Magnificent Türkiye: Treasures & Mosques

Departure on a regular flight to Istanbul. Arrival, transfer to the hotel and accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to visit the old part where the most outstanding Ottoman and Byzantine monuments are concentrated. We will visit the very famous temple of Santa Sofia, a culmination of Byzantine art, built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, converted into a Mosque after the fall of Constantinople to the Turks. It was converted into a museum in 1936 and is currently a Mosque again. After this visit we will continue to Topkapı Palace, from where the entire Ottoman Empire was ruled for almost 400 years. It is the largest civil building in the country with more than 700,000 square meters. It has four courtyards and multiple buildings inside: weapons room, kitchens, the Divan, the library, the custody of the sacred relics, kiosks and unbeatable views of both the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. Lunch. Next, we will see the ancient Roman Hippodrome, ending our excursion with a visit to the famous Blue Mosque, the only one in the world with 6 minarets.

Desayuno y salida hacia Ankara, pasando por las montañas de Bolu. Llegada a Ankara, capital de la República y visita al Mauseleo de Ataturk. Almuerzo. Continuación hacia Capadocia, pasando por el lago Salado, segundo lago mas grande del país, que durante los meses de verano se convierte en una costra blanca de sal que permite pasar caminando al otro lado y que era una de las rutas mas usadas en la época de la ruta de la seda. Llegada al hotel. Cena y alojamiento. Posibilidad de participar en un espectáculo de bailes folclóricos, que reflejan la cultura, el sentimiento, las tradiciones y los colores de las diferentes etnias y regiones del país. El espectáculo -interactivo- con bebidas alcohólicas locales ilimitada, se celebra en una cueva excavada en la roca volcánica.

We recommend taking advantage of the morning of this day to take an optional hot air balloon excursion at sunrise. We have secured your places with a pre-reservation on one of the most prestigious and reliable balloon companies in the region. Breakfast and departure to visit this wonderful region, a mix of the whims of nature and human art. Visit the Göreme Open Air Museum, one of the first monasteries of Christianity, with its cave churches decorated with frescoes. Next, visit the town of Uchisar where you can see the ancient troglodyte fortress excavated in volcanic rock. Lunch. We will make various panoramic stops to enjoy the capricious natural forms of the different valleys of the region: Güvercinlik -valley of the Palomares- or Avcilar -valley of the hunters. We will also have time to visit typical local jewelry and carpet workshops, where you can find good value for money. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to the underground city of Özkonak, Mazı or similar, excavated by the first Christian communities. Tour of the Dervent Valley. Next, visit to the Uçhisar Valley where you can see the ancient fortress carved into the rock. Lunch and free afternoon for personal activities. Possibility of optional excursions not included in the price: 4 x 4, Jeep Safari, Turkish Bath, etc… Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure to Konya. Along the way, visit a typical medieval inn on the Silk Road. Lunch. Continuation to Pamukkale, known as Cotton Castle, a unique formation in the world, which apart from its natural beauty gave rise to one of the richest Greco-Roman cities of ancient times: Hierapolis. After entering the walls of the ancient city, we will have free time to enjoy the natural landscape of the gigantic white petrified waterfalls that remain within the ancient city of Hierapolis. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast. Departure to Ephesus, capital of Asia Minor in Roman times. In 2015 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, for being an excellent example of urban planning adapted to the landscape and for being one of the three best preserved cities in the ancient world. Visit of the archaeological site where we will see the location of Trajan's Fountain, the temple of Hadrian, the library of Celsus, the great theater with capacity for 25,000 spectators, the state agora and the commercial agora. Lunch. Visit to a typical leather jacket center, famous for its high quality and elegance. Continuation to our hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to Pergamon where we will visit the Asclepion hospital, the first hospital in Asia Minor dedicated to the god of health Aesculapius, the sleeping tunnels, the small theater for patients, the swimming pools and the long Old Street. Lunch. Continuation to Çanakkale where we will visit the famous city of Troy. ancient city that has been the headquarters of the legendary war narrated by Homer in the best-selling book in the history of humanity: ''The Iliad''. After visiting the archaeological site, we will enjoy free time to photograph the replica of the famous Trojan horse. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visits to the Great Mosque, the Green Mosque and the Silk Bazaar. Lunch and continuation to Istanbul, crossing either the Izmit Bay by ferry or the new bridge. Arrival in Istanbul and accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to the airport to take the return flight. End of our services.