TOUR ITINERARY:

Day 01 : Arrive to Istanbul Airport
Our representative will meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a sign “YOUR NAME” on it. A short orientation tour and briefing about tour. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)

Day 02 : Istanbul
Today we start our tour with Istanbul Archeological Museum.
This museum contain a wealth of artefacts from the 50 centuries of Anatolia’s History.
From the Hellenic and Roman to the Ancient Orient and Islamic- Arts an extensive collection can be seen (as Hammurabi’s famous law code).
Then continue to Topkapı Palace, the residence of the sultans for 4 centuries. At Topkapı Palace a splendid collection of Ottoman Arts some holy objects are presented in a magic atmosphere. In particular the mantle of the Prophet Mahomet which was brought back from Cairo by Sultan Selim (until the abolition of the caliphate in 1924, this mantle was presented for the veneration of the imperial family and court dignitaries by the sultan in person, once in a year on the fifteenth day of the month of Ramadan).
After Topkapı Palace we will visit the famous Hagia Sophia (Divine Wisdom) which was the greatest church of Christianity until the conquest of Istanbul by the Ottomans. It was through the Imperial Door that Mehmet the Conqueror came in 1453 to take possession for Islam of the greatest religious edifice in the world.
Todays last visit will be Sultan Ahmet Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, is the central element of the complex built by Ahmet I (1603 – 1617) . This mosque is considered to be the last example of Ottoman classical architecture. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (B,D)

Day 03 : Istanbul ( Museum and Mosques )
First visit in Turkish – Islamic Arts Museum which is a treasure house of beautiful objects from the Seljuk ( 11th – 13rh centuries ) to Ottoman ( 14th – 20th centuries) period. And also earlier periods begining in the 8th century.
Then we will go to Şehzade Mosque created by The Great Architect Sinan as the one of his masterpieces and is considered one of the most remarkable of buildings of this day.
Architect Sinan is considered the greatest Ottoman architect of the Ottoman Empire’s Architectural heritage. Sinan acquires a reputation as a valued military engineer and is brought to the attention of Sultan Suleyman who appoints Sinan as head of the office of Royal Architects. And Sinan is elevated to the position of State Architect.
After Sehzade we go to Great Suleymaniye Mosque.
The Legendary Suleymaniye Mosque is realized in what is commonly called the “ crown on the hill “ . Dominating the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn the silhouette of the Suleymaniye, with its slender minarets and lofty dome, is one of the defining features of Istanbul.
After Suleymaniye we will go to see magnificent tiles of RustemPaşa Mosque.
Then we will see also interior of New Mosque ( Yeni Camii ).
At the end of the day we will visit the Egyptian Bazaar. Spices, dried fruits, nuts, and seeds are among the many treasures to be found at this bazaar also known as the Spice Market.
Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (B,D)

Day 04 : Istanbul – Fly Urfa
Drive to Istanbul Airport in early morning for TK 766 07:25 am flight to Urfa (Sanliurfa). Arrive Urfa at 09:10 am. Meet and transfer to the city center to visit the Cave of Abraham (Ibrahim Halilullah Dergahi). Abraham was born during the period of the persecutions of ruler Nemrut who ordered all the children to be killed. His mother gave birth to him in a cave and he lived there until he was ten years old. He came out of the cave and went to his father’s house, and began to fight Nemrut and the idols of the temples. When Abraham began to break the idols into pieces, Nemrut took him to the castle on a hill, and threw him into the fire. After God’s command to the fire “O fire, be gentle to Abraham, and keep him safe and cool”, the fire turned into water, the wood turned into fish. Abraham then fell into a beautiful garden filled with roses. Then, you will visit the Halil-ur Rahman Lake in city center. Dinner and overnight in Urfa. (B,D)

Day 05 : Urfa – Gaziantep - Adana
Drive to Gaziantep and visit the new Gaziantep Mosaic Museum. Gaziantep Mosaic Museum is now the third best mosaic museum in the world. Then drive to Adana for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 06 : Adana – Karaman - Konya
Drive to Karaman to visit the tomb of Yunus Emre. Taste the famous Karaman apple and see their famous sheep. Continue to Konya to visit the Mausoleum and Museum of Mevlana. Celaleddin Rumi is the most famous philosopher lived in the 13th century. Learn more about Mevlana and the Sema Dance ritual. Dinner and overnight in Konya. (B,D)

Day 07: Konya - Pamukkale
Departure for Pamukkale. On the road visit the Nasreddin Hodja’s village ( Aksehir ) Borned in Sivrihisar, Nasreddin Hodja is Turkey’s
( and perhaps all of Islams ) best-known trickster. As a famous folk hero N.Hodja was a semi-legendary joker lived in Aksehir.
Continuation to Pamukkale. Visit of Pamukkale and Hierapolis.
Pamukkale is one of the most interesting places in the world, justly famous not only for the entrancing beauty of its unique geological formations but also for its historical remains.
After the visits arrive to your SPA Hotel. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)

Day 08: Pamukkale – Ephesus - Kusadasi
Departure for Ephesus. The site of a succession of great ancient civilizations, Ephesus, on the south-west coast of modern Turkey, embodied a peculiarly fertile synthesis of architecture and culture.
After the site we will go to visit Isa Bey Mosque. Isa Bey Mosque is one of the most delicate examples of Seljukian architecture. The mosque was built by the master Syrian architecture Ali son of Mushimish al -Damishki, between the years of 1374 and 1375. Continuation to Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. (B,D)

Day 09: Kusadasi - Birgi - Izmir
Drive to Birgi, it is 9 km away from Odemis village. Having the outstanding samples of Ottoman and Seljuk architecture, the city has been added to the list of World Heritage sites. The structure includes Imam-i Birgivi Tomb and Medresseh, Dar-ul Hadis Medresseh, Guduk Minaret Mescid, Ulu Mosque and Aydinogullari Tomb. Continue to Izmir to visit the Hisar Mosque, built on the center of the Kemeralti square in 1592. Tonight, we will have dinner at an outdoor restaurant overlooking the Aegean Sea. (B,D)

Day 10: Izmir – Bursa
Departure for Bursa. The capital of Ottoman Empire before Istanbul.
Visit the tomb of Osman ( the founder of Empire ) and Orhan ( his son ).
Then we will visit Ulu Camii ( Ulu Mosque ) which belongs to the early Islamic style of mosque building, with a multidomed roof supported by numerous piers and columns and a covered court.
After the Ulu Mosque we will have free time on Silk Bazaar. Bursa was the main textile manufacturing centre of the Ottoman Empire. Silk production in Bursa probably was not very significant before the late sixteenth century, when we have the first documentation for the raising of mullberry trees. The only new guild established in the seventeeth century was that of the silk spinners, which was quite small still when first mentioned in 1678. However, there is evidence that mulberry cultivation was very widespread already. If, as it seems, the silk industry was expending them, this situation contrasts with a picture of economic decline and a shift to subsistence crops elsewhere in the Middle East in that period Silk production in Bursa continued to grow, reaching a peak in the nineteenth century. Dinner and overnight in Bursa. (B,D)

Day 11: Bursa – Iznik – Istanbul
Departure for Istanbul via Iznik. Morning, visit the Green Mosque and Green Tomb. The Mosque was built in 1421, this is based on a reverse T-plan. The interior of the mosque is decorated with a mosaic of blue green tiles on walls and cieling of eyvans from which it gets its names. Just opposite is the Green Tomb set in the green garden with an enchanting exterior decorated with turquoise tiles where Mehmet I was buried.
Afternoon, we continue to Iznik. 85 km northeast of Bursa. This town is famous for its unique tiles and has been the center of tile production in the 16th century. Iznik Tiles were the basic decorative element of Seljuk and Ottoman architecture. We will see tiles production centre and some exemples of these tiles. Continue to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight Istanbul. (B,D)

Day 12: Istanbul
Last Day in Istanbul. In th emorning, we will visit the Yıldız Park, with Yıldız Palace and Yıldız porcelaine factory. The factory which was founded by Ottomans. Afternoon is free or Optional boat tour on Bosphorus. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (B,D)

Day 13: DEPARTURE Transfer to the Istanbul Airport for departure. End of our services. (B)