Morning: Discover the Golden Horn and the Pierre Loti area. We then pay a visit to the Ottoman Cemetery, the Mosque and Mausoleum of Eyup (Mahomet’s fellow) and explore ancient Roman- Byzantine city walls and the Chora Church. Lunch in a traditional Turkish-Greek restaurant next to the Roman Circus.

In the afternoon: Visit St. Sofia Church (Ayasofya Mosque and Museum) and The Palace of Topkapi (Harem visit is optional). Late afternoon, the Grand Bazaar (‘Oriental Souk’). Free dinne and overnight at the hotel. i

Day 3:Istanbul

Morning: Visit the Hipodrom; the Ibrahim Pascha Palace and the Ethnographical Museum; The master-piece Blue Mosque of the Ottoman Empire. Lunch at Gilgamesche. serving well-known Arab-Kurdish specialties, located next to the Citern-Basilica.

Afternoon: A cruise on the Bosporus; discover the Old Egyptian Bazaar and Spices Market as well as the high quality Armenian jewellery shops, while observing the Galata and Marco Polo Towers. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. i

Day 4: Istanbul-Edirne

After breakfast, we head towards the Second Ottoman Capital: Andrinople-Edirne and visit the Selimiye Mosque-the masterpiece of The Architect Sinan; chief architect of Suleyman The Legislator (Suleyman The Magnificent). Then the Bazaar-Caravanserai of Rustem Pacha who is the Great Vizir and Suleyman’s son-in-law; the social complex of the Ottoman sultan Bayezid. We have a time-out and lunch.

Bridge from Sinan Edirne Selimiye Camii (Mosque)

Afternoon: we drive to Dardanelles via Uzunkopru (a classical Ottoman Bridge of 1392 meters). We explore Dardanelles and the small streets of Canakkale and get in touch with the local inhabitants.

Dinner and overnight in Eceabat (or in Canakkale). i

Day 5: Canakkale-Truva-Bursa

After breakfast, we get to know the love of Paris and the Beautiful Helen of Troy. One imagines Achilles running after Hector along the walls of Troy, following the Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer, native of Izmir. Lunch is on the road.

In the afternoon, Bursa-the first Ottoman capital is explored: the Green Mosque, the Green Mausoleum, the Muradiye Complex and the Imperial Tombs.

Dinner and overnight at the Thermal Center of Oylat located at the foot of the Mount Olympus or in Bursa. i

Day 6: Bursa-Oylat-Aizanoi-Emet

We visit Aizanoi and explore its well preserved Zeus temple, theater, stadium, thermal baths, Roman bridges and the ‘Stock Exchange’. Later, we continue our journey with the discovery of the Borax mine pits. Afer a delicious lunch, pay a visit to the Town Hall and to the School of Emet.

Free afternoon to exploit local thermal hamams and to socialize with with the hospitable inhabitants of Phirigia.

Dinner and overnight in one of the touristic hotels of Emet. i

Day 7: Emet-Sardes-Ephese

Drive early in the morning towards Sardes; the capital of Lydia, home-town of the rich Cresus, watered by the Pactole, in order to contemplate the Synagogue of the city, which was used as one of the first 7 churches of the Apocalypse of St John.

Lunch in Ephesus, the capital of Ionia and city of Artemis.

In the afternoon, we discover the Ephesus site, the Eastern Academy, Agoras, Stoa, the street of Curetes, the Gate of Esculape, the Odeon, the market place of Domitien, the Monument of Memius, the Fountain of Trajane dated from the Pax Romana period, the Baths, the Hadrianus Temple, the House of the Worthy, the Library of Celcus, the Closed Houses, Marble Street, the Agora of Demos, the St Paul Theater, Arcadian Street, the Church of the Virgin Marry of the Ecumenical Councils, the Roman Stock Exchange and the Antique Harbour. Stop in a leather factory. (see Ephesus Museum)

Dinner and overnight in Ephesus or in Kusadasi. i

Day 8: Priene-Milet-Didyme-Pamukkale

In the morning, we head towards Priene, the city of the great city planner Hippodamus (‘the Hippodamian Plan’), visit Milet of Thales and discover our future in the Apollo Oracle in Didyme, the largest temple in the world.

Lunch is in a fish restaurant in Didyme, next to the Apollo Temple. In the afternoon, the Pamukkale Castles next to the Hieropolis site are explored. Here women were committing suicide, after their husbands’ deaths, to demonstrate their love and loyalty to their husbands.

Dinner and overnight in our hotel. Thermal swimming pool with Jacuzzi is at our service. i

Day 9: Pamukkale-Aphrodisiyas-Sagalassos-Antalya

Early start to take pictures in the first lights of the day of the cotton and tobacco fields. Arrival in the city of Aphrodite. Visit to the exceptional site of Aphrodisiyas and its Museum with the Statue of Aphrodite.

Lunch with nomad people. In the afternoon, we walk through some rose gardens and the birds paradise of the Burden Lake. We continue with the discovery of the hidden site of the Taurus: Sagalassos.

Dinner and overnight in Antalya, the city of Attale (cousin of Alexander the Great). i

Day 10: Antalya-Konya-Acemhoyuk-Aksaray and Cappadocia

Imaginations, admirations and confused feelings as we walk through the small streets of Antalya and see the small houses of the poor fishermen in the old harbour while also looking at the Gulets of the Turkish aristocrats and at the Hellenistico-Roman-Byzantine-Seldjoukid-Ottoman-Turkish monuments.

After visiting Karpuzkaldiran waterfalls, we drive through the Taurus Mountains and enjoy the nature and beauty of landscape with poppy fields, nomads and goats and arrive Caravanserai of Horozluhan and lunch on the Silk Road.

In the afternoon, in Konya, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, the Mevlana Mausoleum and Museum of the founder of the Dancing Dervishes are explored. Here one finds a rich collection of ethnographical works, including one of the few Turkish carpets in the world dated of 16th century (each cm2 contains 144 double knots). In the late afternoon, arrival in Acemhoyuk, the first capital of Ancient Hitties and visit Sarikaya and Hatiplar Palaces.

Dinner and overnight in Aksaray, at Agacli Motel (4*) or at Eras Hotel (5*). i

Day 11: Cappadocia- Aksaray-Selime-Ihlara-Saratli

After a delicious Turkish breakfast, the Seljuk city of Karamanoglu, Aksaray is explored: exceptional Pizze Tower and The Great Mosque from the 13th century. Walk through the Melendiz Canyon and visit typical Anatolian villages Selime, Yaprakhisar, Belisirma and arrive in the Peristrema-Ihlara Valley and discover primitive Syriaq churches dated from the 1st period of the Christian campus in Cappadocia. Possibility to walk in nature for those who love nature and birds.

Lunch is at the Melendiz Canyon in Ihlara. In the late afternoon, pay a visit to the underground town of Saratli, the town of Simone and Jean van Delft.

Dinner and overnight in our hotel in Cappadocia. i

Day 12: Cappadocia

After breakfast, we visit the old Troglodyte houses of Urgup, Uc Guzeller, the Pigeons Valley, Uchisar, Avcilar, the Goreme Valley and its Rupestrian churches.

Lunch at the hotel or at the buffet Koru. In the afternoon, possibility to relax and discover different handworks (carpets). Dinner and overnight in our hotel. i

Day 13: Cappadocia-Venessa-Sezarée-Argee Erciyes-Ankara

After breakfast, we discover on foot the Rose Valley, the Camels Valley, the Dolphins Valley, the Owl Valley and the Valley of the Virgin Mary. Stop in an onyx factory. Discovery of the 1st part of the Zelve Valley: Pasabag. Drive across the Red River, take pictures of typical houses in Venessa-Avanos.

Lunch in Altinocak Restaurant in Avanos, the most famous one for Cömlek Kebab. In the afternoon, discovery of the city of Julius Sezarus-Kayseri: the Roman citywalls, the Huant Hatun Complex-the Ethnographical Museum, the Grave of the Princess: Döner Kümbet, Gevher Nesibe, the Museum of Medical History. We then drive through the High Steppes of Central Anatolia and arrive in Ankara.

Dinner and overnight in Ankara. i

Day 14: Ankara-The Pontic Chain Crossing- Lake of Sapanca- Istanbul

After breakfast, we visit Atatürk Museum and the Ataturk Mausoleum as well as the Museum of the 1st World War- the Dardanelles; the symbol of the rebirth of the Laic Republic of Turkey. Then, we explore the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, exhibiting the rich heritage of the ancient Anatolian civilizations from Hittites to Romans. Subsequently, discover the old Ankara, walk through the Spices Market and lunch at the Ethnographical Museum of Zenger Pacha, offering a beautiful view of old Ankara.

In the afternoon, drive back to the Cultural Capital of 5 civilizations: Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul.

Good-bye dinner and overnight in our hotel in Istanbul. i

Day 15: Istanbul-Europe

After breakfast, free time until transfer to the Istanbul airport. i

Pricing

· Full pension (drinks excluded) from the dinner of the 1st day until the breakfast of the 15th day:

· For Pricing Click List of TransAnatolie Turkey Tours, Services and Pricing or

· Contac Us: Contact Information for TransAnatolie Tour i

Options

· Cruise on the Bosphorus

· Istanbul by Night

· Evening with fishermen + Istanbul by Night

· Cabaret evening in Istanbul at Orient House

· Evening with typical dances in Cappadocia

· Discovery of Cappadocia in hot air balloon

· Evening with Dancing Dervishes i

Rates Include

· Transportation in Turkey: air-conditioned bus Mercedes Sprinter, WW Wolt, Mercedes 304-403, Mitsubishi Safir, Isuzu Minibus-Turquoise

· Hotels: in Istanbul 4*, in Canakkale 3 or 4*, in Boylat, Emet and Pamukkale 4*, in Selcuk-Kusadasi 4*, in Antalya 4*, in Cappadocia 4*, in Ankara 3*+.

· Bilingual certified prof. guide i

Rates Exclude

· Flights Europe/Turkey/Europe

· Airport taxes

· Drinks

· Insurance

· Tips i

TransAnatolie Tour: Multilingual Cultural Tour Provider and Operator.

Turkey has a magnificent past, and is a land full of archaeological, architectural, historical and cultural treasures from thirteen successive Ancient Anatolian Civilizations spanning 10,000 years! Even if one spends only a short time in Turkey, one gets by the Multi-lingual Cultural Tour Operator TransAnatolie Tour the opportunity to discover and explore a lot of these cultural, historical, archaeological, architectural and belief/biblical heritages with specially designed superb itineraries and with high QoS.

Turkey is also a paradise of sun, sea, sand, mountains, forests, lakes and natural thermal resorts to practice Blue Cruise, Hobby Eco Nature & Wildlife Tourism as well as Health Tourism.

From April to October, most places in Turkey have an ideal climate that is perfect for relaxing on sandy beaches or enjoying the tranquility of forests, mountains and lakes.

There is no doubt that one visit will not be enough, and you would like to come back again and again as you discover one extraordinary place after another. All of them, no matter how different, have one thing in common: the friendly and hospitable people of this unique country of civilizations.

Turkey offers, via TransAnatolie Tour (Multilingual Cultural Tour Operator in Turkey and abroad), the vacationer a complete change from the stress and routine of everyday life.

TransAnatolie Tour (Multi-Lingual Cultural Tour Operator in Anatolia (Asia Minor) Turkey) is a leading provider and operator of archaeological, historical, belief (biblical) and cultural heritage tours and specialty travel with high Quality of Service (QoS) concept.

The heart of TransAnatolie tourism spectrum comprises organization, provision and operations of

Historical Archeological Cultural Heritage Tours (holidays/trips/travels) to Anatolia Turkey
Belief (Biblical) Tours (holidays/trips/travels) in Turkey
Blue Cruise (Sailing) along the wonderful Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey
Health Thermal-Thalasso Tourism (holidays/trips/travels)
Cultural Heritage Mini Tours (holidays/trips/travels)
Hobby Eco & Nature Tours (holidays/trips/travels) to Turkey
International Tours (holidays/trips/travels)
Incentives, Workshops and Congress (IC&C)
Golf

Each TransAnatolie Tour itinerary has been carefully planned, architected and designed by our experienced tour program developers together with our outstanding scholars around the world.

TransAnatolie Tours are executed in five languages (Dutch, English, French, German and Turkish) with high QoS concept by Tourism Professionals of valuable experience, intelligence and high intellectual and social capacity.

TransAnatolie Tour executive and operations teams have been at the cutting edge of international tour (holiday) operations and specialty travel since 1990s, working with organizations, universities and museums to provide unique travel experiences, cultural and belief (biblical) tours (holidays/trips) to their memberships.

TransAnatolie has immersed travelers in Anatolia's most fascinating ancient cultures and provided enriching travel experiences.

Click on the link to download The Cultural Turkey Tours of TransAnatolie Tour:

Belief (Biblical) Tours (holidays/trips/travels) in Turkey

Blue Cruise (Sailing) along the wonderful Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey

Health Thermal-Thalasso Tourism (holidays/trips/travels)

Cultural Heritage Mini Tours (holidays/trips/travels)

Hobby Eco & Nature Tours (holidays/trips/travels) to Turkey

International Tours (holidays/trips/travels)

Incentives, Workshops and Congress (IC&C)

Golf

TransAnatolie Tour A - Group License N°4938 - The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism

TransAnatolie Tour
A - Group License N°4938 - The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism