Sample Programme

ISTANBUL (3) + IZMIR (2) + ANTALYA (2)

1st  Day                                           
 
Arrival in Istanbul Atatürk Airport in the early morning. Meet and assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. After check in free time for relaxing
14:00    Depart from Hotel for Half Day Walking tour at Pera. Stretching from Taksim Square to the Galata shores where the waters of the Golden Horn meet the Bosphorus opening majestically out into the Sea of Marmara. The area was once the European quarter of Istanbul and its original name Pera, was a Greek definition meaning the 'opposite shore'. The Grand Rue de Pera formed the axis and central thoroughfare of this bustling area. Today as the pedestrianised Istiklal Caddesi it continues to function as a vibrant cosmopolitan highway full of human traffic. This boulevard like a stately old tree branches out into innumerable narrow side streets and alleyways, which play host to a uniquely rich social ecosystem. Here one may never tire of wandering, with an endless series of treasures to be discovered amid the antique houses and back streets. Every nook and cranny of Beyoglu provides some new cultural surprise; shops, cinemas, theatres, art-houses, culture centers, galleries, churches, mosques, synagogues, hotels, restaurants, patisseries, cafes, tea-houses and bars.  Beyoglu is composed of many beautiful buildings in baroque and neo-classical styles, dating from the latter days of the Ottoman Empire. Beyoglu has always played the leading role in bringing European culture to the Ottoman Empire, following on to the present day with the westernizing of the Turkish Republic. Transfer to the hotel.


2nd Day                                           
 
09:00 Depart from Hotel for Full Day Classic City Tour. On the tour You will visit; the Hippodrome Square; where the four-horsed chariots raced around beneath the gaze of  the Byzantine emperors and a quarter-million spectators. The Hippodrome dating  back to 203 BC. under the Roman Rule, this was the largest track in the ancient times. The monuments of spinal (central line) which survived until our days are the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column and  Constantine's Column . 
Visit Blue Mosque; which is the only mosque in the world with 6 minarets, was constructed between the dates 1609-1617 by the order of  Sultan Ahmet. Inside the mosque, everything seems to float in the azure  light reflected  from the 21,043 blue ceramic tiles from Iznik.
Visit Topkapı Palace.  In 1465, Sultan Mehmet, the conqueror of Istanbul, ordered the construction of the first palace ; his successors added new pavilions, thus spreading the Palace to a total area of 70,000 square meters. The ottoman sultans lived in and administered the Empire from this Palace until the 19th century. Today a museum, the kitchens house 12,000 pieces of porcelain including a rare Chinese porcelain collection. The treasury section displays one of the richest selection of jewels and precious stones and gold objects. The visit through the Palace also leads to the collection of clocks, the Relics of the Prophet and the Baghdad Kiosk which is a beautiful sample of Ottoman interior.
Lunch at  a Chinese Restaurant in Sultanahmet.
Visit St.Sophia Museum; originally a church, converted into a mosque and  now a museum, this superb building wins admiration for the splendor of its Byzantine artwork. It was built by the Emperor Constantine, then re-built by Emperor Justinianus in the 6th century, this magnificent example of architecture rises with dignity in the Old City. Besides the dome which wins admiration by its height and size, the mosaics and frescoes decorating the walls are unique examples of Byzantine art


3rd Day                               
 
09:00 Depart from Hotel for Half Day Classic Bosphorus Tour. On the tour You will visit; the Spice Market at the old city . The also Egyptian bazaar known bazaar is the right place to find any kind of spices and Turkish delights . Drive to the harbor and board the regular ship for Bosphorus tour. The lovely “Yali” houses ; wooden houses on the coast , takes you to the Ottoman times. Lunch will be served at Doga fish restaurant on Bosporus. After lunch drive back to Hotel. Rest of the afternoon free at leisure.

4th  Day                               
 
--:-- Check out and depart from the Hotel to Istanbul Atatürk Airport.
--:-- Flight to Izmir. Flight will take 1hr.
--:-- Arrive in Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport. Meet and Assist in the airport and transfer to Hotel. Check in and free time for relaxing.
15:00 Depart from Hotel for Orientation tour in Izmir. You will see Alsancak, Karsiyaka, Kordon, Pasaport interesting places of Izmir.

5th Day                               
 
09:00 Depart from hotel for Full Day Ephesus & Virgin Mary Tour. After arriving in Selcuk. Visit the largest archaeological site in the world; Ephesus. Unmatched by any archaeological site anywhere in terms of sheer magnitude, Ephesus appeals to every visitor, whether serious or casual. The roots of this impressive site goes back to the 13th century B.C. The surviving ruins of Ephesus belong to the Roman Imperial Period. There is an impressive amphitheater big enough to hold 24,000 people, and a well preserved and restored bibliotheque called the Library of Celsus. Ephesus is known with one of the seven churches mentioned in the Bible. Visit the House of Virgin Mary, the small house where Mary lived from AD 37 to 48, which has been visited by two popes and millions of pilgrims. After lunch drive to Sirince Village. The old-fashioned stone-and-stucco houses have red-tile-roofs. Bargain for a souvenir or local handicraft, and taste the local wine or drink a cup of Turkish coffee or tea in a traditional village coffee house. On the way back to Kusadasi a short stop in Kirazli village for an opportunity of local contact with friendly and hospitable villagers. You could even take a walk among the nearby hillside vineyards and orchards. This is the tour to see the way how Turkish villagers live.

6th  Day                               
 
--:-- Check out and depart to Antalya via Highway.
Journey will take 6hr.
--:-- Arrive in Hotel in Antalya. After Check in and free time for relaxing.
15:00 Depart from Hotel for Orientation tour in Antalya. You will see Konyaaltı, Republic Square, Kaleici, Hadrian Door and many interesting points about Antalya.


7th  Day                               
 
09:00 After breakfast at the Hotel depart for Full Day Perge –Aspendos –Side tour. After arrive at Perge 18 km from Antalya. An important city of ancient Pamphylia, Perge was originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 B.C. St. Paul preached some of his first sermons here. Theatre, a large Agora, Stadium, public baths, Gymnasium and Columned Streets are the main historical places of the this magnificent ancient city. Aspendos is one of the best preserved theatres in the world. Still used even today, the theater's galleries, stage decorations and acoustics all testify to the architect's success. Nearby stand the remains of a basilica, agora and one of the largest aqueducts in Anatolia. Lunch will be in Kursunlu.
After lunch drive to Side. Side is  one of the best-known classical site in Turkey. It was an ancient harbour whose name meant pomegranate. Today it is a pretty resort town with ancient ruins, two sandy beaches ( On summers swimming possibilities), many shops. We will also visit the Museum, Apollo Temple and theatre. After Lunch we drive to Manavgat Waterfalls to see an amazing view of the waterfalls. We will have some break there, near by hearing milky white, foaming water rushes powerfully over the rocks. Next to the waterfalls are shady tea gardens and fish restaurants making the falls a pleasant, cool resting spot, especially welcome after a day of sightseeing. After having a break drive back to hotel.


8th  Day                               
 
--:-- Check out and depart from the Hotel to Antalya Airport.
--:-- Flight to Istanbul. Flight will take 1hr.
--:-- Arrive in Istanbul Ataturk Airport.  Change the flight to Bejing.


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