Itinerary

Day 1 - Leave United States

Fly from the United States and arrive in Istanbul the morning of the second day. Once you arrive you'll need to get a visa and go straight to the hotel.

Day 2 - Arrive in Istanbul, Welcome Dinner

Self transfer to your hotel and overnight at the hotel. Meet with your guide and welcome dinner. D

Day 3 - Tour Istanbul

This morning we will start our sightseeing with the visits to the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, and Blue Mosque. Overnight at the hotel in Istanbul. B

Day 4 - Tour Istanbul

Visit Topkapi Palace, Treasury and the Harem in the morning. Later a short visit to Grand Bazaar and the spice market. In the afternoon we will have a cruise on the Bosphorus by a local ferry and have our dinner in one of the fish restaurants by the Bosphorus. Overnight at Hotel in Istanbul. BD

Day 5 - Cappadocia

In the morning we will be transferred to the airport and fly to Cappadocia. After check in to our hotel we will start to discover the area by a walk through this lunar landscape. Overnight at our cave hotel in Cappadocia. B

Day 6 - Cappadocia

Optional Hot air balloon flight at sunrise. You will return to hotel at 8:00-8:30. After breakfast at 9:00 in the morning we will leave the hotel to visit Derinkuyu Underground City and see where up to 20,000 people lived in this multi level city complete with stables, kitchens, storage chambers and wine making rooms. We will also visit Pasabaglari (the world-famous Fairy Chimneys), the village of Avanos, where you will witness a pottery-making demonstration using ancient Hittite techniques, Overnight at our cave hotel in Cappadocia. B

Day 7 - Gaziantep

Departure from your hotel at 8:30. Drive to Karatay Kervansaray and visit the Kervansaray. Stop at Kahramanmaras for lunch and a taste of its famous ice cream. Continue onto visit the world famous Gaziantep Mosaic Museum. This museum is getting richer and richer with the continued discoveries from Zeugma. We will also visit the copper bazaar and the famous baklava shop (Baklava is originally from Gaziantep). Overnight in Gaziantep. BD

Day 8 - Gaziantep

This morning we will drive to Birecik. The Northern Bald Ibis used to nest here and winter in the deserts of Arabia. Later we will drive to Halfeti, which is a small farming district on the east bank of the river Euphrates. We will take a ferry boat to explore this unique area. We will drive back to Gaziantep . BD

Day 9 - Adiyaman

We will drive to Kahta and hike to the summit of the mount Nemrut (one of the most popular UNESCO world cultural heritage sites). Here, with the colossal heads and statues of ancient deities, we step into ancient mythology. This extraordinary landmark rests at an elevation of 8000 ft. The mountain top complex is composed of two flattened areas strewn with statues and separated by a false peak of crushed rock. Antiochus built the entire complex approximately 2000 years ago as a monument to his divine ancestry. We will also cross over the still functioning Cendere Bridge (Septimius Severus bridge) dating back to the 3rd century and the Tumulus Tomb of Karakus. Overnight at a hotel in Ad?yaman. BD

Day 10 - URFA

Today we drive to Sanli Urfa.Urfa, the birthplace of the prophet Abraham. Urfa has been occupied since the Babylonians followed by the Hurrites, Hittites, Assyrians, and Greeks. We will visit nearby Harran and see the incredible beehive houses. According to the Bible, Harran was where prophet Abraham spent a few years with his family before moving on to Israel, the Promised Land. Overnight in Urfa. BD

DAY 11 - URFA

In the morning we will drive to see Gobekli Tepe, a hilltop sanctuary erected on the highest point of an elongated mountain ridge some 15 km northeast of the town of Urfa. The structures here are the oldest man-mde structures that we know of. They date back to at least 9000 BC, which makes them older that Hittite, Babylonian, and Egyptian cultures. The rest of the day we will also visit the holy sites at the Ain zelha, a lake with millions of domesticated fish and the visit the cave where the prophet Abraham was born. There are exceptional photo opportunities in this area. Overnight in Urfa and we will end our trip with a very local way of special farewell dinner. BD

DAY 12 - Fly Back to Istanbul and Home

Head back home or continue on the yachting extension/the tour ends upon arrival to Istanbul airport.
Yachting Extension

 
(Optional)

Day 12

Connection flight from Istanbul to Bodrum, a town on the Aegean. Transfer to yacht, or Gulet. Dinner on Yacht.

Day 13

Sail to Kara Adalar or Black island, famous for its spectacular coastline, hot springs and caves that we can swim into. We will take time to swim, snorkel hang out on a beautiful beach before sailing on to Kisrebuku a quiet by where we will anchor for the night. BLD

Day 14

Early morning sail to Yedi Adalar (Seven Islands),eating breakfast on the way. We will spend the day exploring these islands, again with plenty of time to swim and snorkel. BL

Day 15

We will sail along the rugged mainland coast, stopping for lunch at Cleopatra's Island. Mark Antony and Cleopatra did indeed spend time here, and legend has it that Antony had white sand shipped from north Africa for the to lie on. Then on to Karacasogut, a village with a couple restaurants and some Turkish vacation homes. We will anchor here for the night.

Day 16

Transfer to the Dalaman airport for flights back to istanbul and connecting flights home

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