The Best of Türkiye

Day 1 – Welcome to Istanbul

Arrive at Istanbul International Airport, where you’ll be met by your Isram representative and transferred to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2 – The Treasures of the Old City

After breakfast, meet your expert private guide for a full-day tour through Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet District, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visits to include:

• Hagia Sophia – Stand in awe before one of the world’s greatest architectural masterpieces, with its soaring dome and golden mosaics.
• Blue Mosque – Admire the shimmering blue Iznik tiles and elegant minarets of this 17th-century gem.
• Hippodrome Square – Once the heart of Byzantine life, see the ancient Obelisk of Theodosius and Serpent Column.
• Topkapi Palace – Explore the opulent residence of Ottoman sultans, filled with dazzling treasures, jewels, and sacred relics.
• Grand Bazaar – Wander through the maze of over 4,000 shops brimming with colorful ceramics, spices, textiles, and handwoven carpets.

Return to your hotel in the late afternoon. The evening is at leisure to enjoy a Turkish dinner at one of the many restaurants of Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)

Note:

• The Grand Bazaar is open Monday through Saturday, from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM.

It is closed on Sundays, religious holidays, and Republic Day with partial closing till the afternoon on the Ramada Feats.

• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays and half days of the first day of religious holidays (until 1:30 PM).
• Visits to the Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia are not allowed during the special Friday prayers (midday on Fridays)

Day 3 – Bosphorus Beauty & Local Life

After breakfast, experience the magic of the Bosphorus Strait, where Europe and Asia meet.

• Bosphorus Cruise – Sail between two continents, passing magnificent Ottoman palaces, elegant wooden mansions, and picturesque fishing villages.
• Spice Bazaar – Follow the scent of saffron, cinnamon, and Turkish delight through this centuries-old marketplace.
• Dolmabahçe Palace – Discover the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire’s last royal residence, blending European and Turkish architecture.

In the afternoon, explore Istiklal Street — the beating heart of modern Istanbul — with its boutiques, cafés, and nostalgic tram. This evening you may wish to experience an optional Traditional Turkish Dinner & Whirling Dervish Show where you will immerse yourself in the rhythm, cuisine, and mysticism of Turkish culture. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)

Note:

• Spice Bazaar opens daily (08:0AM-07:30PM) except Sundays and Holidays.

Day 4: Istanbul/Cappadocia

Following breakfast, transfer to Istanbul airport for your flight to Kayseri.  Upon arrival at Kayseri airport, you will be greeted by your local private guide and begin with a visit of the Devrent Valley where various types of fairy chimneys are abundant. Walk through this amazing valley to fully appreciate the uniqueness of the landscape.  Visit Pasabagi (Monk’s Valley) with multiple stone stems and caps, a mystical geology peculiar to this area. Drive to Avanos, which is known for intricately decorated pottery, a craft dating back to the Hittite period.   Proceed to the fabulous Goreme Open Air Museum to visit the churches chapels and monasteries carved into the fairy chimneys between the 10th and 13th centuries. The fresco painted walls in these structures are captivating in their color and artistry. On our way back to the hotel we’ll stop along the way to take photos of exquisite scenery and mesmerizing valleys.  Arrive at your hotel in Cappadocia for overnight.  (B)

Day 5: Cappadocia

This morning you have the OPTION to enjoy an early morning hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia. There’s simply no better way to experience the dazzling diversity and drama of Cappadocia’s unique geography than from way up high, as you silently drift over the landscape while the sun slowly rises. It’s absolutely unforgettable.  Weather conditions permitting, you’ll be picked up at your hotel in the early morning (before sunrise, by shuttle) and transferred to the meeting point. The estimated flying time is 1 hour. At the end of the flight, celebrate the moment with sparkling wine and fresh fruit. Return to the hotel.

Following breakfast at your hotel, meet your guide and drive to the Rose Valley. During a walking tour, see the many cave dwellings, vineyards, apricot and almond trees and ancient cave churches.  Visit to the old Christian village of Cavusin and Pigeon Valley, whose name comes from the thousands of pigeon houses (dovecotes) that have been carved into the soft stone since ancient times. Onward to Kaymakli Underground City, a subterranean village where early Christians hid from persecutors. Visit the Ortahisar natural rock castle, which offers a magnificent panorama over the fairy chimneys of Hallacdere and the snowy peak of Mt. Erciyes. Return to the hotel for overnight.  (B)

Day 6: Cappadocia (Keyseri)/Izmir/Ephesus/Kusadasi

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Izmir.  Upon arrival, meet your private guide and driver and begin the day with a tour of Ephesus Antique City, one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world. Drive to House of Virgin Mary, according to many historians and theologians, the divine death of the Virgin Mary took place in Ephesus in the presence of St. John into whose care Christ’s mother was given (St. John, XX,26-27).  Visit the remarkable Greco-Roman archaeological site of Ancient Ephesus dating back to the 11th century B.C. Walk along Royal Road also known as the Arcadian Way, a 4th century white marble chariot thoroughfare whose most striking sight is the two-story Library of Celsus.  Pass the remains of some of the ancient city’s major civic buildings and temples as you move toward the Ephesus Theater from which St. Paul once preached to the Ephesians. Then visit the remaining graceful columns and mosaics of the Basilica where can be seen the panorama of the rural Selcuk countryside.  Continue to your hotel in Kusadasi for overnight. (B)

Day 7: Kusadasi – Pergamon – Kusadasi OR Leisure

You have the option today of visiting Pergamon with your private guide and driver or a day at leisure at the seaside port city of Kusadasi.

Pergamon tour: Depart from the hotel driving along the coast of the mythical Aegean Sea to Pergamon, an ancient city dating before the 4th century B.C. It’s home to the second largest library in the ancient world, the steepest theatre of Anatolia, the monumental Altar of Zeus and the Roman Medical Center ruins of Asklepion, work site of the great physician, Galen. Take your time, immerse yourself in the history and wander around the extensive ruins; Return to your hotel in Kusadasi. (B)

Day 8: Departure

Transfer to Izmir Airport for your International flight home connecting in Istanbul. (B)

This is a sample itinerary which can be further customized to suit your preference. Prices will be quoted upon request according to the date of travel and the number of passengers in your vehicle.