Arrive at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).
Meet AVOTUR’s local guide or representative and transfer to the hotel.
Check-in and short rest. (Please note check-in time at most hotels is 14:00 but we will do our best to arrange early check-in if necessary.)
Departure for halfday city tour with a visit to the main historical center of Istanbul, Sultanahmet with its Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments.
The monuments to be visited are the Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome, the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace with its Treasury and Sacred Trust sections.
Transfer from the hotel to the historical center Sultanahmet. Walking tour starting with the Roman Hippodrome and the monuments lined up along the spina of the original hippodrome built by Emperor Septimus Severus in 203 AD. Obelisk of Theodosius, walled column, serpentine column from Delphi and the German Fountain, gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II to the Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamit II will be viewed.
Continue with the Blue Mosque built by Sultan Ahmet I in 1616, locally called Sultanahmet Mosque but known by its blue Iznik tiles and also famous for its unique 6 minarets. Modest attire recommended. Plastic bag for shoes will be provided as you will have to remove your shoes before entering the mosque.
One of the highlights of the tour is the Hagia Sophia. Church of the Holy Wisdom of God from the 6th century built by Justinian between 532 - 537 at the site of the previous two churches by the same name. Following the conquest of the city by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II, Ayasofya was converted to a mosque and eventully after the foundation of the Republic of Turkey it has become a museum.
Continue with the Topkapi Palace. Until finally being abandoned to more modern palaces in the middle of the 19th century the palace served as the residence of the Ottoman Sultans as well as the center of administration for 4 centuries. On entering through the Imperial Gate the first monument to be seen is the majestic fountain of Sultan Ahmet III followed by the first courtyard housing the Church of St Eirene as well as the Imperial Mint and the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul. Through the Gate of Salutation we enter the grounds of the Palace and view the various exhibitions including the imperial kitchens with its rich collection of Japanese and Chinese Ming porcelain as well as the Imperial Council (Kubbealti) and the Tower of Justice. The Treasury, housing such exquisite masterpieces as the Topkapi dagger and the Spoonmaker’s diamond will be visited. The recently renovated Holy Relics section houses collection of the prophet Mohammed’s and his caliphs’ relics. Continuing with the Fourth Courtyard we view the Yerevan and Baghdad pavilions and the Circumcision room and enjoy the panorama of the Golden Horn and the port of Istanbul, the Suleymaniye Mosque from the Iftar Kiosk were he sultans broke their fast in the evenings during the fasting month of Ramadan.
Return to the hotel after the tour.

Depart for Canakkale famous for the WW1 Battles at Gallipoli.
A brief visit of the Gallipoli War Memorials including the Lone Pine Cemetery and Anzac Cove.
Cross the Strait of Dardanelles by ferry and reach the Asian port city of Canakkale. After viewing the Hollywood production Trojan wooden horse proceed to a visit of the ruins of ancient Troy of Homer’s Iliad.

Continue to Bergama. Visit the Acropolis of Pergamon with its breathtaking amphitheater.
Depart for Izmir, Turkey’s largest export harbor and 3rd biggest city. A short panoramic tour including the seaside promenade called Kordon and the historical market area of Kemeralti dating from 1580s. Panoramic tour and continue to Kusadasi.

Visit the ancient city of Ephesus. Highlights will be the Odeon, Celsus Library, Hadrian’s Temple, Trajan’s Fountain, the Agora, the Scolasticia Baths, the Marble Street, the amphitheater with its 25.000 seating capacity and the Arcadian Way leading down to the port which is now silted up.
On Mount Nightingale, the House of Mary (Meryemana), a pilgrimage site where Mary is believed to have spent her last days, will be visited.
Continue to Pamukkale. In Pamukkale visit the travertines (terraces and basins formed by the calcium rich deposits of the thermal springs) of Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) and the surrounding the ancient Roman city of Hierapolis with its Roman baths converted to early Christian churches, the amphitheater, the Martyrium of St Philip and the extensive necropolis featuring the various architectural styles of ancient Asia Minor.

Depart for Konya where we visit the Mevlana Museum. The 13th century sufi leader was the founder of the Mevlevi Order known for their Whirling Dervishes ceremony.
Before reaching Cappadocia visit the Sultanhani caravanserai.

Our tour of Cappadocia includes Uchisar rock formation to have a panoramic view, Göreme Valley Outdoor Museum to view the frescoes of the famous churches known by the names Apple, Barbara, Sandal and Snake churches, the Pasabagi Monks Valley, an underground city and Ürgüp fairy chimneys.
Visit the Avanos village pottery center located along the Kizilirmak (Red River, Turkey’s longest river). Afternoon spent at the various handicraft workshops of the region selling carpets and rugs, ceramics, onyx, jewelry and souvenirs.
Continue to Ankara.

City tour in Ankara with visits to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum at the Citadel area and Anitkabir - the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (founder of the Republic of Turkey, 1881-1938). A short drive will introduce you to the capital of Turkey with the panoramic Atakule tower, Presidential Palace at Cankaya, the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Ministries.
On arrival transfer to the hotel.

Day at leisure.
(Please note check-out time at most hotels is 12:00)
Possibility to participate in an optional Bosphorus tour.
Pick-up from the hotel and transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) according to the departure time.