DAY 01 SYDNEY ✈ ISTANBUL

Meet at the Sydney airport to board a flight to Istanbul.

DAY 02 ISTANBUL

Arrival and waiting time to take the next flight to Istanbul. Arrive, reception in the airport and transport to the hotel. Accommodation.

DAY 03 ISTANBUL

Breakfast. Day off. Accommodation.

Possibility of taking the optional guided excursion (not included – with additional cost) with lunch at a typical food restaurant “BOSPHORUS TOUR”. Departure to contemplate the spectacular panorama of the Golden Horn from Pierre Loti Hill; visit of the Cathedral of Saint George, main patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Church and seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, recognized as the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians; We continue to the Suleiman The Magnificent Mosque, designed by the Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan and which has the largest dome of all the mosques in Istanbul; We head to the Spice Bazaar, a place with special charm for its color and aromas, the place par excellence to purchase teas, herbs, nuts, typical sweets and of course spices; We culminate with a tour through the Bosphorus, the strait that divides the city between Europe and Asia, we will appreciate the wonderful views of the Ottoman fortresses, palaces, villas and the bridges that connect both sides of this city.

DAY 04 ISTANBUL

Breakfast. Day off. Accommodation.

Possibility of taking the optional guided excursion (not included – with additional cost) with lunch in a typical food restaurant “JOYAS DE CONSTANTINOPLE”: Enter the historic center of the city, where you can observe the variety of vestiges of the different empires that They shaped the current Istanbul: the imposing Topkapi Palace, residence of the sultans and main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire; Hagia Sophia with its majestic Byzantine architecture and mix of Christian and Islamic religious elements; the Roman Hippodrome, the center of social life in Constantinople for thousands of years; the Blue Mosque with its more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles brought from Iznik; the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world and where haggling is a tradition.

DAY 05 ISTANBUL 🚌 ANKARA 🚌 CAPPADOCIA

Breakfast. Early departure by bus to Ankara and visit the capital of Turkey and the Mausoleum of the Founder of the republic. Arrival in Cappadocia. Visit of an underground city built by ancient local communities to protect themselves from attacks. Dinner and accommodation.

DAY 06 CAPPADOCIA

Breakfast. Departure to visit this wonderful region with its fascinating and original landscape, formed by volcanic lava for more than 3 million years. Visit to the Goreme Open-Sky Museum, a monastery with chapels dug into the volcanic rocks and decorated with 13th-century frescoes. Visit the impressive valleys of the region with their “otherworldly” landscapes, having served as a film set in the Star Wars films. You will also appreciate the views of the geological formations that are symbols of the region, the famous “Fairy Chimneys”. We will make a stop to appreciate the incredible and extensive panoramic view of the Valley of Pigeons, which owes its name to the numerous pigeon lofts excavated in the rocks, since in Cappadocia these animals have long been a source of food and fertilizer. Visit a typical Cappadocian jewelry and stone center and a carpet factory to learn about the production of these products. Dinner and accommodation.
We suggest taking the following optional excursions (not included – with additional cost):

• Balloon ride at dawn to admire one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth.
• 4×4 safari through the beautiful region of Cappadocia.

DAY 07 CAPPADOCIA

Breakfast. Day off. Dinner and accommodation

We suggest taking the optional (not included – with additional cost) “CAPPADOCIA AND ITS WINTER CAPITAL” Departure early in the morning towards one of the capitals of the region and an important city of the Seleucid Empire. Along the way we will enjoy the horizon, the imposing image of the dormant Erciyes volcano, whose eruption (together with the Hasan volcano) has given rise to the natural scenery of Cappadocia. Arrival in Kayseri (90 km – 1:30 approx.) We will take a tour of the city that will remind us of the origins of the Ottomans, through the beauty of the octagonal mausoleums, the city castle, the Mosque and its Madrassah, central bazaar and the iconic clock in the main square. We will then climb Mount Argeo, which rises at the foot of the city up to 2,000 meters high and is home to a fantastic winter sports resort. Arrival and transfer to the clothing center where only the jacket and pants are included to resist the cold, since it is practically like entering a freezer, but with little time and appropriate clothing everyone can adapt well. Once in the landscape dominated by white snow and the sky at its limit, we will enjoy the famous local pepperoni sandwich and we will drink mulled wine, accompanied by good music and fun in the snow. The afternoon is free to explore the station, its cafes, restaurants, hotels and take the cable cars (up and down ticket included) and appreciate the incredible scenery. You can also do winter sports such as Skiing or Snowboarding if you don’t take classes to learn them. At the end of the afternoon, we will go down, and then we will return to Cappadocia.

DAY 08 CAPPADOCIA 🚌 PAMUKKALE

Breakfast. Departure to Pamukkale to visit the ancient Hierapolis and Cotton Castle, a true natural wonder, a giant waterfall, stalactites and natural pools formed over the centuries by the passage of thermal waters loaded with calcareous salts. Dinner and accommodation.

DAY 09 PAMUKKALE 🚌 EPHESUS 🚌 KUSADASI*

Breakfast. Departure to Ephesus, the best preserved Greco-Roman city in Asia Minor from the 1st and 2nd centuries, which monopolized the wealth of the Middle East and houses treasures such as the impressive Roman theater that housed more than 25,000 spectators, the magnificent library of Celsus and Marble Street. We will visit the House of the Virgin Mary, supposedly the last resting place of the mother of Jesus, and today it is considered a pilgrimage point. Continue to Kusadasi on the Aegean Sea and visit a leather workshop and an international brand outlet. Dinner and accommodation.

*Accommodation may be in Izmir or Kusadasi on some departures. Subject to availability at the time of booking.

DAY 10 KUSADASI*

Breakfast. Day off. Dinner and accommodation.

Possibility of taking the optional guided excursion (not included – with additional cost) “GREEK ISLAND CHIOS”. Transfer from the hotel to the port of Cesme. After immigration, we leave for the island of Chíos: the production of chews, the city of Mesta and its labyrinthine streets from the Byzantine era, Pyrgi and its houses decorated with murals drawn in black and white, the volcanic beach of Mavra Volia Empoios . Transfer to the port and departure to Cesme, Türkiye. Arrive and transfer to the hotel.

DAY 11 KUSADASI* 🚌 BURSA 🚌 ISTANBUL

Breakfast. Departure to Bursa. Panoramic visit of this important city that was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit of the Ulu Camii Mosque, the main mosque of the city and one of the most beautiful in all of Turkey. You will also have the opportunity to take a walk through the silk market, where you can see antiques, silks, perfumes and pashminas. Accommodation.

DAY 12 ISTANBUL✈ SYDNEY

At the indicated time, transfer to the airport to board a flight to Sydney

-This itinerary may be modified due to road conditions, weather, other unforeseeable aspects or availability at the time of booking

-The order of services may change