Istanbul to Anatolia Package Tour

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul – Transfer to the Hotel:

Welcome to Turkey. The guide will be waiting you at the airport to pick you up to your hotel. During the trip the guide will transmit essential information about Turkey and your trip.

Overnight in Istanbul,

Day 2: Tour of Historical Peninsula of Istanbul:

You will start to tour by visiting the places that are counted as main symbols of Istanbul.

After the breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up from the hotel by your guide to go to the first hill of the historical peninsula of Istanbul. Arriving to Sultanahmet Square, we begin our trip which includes the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sofia, Hippodrome of Constantinople and Grand Bazaar.

Blue Mosque: Blue Mosque is a monument of the Ottoman Empire. We explore the architectural art and the Ottoman style of the 17th century. It is the first mosque built with 6 minarets. In addition, about 21,000 blue tiles are used in it that are approximately 400 years old.
Hippodrome of Constantinople: Our trip continues with a visit to Hippodrome of Constantinople. The large racecourse was built by Constantine the Great. The racecourse is where the Romans where horse tours were organized. There are monuments that were in the middle of the racecourse that are still on foot. We see these monuments that are the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, Constantine Column and of contemporary era the German Fountain that was given by the German Empire.

Santa Sofia (Hagia Sophia): visit the Hagia Sophia Museum is an important icon of Istanbul and Turkey that meaning the Divine Wisdom. Hagia Sophia was built in just 5 years beginning in the year 532 as a cabin in 537. The construction of Hagia Sophia was at the time of the Emperor of Justinian. Hagia Sofia s served as a church for 916 years, as a mosque for 482 years and as a museum since 1935. This masterpiece was recognized as the largest cathedral in the world until the 16th century. It is a wonderful place to see Byzantine art combined with Ottoman art. Get ready to see the beautiful mosaics of a hundred years.

Lunch: This tour includes lunch. Lunch will be served in a typical restaurant near Sultanahmet Square.

Topkapi Palace: U not the most curious places of the tour are the Topkapi Palace. The palace was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet between 146 0 1478 when the Turks seized Istanbul. It became the residence of 24 Ottoman sultans, including the best-known sultans such as Suleiman the Magnificent and the Sultan Ahmet. Topkapi Palace will transport you to the ancient years that the sultans lived and will give you an experience that will not be erased from memories. Ability to see the jewels ottomans including collections of ceramics, clock, armour besides watching the beautiful s courtyard s and the view of Istanbul.

Grand Bazar: Finally, we are finishing our tour with our visit to the Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar, opened since 1461, is one of the oldest commercial complexes in the world. In this bazaar where you can find traditional and modern shopping opportunities, you will have the opportunity to buy all kinds of products, and souvenirs suitable for all tastes.

Moving to hotel: After the tour will be transfer to your hotel.

Night in Istanbul.

Day 3: Bosphorus Tour:

The day we do one of the most popular tour of Istanbul. After breakfast we will continue to the Eminonu old trade zone.

Spice bazaar; It opened its doors in 1664 with different colours and smells. Here is the ideal place to find Turkish delicacies, spices, saffron, the best Turkish coffee, variety of teas and much more. Bazaar will make you feel the ancient and mystical atmosphere.

Ride boat in the Strait of Bosporus: Prepare yourself to enjoy these beautiful moments in the Bosporus, which is a natural channel between two continents: Asia and Europe. There will be a chance to witness the incredible views of both sides from the ship, including the Dolmabahce palace, the Ortakoy district, some of the best and most expensive villas in the world. The ship will also cross below the suspension bridge that was built in 1973.

Bosphorus Bridge: Have you ever crossed from a continent to a bridge? Asia and Europe first connected to this bridge in 1973. Time for an exclusive experience and unforgettable moments while crossing the bridge.

Lunch: Our tour includes lunch.

Palace of Beylerbeyi: Summer residences of the Ottoman sultans built in 1865. It is located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus in the very near the Bosphorus Bridge point. During the visit, you will have the opportunity to see the bridge while walking through the garden and you will feel peace when you are in this palace. When walking inside this amazing palace, the patterns, the paintings, the chandeliers, the original furniture and the handmade carpets will be the unforgettable part of the visit.

Lovers Hill (Hill Camlica): E s time to enjoy the time on Istanbul and understand its geography to see both continents from an altitude of 260 meters. Enjoy the view contemplating the view of Istanbul.

Day 4: Departure to Bursa: Visit Iznik (Nicaea): 

We meet at the hotel reception and continue to the port to take the ferry. After crossing the gulf of the Marmara Sea and we reach Iznik, which is home to many civilizations in history, a city ​​of open-air museum. First, we climb Sancaktari Hill, where Abdulvahap Sancaktari’s tomb is located. Here we get information from our guide on Iznik history, after taking a photo break we head to the centre. After a visit to the Ancient Roman Theatre, one of the most important theatres in Anatolia. We visited the Church of Hagia Sophia that turned into a mosque in 1331. On the way did Bursa, we stopped to take r our tea with the view of Lake Iznik.

After taking tea we continue towards the centre of Bursa where we see the Grand Mosque and the silk market which is called Kozahan. The mosque was built in 1399 with 20 seats. It is a temporary example of Ottoman art. Then we visit the sanctuary and the green mosque that are declared as a world heritage site. In the same area will be the lunch. Typical Bursa food called Iskender.

Historic Tree: Bursa’s historic tree has a 600-year transition that has a worldwide reputation. The main branch of 13 is at the end of the branches of the giant plane tree, which measures about 9.2 meters. It is a place where it is essential to see if it becomes a symbol of Bursa. Under this historical plane, one by one to breathe and rest away from the intensity and stressful life of the city. It is the place where farmers vend in organic vegetables and fruits grown by them.

Night in Bursa,

Day 5: Departure to Izmir: After breakfast we leave the hotel and continue to Turkey’s famous city: Izmir. On the way of Izmir, we will visit a town of Bursa called Gölyazı which is among the olive trees. We see the restored historic mill welcomes us at the entrance. There will be free time where your guide will give you information about the region and take great pictures of landscapes in Golyazi and the lake Ulubat. Then we see the Church of San Panteleimon, which is one of the most important Greek Orthodox churches in Anatolia. After finishing the visit of the region, we head to city Pergamon.

We keep going to the city of Pergamon which is among 7 churches of Revelation. Pergamon, in Turkish Bergama, where one of the most famous sculptors of the Hellenistic era and one of the largest gladiator schools of the Roman era is located. First, we will reach the top where the city was settled, to the Acropolis. We see the Hellenistic palaces and ruins as water tanks belonging to the pre – Roman period. We also see the temple of Trian, which is placed as a crown at the top of the city. We will finish our discovery on the Acropolis. The library of Pergamum that is said to be the second largest library in the ancient world after Alexandria, is here. Parchment that is said to have originated in Bergama and first discovered in this city, one of the most famous buildings in the ancient world will be waiting for us when we go down to the lower terrace from the rows of seats of one of the steepest theatres in the world old. The place of the Altar of Zeus, which is said to be among the 7 wonders of the world, is exhibited today in the Archaeological Museum of Berlin. With the stories of our guide, we image those historic days in front of our eyes. After finishing the visit, we will head to Izmir after a day full of history.

Night in Izmir,

Day 6: Departure to Ephesus:

The famous city Ephesus, which is between 7 churches of Revelation, is visited approximately by 2 million tourists a year from around the world. Ephesus is the classic city and one of the best preserved in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is an opportunity to feel the atmosphere of the Roman era. It is considered one of the most wonderful places in the world that the city was dedicated to Artemis Godness. During the visit of the city we will see the temple dedicated to the emperor and Adriano. Also, the library Celso, both a library and a monument, is one of the most beautiful buildings of the Roman era. Celsius is also the third largest library in the ancient city after Alexandra and Bergamo. The huge theatre of Ephesus has an important place in the city. Located in a very outstanding position dominating the landscape on the street of the port. The oldest of his time had a capacity for around 25,000 spectators and was also used for circus shows. Together with these outstanding monuments of the city, you will have the possibility to see many details.

After visiting Ephesus, we will head to Virgin Mary House. While we are on the way, we will have the opportunity of taking picture of the giant statue of the Virgin Mary. After this short stop, we will keep going to Virgin Mary House which is among pines. The house of the Virgin Mary – The mother of Jesus, where she is supposed to have spent her last years. There, you will have the opportunity to read the evidence that shows that the virgin Mary lived in that house. In this peaceful place you will have the opportunity to drink the famous water and write your wishes on a paper leave it. Afterwards, we head to the city of Sirince.

Village of Sirince: We arrived at Şirince the ancient Greek village Şirince, which the Greek writer Dido Sotiriou mentioned in his book “Greet Me from Anatolia”. We walk through historic houses and streets with authentic architecture. Seeing the cellars of wine s fruit, our guests can try for free and buy.

Night in Kusadasi,

Day 7: Miletus, Dydima, Priene:

We wake up in the pretty town of Kusadasi and after having breakfastwe will head to the city of Priene. The city, which is believed that Alexander the Great had lived for a period. The ancient city of Priene contains many ruins of Hellenic architecture. The old theatre of Priene is one of the most beautiful examples of the Hellenic world. We go to Miletus.

The ancient city of Miletus known as the place where famous thinkers and architects such as Thales, Anaksimenes, Hippodamus lived. After Miletus we left for Didim to visit the huge temple of Apollo.

Night in Kusadasi,

Day 8: Pamukkale:

After breakfast, we will leave for the tour of Pamukkale where the extraordinary view of the pool. The calcium waters rise from the ground at a temperature of 35 C and fall down the mountain from a height of 100 meters, forming a myriad of pools. White stalactites form as the water overflows from the pools, creating a breath-taking view unmatched in the world. Visit masters also the ancient ruins of the city of Hierapolis with its basilica, the theatre, the Roman bath and the old world’s largest necropolis.

Night in Pamukkale,

Day 9: Departure to Konya:

We begin our trip to Konya, the famous land of the thinker Mevlana Rumi, after breakfast at our hotel. Our first stop when we arrive in Konya is the Tomb and Museum of Mevlana. The place where the Mevlana Museum is located is the rose garden of the Seljuk Palace. After the Mevlana Museum, we go through the old houses of the city and have lunch a typical lunch of the area. We follow the Hagios Monastery and the church of Aya Elena, one of the first churches of Christianity.

Night in Konya,

Day 10: Departure to Cappadocia:

We head towards the famous region: Cappadocia. On our way we visit a medieval inn of the 13th century. Our first stop in Cappadocia will be the Ihlara Valley which is formed by the Melendiz River, which has cave churches. During our visit in the Ihlara valley, we will able to see old churchs curved in rock.

Our second stop; It will be the underground city of Derinkuyu, an engineering marvel that thousands of people fleeing enemy raids can live for months. You cannot hide your admiration while visiting this interesting city that people built underground. After the visit of the underground city we will keep going to Uçhisar. We stop to take pictures of the Güvercinlik valley and the Uçhisar castle. Finally we will arrived at our hotel.

Night in Konya,

Day 11: Cappadocia:

We will leave the hotel after having breakfast. First, we go to the Onyx Stone Workshop to obtain information about the characteristics and processing of the onyx stone. After the Onyx Stone Workshop, we visited the Göreme Open-Air Museum in the Göreme Valley, formerly known as Korama. The rock churches (churches of Elmali, Serpentine, Carikli), the dining room, the kitchen, the pantry and the Bible, where the Bible is represented from beginning to end, will be among the places we will see in the museum.

Then we go for hiking to Kizilcukur, the valley painted red at sunset, is one of Cappadocia’s most photographed valleys. The substance that gives the region a red colour is the iron ore in the tuff. The rocks, which appear pink all day, turn red at sunset.

Day 12: Cappadocia:

We see the red river in Avanos and get information about the pottery made of Kızılırmak mud. We take a break to take photos in Paşabağ (Monk Valley), where you will see the most beautiful examples of multi-headed fairy chimneys. After walking through the fairy chimneys in Paşabağ, we make a trip to Dervent Valley, which contains interesting formations of fairy chimneys and takes its name from the fairy chimney in the form of a camel. Then we go for a panoramic tour in the city of Ürgüp, and we see the Asmalı Mansion from the outside and taste the wineries and the delicious wines of Cappadocia.

the opportunity to taste the famous pastrami beans and kebab from Cappadocia jar. After our meal in the authentic place, we go to the famous Avanos with its pottery. At the end of the day, we see the fairy chimneys of the hat and the three fairy chimneys, the symbol of Cappadocia.

At the end of our trips we settled in our hotel. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 13: Departure to Ankara:

We will head to the Hacıbektaş district, covering each segment with universal views from the thirteenth century to the present, and where the tomb of the Piri jenízaros, Hacıbektaş-ı Veli. At the end of the visit we headed to Ankara. First, we start our tour with the visit of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. This rich museum where are exhibited the remains of all civilizations who lived in Anatolia. It is one of the few museums in the world with its unique collections. Afterwards, we visited the mausoleum of the leader of the Turkish revolution and the first president of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Night in Ankara,

Day 14: Departure to Istanbul – Free Day in Istanbul:

Tomorrow morning, we leave Ankara and head towards Istanbul. You can enjoy the afternoon in Istanbul.

Night in Istanbul,

Day 15: Departure from Turkey:

When this pleasant tour ends, we will be happy to receive you on another tour of Colourful Tours Turkey.

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