Anatolia in a Week (8 Days)

The Best of Istanbul and Turkey
When you want the BEST

Come see the wonders of Istanbul and Central Turkey in only 8 days: Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, and Ephesus. Daily departure, (April through end of Oct). You choose your own dates.

DAY 1 – ISTANBUL – Daily Arrival – Choose your own dates: April-Oct
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur always for all your transfers in Turkey. Our local representative will meet your plane, or cruise line (Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Sea Dream II Luxury Yacht, Crystal Cruises or other Mediterranean cruises) and escort you to your hotel, or you may arrive into Kusadasi by ferry (March – Nov) from the Greek isle of Samos. Then we will be happy to arrange for your itinerary to start in Kusadasi /Izmir.

Our local representative, who sees you to your hotel, will be happy to answer any questions you may have about getting to know the city. As you ride into the great metropolis from the airport, two thousand years of history are revealed: towering Roman walls, ancient Byzantine churches, slender minarets framing the bulbous domes of graceful mosques. These ancient monuments float on the skyline of a bustling modern metropolis of ten million people.

DAY 2 – ISTANBUL (BL)
The center of ancient Constantinople and Istanbul was on Seraglio Point, framed by the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. We visit the Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet III to challenge the architectural primacy of neighboring Sancta Sophia. We then walk next door to compare achievements in Justinian’s great Sancta Sophia. Right behind Sancta Sophia is our next stop, sumptuous Topkapi Palace, the sultans seraglio for centuries, filled with breathtaking exhibits of priceless jewels, golden thrones, delicate colored tiles, and lavish court costumes. After lunch in a local restaurant, we finish up in the bustling Grand Bazaar where you can find jewelry, carpets, goat-hair rugs, hand-painted ceramics, copper and brass in labyrinthine streets holding nearly 4000 shops. Private car / driver / guide.

DAY 3 – Istanbul – Fly to IZMIR – Ephesus (BL)
After breakfast, proceed to the airport. Our airport transfers are always on a private basis, domestic flights are included within Turkey in economy class. Fly to Izmir and proceed to the miraculously revealed House of the Virgin Mary is our first stop, after which we tour Ephesus, the capital of Roman Asia Minor. The tour includes the restored Terraced Houses and the Basilica of St. John, said to mark his tomb. Lunch is included at the small town of Selcuk. Attend a local fashion show, then head to Kusadasi if you prefer the resort type hotels, or overnight in Selcuk (Seljuk) if you prefer a small sleepy town and boutique hotels (please advise your preference at the time of booking).

DAY 4 -Kusadasi – Pamukkale (BL)
Private car/driver/guide: After breakfast head for Pamukkale to tour the extensive ruins of Roman Hierapolis. For guests touring Turkey during the month of July and Aug, we suggest a very early morning breakfast and departure to enjoy the drive and avoid the heat, even when we use with the best air-conditioned vehicle.

DAY 5 – KONYA – CAPPADOCIA (BL)
Private car/driver/guide: An early morning drive to the mystical city of Konya, birthplace of the Whirling Dervishes, for a visit to the Mevlana Museum. We continue to Sultanhani the Seljuk Turkish caravanserai before making the drive to biblical Cappadocia and our hotel. Lunch is included enroute.

DAY 6 -CAPPADOCIA (BL)
Private car / driver / guide: We explore the “moonscape” of Cappadocia, visiting the painted churches in the Göreme and Zelve Valleys, the rock hewn dwellings in Ortahisar, the pottery-making center of Avanos, and the incredible underground city of Kaymakl (or Derinkuyu). Afternoon at leisure. Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant.

DAY 7 – ISTANBUL (B)
Always private car / driver for all your transfers in Turkey. After breakfast: fly back to Istanbul and your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure, maybe for last minute shopping.

This evening your guide will call on you for a leisurely walk (if the hotel is in Sultan Ahmet area, otherwise we will drive of course) to the Whirling Dervishes Ceremony in Istanbul, with entrance fees included. The ceremony held in Sirkeci area within an historic Turkish Bath structure. It will be your choice that we walk both ways or use the tram one way or even ride the tram both ways (for guests who are in the Sultan Ahmet Area), tram tickets are included and will be purchased by your guide with our compliments.

We will follow the main street passing through the hearth of old city or using the tram down to Sirkeci station where also legendary final stop of Orient Express is located. The ceremony starts at 19.30 but we recommend getting to the place by 18.30, for the introduction ceremony. The Whirling Dervishes ceremony takes about one hour.

DAY 8 – Departure From Istanbul (B)
We escort you to the airport in your private car for your flight home.

Minimum 2 Guests – Rates are in USD $
Rates are per person Sharing in:	First Class Aygun Plaza Senator Hotel Arena Boutique Hotel or similar	Deluxe The Istanbul Hilton Istanbul Marmara or similar	Ultra Deluxe Istanbul Four Seasons Hotels Kempinski Ciragan Palace
Triple Occupancy	US$ 3535.	US$ 4150.	US$ 4830.
Double Occupancy	US$ 3780.	US$ 4270.	US$ 5050.
Single	US$ 5090.	US$ 6040.	US$ 6534.

Minimum 4-6 Guests – Rates are in USD $
Rates are per person Sharing in:	First Class Aygun Plaza Senator Hotel Arena Boutique Hotel or similar	Deluxe The Istanbul Hilton Istanbul Marmara or similar	Ultra Deluxe Istanbul Four Seasons Hotels Kempinski Ciragan Palace
Triple Occupancy	US$ 3040.	US$ 3740.	US$ 4353.
Double Occupancy	US$ 3178.	US$ 3897.	US$ 4535.
Single	US$ 4589.	US$ 5554.	US$ 6093.

Rates include:

• All transfers (on private basis) in Turkey.
• All meals (Preset menu) as listed: B = breakfast, L/D: Lunch / dinner.
• Private guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees.
• Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur always for all your transfers and tours in Turkey
• Hotel accommodation with tax.
• Domestic air fare in Turkey, in economy class, tax included.

Rate doesn’t include:

• International air fare from /to your home country..
• Visa Fee: (procure yours online in advance of travel at www.evisa.gov.tr/en/)
• Trip/travel insurance

First class hotels modest 4 Stars – or similar

• Istanbul: Yasmak Sultan, Aygun Plaza, Arena
• Kusadasi: Pine Marina if Izmir then it is: Kaya
• Pamukkale: Richmond
• Cappadocia: Dinler

Deluxe Hotels – or similar:

• Istanbul: Barcelo Eresin. The Istanbul Hilton or similar
• Kusadasi: Korumar, if you prefer boutique style hotel then it is Kismet Hotel, or similar.
• Pamukkale: Colossae
• Cappadocia: Cave Suites

Most guests do prefer to start their tour in Istanbul, yet when you have 7- 8 full days in Turkey, may we suggested that upon arrival in Turkey you fly straight to Kayseri (or Nevsehir) in Cappadocia. This will save you a back-and-forth from and to the Istanbul airport, and an unpacking and re-packing in your Istanbul hotel. You will save Istanbul touring for the end of your trip.