Anatolian Dream

Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights

Destinations:

Hot air ballons above a gorgeous landscape in Cappadocia

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Package rate per person in double room during low season	From 1431€

Package rate per person in double room during low season

From 1431€

Delve into the depths of Anatolia and visit destinations of immense natural beauty and great historical and spiritual significance!

In Istanbul you will be guided through the chaotic allure of the city, to Hagia Sophia, the legendary center of the Byzantine Empire, the Topkapi Palace, the jewel of the Faith District and the Grand Bazaar, which features more than 4,000 shops. Bid farewell to the Bosporus and fly to the heart of Turkey in Ankara to begin a journey through Cappadocia.

Prepare yourselves to visit incredibly diverse cities and monuments that serve to augment the region’s wild natural appeal. In the same day you will find yourselves in the Underground City of Kaymakli and high up in the Citadel of Uchisar! Like a nomad from times long past, travel from the Valley of Goreme to Konya with a stop at the Seljuk caravanserai, which to this day is there to rest weary travelers. Once there, feel the spirituality in the air in such respected sites as the mausoleum of Jalal Rumi and the Theological School of Swirling Dervishes.

Your journey will reach its historical high point in the following days, as you visit Pamukkale, Kusadasi and Canakkale. These cities are brimming with Greco-Roman sites which you will experience firsthand in the ancient cities of Hierapolis, Ephesus, Pergamon and of course the Homeric Troy! One last turn towards the region’s more recent Ottoman heritage will be taken in Bursa, one of the biggest stops along the Silk Road, where the Great Mosque still stands!

Fall in love with the Orient this summer and live your own Anatolian Dream!

Arrival in Istanbul: Daily (April - October)

3 night hotel accommodation in Istanbul
2 night hotel accommodation in Cappadocia
1 night hotel accommodation in Pamukkale
1 night hotel accommodationi in Izmir
1 night hotel accommodation in Canakkale
Sightseeing tours as per itinerary with licensed guide
Entrance fees during guided sightseeing
Domestic flight tickets Istanbul-Ankara
Meals: 8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 5 Dinners
Transfer service as per itinerary with escort
VAT for all services

Not included:

International airfare
Personal expenses, meals not indicated on the itinerary, beverages etc.
Customary tips to your drivers, guides and escorts
VISA expenses (if applicable)

Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul
Upon arrival you will meet our local collaborator and be transferred to your hotel. Have the rest of the day to relax and start your acquaintance with the city at your own pace. Istanbul may seem chaotic at first, but don’t be afraid to lose yourself in its magical alleys and the locals are always friendly and ready to help you out!
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: -
Day 2 - Istanbul Full Day Sightseeing Tour
An integral part of your Istanbul experience, this tour is designed expose you to the rich history of the city and help you discover the Byzantine and Ottoman elements that form its identity. You will have the chance to visit the Sultanahmet Mosque, a unique building with 6 minarets and magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles, as well as the Hagia Sophia Museum, one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. Many iconic monuments await you in the ancient Hippodrome, with the bronze Serpentine column, the obelisk of Theodosius and the column of Constantine being the most important ones. After a delicious lunch, you will reach the Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman Sultan, before proceeding to the Grand Bazaar with over 4000 shops of all kinds.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 - Travel to Ankara & Reach Cappadocia
Transfer from your hotel to the airport to catch the early morning flight to Ankara. Upon arrival you will meet our collaborator and start a half day tour in Ankara, the capital of Turkey in the heartland of the country. In the Anatolian Civilization Museum, located near Ankara Castle, you will travel through recorded human history via exhibits that starts from the Paleolithic Age and all the way to the Classical Period. A vast collection covering the Assyrians, the Hittites, the Phrygians, the Urartuans and many more civilization that have left their mark in the region is hosted in the premises. Later on you will visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of the modern state of Turkey. The Antikabir –as it is known to locals- is situated on top of Observation Hill, a high point of Ankara, which at the time of construction could be seen from anywhere of the city. En route to Cappadocia, you will have a lunch break consisting of local delicacies, before you continue your journey to reach your hotel where for dinner and some well-earned rest.
Overnight: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Cappadocia
This day will have highs and lows….literally. After breakfast, you will start a full day tour of Cappadocia starting with a visit to the Kaymakli Underground City. This magnificent subterranean complex consists of caves carved within soft volcanic rock and is speculated to have been first built by the Phrygians during the 8th century BCE. It’s time to come up for air, and visit the Citadel of Uchisar, a castle-mountain rising up to 60 meters high, making it the tallest point in all of Cappadocia. After lunch, continue your tour in the Valley of Goreme and the Open Air Museum, a vast monastic complex composed of scores of refectory monasteries. Later on, in the Pasabag Valley (Valley of the Monks) and Avanos, marvel at the iconic fairy chimneys, a magically alluring sight, combining nature’s awe-strucking power and human ingenuity to create a surreal landscape that would give even Salvador Dali pause.
Overnight: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 – Travel to Pamukkale
Early in the morning you will depart for Pamukkale with a stop on the way to visit the Sultan Han, a 13th century Seljuk caravanserai. You couldn’t find a more apt place to rest, as that was the caravanserai’s function 800 years ago. On the way will have lunch before we continue to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight stay. The stunning landscape of the naturally formed limestone terraces of Pamukkale have given the site its name, which translates to 'cotton castle'!
Overnight: Pamukkale
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Pamukkale Sightseeing & Travel to Kusadasi
Today you will visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, home to the ruins of the biggest Necropolis Graveyard of the ancient world, as well as Roman baths, the Basilica and calcium cliffs. From there, you will drive on to Meryemana and visit the House of Virgin Mary, a Catholic shrine on Mt. Korassos. After lunch, you will continue to Ephesus, the Roman Capital of Asia Minor. It is there that you will find the ruins of Odeon, Hercules’ Gate, the Temple of Hadrian, the Agora and the Greco-Roman theatre, among other prominent sites.
Overnight: Izmir
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Travel to Pergamon, Troy & Canakkale
You will depart for the ancient Greek city of Pergamon early in the morning. Although the city existed in some shape or form since the 5th century BCE, it rose to prominence during the Hellenistic Period, when it became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon under the Attalid dynasty. As a consequence it became one of the major cultural centers of the ancient Greek world. After lunch you will proceed to Asklepeion, the Healing Center of antiquity. Although there have been hundreds of these throughout the region, historians agree that the one in Pergamon is one of the most famous healing temples of the era. The last site you will visit today is the epic city of Troy. Sung in Homer’s Iliad, Troy is full of historically important sites, and a visit to the temple of Goddess Athena can be illuminating.
Overnight: Canakkale
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Travel to Istanbul through Bursa
After breakfast it’s time to visit Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Known for its mosques, fountains, Turkish baths and silk production, Bursa is one of the most important cities in Turkey to this day. A visit to the 14th century Great Mosque, a landmark not only of historical importance, but also of early Ottoman architecture, as it evolved from the Seljuk Turkish style. Proceed to visit the Green Tomb and of course the local Silk Bazaar, as Bursa was one of the biggest stops along the Silk Road. After a stop for lunch, you will return to Istanbul, with a chance to bid farewell to the city and grab some souvenirs for your friend back home.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9 - Departure from Istanbul
After breakfast, pack up your memories and meet our driver at the lobby of your hotel and be transferred to the airport for your flight out of Istanbul.
Overnight: -
Meals: Breakfast

Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul
Upon arrival you will meet our local collaborator and be transferred to your hotel. Have the rest of the day to relax and start your acquaintance with the city at your own pace. Istanbul may seem chaotic at first, but don’t be afraid to lose yourself in its magical alleys and the locals are always friendly and ready to help you out!
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: -
Day 2 - Istanbul Full Day Sightseeing Tour
An integral part of your Istanbul experience, this tour is designed expose you to the rich history of the city and help you discover the Byzantine and Ottoman elements that form its identity. You will have the chance to visit the Sultanahmet Mosque, a unique building with 6 minarets and magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles, as well as the Hagia Sophia Museum, one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. Many iconic monuments await you in the ancient Hippodrome, with the bronze Serpentine column, the obelisk of Theodosius and the column of Constantine being the most important ones. After a delicious lunch, you will reach the Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman Sultan, before proceeding to the Grand Bazaar with over 4000 shops of all kinds.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 - Travel to Ankara & Reach Cappadocia
Transfer from your hotel to the airport to catch the early morning flight to Ankara. Upon arrival you will meet our collaborator and start a half day tour in Ankara, the capital of Turkey in the heartland of the country. In the Anatolian Civilization Museum, located near Ankara Castle, you will travel through recorded human history via exhibits that starts from the Paleolithic Age and all the way to the Classical Period. A vast collection covering the Assyrians, the Hittites, the Phrygians, the Urartuans and many more civilization that have left their mark in the region is hosted in the premises. Later on you will visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of the modern state of Turkey. The Antikabir –as it is known to locals- is situated on top of Observation Hill, a high point of Ankara, which at the time of construction could be seen from anywhere of the city. En route to Cappadocia, you will have a lunch break consisting of local delicacies, before you continue your journey to reach your hotel where for dinner and some well-earned rest.
Overnight: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Cappadocia
This day will have highs and lows….literally. After breakfast, you will start a full day tour of Cappadocia starting with a visit to the Kaymakli Underground City. This magnificent subterranean complex consists of caves carved within soft volcanic rock and is speculated to have been first built by the Phrygians during the 8th century BCE. It’s time to come up for air, and visit the Citadel of Uchisar, a castle-mountain rising up to 60 meters high, making it the tallest point in all of Cappadocia. After lunch, continue your tour in the Valley of Goreme and the Open Air Museum, a vast monastic complex composed of scores of refectory monasteries. Later on, in the Pasabag Valley (Valley of the Monks) and Avanos, marvel at the iconic fairy chimneys, a magically alluring sight, combining nature’s awe-strucking power and human ingenuity to create a surreal landscape that would give even Salvador Dali pause.
Overnight: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 – Travel to Pamukkale
Early in the morning you will depart for Pamukkale with a stop on the way to visit the Sultan Han, a 13th century Seljuk caravanserai. You couldn’t find a more apt place to rest, as that was the caravanserai’s function 800 years ago. On the way will have lunch before we continue to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight stay. The stunning landscape of the naturally formed limestone terraces of Pamukkale have given the site its name, which translates to 'cotton castle'!
Overnight: Pamukkale
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Pamukkale Sightseeing & Travel to Kusadasi
Today you will visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, home to the ruins of the biggest Necropolis Graveyard of the ancient world, as well as Roman baths, the Basilica and calcium cliffs. From there, you will drive on to Meryemana and visit the House of Virgin Mary, a Catholic shrine on Mt. Korassos. After lunch, you will continue to Ephesus, the Roman Capital of Asia Minor. It is there that you will find the ruins of Odeon, Hercules’ Gate, the Temple of Hadrian, the Agora and the Greco-Roman theatre, among other prominent sites.
Overnight: Izmir
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Travel to Pergamon, Troy & Canakkale
You will depart for the ancient Greek city of Pergamon early in the morning. Although the city existed in some shape or form since the 5th century BCE, it rose to prominence during the Hellenistic Period, when it became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon under the Attalid dynasty. As a consequence it became one of the major cultural centers of the ancient Greek world. After lunch you will proceed to Asklepeion, the Healing Center of antiquity. Although there have been hundreds of these throughout the region, historians agree that the one in Pergamon is one of the most famous healing temples of the era. The last site you will visit today is the epic city of Troy. Sung in Homer’s Iliad, Troy is full of historically important sites, and a visit to the temple of Goddess Athena can be illuminating.
Overnight: Canakkale
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Travel to Istanbul through Bursa
After breakfast it’s time to visit Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Known for its mosques, fountains, Turkish baths and silk production, Bursa is one of the most important cities in Turkey to this day. A visit to the 14th century Great Mosque, a landmark not only of historical importance, but also of early Ottoman architecture, as it evolved from the Seljuk Turkish style. Proceed to visit the Green Tomb and of course the local Silk Bazaar, as Bursa was one of the biggest stops along the Silk Road. After a stop for lunch, you will return to Istanbul, with a chance to bid farewell to the city and grab some souvenirs for your friend back home.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9 - Departure from Istanbul
After breakfast, pack up your memories and meet our driver at the lobby of your hotel and be transferred to the airport for your flight out of Istanbul.
Overnight: -
Meals: Breakfast

Prices are not valid during periods of special events, seminars, congresses, etc.
Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday and is replaced with Beylerbeyi Palace. The Grand Covered Bazaar is closed on Sunday

Rates per Person for all services outlined in Euros

Group 1