Western & Southern Turkey

Meeting with Aflatoon DMC staff at Istanbul airport and transfer to the hotel for your first night in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

At 08:30 am pick up from the hotel for full day tour of old Istanbul city.
The tour starts at HIPPODROME Square. It was a public arena mainly for chariot races and also home to gladiatorial games, official ceremonies, celebrations, protests, torture to the convicts and so on. The GERMAN FOUNTAIN OF WILHELM II, the OBELISK OF THEODOSIUS, the bronze SERPENTINE COLUMN and the COLUMN OF CONSTANTINE are other monuments at the square.

SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE built in the 17^th century and known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.

St. SOPHIA, This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great, in 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time.

GRAND BAZAAR(COVERED MARKET)More than 4000 shops in this labyrinth of streets and passages trade having its own area; the goldsmiths’ street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as hand painted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx ware and meerschaum pipes.

LUNCH (Drinks are extra)

LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA MOSQUE is known as one of the oldest standing churches in Istanbul dating back to 6th century and ithas been used as a mosque since 1497.

TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from 15th to 19th centuries, housing an exquisite collection of precious gems, jewelry thrones of sultans, robes worn by the sultans and their families; miniatures, the Holy Mantle; CHAMBER OF SACRED RELICS.

[Harem (women’s quarters) is not included in visit program and extra entrance fee is required.]

After old city tour, transfer back to the hotel. Free evening or optional Istanbul night shows or Bosporus dinner cruise including traditional Turkish entertainment and dinner.Overnight in Istanbul.

Pick up from the hotel for a full day tour of Istanbul city is at 08:30 am

CITY WALLS Among the many well-known monuments in Istanbul, the centuries-old city walls stand out with their effective surroundings and construction. They were demolished only twice in their all history, firstly by the Latin Crusaders in 1204 and again in 1453 by the Ottoman Turks who tried to conquer the city of Constantinople.

DRIVE BY BUS TO GOLDEN HORN approximately 8 km long Golden Horn also known by its modern Turkish name as Haliç is a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosporus, and it separates the European shore into two sides.

SPICE BAZAAR (EGYPTIAN BAZAAR): The Spice Bazaar dates back to the 17th Century. It is one of Istanbul’s oldest covered markets, where the exotic, oriental aspect of the city still survives.It is the best place to find spices, herbal teas, and traditional Turkish foods such as Turkish delight (lokum).

BOAT TRIP ON THE BOSPHORUS: An amazing cruise between the two continents, EUROPE and ASIA, along the Bosporus by the Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi Palaces, wooden villas and mansions up to the Rumeli Fortress.(THE RUMELI FORTRESS FROM THE SEA (NO INTERIOR VISIT))

Lunch break at a Turkish restaurant.

After the lunch depart for Istanbul Ataturk or Sabiha Gokcen Airport for domestic flight to Antalya. Transfer from airport and check in to the hotel in Antalya. Overnight in Antalya.

This is a joyful scenic tour of three waterfalls.

Duden waterfall: An interesting river reflecting the characteristics of the underground rivers of the region. The river surfaces after 9 km under the ground creating 2 waterfalls, one inland and one right on the coast Kursunlu waterfall: A waterfall where you can step into the coolness of the clear waters falling off a cliff into a small lake full of fish and geese. The walking route through the tunnel under entwined plants and ivies is a great experience. Overnight in Antalya.

Hierapolis (“Holy City”) was an ancient Greco-Roamn city in Phrygia located on hot springs in South West Anatolia. Its ruins are adjacent to modern Pamukkale.

Hierapolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hot springs there have been used as a spa since the 2nd Century B.C.E. and people came to soothe their ailments with many of them retiring or dying here.

Some of the highlights; the large necropolis is filled with sarcophagi, the main street with the gates and latrines, cathedral, the theatre and St. Philips tomb. The hot springs causing cascades which are called the Cotton Castle.  After finishing the tour, transfer to the hotel in Pamukkale. Overnight in Pamukkale.

First we will visit Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, standing today next to Ephesus antique city. Then we will drive to Ephesus. Ephesus was one of the most important harbor cities in antique world and also it is mentioned in the book of Revelations as one of the seven churches. Also Celsus Library and theater in Ephesus are other highlights.

In Ephesus Celcus Library, Temple of Hadrian, the fountain of Trajan and the Theater will be seen. Lunch is in a local Turkish restaurant and drive to Virgin Mary’s house. This place is discovered by Lazarist priests after a German nun described the house and the mountain as the last residence of Virgin Mary after she had some visions about the place.

16:00 End of the tour. Drive back to the Hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.

After breakfast check out from the hotel and depart for Izmir airport for Istanbul flight.