8 Days - Istanbul - Ephesus - Pamukkale - Priene - Miletus - Didyma - By Plane

8 Day tour of Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Priene, Miletus and Didyma
 
 Tour itinerary
 
 DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL

 DAY 2 - BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN RELICS TOUR (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
 08:30 am. You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Old City. In this day you will be able to see :
 
 HAGIA SOPHIA: Byzantium largest cathedral, converted to mosque 1453 by the Ottoman Empire and today open as a museum to see both religion remains.
 
 BLUE MOSQUE: This mosque complex, containing Istanbul's only mosque with six minarets was built by Sedefkar Mehmet Aga for Sultan Ahmed 1st. early 17th century.
 
 HIPPODROME: Center of sport activities and political events of the Eastern Roman Empire.
 
 GRAND BAZAAR: Famous shopping center worldwide. Shopping possibilities for carpet, jewellery, leather etc
 
 TOPKAPI PALACE: Built between 1475 and 1478 by Mehmet II, Fatih, the conqueror of Istanbul, served as the residence of the Sultan and administrative seat of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years.
 
 After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel at around 5:00 pm. Overnight in Istanbul.
 
 DAY 3 - BOSPHORUS CRUISE & DOLMABACHE or BEYLERBEYI PALACE TOUR (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
 08:30 am. You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Two Continents . In this day you will be able to see:
 
 SPICE BAZAAR: Mystical smells of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, caviar and dry fish etc...
 
 BOSPHORUS BY BOAT: On the waterway separating the two continents, Asia and Europe. Opportunity to take photographs of marble palaces and ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture, besides modern residences and luxurious apartments.
 
 BOSPHORUS BRIDGE: Unique chance to go from one continent (Asia) to another (Europe) in two minutes.
 
 BEYLERBEYI PALACE: The summer residence of Ottoman Sultans with its original furniture and magnificent gardens with the harem on the Asian side.
 
 OR
  
 DOLMABACHE PALACE: With more than 340 rooms & 8 Turkish Baths the Imperial Residence of the last 6 Sultans, is sure to fascinate its visitors.
  
 Note: You can choose to either visit the Dolmabache Palace or the Beylerbeyi Palace on this tour itinerary. However, due to time limitations, it will not be possible to visit both these Palaces. Please choose one.
 
 CAMLICA HILL: Offers a panoramic view of Istanbul and Bosphorus from the highest point of the city.
 
 After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel at around 5:30 pm. Overnight in Istanbul.
 
 DAY 4 - FLIGHT TO IZMIR & EPHESUS TOUR (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
 You will be picked up from your hotel around 06:00 and transfer to airport.
 Depart from Istanbul 07:30 am.
 Arrive Izmir at 08:30 am. Met on arrival and transfer to Ephesus.
 (1 hour drive from Izmir to Ephesus)
 
 Full day tour of Ephesus & The House of Virgin Mary starts around 09:30 am.
 First you will visit The Temple of Artemis, which once was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Then you will visit the world famous ancient Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, the most well preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a lunch break. After lunch you will visit The House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims.
 After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.
 
 DAY 5 - Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
 08:00 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Pamukkale. In Pamukkale, you will see the Cotton Cliffs, one of the natural wonders of the world formed by deposits of calcareous salts. Also visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its basilica , theatre and Roman Baths. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.
 
 DAY 6 - Priene, Miletus and Didyma Tour (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
 Breakfast & check out the hotel.
 08:30 You will be picked up from your hotel for Full day tour of Priene Miletus & Didyma. First you will see Priene which in its time was one of the most spectacular of all the ancient Ionians cities. Then we will lead our way to Miletus to see Miletus with its magnificent theatre and the Byzantine fortress on the acropolis above. Our last stop will be Didyma. Here you will find the largest Ionic Temple in the world, that of Apollo. Also in Didyma lies the huge, cracked head of Medusa which long ago fell from the freeze. After the tour, transfer to Izmir Airport.
 21:00 Depart for Istanbul.
 22:00 Arrive in Istanbul. Met on arrival & transfer to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
 
 DAY 7 – Free Day in Istanbul (Meals: Breakfast)
 Free day at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul
 
 DAY 8 - Departure (Meals: Breakfast)
 After breakfast check out from hotel (before 12:00), transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport regarding your flight details. End of tour and services. (If you would like, you can extend your trip by adding extra nights in Istanbul, please advise. 
 
Please contact us for more information: info@allistanbultours.com