TURKEY FROM WEST TO EAST (GEO 08)
Istanbul / Canakkale / Kusadasi / Pamukkale / Cappadocia / Ankara
(8 Nights / 9 Days)
01/04/2007-31/10/2007
!!! EVERYDAY DEPARTURES
!!! "ON PRIVATE BASIS ONLY"

DAY 2 : ISTANBUL - (B,L)
In the morning after breakfast, join the tour to visit Topkapi Palace, St Sophia,  Suleymaniye Mosque, built in the 16th century by Sinan, the famous Ottoman architect of all times, the Byzantine Hippodrome, and Blue Mosque, which has six minarets and a middle dome of 109 feet. Finally the Grand Covered Bazaar, which covers over 4,000 shops under one roof. 

DAY 3 : ISTANBUL/ CANAKKALE - (B,L,D)
After breakfast drive to Canakkale. Lunh en route. After crossing the Dardanelle by ferry in the afternoon, drive to Troy, the immortal city of the legendary Helen of Troy and Trojan Horse, which was destroyed and rebuilt nine times.

DAY 4 : CANAKKALE / KUSADASI - (B,L,D)
After breakfast drive to Bergama and visit Bergama (ancient Pergamon). Parchment was invented here. This was the hometown of Galen, renowned doctor and surgeon and site of his temple devoted to healing, the Asclepion. The library once held 200,000 books; all parchment. Lunch at a local restaurant in Bergama and after the tour drive to Kusadasi for overnight.

DAY 5 : KUSADASI - (B,L,D)
After breakfast, visit the ruins of Ephesus, which played a major role in the development of architecture, religions, governmental and economic systems and arts. The temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of ancient world and centre of pagan religion for 15 centuries. Here Marc Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession, St. Paul preached in the Great Theatre and in a little house outside the city the Virgin Mary spent her last days.

DAY 6 :  KUSADASI / PAMUKKALE - (B,L,D)
After the breakfast drive to Pamukkale via Aphrodisias, the ancient city dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. After lunch drive to Pamukkale the cotton fortress, which rises above the fertile Menderes Valley. Hot mineral waters burst from the earth and cascade over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. The therapeutic waters here were known to founders of the cure city of Hierapolis in 190 BC.

DAY 7 : PAMUKKALE / KONYA / CAPPADOCIA - (B,L,D)
After breakfast transfer to Cappadocia via Konya to visit the tomb of Mevlana, the great mystic poet and Islamic spiritual leader, who founded the sect of ''Whirling Dervishes''.
On the way to Cappadocia, visit 13th century Selcuk caravanserai "Sultanhan".

DAY 8 : CAPPADOCIA  - (B,L,D)
Sightseeing in this unique corner of the world. Visit to Pigeon Valley and the natural citadel of Uchisar, followed by Goreme Open-Air Museum, which is full of pink, rose and white tapering columns. These tall free standing cones of stone curve and twist as if pulled from earth like taffy. Others are tall like fairy chimneys. The caves were settled in the 4th century as monasteries. Visit some caves on the cliffs to see Byzantine frescoes decorating early Christian churches Kaymakli Underground City; carved out of rock and completely self contained. More than 200 people lived on each of seven floors with the last one 250 feet underground. It is connected to Derinkuyu Underground city by six miles of tunnel. Lunch at a typical restaurant of the region and visit Avanos Village. Time for shopping. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

The Hotels
Istanbul             Euro Plaza Hotel or similar             4*        www.europlazahotel.com
Canakkale          Akol Hotel or similar                     4*        www.hotelakol.com
Kusadasi             Grand Ozcelik or similar                 4*        www.ozcelikhotels.com
Pamukkale         Lycus River or similar                    4*        www.lycusriver.com
Cappadocia        Dinler Hotel or similar                   4*        www.dinler.com

Inclusions

• 8 nights accommodation at the mentioned hotels
• 8 breakfasts
• 6 dinners
• 8 lunches
• Return airport transfers on PRIVATE basis
• PRIVATE basis tour throughout as per itinerary
• Entrances
• Tip and portrage at hotel and restaurant

Exclusions

• Flights
• Drinks at meals
• Personal expenses such as phonecalls, minibar, laundry etc.
• Tip to driver and the guide

Important notes

• The rates may vary during the International events such as Formula 1, congresses etc
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday
• Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice Bazaar are closed on Sunday
• St Sophia is closed on Monday
• Veg and Non Veg clients will be accommodated at meals during full day tours
• The domestic flights suggested :

      Istanbul - Izmir latest at 09:00