1. DAY: Arrival to Istanbul
Scheduled flight with Turkish Airlines to Istanbul. Reception by the tour guide. Ride to the hotel. Dinner and 2 nights in Istanbul.
Day 2 Istanbul
Visit the Hippodrome, the former racecourse. It has been the center of the entertainment and monuments from around the world adorn this plant. Not far is the magnificent work of Ottoman religious architecture: The Sultan Ahmet Mosque from the 17th C. Also known as the Blue Mosque this symbol of Istanbul used the synthesis of all the previouse architectural forms. Visit the Topkapi Palace. From here, the Ottomans ruled their vast empire. Unimaginable art treasures are displayed in the various areas of this unique palace. One of the highlights of Istanbul, of course is the Grand Bazaar. Here we see the largest and most magnificent covered bazaar in Turkey.
Day 3 Istanbul - Cappadocia
After breakfast, drive to the Hagia Sophia from the year 537, which is one of the largest churches in the world. According to the belief of people the center of the world was this church. A nice ride along the Bosphorus is waiting for us. Optionally, we can turn the trip into a dream boat trip through the Bosporus. Here we have a wonderful scenery between two continents, Asia and Europe, the palaces and wooden villas let us enter into a dream of past times. In the evening a Turkish Airlines flight to Kayseri and transfer to the hotel in Cappadocia. Dinner and 3 nights in Cappadocia.
Day 4 Cappadocia
Visit the Goreme Open Air Museum. Here are the most beautiful churches with unique frescoes of Byzantine art. Then drive to Uchisar. Climb to the highest tuff cone with a magnificent view. Hike through the Red Valley (1-2 hours, medium). With numerous breaks in this fabulous photo area, we end the day. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5 Cappadocia
Morning drive to the underground city of Avanos Özkonak, a former place of refuge of the Christians. Here, the early Christians in Anatolia were hiding from foreign aggressors. Then we visit a typical carpet production center of Cappadocia. Photo pauses in the valley of the "petrified soldiers" in the PigeonValley, in Avcilar Valley and Pasha Valley. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6 Cappadocia - Konya - Antalya
Trip to Sultanhani, the largest Caravanserai in Anatolia from the 13th C. There are many caravanseray’s where merchants and travellers found shelter and protect themselves and their goods against bad weather and predators. Visit the Mevlana Museum in Konya, which is considered the most important center of Sufism and Whirling Dervishes. Then we drive through the Taurus Mountains with beautiful scenery to Antalya. Two nights in Antalya.
Day 7 Antalya
Today we drive to Perge, which St. Paul visited on his first missionary journey twice. Here we visit the Agora, the boulevard and the Hellenistic gate, where Paul had entered the city. Then we visit the city of Antalya, which offers many interesting shops. Before we proceed to the hotel, we stop for the old port of Antalya, where St. Paul sailed to Antioch.
Day 8 Departure
Transfer to airport and flight back home.
The price includes
* International flights
* Domestic flights
* Taxes and service charges for the flights
* Transfers mentioned in the itinerary
* All transportation by airconditioned vehicle
* Professional english speaking guide
* Welcomecocktail
* All entrance fees
* 7 nights accommodation with breakfast & dinner