and the 86-carat Spoon maker's Diamond. In the afternoon, experience the Grand Bazaar, a labyrinth of |
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narrow streets and passages housing more than 4.000 shops. Overnight at your hotel. (B L)
Our Suggestions:
- Dinner in a restaurant by the Bosphorus |
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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 underground village of Kaymakli |
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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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Pay a visit to the home of St. Nicholas; who is known as Santa Claus |
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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 Grand Bazaar |
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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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