CULTURAL TRIANGLE TOUR
Tour Name: Cultural Triangle Tour
Duration: 7 Days, 6 Nights (Departs every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday)
Transportation: Domestic Flights
Visited Places: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus
ITINERARY
Day 1 (Istanbul – Half day Bosporus Cruise with lunch)
After your arrival to Istanbul airport, we will transfer you to your hotel in Sultanahmet area (old Istanbul). You will have free time until noon. You will feast your eyes on the hightlights of Bosphorus while enjoying a delicious grilled fish, chicken or meatball menu accompanied by fresh salads, Anatolian cheese and special Turkish desert Baklava.
Our first stop will be Rumeli Fortress. Situated at the narrowest point of the Bosporus strait, this forrest was built to prevent aid from the Black Sea reaching Constantinople during the Turkish siege of the city in 1453 AD. Then we will cruise to Anadolu Kavagi, a medieval castle with seven massive towers in its walls. First built by the Byzantines, it was restored and reinforced by the Genoese in 1350 and later by the Ottomans. You will see a panoramic view of istanbul, Bosphorus and Black sea from the best point of view. You will have your lunch on the boat and see Poyrazkoy next. Poyrazkoy is one of the villages nearest to the Black Sea and is located on the Anatolian side of the Istanbul. From the minaret a bridge leads out to the gun emplacements and ammunition stores and a great view. Although the village is located on top of a hill, there is a road leading to the beach just before the village. Poyrazkoy is an excellent place for a break or for shelter while sailing from Istanbul to the Black Sea.
Our cruise will end at Kabatas around 6 pm and you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 (Istanbul full day tour)
After your breakfast at the hotel, we will start a full day Istanbul tour including the most important higlights of the magical city as Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Obelisks, Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Church), Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Underground Water Palace), Million Stone, Tomb of Sultan Mahmud, Cemberlitas (Column of Constantine) and Grand bazaar. Lunch is also included to the tour. Around 5pm, we will transfer you back to hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul
Day 3 (Transfer to Cappadocia, Cappadocia tour)
Around 6 am, we will transfer you to Istanbul airport and at 07:30 you will fly to Cappadocia. Upon your arrival to Nevsehir airport, we will transfer you to your hotel in Cappadocia and offer breakfast here. You will rest for a while and at 11:00 start your Cappadocia tour including Cavusin village and Pasabag (Monks Valley). Then you will have Lunch in Goreme or Ibrahimpasa villages. Kaymakli Underground City will be your second Unesco World Heritage Site in Turkey after historical parts of Istanbul and it dates back to Hittite times and penetrates five layers deep in the soil. Our tour will finish in the afternoon with picture stop at Uchisar Castle and you will rest at your hotel. Optional whirling dervishes ceremony can be viewed in the evening. Overnight in Goreme.
Day 4 (Cappadocia full day tour)
On your fourth day, you may have an optional hot air balloon flight with sunrise. After the breakfast, you will join a full day Cappadocia tour. We will start by pausing at Esentepe to enjoy the panoramic view over the Goreme Valley. Then we will drive to Ihlara Valley to see the most spectacular valley of Turkey which used to be a monastic center until 15th century. We will hike about 6km in the valley. After our lunch at a river by restaurant in the middle of the valley, we will drive to Selime Monastery and climb to this 8th century rock-cut monastery. Then we will drive you to your hotel at the end of the day.
Day 5 (Flight to Ephesus)
After your breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer you to Kayseri Airport and you will take 09:10 flight to Izmir. Our driver will be waiting for you at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport and will drive you to your hotel in Ephesus area (either Selcuk or Kusadasi). You will have free afternoon. Overnight in Ephesus region.
Day 6 (Ephesus Tour – Flight to Istanbul)
Today, you will take a full day tour to Ephesus and Virgin Mary’s House. The guided tour will start with Ephesus ruins, after lunch, you will visit Artemis Temple, Selcuk Museum and Virgin Mary’s House. Then, we will drive you to Izmir airport for evening flight to Istanbul. Our driver will pick you up from Istanbul airport and drive you to your hotel in Istanbul.
Day 7 (Istanbul)
You will have free time in Istanbul until the transfer to airport for your international flight. Optional activities can be arranged in Istanbul as well.
The rate of Cultural Triangle tour is 840 Euro per person including;
Istanbul Lady Diana Hotel (4 Stars – 3 Nights) with breakfast,
Cappadocia Kelebek Hotel (Junior Suite Room, 2 Nights) with breakfast,
Kusadasi Tatlises Hotel (4 Stars, 1 Night) with breakfast,
Professional guiding, transportation, lunch and all entrance fees in the tours,
3 domestic flights (Istanbul – Kayseri and Izmir – Istanbul) and 8 airport transfers
Accommodation costs are based on per person on double room. Single Supplement cost is 200 Euro.
Please send us an email (info@goreme.com) for booking and further information