ISTANBUL CAPPADOCIA - EPHESUS - SIRINCE IZMIR PAMUKKALE - BODRUM WITH WORK SHOPS OF COOKING AND WINE TESTING

Transcription

1 ISTANBUL CAPPADOCIA - EPHESUS - SIRINCE IZMIR PAMUKKALE - BODRUM WITH WORK SHOPS OF COOKING AND WINE TESTING

2 ISTANBUL COMBINED WITH CAPPADOCIA & AEGEAN COAST OF TURKEY September 2016 Istanbul Cappadocia Izmir -Ephesus Bodrum Itinerary Sept 17 Arrival & transfer to Sultan Ahmed Boutique Hotel in Istanbul. Well come dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Istanbul D Sept 18 Full day Sultan Ahmed Tour which includes a visit to Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace. For the people who have seen those sites we will plan an itinerary or give free day to explore the area and to see the sights within walking distance to Sultan Ahmed such as Archaeology Museum of Istanbul, Panorama Museum or Istanbul Modern. In the evening we will meet up for dinner together. Overnight in Istanbul B-D Hagia Sophia Topkapi Palace Grand Bazaar Sept 19- We will organize a full day boat trip on a private yacht all the way to Black Sea Opening, a trip where swimming will also be possible. This is also a sightseeing tour of Istanbul but from a very different perspective. Cruising in a private yacht through the Bosporus straight which divides the two continents and going all the way through the Black Sea Opening you will be seeing and experiencing this beautiful city from a different point of view. You will be seeing Ottoman Palaces, expensive water site residences, parks and wooded areas, nostalgic wooden ferry landings and the two bridges that are connecting the two continents before finally reaching the starting point of Black Sea which is the small fishing village of Anadolu Kavagi. We will get off the boat here to explore the small village and to walk uphill 20 minutes to the ruined Roman Yaros Forth where you will see the most beautiful, breath-taking and brilliant view on this planet. From one side you can see the Bosporus strait with the mosques of Istanbul. From the other you will see the Black sea and the only gate to the outside world.

3 We will have lunch in one of the local seafood restaurants in the village and after lunch continue even little further on the boat towards Black Sea where you will be seeing lush green bays and have a chance to swim as well before returning back to Tarabya to be taken back to Sultan Ahmed back to our hotel. Free time in the evening. B L Roman Yaros Forth Prince s Islands Bosporus & Two Continents Sept 20 For this day we will be planning a trip to Prince s Islands. The group will take the municipal ferry to Buyuk Ada (The Big Island) the biggest one of the 4 islands of Prince s Islands. Those Islands were used as summer locations where no cars are allowed with many beautiful wooden Ottoman style mansions. The main form of transportation of the islands are horse ridden carriages as well as bikes. Upon arrival to the island you will take a horse ridden carriage into groups of 3 or 4 to tour the island which is really beautiful where you will see the best examples of those wooden mansions and summer residences. On return back to the town center a free time will be given to enjoy a lunch in one of the many restaurants and cafes along the seaside before taking the boat back to the city center the Asian Side of Istanbul. In here we will also visit Kadikoy one of the most nostalgic towns of Istanbul, we will walk through the colorful market place and have an early dinner before crossing over to the European side to return back to our Hotel for the final night in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul B-D Cappadocia Goreme Open Air Museum Red Valley Sept 21 After breakfast in the hotel take the early morning flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival in Kayseri you will be met at the airport and transfer to Cappadocia Cave Style Hotel. Check into your rooms and after a short rest and lunch half day Cappadocia Hiking Tour will be organized in the afternoon. You will be hiking in Red Valley for 4 KM through the amazing landscape seeing this amazing valley s land formations, fairy chimneys, and amazing colors. After 4 KM hike you will be reaching Cavusin Village famous for rock cut churches. Return back to hotel. Dinner and overnight in MDC Cave Hotel in Urgup. B-D

4 Sept 22 - After breakfast in the hotel full day Cappadocia Tour will begin. The tour starts from Devrent Valley also known as the Valley of Imagination with spectacular fairy chimneys and beautiful land formations. After Devrent valley, you will visit Pasabag known as Monk s Valley where double and triple headed rock formations are to be seen. Lunch break will be given in Avanos famous for clay pottery making and Red River. After lunch, you will be visiting Goreme Open Air Museum famous for its wall paintings dating back to 10th century describing the life of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. The last stop will be to Uchisar castle one of the biggest and natural mass fairy chimneys of the region. Return back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in MDC Cave Hotel. B-L-D Sept 23 Optional Hot Air Balloon will be scheduled for sun rise time. This is an amazing experience to see the amazing landscape formations of Cappadocia up from the air. For people who have joined the Hot Air Balloon tour, they will return back to hotel to have breakfast and to start the second day of Cappadocia Tour. Today we will be discovering the underground cities of Cappadocia and you will be visiting Kaymakli Underground City which is the biggest underground city of Cappadocia where early Christians had lived in faith and fear for many months without coming out. Today you will also explore some of the most beautiful valleys of Cappadocia which are less touristic. Dinner and overnight in MDC Cave Hotel. B-L-D Sept 24 After breakfast in the hotel you will be transferred to Kayseri Airport to fly to Izmir You will be met at the airport and transferred to picturesque village of Sirince where you will be staying in Nisanyan Houses which is located on top of the hill of the village, quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Overnight in Nisanyan Houses. B- D sirince Village Nisanyan Cottages Pool overlooking the Valley Sept 25 After breakfast first day of work shop will be scheduled here. After the workshop our local guide will come and meet us in our hotel to start the first day of Ephesus Tour. We will have our lunch and then proceed to the Ancient City of Ephesus. Among the places we will be seeing are Temple of Hadrian, Trajan Fountain, beautiful Celcus Library as well as the house of Virgin Mary where she has known the spent the final years of her life. After Ephesus tour, the group will be taken to the seaside resort town of Kusadasi where some free time will be given before dinner to explore and shop. The dinner will be taken in Kusadasi. B-L Sept 26 Second Day of work shop and after that the group will depart for Urla, Urlice wine yards to wine testing and for a perfect Aegean Lunch. After the lunch we will continue to Izmir to see Sardis which was the capital of ancient Lydia of the important cities of Persian Empire

5 and one of the seven churches Revelation in Asia Minor. In the evening the group will be in Izmir to explore this beautiful city. Dinner will be taken in Izmir and return back to Sirince Village and overnight. B L Urlice Wine Yards Ephesus Sardis Sept 27 - After breakfast depart for Bodrum. The group s first visit will be to Pamukkale and Aphrodisias. Drive to Pamukkale that has the meaning of the Cotton Castle in English. Once known as Hierapolis, famous for healing thermal / mineral Baths After lunch visit Hierapolis, including the magnificently preserved Necropolis, the main Street and Gates, the thermal Baths, the devil s hole, and Masterpiece Theatre. Pamukkale terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water from the hot springs. In this area, there are 17 hot water springs in which the temperature ranges from 35 C to 100 C The water that emerges from the spring is transported 320 meters (1,050 Ft.) to the head of the travertine terraces and deposits calcium carbonate on a section 60 to 70 meters long covering an expanse of 240 meters to 300 meters. Arrive to Bodrum and check into your Hotel by Bodrum Marina Vista Hotel. Free time in the evening B- L Sept 28 After breakfast in the hotel we will complete the third day of our workshop. Then after lunch and some rest we will start the half day tour of Bodrum. In the afternoon half day Bodrum Tour will be organized. On the half day Bodrum Tour, you will be taken to Bodrum Castle known as St Peters Castle where you will also visit the Glass Wreck Hall and large quantity of glass from the wrecks. You will also go to Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum where you will find numerous interesting items recovered by Turkish and American Archaeologists. The amphitheatre dates back to 4th century B.C. It belongs to the best preserved sites of ancient Halicarnassus. It was probably built during the reign of King Mausoleus. Mausoleum of Halicarnassus will also be visited as well as well as Myndos Gate. B Sept 29 - Free day to enjoy the town. For people who have Schengen visas, this is the day they can have a day trip to Kos Island which is highly recommended. The rest of the people can enjoy the relaxing time by the pool and in Bodrum. B Sept 30 After breakfast we will arrange a private boat trip which will involve visiting different bays of Bodrum and swimming in crystal clear waters. The lunch will be served in the boat. Return back to the hotel and get ready for the final dinner party for the farewell dinner in Bodrum. B- L - D October 01 Take the early flight back to Istanbul to get connected back with your International flights. End of services. B

6 HOTELS WHERE YOU WILL BE STAYING Turkoman Hotel ISTANBUL- Family run, animal friendly boutique style hotel with a perfect location, right on the Hippodrome in between Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque in Sultan Ahmed MDC Cave Hotel CAPPADOCIA - Cave style hotel with spacious and comfortable cave rooms over facing a garden where organic food is grown, hotel with perfect food and services Nisanyan Houses / SIRINCE Located in the picturesque Village of Sirince, Nisanyan Houses combines the local Aegean style with perfect elegance and simplicity without losing the charm of village life Marina Vista Hotel /BODRUM Located down town Bodrum just opposite of Bodrum Marina this is a perfect location to wonder around in this lively town. Nice hotel with perfect location

7 COST TOTAL 14 NIGHTS 2025 PER PERSON ON DOUBLE SHARING / SINGLE SUBLEMENT 540 The rates include the following services 4 nights stay in Istanbul Turkoman Hotel breakfast & tax included 3 Nights stay in Cappadocia MDC Cave Hotel breakfast & dinner included 3 Nights stay in Sirince Village Nisanyan Houses breakfast included 4 Nights stay in Marina Vista Hotel Bodrum breakfast & tax included Domestic Airline tickets Istanbul Kayseri / Kayseri Izmir / Bodrum Istanbul All the mentioned tours with entrance fees to museums Breakfast & Dinner & lunches on the mentioned dates with signs B-L-D Airport transfers in Istanbul and the rest of the locations Two full day private boat trips / in Istanbul & in Bodrum English speaking guidance Three Work Shops By Jenny Ibbotson Tax Excellent & reliable service The rates excludes the following Drinks taken during the meals Portage fees in the hotels & tips International Airline tickets Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia 125 per person Visa Fees to Turkey / Turkish visa can be obtained from on line Tailor Made Trips