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This circuit through Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus is undoubtedly one of the most complete in our catalog: in 10 days you will discover the most fascinating and unique destinations in Turkey. the most fascinating and unique destinations in Turkey.The most important sites in the world: its most historic, monumental and cosmopolitan city (Istanbul), its most enchanting national parks with their unique geological formations (Cappadocia and Pamukkale) and the most spectacular archaeological sites of the ancient Greco-Roman world (Hierapolis and Ephesus).
With these elements we have prepared a trip that will remain forever etched in your memory.
In this circuit through Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus, Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and EphesusThe monuments that will follow in front of your eyes will leave you speechless.
In the different destinations to visit, you will discover what the civilizations that populated this country centuries ago were capable of, for which some of the best architects in history worked.
In Istanbul, the greatness of the Byzantine and Ottoman eras is evident, with architectural masterpieces such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace.
And in the other destinations, the beauty of temples, palaces and other monuments is also breathtaking.
You can see this in the best-preserved remains of Hierapolis and Ephesus, with triumphal arches and ancient theaters that exude a particularly evocative charm.
But you will also appreciate it in the cave churches of Cappadocia, which date back to the Middle Ages and demonstrate the mastery of their creators in taking advantage of the humble natural resources around them.
And for those who believe, the House of the Virgin will turn out to be a most venerable construction, in spite of its reduced dimensions.
The genius architects of the past were able to create masterpieces with their art, but none of them can match those created by Mother Nature.
And in this circuit through Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus you will discover some of the most whimsical and picturesque natural corners of the world.
For example, the travertines of PamukkaleThe water from these terraces, which have created a fantastic landscape of white terraces that look like cotton or ice, and have also formed pools of water rich in minerals.
Or the chimneys of the fairies that are scattered everywhere in the Göreme Göreme National Parkin Cappadocia, configuring a lunar landscape that seems unreal.
And the Bosphorus Strait is, on the other hand, a major geographical feature, considered the natural border between Europe and Asia.
With a duration of 10 days and 9 nights, this tour of Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus is possible thanks to the road trips by private vehicle with driver, and also by the 3 domestic flights that we include in the package.
This is the detailed description of the program:
The first day of this circuit through Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus is a first contact with first contact with with the country, through its main gateway: Istanbul.
At the airport of this city (either the main airport of Istanbul or the secondary airport of Sabiha Gokçen) our staff will be waiting for you to meet you and transfer you in a private vehicle to the hotel, located in the center of the city.
You will check-in and receive useful information about the tour and the city so that you can go out for dinner and enjoy some free time in Istanbul, before returning to rest at the hotel, as long as the flight arrival time allows it.
Istanbul is a city full of attractions.
And on this second day of the tour, we will set out to discover the most important ones, with a program full of visits and experiences.
For this, you will have at your disposal a official guide, able to optimize time and, at the same time and, at the same time, offer the necessary explanations to understand and admire the places to visit.
The two main monuments which will occupy the morning are the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.
The first is a spectacular Islamic temple that can be visited, whose interior fascinates for its refined decorations of Iznik tilesThe most prestigious and valued in Turkey.
It is a very harmonious composition in which the main colors are white and different shades of blue, as its name suggests.
It was built in the seventeenth century and is considered one of the most elegant of the Ottoman era.
The exterior of the Blue Mosque is inspired, like most of the temples of its time, in Hagia SophiaThe next monument to visit on this day.
As can be deduced from its name, it was originally a Christian basilica, in this case from the time of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian (6th century).
But after the Muslim conquest of Constantinople in 1453, it became a mosque and underwent major additions, such as its characteristic minarets.
It still preserves interesting mosaics from Byzantine and later times, but the element that continues to generate real fascination is its great central domea feat of ancient architecture.
The third monument to visit inside on this day is the Topkapi Palace. Topkapi Palace.
Fue la residencia oficial de los sultanes otomanos y también su gran centro administrativo.
Su extensión y su carácter inexpugnable como recinto fortificado dan cuenta de ello.
Pero probablemente lo que más fascine al visitante son sus collections of art, handicrafts, weapons and other items of great value, such as Chinese and Japanese porcelain.
Undoubtedly, the construction that best reflects the power of the Ottoman Empire and its evolution over time, as it began to be built in the fifteenth century and was modified until the nineteenth century.
In addition to these three interior visits, this guided tour will take us to the most important square in Istanbul: Sultanahmet Square. Sultanahmet.
Su extensión es muy grande, pues se asienta en lo que fue el antiguo Hipódromo de Constantinopla.
Y por ello, sus principales monumentos se remontan a la época antigua: varios obeliscos y una columna griega, rémora de los orígenes de la ciudad, cuando fue fundada con el nombre de Bizancio, en el siglo VII a.C.
At the end of this intense day, you will have some free time to explore the immense Grand Bazaarone of the largest in the world.
It is precisely the heir of the great market that was installed here in the times of the Ottoman Empire, when Istanbul was an important node of transport and trade, due to its strategic location between East and West.
Gastronomy and handicrafts in their most different versions are its great attractions.
During the day, lunch is lunch is included and will be taken in a local restaurant, with typical dishes of the city.
And after the visit to the Grand Bazaar, we will transfer you back to the hotel for a well-deserved night’s rest.
The third day of this circuit through Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus is a necessary transition day to move to the next destination: Cappadocia.
For this purpose, after breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up at the indicated time for the transfer to Istanbul airportfrom where your flight will depart to Kayseri airport.
Already in Kayseriother members of our staff will meet you at the foot of the terminal for the next transfer to the hotel. transfer to the hotelThe hotel will have a special charm and will be located in a strategic place in Cappadocia.
The schedule for this day will depend on the Istanbul-Kayseri flight and, depending on this, there may be some free time before departure or after check-in at the new hotel.
To discover Cappadocia, we will divide the places to visit in two days.
On this first day in the region, we will enter the northern sector, making an unforgettable route by road and stopping at strategic points to take pictures and receive information about its uniqueness.
All of this, within the Göreme National Park, which has also been declared a national park. Unesco World Heritage Sitethanks to the unusual combination of natural and artistic beauty.
The first place to visit is already a magnificent letter of introduction: the Dervent Valley. Dervent Valleybetter known as the Valley of the Imagination because the whimsical shapes that we will see here will make us see the most colorful figures, such as animals and plants.
This is the result, as in the rest of the National Park, of the effect of differential erosion over millions of years, carving and carving the sedimentary and volcanic rocks present here.
Man, who has lived here for centuries and millennia, has been able to adapt and exploit the benefits of these rocky structures.
And this is what we will see in the subsequent visit to cave churchesThe most important of these are also a hallmark of Cappadocia: Christian temples carved into the rock with medieval frescoes rediscovered in the nineteenth century.
It is here that we will better understand the strong relationship of this region with Christianity, since some of the most venerated saints of this religion, such as St. George, come from here.
On this first day in Cappadocia we will also get in touch with local handicrafts and traditions.
In particular, in AvanosThe small town is known worldwide for its pottery.
In particular, for its red ceramic terracotta, from the nearby Red River.
We will see and experience it firsthand, as we will visit an artisan workshop to see how, even today, handmade pieces are still produced on their lathes.
The day’s journey will then take us to the Pasabag Valleypopularly known as the Valley of the Monkswhere we will witness other magnificent examples of fairy chimneys excavated to house spaces dedicated to prayer, as the quietness of the place lends itself to it.
In addition, on this day there will be a second handicraft experience: we will go to a carpet and kilim workshopThe tour includes a visit to the Cappadocia Museum, which are iconic products of Cappadocia and Turkey as a whole.
Here, we will learn more about this art and admire the confections that are still made here, as they were centuries ago.
Of course, in between these multiple visits and stops, there will be time for a traditional lunch. traditional lunch in a local restaurant, which will serve to taste some of the most popular dishes in this region.
And at the end of the day, we will return to the hotel, from where we will depart the next day for the second day of exploring South Cappadocia.
NOTE: One of the most spectacular activities in Cappadocia is to fly over its natural landscape in a hot air balloon.
There is the possibility of organizing a flight of this type on this day or the next.
For this, it will be necessary to start the day very early to be able to go to the take-off site before dawn and start the flight with the first rays of sunlight.
The viability of this activity is subject to weather conditions.
One of the advantages of this circuit through Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus is that we dedicate 2 days to Cappadocia, with the aim of deepening its attractions and visiting more places of interest.
For this reason, this second day will take us through the southern sector of Göreme National Park.
We will begin with another of the most evocative valleys in the area: the so-called Valley of LoveThe rock formations that erosion has shaped here allow us to imagine the most romantic and even erotic scenes.
At the next stop, the attraction is not on the surface, but underground: we will visit OzkonakThe cave, which is a set of subway galleries that Christians used as a settlement to take refuge and hide from Muslim persecution.
Its thermal stability, in addition, guaranteed pleasant conditions for its inhabitants, who left signs of it, visible today.
Again in the open air, we will continue on to see another very unique home, but in this case not of humans, but of birds: the Valley of the Pigeons (Guvercinlik)The cave, so called because these animals have found in the hollows of the rocks the perfect habitat for their life.
In addition, we will enjoy privileged panoramic views of the environment, including the imposing Uçhisar Castle.
Also offering spectacular views is the Christian village of Christian village of ÇavusinIt is now uninhabited, but with numerous evidences and vestiges of what it was in the past: a troglodytic village where the houses and temples were literally dug into the rock.
In addition, we will reserve time for another experience related to local handicrafts, in this case a goldsmith workshop. goldsmith workshop where we will discover the expertise of the masters in this type of pieces, which in some cases use raw materials and inspiration from the area.
And of course, we will return to lunch in another traditional restaurantwith typical Turkish cuisine.
At the end of the day, you will spend your third night at the hotel in Cappadocia, thus putting an end to these two dreamy days in an unforgettable region.
The sixth day is another transition day in this circuit through Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus.
During the morning, at the agreed time after breakfast, we will transfer you by private vehicle to the Kayseri airport to take the flight to Izmir, where you will meet our flight to Izmir, where you will meet our staff in Izmir.
Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey, is located on the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea, and this will be the area where the following days of the tour will be spent. From Izmir we will make a new transferin this case to KusadasiKusadasi, a small city that welcomes many tourists thanks to its picturesque coastal location and its proximity to essential destinations in the country.
The plan for this day will depend on the flight schedule, as sometimes there are direct flights between Cappadocia and Izmir, but in other cases there is a stopover in Istanbul.
Depending on this, there may be more or less free time left in Kusadasi to discover some of the points of interest of this city, such as its castle of Byzantine period, located in the middle of the Isla de las Palomas and current site of a museum.
The hotel in Kusadasi will be your home this night and the next, and its location and ambiance will be conducive to rest and relaxation.
The seventh day of this tour will bring you to a place you will hardly forget: Pamukkale.
Hasta aquí trasladaremos por la mañana desde el hotel de Kusadasi, en un two and a half hour road trip of approximately two and a half hoursapproximately.
As soon as you arrive, you will understand that the trip will have been worthwhile: the travertine terraces, the travertine terracesThe limestone, a white calcareous rock that looks like ice, snow or cotton, because of its perfection and purity.
This whim of nature, which also accumulates thermal waters in small pools, has been formed over millennia by a combination of earthquakes and the continuous sedimentation of bicarbonate and calcium.
Strolling barefoot and taking a dip is an unparalleled experience here.
This place was known from time immemorial, precisely because of this, one of the most important Greek and Roman cities of antiquity arose next to it: Hierapolis.
Sus aguas termales atrajeron a numerosas personas y favorecieron el desarrollo económico de la ciudad.
Y para suerte de los visitantes actuales, tanto Pamukkale como Hierápolis forman un mismo recinto visitable.
In the case of Hierapolis, a tourist tour of this enormous archaeological and monumental site cannot overlook places such as the Plutonium (a sacred space dedicated to the god of the underworld, Pluto), the Roman Roman theater, the Martyrium of St. Philip the Apostle or the or the Frontinus street.
NOTECleopatra’s pools: the site has relaxing pools, called Cleopatra’s pools, which are optional.
Free time can be left for a spa experience here.
At the agreed time, you will be picked up for your return trip to Kusadasi.
Again with Kusadasi as a luxury ‘base camp’, on this eighth day of the circuit we will travel to Ephesus.
In this case it will be a much shorter transfer, of barely a quarter of an hourAlso in one of our private vehicles with chauffeur.
The proximity of this spectacular archaeological site will allow us to dedicate the necessary time to discover its great attractions, of which there are many. Ephesus was one of the great cities of antiquity, thanks in large part to its port, which was located a few kilometers inland from the current coastline.
Its economic strength, which was also religious, led to the construction of spectacular monuments and infrastructures, visible today such as its Hadrian’s Gate, its Library of Celsus or its Great Theater..
After a first tour of this majestic archaeological site, we will go to the outskirts of the nearby city of Selçuk to see the site of the Temple of ArtemisThe site is one of the most important of Antiquity, which was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Afterwards, we will make a short trip to the House of the Virgin MaryOne of the most sacred places for Christianity, since it is believed that the mother of Jesus stayed here, guided and welcomed by St. John the Evangelist.
To all this combination of monumentality and religiosity we will add an everyday and popular point: a visit to a leather shop. leather store to learn about the expertise of those who work with leather here.
In addition, lunch will be offered in a local restaurantwith traditional food.
At the end of the program of visits and experiences, we will travel by road to Izmir airport, where you will take your flight to Istanbul. flight to Istanbul.
En este aeropuerto os recogerá nuestro personal para emprender el último traslado hacia el hotel, en el que pasaréis las dos últimas noches de este circuito por Estambul, Capadocia, Pamukkale y Éfeso.
In the previous eight days of this tour of Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus, the program has been full of sightseeing and sightseeing experiences.
For this reason, this ninth and penultimate day remains free so that you can spend your time according to your according to your preferences.
There are multiple options for this day, such as a trip along the Bosphorus, a visit to the Galata district, with its famous tower, or a visit to one of the great museums of the city, such as the Archaeological Museum or the Istanbul Modern Museum of modern art.
You can also spend the day shopping in its bazaars or in its fashionable neighborhoods, or delve into what the city has to offer in terms of gastronomy and leisure.
For all these reasons, this is also an ideal day to organize an excursion or a customized experience. an excursion or a tailor-made experienceThe day is also an ideal time to organize an excursion or a tailor-made experience to put the finishing touch to this circuit before returning to the hotel for the last night’s rest.
The tenth is the last day of this tour of Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus.
After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, we will pick you up at the appointed time for the transfer to the airport (either Istanbul or Sabiha Gokçen).
We will say goodbye to you at the same terminal, full of gratitude and with the hope of a new reunion in another of our tours in Turkey.
The services included in this package will make your trip a safe and comfortable experience. They are the following:
Although this tour of Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus is very complete in terms of visits and services, there are some aspects that are not included.
They are the following:
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