The Provincial Capitals of Asia Minor

Arrive at Istanbul airport and meet our representative. Transfer to your hotel and overnight in Istanbul.

Breakfast. Full-day tour of the city. In the morning we will visit the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul's most identifying monument, one of the most appreciated and beautiful architectural wonders; in addition to being one of the largest churches in the world. Then we will visit the Topkapi Palace, where the sultans lived between 1478 and 1856. Topkapi is not a unique structure, but an organic monumental complex made up of various kiosks, gardens, and areas spread over the neighborhood of the historic center of the city of Istanbul to the tip of the Golden Horn.

We continue towards the Blue Mosque; admired for its six tall minarets and terraced domes that rise in the center of the building; you will see that the architect achieved his objective; perfection with this impressive piece of architecture. In the afternoon visit to the Roman Hippodrome (Seventh Severe period). It was the place where chariot races and circuses served as entertainment for the inhabitants of Constantinople for over a thousand years. We will end the day in the covered market Grand Bazaar where they will enjoy free time. Back to your hotel and overnight in Istanbul.

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast. Early departure to the airport for the flight to Kayseri. Arrival in Cappadocia and then we will visit the Saruhan Caravanserai (12th century), an inn built for commercial caravans. In the afternoon, we will continue with a visit to the Zelve Valley, where Muslims and Christians lived together until 1924.

Passing through the Devrent Valley, we will appreciate the “Chimneys of the Fairies” and, arriving at the ancient city of Ortahisar, we will go to the hotel for dinner. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

After breakfast full-day excursion. We will visit the Göreme Open Air Museum, where we will see some churches built into the rocks with interior frescoes. We will continue with the visit to the ancient city of Uchisar. We will continue to the Valley of the Pigeons and visit the Pasabag or Valley of the Monks, with its “Chimneys of the Fairies” - natural rock formations in the shape of a mushroom. We will continue to the city of potters: Avanos. In the afternoon we will visit an underground city, Serhatlı or Özkonak, impressive for its many levels of depth.

Such sites were used by early Christians as a refuge from enemies during the 6th and 7th centuries. Finally, we'll visit a carpet factory to see how Turkish rugs known around the world are woven, as well as stop by a local jewelry store. Return to the hotel, dinner, and overnight in Cappadocia.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Breakfast. Departure to Antalya. We will visit Perge on the way, an important ancient city of Pamphylia between the Catarrhactes and Cestrus rivers. Today this is a large silo of ancient ruins 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) east of Antalya on the coastal plain. There is an acropolis in this location dating from the Bronze Age, as well as Aspendos, a city which, according to Greek tradition, was founded in pre-Hellenic times by settlers probably originating from Argos in ancient Pamphylia, on the southern coast of Asia Minor. Aspendos is located about 45km east of the off-the-beaten-track town of Perge. Arrival in Antalya, dinner, and overnight in Antalya.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Breakfast. Departure to Pamukkale and on the way we will visit Sagalaso, the richest city in Pisidia when Alexander the Great conquered it in 333 BC. on his journey to Persia. Its population was a few thousand inhabitants. After Alexander's death, the region became part of the territories of the Macedonian noble Antigonus Monophthalmus. Then we will arrive at Pamukkale, which means "Cotton Castle" in Turkish because of its white waterfalls. Natural travertine pools are formations caused by hot springs.

We will continue with the visit to the ancient city of Hierapolis, which was the episcopal center of Phrygia during the Byzantine period. Transfer to the hotel, dinner, and overnight in Pamukkale.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Breakfast. Departure for Ephesus, the best-preserved ancient city in Asia Minor which during the 1st and 2nd centuries had a population of 250,000 inhabitants. We will visit Hadrian's Temple, the Roman Baths, the Celsus Library, and the Odeon, a theater with a capacity for 24,500 spectators. On the way we will visit the house of the Virgin Mary (mother of Jesus), where Mary spent her final years. During the trip, we will watch a fashion show that will present beautiful local leather products. In Kuşadasi, transfer to the hotel, dinner, and overnight in Kusadasi.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Breakfast. Departure to Bodrum. On the way, we will visit the sumptuous Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, a funerary monument built between the year 353 BC. and 350 B.C. in ancient Halicarnassus (present-day Bodrum) to Mausolus, a satrap governor of the Persian Empire. Later in Bodrum, we will visit the Castle of Saint Peter of Halicarnassus / Bodrum Castle; this site was attacked in 1522 by Suleiman the Magnificent, and the castle was repaired with materials from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

This construction was erected as the tomb of the King Mausoleum, the name from which the term "mausoleum" used to this day comes. Transfer to the hotel, dinner, and overnight in Bodrum.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Breakfast and transfer to Bodrum airport to take the flight to Istanbul. Arrival Istanbul and transfer to the hotel, overnight on Istanbul.

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast and transfer to the airport to take your flight back.

Meal: Breakfast