Turkish Desires

Arrival at Istanbul Meet and greet at Istanbul New Airport. Transfer to hotel (early check-in subject to availability, but we will do our best to arrange it). Afternoon hotel pick-up for a half-day tour. Visits to City Walls, Golden Horn, and cable car to Pierre Loti Hill. Then, Bosphorus Cruise along the Bosphorus, the winding strait separating Europe & Asia. Bosphorus coastline is a delightful mixture of the past and the present where one can enjoy the grand splendor and quaint beauty of the ancient wooden mansions, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. Rumeli Fortress (from the boat, no interior visit) and Leander’s Tower (from the boat, no interior visit). After the tour drop at the hotel. Lunch and dinner excluded. Overnight at Hotel / Istanbul.

Explore Istanbul Breakfast at the hotel. Hotel pick-up at around 07:50 am for a half-day city tour. Visits to St.Sophia, Byzantine Hippodrome, in which stand the obelisk brought from Egypt by Theodosius and the Serpent Column taken from Delphi by Constantine. Blue Mosque (will be visited from outside if the tour is taken on Friday), which has six minarets and a middle dome of 109 feet. Afternoon free at leisure. After the tour drop at Grand Bazaar. Grand Covered Bazaar (closed on Sundays) dating back to the 15th century. It covers over 4,000 shops under one roof. Lunch and dinner excluded. Overnight at Hotel / Istanbul.

Istanbul to Kayseri to Cappadocia Box breakfast will be arranged. Early morning transfer to Istanbul New Apt to take an early morning flight to Kayseri (TK2010 or any earlier IST/ASR domestic flight). Upon arrival at Kayseri, Erciyes Apt meet and greet our assistant and drive to Cappadocia. Arrive at Cappadocia, visit Red Valley which is one of the most beautiful trekking valleys in Cappadocia. Explore the famous rock-cut churches and hiking for 5km through the valley. After hiking, resting in Old Cavusin Village where is one of the old Greek Villages in Cappadocia. The village is known for its houses and churches of Christian clergymen. After lunch at a local restaurant visit Kaymakli Underground City, the place early Christians hid from persecutors. Finally, visit Pigeon Valley. After the tour transfer to the hotel and check-in. Dinner and overnight at Hotel / Cappadocia.

Explore Cappadocia Breakfast at the hotel. Full-day tour of Cappadocia. Morning visits to Devrent Valley which has various types of fairy chimneys. Pasabaglari (Monk’s Valley) with some other types of fairy chimneys. Avanos Region, known for its pottery, a craft dating back to the Hittite period. After lunch at local restaurant visits to Goreme Open-Air Museum, which is full of pink, rose, and white tapering columns. These tall free standing cones of stone curve and twist as if pulled from earth like taffy. Others are tall like fairy chimneys. The caves were settled in the 4th century as monasteries. Visit some caves on the cliffs to see Byzantine frescoes decorating early Christian churches. Stop at the Citadel of Uchisar and Esentepe for the beautiful view of Cappadocia. You will also have a chance to take photos in these places. Dinner and overnight at Hotel / Cappadocia.

Cappadocia to Kayseri to Istanbul to Antalya Breakfast at the hotel. Day free till departure. Hotel check-out. Transfer to Kayseri Erciyes Airport (departure from Kayseri Erciyes Apt anytime between 07:30 am-22:00hrs only) to take a domestic flight to Antalya via Istanbul. Upon arrival at Antalya Airport meet with our assistant and transfer to the hotel (early check-in subject to availability). Rest of the day free at leisure. Lunch excluded. Find bars dotted around the marina and in the old town of Kaleiçi. There are sports bars where you can watch the latest games on big screens, traditional British pubs, authentic Turkish taverns, and waterfront bars that look out across the harbor. Rest and Enjoy. Dinner and overnight at Hotel / Antalya.

Explore Antalya Breakfast at the hotel. Full day to discover ancient Hellenistic and Roman treasures, including the unspoiled ruins of Perge. The magnificently preserved 15,000 person theater of Aspendos and Kursunlu Waterfalls. Dinner and overnight at Hotel / Antalya.

Departure Wake up with a mouth-watering breakfast and pack your bags full of unforgettable memories. Free till departure. Hotel check-out latest at 12:00hrs. Transfer to Antalya Airport to take a domestic flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival at Istanbul New Apt directly taking an international flight back to India. Board the flight and treasure the moments you have spent in this beautiful country.