Turkish Express

9 days /8 nights

Day 1 – Friday
Istanbul
Arrival and transfer to hotel. Welcome briefing will be held.

Day 2 – Saturday
Istanbul
Full day tour to include: Topkapi Palace (excluding harem), Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar. Optional: Dinner with belly dancing entertainment. B

Day 3 – Sunday
Istanbul – Ankara
This morning Optional tour of St. Sophia and Bosphorus cruise. Depart for the capital city of Ankara for overnight. B D

Day 4 – Monday
Ankara – Cappadocia
Morning departure to view Hittite artifacts at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, father of modern Turkey. Visit the underground city of Sarhatli. Drive to Cappadocia, touring a 13th century caravan inn en route. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and join an optional Whirling Dervishes performance. Overnight in Cappadocia. B D

Day 5 – Tuesday
Cappadocia
Early Morning Optional: Hot Air Balloon Tour. Experience of floating through volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves with the sunrise of Cappadocia. After breakfast, visit Goreme, Avanos, Pasabagi, Red Valley, and have a brief regional pottery workshop in a cave. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. Visit the underground city of Sarhatli. B D

Day 6 – Wednesday
Cappadocia – Pamukkale
Drive to Pamukkale. En route we visit the famous mausoleum of the sufi philosopher Mevlana. Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale. B D

Day 7 – Thursday
Pamukkale – Kusadasi
Today is the day to pay an early morning visit to the unique Cotton Fortress, the white calcium cascades, and also pay a visit to one of the first modern spa centers of the ancient world, Hierapolis. Then we drive to Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. B D

Day 8 – Friday
Ephesus & St. Mary’s House – Kusadasi
Full day tour of the famous ruins of Ephesus and St. Mary’s Cottage. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi. Afternoon Optional: tour of Sirince. B D

Day 9 – Saturday
Kusadasi
Return transfer to pier. B

Tour Highlights