Ancient Wonders of Turkey

Flight to Istanbul. After landing we board the coach that takes us to Ankara (approx. 6 hours). The drive crosses the Bosphorus Bridge and passes the cities of Kocaeli, Sakarya, Düzce and Bolu. Arrival in Ankara in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Ankara.

After breakfast, a visit to the old citadel and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. We continue the drive towards Cappadocia. On the way, a visit to the salt lake Tuz Gölü. Arrival in Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

After breakfast, departure for a full-day tour of Cappadocia. Uçhisar, Göreme Open Air Museum, Zelve, Paşabağları, Ürgüp, Avanos. Dinner, overnight in Cappadocia.

Breakfast. On the way to Konya we visit the underground city of Derinkuyu and the Sultanhanı caravanserai.
On arrival in Konya we visit the Mevlana Museum and the Alaeddin Mosque. Dinner, overnight in Konya.

After breakfast, check-out in Konya and drive to Pamukkale ("Cotton Castle"), a wondrous plateau the colour of white cotton, created by deposits of calcium-rich water. This is followed by a visit to one of the best-known ancient sites in Turkey - Hierapolis, with the remains of a church and the tomb of the Apostle St. Philip, the amphitheatre and the necropolis with sarcophagi, and then a tour of Pamukkale itself, the "Red Waterfalls", where warm, healing water springs. Weather permitting, bathing in the thermal pools is also planned. Hotel check-in, dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

After breakfast and hotel check-out, we continue the tour towards Ephesus with a stop at the House of the Virgin Mary. On arrival, a tour of Ephesus - the ancient metropolis - with the remains of the great theatre, the Odeon, the library, the Roman baths, the agora and the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — the Temple of Artemis — as well as the Basilica of St. John the Apostle and the Hill of the Assumption. We continue our journey towards Bergama. Dinner and overnight in Bergama.

After breakfast we will visit what was once Pergamon, the ancient metropolis of Asia Minor, home to one of the seven churches mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. Tour of the Acropolis of Pergamon, once home to a library of more than 200,000 parchments, and the Altar of Zeus. Visit to the Asclepion, the famous healing centre of the Roman era. Drive towards Bursa.
Visit to the Great Mosque (Ulu Cami) and the great silk centre Koza Han. Dinner and overnight in Bursa.

Drive towards Istanbul, arrival in Istanbul at around 11:00. Tour of Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace. Overnight in Istanbul.

Free time until the transfer. Flight from Istanbul.