12 Day Christmas Tour Turkey

Pick up at 08:30am from your hotel for the a day tour of old Istanbul city. Visit to TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of cyrstal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. HIPPODROME Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Lunch break at 13:00pm after the lunch Murtis Tour will then take you to the SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar) The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spiceThe rest of the evening is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

07:30am we depart for Gallipoli to visit the battle fields. Two hours later we will give you 20 minutes for relax in a restaurant area. We arrive Gallipoli around 12:00am and we have lunch break, relax a little bit and then depart for the battle fields. Visit Gabatepe Museum. Start visiting the fields with Ariburnu Cemetery and Anzac Cove because these are the places where the war had started. Then Beach Cemetery, Shrapnel Valley and Plugges Plateau. After the tour drive to your hotel. Overnight in Canakkale.

We depart at 08:30 and driving 30 minutes for to Troy. Visit the famous archeological and mythological site of Troy, home of the Trojan Horse and Helen of Troy. After Troy tour, 3 hour drive to Pergamon. Lunch break around 13:00pm and after the lunch depart for tour of the magnificent acropolis of Pergamon. Its impressive temples and library made it a renowned cultural and political centre at that times. Bergamon is a famous city for its jewellery, stones and silver. So on the way, we will visit a jewellery center for 30 minutes. Arrival to Kusadasi around 18:00pm. Overnight in Kusadasi.

08:30 Departure from hotel fully guided tour of Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient sites in the world en-route, visiting the Temple of Artemis, Curetes street, famous Roman baths, Celsus Library and Grand Theatre. Lunch break around 13:00pm. After the lunch, we will visit a place which continues to perform one of the oldest arts of Turkey; a carpet weaving centre. After Lunch we will do a Turkish Village Tour. Sirince's construction style today belongs to Anatolian Greeks. The houses on the slope are all Orginal with their white paints. Sirince Village also has a fantastic reputation for making some of the best wines in Turkey - especially fruit wines.On the way we will visit one of the famous leather production centers of the region, where you will have the opportunity to get a good factory rate. On this guided tour, you will avoid the constant nagging and sometimes bullying that is well known in the markets of Turkey. Enabling you to enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen Overnight in Kusadasi.

At 08:30 we depart for Pamukkale. We will check at the hotel around 12.00 and we have a lunch break until 13.30. Afterwards we shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, then walk around this natural phenomenon and have the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs. Overnight in Pamukkale

(Breakfast and Dinner included) After breakfast, we depart for Antalya. Upon arrival in Antalya transfer your hotel and check in to your room. Late afternoon we start our Christmas celebrations, and yes Santa will visit you at the Hotel, the festive atmosphere is in the air. You will definitely have a Christmas night to remember. Enjoy a big Christmas feast of rich Turkish cuisine and party the night away with your new friends with Turkish live music. Enjoy a big xmas feast of rich Turkish cuisine and party the night away with your new friends. Overnight in Antalya

After breakfast at 08:30 am drive to Old city Kaleici, Clock Tower., the old city of Antalya was surrounded by walls from both the land and the sea side (port side). It was also divided internally to four sections between races and religions by walls. Hidirlik Tower, Hadrian’s Gate and the Clock Tower are what remain of the ancient walls. What remains of the harbor a wall is quite impressive. They also report that it was surrounded by gardens and vineyards and that it was a busy trade center exporting goods to Egypt. The area that was within these city walls is now called the old city (Kale Içi).Overnight in Antalya.

After breakfast early in the morning at 08:00 drive to Konya. 2.5 hour later we have break for coffee and after some rest drive to Konya for lunch at 13:00pm and after the lunch visit the imposing green - tiled Mausoleum of Mevlana, the mystic founder of the Sufi sect (Whirling Dervishes). After the Konya Mevlana tour drive to Cappadocia. Arrival to Cappadocia around 18:30pm and check into your hotel. If you wish to join our optional activity of Ballooning for tomorrow, please contact with your guide and register because it will take place early the next morning. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Today we will get to know the Cappadocia region, a volcanic area in which the geological formation started 10 million years ago. As a result of these formations phallic like pillars have come to life. The beautiful horse country Katpatuka, (as the Persians called her) is an unbelievable strip of land, enchanting and mysterious. Cappadocia region is also famous for its arts, including ceramic and carpets. You will be picked up approximatley 09:30 from your hotel to join our regular tour. Tour starts with Uchisar Castle, the highest point of Cappadocia. After Uchisar, you visit Goreme Open Air Museum, the Heart of Cappadocia. Goreme Open Air Museum is famous for frescoes dating to 10th century describing the life of Jesus Christ and monks. Next stop is Cavusin, which is an abandoned village with old cave Greek houses. After Cavusin you go to the restaurant in Avanos to have lunch. After lunch, you visit a pottery work shop, to see how to make potteries. Then you go Pasabagi where you can see three - headed fairy chimneys. After Pasabagi you visit another workshop to see Cappadocian handwoven carpets and kilims. Next stop is Devrent Valley, which is also called Imagination Valley, where you can see natural rock formations looking like animals. Then you head to a wineshop in Urgup for wine tasting. Last stop is Three Beauties, three beautiful fairy chimneys with their hats, which is the symbol of Cappadocia. This tour will end approximately 18:00 and you will be returned back to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

We depart at 9:00am for Ankara during the trip (4 hours distance). On the way, we will stop at Salt Lake, wich it is a natural salt lake and the second biggest lake in Turkey. Arrival to Ankara around 12:30 and we have lunch break. After the lunch, Visit Ataturk Museum at the Ataturk Mausoleum. (Ataturk is the founder of the modern Turkey). Then depart for Istanbul and after 2.5 hour we will have coffee break in a restaurant area. After the break, 2, 5 hour drive to Istanbul. Arrival to Istanbul around 19:00pm. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer back to Istanbul Airport. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another our. Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing us.