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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. Time at the hotel for relax. In the afternoon transfer for your Private Bosphorus Cruise including snacks and drinks. A traditional excursion by |
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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, Ciragan and Beylerbeyi Palaces. By the end of your cruise return to your hotel for overnight. Overnight at your hotel.
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 |
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| Day 2 |
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Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the full day tour of 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 - the great Byzantine Basilica built in the 6th century - following the Blue Mosque famous for its six minarets and magnificent |
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interior blue tiles. 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 3 |
Istanbul
Today our first visit would be the Chora Church, then the Suleymaniye Mosque. The mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent was built between 1550 and 1557 by the famous architect Sinan whose wish was to surpass the builders of Hagia Sophia. Visit Underground Cistern. Some free time in Spice Market. Free afternoon to explore Istanbul on your own. Overnight at your hotel. (B L) |
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| Day 4 |
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Cappadocia
Depart to Istanbul airport for the flight to Kayseri for the full day tour of Cappadocia; first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; walking in Zelve Open Air Museum: a journey in the past with its troglodyte houses; visit to Pasabag "fairy chimneys" where the voice of wind mixes with |
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the "songs of fairies". Continue to Avanos, center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. Afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Climb on top of the Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Overnight at your hotel. (B L D) |
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| Day 5 |
Cappadocia
Tour to Kaymakli Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Soganli Valley, an Open Air Museum in a wild natural setting near a typical Cappadocian village with its different style Rock-Cut churches and frescoes. Villages in the valleys, surrounded by the "table top" mountains, are spectacular. |
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Visit to Sahinefendi - Sobessos, newly discovered (01 May 2002) mosaic houses & archaeological excavation site. Continue with Keslik Monastery near Cemil, that hides its frescoes behind a very thin smoke layer which we can only see by torchlight. The Medrese (Theological School) from Seljuk Turks in Taskinpasa is the witness of an early and rich Turkish settlement in the town. Our tour finishes with a visit to Mustafapasa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; very fine examples of late Greek settlements and architecture. Overnight at your hotel in Cappadocia. 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 6 |
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Ephesus
Morning flight to Izmir via Istanbul where you will drive to world famous ancient city of Ephesus. The tour will cover the sites; Ephesus, The Terrace Houses, The House of Virgin Mary (if required), The Basilica of St. John. By the end of touring follow your itinerary to Bodrum where you will embark your private gulet boat for your blue cruise. |
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Embarkation in the Harbor of Bodrum; first information about the yacht and the itinerary of the cruise with our "welcome cocktail". Dinner and overnight in the harbor. (Depending to the time of embarkation, start with the cruise to Gokova and overnight at a close bay...) (B L D)
Our Suggestions:
- You may also consider sailing to Greek islands as well as Turkish coasts |
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| Day 7 |
Blue Cruise
Before or after the breakfast a sailing cruise of about three hours to the Bay of Gerence at the southern part of Gokova. After the lunch and swimming break departing to the inner part of the Gokova arrival at the Cati Bay. Dinner and overnight at one of the most beautiful spots of Gokova. (B L D) |
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| Day 8 |
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Blue Cruise
After the breakfast, anchoring at Yedi Adalar in about 1,5 hours cruise. After the lunch, walking in the myrrh flora of Kufre - a natural port. Dinner and overnight at Kufre. (B L D) |
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| Day 9 |
Blue Cruise
After the breakfast a cruise of about 1,5 hours to the Island of Sedrai. Visit of the ancient relicts of Kedrai (Cedreae). Just enjoy the saga of the thin, golden colored sand imported by the Roman commandant Antonius as a present for his admired Egyptian Queen of Cleopatra and swim in the same warm water. In the afternoon a visit to the Creek of Degirmenbuku |
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and anchoring at the English Harbor. This small creek was named after a British warship that hid there to protect herself from the German fleet during the Second World War. Just relax at the small cafes or walk at the promenade along the seaside. Overnight at the English Harbor. (B L D)
Our Suggestions:
- Try catching a fish. You will never forget its taste on the barbeque |
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| Day 10 |
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Blue Cruise
After the breakfast at the English Harbor cruising to the opposite shore of Gokova. Dropping the anchor and swimming and lunch break at one of the small creeks around the Akbuk Bay. About two hours sailing to the village of Cokertme. This is time to head towards Bodrum. We will either stop at the Island of Oraklar, or the shore of Yaliciftlik or |
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another bay close to Bodrum (if requested anchoring in Bodrum for dinner and last overnight...) (B L D) |
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| Day 11 |
Istanbul
Disembarkation in the morning for the flight to Istanbul after the breakfast. Arrival in Istanbul airport and transfer your hotel. Time at the hotel for relax. Afternoon transfer for the visit to Mosaic Museum; preserves in exceptionally fine fifth and sixth-century mosaic pavements from the Grand Palace of the Byzantine emperors. |
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Continue to Museum of Turkish & Islamic Art; pieces of Turkish and Islamic Art are exhibited in the museum. Turkish and Islamic Art Museum was built in 1524 by the Grand Vizier to Suleyman the Magnificent, Ibrahim Pasa, as his residence. It was the grandest private residence ever built in the Ottoman Empire. Today it holds a superb collection of ceramics, metalwork, miniatures, calligraphy, textiles, and woodwork as well as some of the oldest carpets in the world. Overnight at your hotel. (B L)
Our Suggestions:
- 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 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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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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Peruse the extraordinary collections in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art |
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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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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 your private cruise along the crystal clear waters of Aegean discovering all the uncharted bays and scenic beauties of the shoreline |
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We can shorten or extend the above itinerary according to your interest |
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The above mentioned blue cruise itinerary can be modified by extending or shortening the days of cruising |
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You may also sail to the Greek islands with or without visiting some of the Turkish coasts as well |
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The blue cruise part of the itinerary may cover entire southern part of Turkey. The departure and arrival port may change to Marmaris, Gocek and Bodrum |
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