Golden Triangle Turkey Program - Standard Class 4 Star Hotels

On arrival transfer from Istanbul Atatürk airport to Yasmak Sultan Hotel. Day at leisure.

Morning pick up from your hotel for a full day sightseeing tour of Istanbul. Visit sites including the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace (Closed Tuesdays), Hagia Sophia (now only available from outside), the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar where you can haggle for a Turkish bargain. In the evening we recommend Turkish Hamman in one of the traditional old bath house that Istanbul is famous for. Overnight at Erboy Hotel. (B)

Morning transfer to the airport for your short flight to Kayseri (airfare not included). Upon arrival drive to the Cappadocia region and during regular coach tour visit the Devrent, which reveals many different rock formations and is only a 10 minute drive from Goreme. The small fairy chimneys in the valley form a lunar landscape, or moonscape, by their strange look. The valley also has many animal shaped rocks. Drive to Pasabag (Monk’s Valley) to see the most interesting mushroom-shaped pinnacles. Pasabag valley contains some of the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia with twin and even triple rock caps. This style is unique even for Cappadocia and these fairy chimneys are named mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys. In the afternoon visit Open Air Museum in Goreme where the remains of rock-cut churches date back hundreds of years. Overnight in Cappadocia at Dinler hotel or similar. (B, L, D)

Meet at the hotel lobby in the morning and drive to Ihlara Valley, created from the ashes of the volcanic Mt. Hasan. After hiking through the valley, which is watered with Melendiz River by Belisirma, proceed to Selime with hollowed out citadel and churches where fairy chimneys rest on the steep hillside. Stop at Yaprakhisar village to take photos. In the afternoon, visit to Derinkuyu Underground Village where dwellings with stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, churches and wineries were used as refuges for the Christian communities. Thereafter transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia at Dinler Hotel or similar. (B, L, D)

Transfer to Kayseri airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival transfer to Ilayda Avantgarde hotel in Kusadasi. Afternoon at leisure. (B)

Today enjoy a full day tour of Ephesus the best preserved classical city of the eastern mediterranean. Visit Agora the ancient marketplace, the Temple of Hadrian dedicated to Emperor Hadrian, and the famous Celsus Library. Continue with a visit to the Virgin Mary’s Cottage, where Mary is believed to have spent the last days of her life. Transfer to Izmir airport for flight to Istanbul. (B)