DAY 1
ARRIVAL TO ISTANBUL
On your arrival in Istanbul;Our Driver will meet you at the airport pick you up and transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay at 4* hotel in istanbul.
DAY 2
ISTANBUL OLD CITY TOUR
included meals:Breakfast -Lunch
You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning at 08:15 am for the tour:
itinerary:
we will visit the St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. (St Sophia is closed on Monday) Continue to the Topkapi palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the elegant little Hagia Sophia mosque , See the Grand Covered Bazaar. After the tour transfer to your hotel,Overnight stay at 4* hotel in istanbul.
DAY 3
ISTANBUL TOIZMIR
EPHESUS - HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY- BASILICA OF ST JOHN - KUSADASI
included meals:Breakfast -Lunch-Dinner
06:00 You will be Picked up from your hotel early in the morning and transfer to Airport.
07:45 Fly from Istanbul to Izmir
08:15 On your arrival to Izmir airport,Our Driver will be waiting for you with your name holding on the board to pick you up and transfer to Ephesus.you will begin the tour.
itinerary:
Today we will visit the house of Virgin Mary, then Ephesus with the Library of Celsius, temple of Hadrian, agora and fantastic Greco-Roman theater and the Basilica of St. John.. After the tour transfer to your hotel,Overnight stay at 4* hotel in Kusadasi .
DAY 4
PAMUKKALE - HIERAPOLIS - CAPPADOCIA
included meals:Breakfast -Lunch
After breakfast You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning at 08:30 am and depart from Kusadasi drive to Pamukkale to see the sites :
Pammukale which means cotton castle, is the result of limestone formations built over thousands of years. Warm calcium rich mineral water flowed over the cliffs and as it cooled it deposited the calcium into the formations that are seen today. Pammukale is now a world heritage site.Hierapolis was founded as a healing care centre in 190 BC, taking advantage of the mineral waters in the area. It was one of the most important intellectual, artistic, religious and commercial centres of the Roman Empire. It eventually had a large Jewish and Christian community. Breakfast and Lunch provided. After tour You will get an overnight bus to Cappadocia with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus at 21:00 or 22:00. (duration 10 hours) Bus will be stopped 3 times for the personel needs or Optinal we can arrange flight instead of bus transport ?
DAY 5
CAPPADOCIA TOUR 1 (North of Cappadocia)
included meals:Breakfast -Lunch
On Upon arrival to Cappadocia early in the morning; our representative staff will meet you at the Bus Station and and transfer to Hotel,check in ,fresh up and after Breakfest you will join in to full day Cappadocia tour at 09:30 am
itinerary:
Today we explore Cappadocia Zelve open air museum where three canyons meet in the valley.Then visit Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy-chimneys. Drive to Pasabag (Monks Valley) to see most interesting mushroom-shaped pinnacles. Drive to the city of Avanos for lunch. In the afternoon visit Göreme Open-Air Museum where the remains of rock-hewn churches and Christian settlements date back hundreds of years. Before end of the tour visit the naturel Castle at Uchisar. After the tour transfer back to the hotel.
Overnight in 4* hotel or (Cave Hotel). in Cappadocia.
DAY 6
CAPPADOCIA TOUR 2 (South of Cappadocia)
included meals:Breakfast -Lunch
Hot Air Balloon Ride Optional(if you like ;we canarrange Hot Air Balloon Ride early in the morningat 05:30 am(it takes 1 Hours flight.)
You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning at 09:30 am and depart for the tour.
Hot Air Balloon Ride (Optional: if you like)
itinerary :
Today we will visit the Derinkuyu Underground City to visit the huge refugee settlement carved by early Christians, where they used to hide from persecutors. From Derinkuyu continue to the beautiful Valley of Ihlara, formely known as Peristerema. Explore the famous rock-hewn churches and hike 4 km through the valley. On the way back to monasteries in Selime Village and 13th century Caravansaray built by Selcuk Turks on the Silk Road. After the tour transfer to Kayseri airport.
17:00 Airport transfer
19:15 Fly from Kayseri to Istanbul
20:35 Arrive in Istanbul and pick up from Istanbul airport to your hotel. Overnight in 4* hotel in Istanbul
DAY 7
BOSPHORUS CRUISE & TWO CONTINENTS
included meals:Breakfast -Lunch
You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning at 09:00 am and depart for the tour. we will drive to Eminonu Port to board to get the regular city boat for
2 hour Bosphorous Cruise trip. Enjoy this relaxing cruise along the shoreline while your guide explains to you the history of sights seen while onboard. We then continue on land to visit the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace and then also visit Camlica Hill. After the tour transfer to your hotel,time at leisure for you ,Overnight stay at 4* hotel in istanbul.
DAY 8
Day at Leisure.
included meals: Breakfest
Full free day to wander around and do shopping on your own.Overnight stay at 4* hotel in istanbul.
DAY 9
DEPARTURE
After breakfast check out the hotel (before 12:00), We will pick you up from your hotel two ours prior(regarding your flight time)and transfer to Istanbul international Airport . End of tour and services
INCLUDES
- Round Trip Arrival and departure airport transfers
- Domestic flight tickets ( Istanbul to Izmir & Kayseri to Istanbul )
- Overnight intercity coach tickets (Pamukkale to Cappadocia)
- 5 Nights Hotel Accommodation in istanbul
- 1 Nights 4* Hotel Accommodation in Kusadasi
- 1 Nights Cave Hotel Accommodation in Cappadocia
- 1 Full Day istanbul old city tour
- 1 Full Day istanbul Bosphorus Cruise tour
- 1 Full Day Ephesus tour
- 1 Full Day Pamukkale tour
- 2 Full Day Cappadocia tour
- Museum entry fees
- Meals mentioned in the itinerary
- Professional English speaking Licensed guidance
- Transportation in non-smoking mini/midi/coach bus.
NOT INCLUDED:
• Hot Air Balloon Ride
• Tips to staff, items of a personal nature
• Drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast)
• Travel insurance
GROUP BOOKING DISCOUNTS
Please ask for special group discount if you are a group more than 8 people.
We kindly request our guests to be ready 5 minutes before departure time
Tour Reservation Policy:
A 30% deposit is required on the total tour price to reserve the tour and obtain tour confirmation. The remaining balance on the total tour price can be paid in cash upon arrival in İstanbul. A credit card may also be used to pay the remaining balance. However, an additional bank processing fee of 4% on the remaining balance will have to be paid by the clients. If applicable, domestic flight / bus tickets will only be purchased after a deposit has been made on the total tour amount.
Cancellation / Refund Policy:
If tour cancellation is within 10 days of the start of the tour, a refund will be made of the total paid amount minus the cost of domestic flight and / or bus tickets and the cost of first night hotel stay. Once deposit payment form has been signed by clients and received by ISTANBUL EXPRESS TRAVEL, domestic flight and /or bus tickets and cost of first night hotel stay will NOT BE REFUNDED.
If cancelled within 48 hours of start of any tour, NO REFUNDS will be made to clients by ISTANBUL EXPRESS TRAVEL
Please take note of the following:
* ISTANBUL EXPRESS TRAVEL is a fully licensed legal tour operator under TURSAB (the Turkish Tour Operator Authority) with TURSAB License No. A-3818
* We aim to respond to all requests within 12 hours
IMPORTANT INFO:
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request
• You can swim in the Antique pool in Pamukkale. However, please note that there is an extra charge that you will have to pay directly at your own expense before entry to the pools. This entrance fees to the pools is not covered as part of your tour. as Please note that you must bring your own towel, swimsuit etc. if you need to use the pools.
• The hot air balloon ride operates in optimum weather conditions. The decision for the flight to take off on any given day is decided by the local government at the last minute depending on weather conditions to ensure passenger safety. If your paid and scheduled hot air balloon ride gets cancelled by the tour company at the last minute for weather conditions, we will provide you with a refund of USD 219.00 for the hot air balloon ride if you have it booked with us.
WHEN TO BOOK?
• Book as soon as possible to guarantee availability, especially during public holidays and festivities.
• You can book up to 2 days before (Istanbul local time) if there are still places available. If less than 2 days before start of your requested tour date, please contact us by email or phone as it would be a last minute booking that will need to be checked for availability before your tour reservation is confirmed.
