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TOUR ITINERARY:
Day 1 ISTANBUL
Arrival in Istanbul, transfer, Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 ISTANBUL
In the morning visit the Blue Mosque built in 1616
unequalled for its mosaics and St. Sophia dedicated in 536
AD. during the reign of Justinian, then Topkapı Palace which
was builty by Mehmet the Conqueror. In the afternoon visit
the Grand Covered Bazaar. Overnight in İstanbul. (B,L)
Day 3 ISTANBUL / ANKARA / HITTITE SITES (BOGAZKOY /
ALACAHOYUK)
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your early
flight to Ankara, about 3 hours of driving to YAZILIKAYA to
see the “open air sanctuary” as the sun light comes on the
bas-reliefs. This civilization was founded on an
Indo-European language that was deciphered in their
hieroglyphic and cuneiform tablets. Then proceed to HATTUSAS,
the capital of Hittites. The capital of the Hittite Empire
around 1.400 BC. Visit the Lion’s Gate, The King’s Tomb, the
Citadel, the Tunnel, and the Grand Temple, thereafter, visit
the pre-Hittitie site ALACAHÖYÜK.Then drive back to your
hotel in Ankara. Overnight in Ankara. (B, L)
Day 4 ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA
After breakfast visit Ankara, the capital of modern
Turkey. Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations and
continue for Cappadocia. After a picturesque trip along the
Salt Lake visit the 13th century Seljukian Caravanserai
Ağzıkarahan. Arrival to Cappadocia region. Dinner and
overnight in Cappadocia. (B, L, D)
Day 5 CAPPADOCIA
Full day tour of Cappadocia. Visit the Valley of Goreme,
open-air museum of rock-cut churches and monasteries.
Afternoon visit citadel of Uçhisar, the valley of Zelve and
Avanos, the town famous with it hand-made pottery,
Underground City of Kaymaklı, where the early Christians hid
from persecutors. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia (B, L,
D)
Day 6 CAPPADOCIA / CATALHOYUK / KONYA
Departure to CATALHOYUK. Visit remains of Neolithic site
where Mother Goddess was worshipped. See the difference in
accommondations for 13th century travelers during a stop at
Sultanhani Caravanserai en route to Turkey’s oldest city –
Konya, the capital of the Seljuk Empire, but known
world-wide as the home of sect of the Whirling Dervishes.
You will visit the Mevlana museum which is the burial place
of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, an Islamic mystic and founder in
the 13th century of the Mevlevi order of the Whirling
Dervishes. Overnight in Konya (B, L, D)
Day 7 KONYA / PAMUKKALE (HIERAPOLIS)
After breakfast departure for Pamukkale, “the Cotton
Castle”, where you will see the tiers of white limestone
cascading down the hillside and near the waterfalls the
ruins of the Roman city of Hierapolis. Dinner and overnight
in Pamukkale. (B, L, D)
Day 8 PAMUKKALE / MILETUS / PRIENE / KUSADASI
MILETUS: Miletus was the principal port and the richest
emporium on the Aegean coast. Thales of Miletus believed
that “there was a fundamental unity beneath the apparent
disorder and complexity of nature” and he postulated that
“water was the material basis for all things.” the theater
of Miletus is by far the most impressive of the town’s
surviving monuments. There is also the council-chambre,
market place, temples, baths and a Islamic monument: Ilyas
Bey Mosque.
PRIENE: Despite its small size, Priene was a very
important city in antiquity because on its territory stood
the Panionium, the central meeting-place and sanctuary of
the lonian Confederacy. The theatre, the temple of Athena,
the agora, the Bouleterion and the temenos of Zeus Olympios
will be the steps of visit. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, L, D)
Day 9 KUŞADASI / EPHESUS / KUŞADASI
After breakfast departure for Ephesus. Of all the
ancient cities of Turkey, Ephesus is the best preserved and
most visited in all ages, and is as popular a religious
shrine today as it was in ancient times. This is due to
the-miraculous-discovery of the House of the Blessed Virgin.
The city which had many splendid buildings and was dedicated
to the Goddess Artemis, whose temple was considered one of
the Seven Wonders of the world. The main monuments that we
will see during the visit of this fascinating city are: the
street of Arcadiane, the majestic theatre, marble road,
library of Celsus, market place, street of the Curetes,
baths of Scholastica, stage agora, prytaneion, odeon. The
Town of Selçuk, is dominated by a Byzantine citadel close to
the basilica of St. John, built in the 5th century, on the
site of the tomb of the Apostle. Selçuk has also an
exceptionally fine arhaeology museum. (B, L, D)
Day 10 IZMIR / AIRPORT
Transfer to Airport.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
info@tutkutours.com
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