The Cradle Of Civilization Featuring Urfa Gobeklitepe And Konya çatalhöyük Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Turkey, Connection flight to Şanlıurfa [D]

Pass By: Istanbul, Istanbul
Welcome to our The Cradle of Civilization Tour programme. Our service starts at Istanbul International Airport. We will either provide you with a domestic connexion flight or pick you up from your city hotel to connect you to Sanliurfa City where your tour starts.

Stop At: Sanliurfa, Sanliurfa, Sanliurfa Province
Welcome to Şanlıurfa, “The City of Prophets”. Upon arrival, you will be greeted warmly and then taken to the hotel. Our guide will give us a brief presentation about Urfa as well as some important “Do's and Don'ts” for the duration of the tour. Tonight, we have a very light meal and a good rest. This city also goes by Şanlıurfa, named by the founder of Modern Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk because of the heroism shown here following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I when he led the Turkish National Movement in the Turkish War of Independence. After defeating the Allies, Atatürk embarked on a program of political, economic, and cultural reforms transforming the former Ottoman Empire into a modern, secular and democratic nation-state. Under his leadership, thousands of new schools were built, primary education was made free and compulsory, and women were given equal civil and political rights, while the burden of taxation on peasants was greatly reduced.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at one of the Ottoman Style traditional boutique hotels in the heart of the city.

Day 2: Göbeklitepe - Harran - Şanlıurfa [B] [L] [D]

Stop At: GÖBEKLİTEPE ÖREN YERİ, Örencik, 63290 Haliliye/Şanlıurfa, Turkey
After breakfast, our journey begins with challenging everything we know about human history with a visit Göbeklitepe. This archaeological site is still being excavated by a German and Turkish team run by Dr Klaus Schmidt. We will see obelisks carved with reliefs of wild plants and animals, T shaped obelisks, stylized human figures, 3D reliefs and much more. Göbeklitepe is unique not just by the size and beauty of the monuments, but the dates when they were built approximately twelve thousand years ago, dating back to the Mesolithic Age and the Pre-Pottery Neolithic Age (Mid Stone ages). In other words, 10,000 years before the founding of the Roman Empire, 8,000 years before the Hittites, 7,000 years before the Great Pyramids in Egypt and Stonehenge in the UK. Göbeklitepe is the oldest place of worship yet discovered. It is the World's First Temple, not a site used for hunting and shelter but appears to have been a cult centre used for religious and spiritual purposes.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Balikligol, Eyyubiye, Sanliurfa 63200 Turkey
After exploring Göbeklitepe we return to Sanliurfa to visit the Prophet Abraham's Cave next to the Urfa citadel and the holy fishpond. According to legend, there was a great fire where this pond is now. When the Prophet Abraham fell into the fire it suddenly turned into a huge pond and the woods became fish.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Harran, Harran, Sanliurfa Province
Then it is on to Harran were the ruins of the world's first university and the first mosque to be built on Turkish soil are to be found. In the Bible, Harran is mentioned as early as Genesis 13. The Torah mentions Harran as the city of Abraham. If you delve into ancient times, you will note the great temple of the Moon God, and Sin here. The existing, surreal-looking beehive houses known as Altınbaşa, although not dating back to the 4th century BC are very similar in style.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Harran Ruins, Harran Turkey
We can walk to the Grand Mosque with its dazzling square tower built by an Arab Caliph in the 18th century; stroll around the central pool and explore the remnants of an Arab University – the oldest university in the known history of mankind. Harran has been the home of the Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Hittites, Persians, the Alexandrian Empire, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, Ayyubids, and many other dynasties and empires. Harran has been known as a religious centre, a commercial and agricultural city. It was famous for its cotton, honey, sweets, and measuring tools. From 718 to 913, Harran was in its’ golden era as a cultural and knowledge centre. Renowned Islamic scholars such as Thabit Ibn Qurra (826 – 901), Al-Battani (858-929) and Ibn Taymiyyah (1263-1328) came from Harran.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Harran Sit Alani, Harran Turkey
During the Abbasid rule, Harran began losing both power and reputation. In 1098 the Crusades sent expeditions to Harran, and as a result, Harran lost more of its influence. Salahaddin Al-Ayyubi (1138-1193), commonly known as Saladin, arrived in Harran and returned it to power. Hospitals, bazaars, schools, and bathhouses were built during Saladin’s rule. Harran got the final blow in 1260 when Hulagu Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, invaded the city. Mongol troops destroyed the city, including famous sites such as the Grand Mosque and the city gates. After this Mongol invasion, Harran transformed into a mere village with a small population. At dusk, we return to Urfa for free time and dinner on our own.
Duration: 45 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at one of the Ottoman Style traditional boutique hotels in the heart of the city.

Day 3: Şanlıurfa City Tour [B] [L] [D]

Stop At: Castle of Urfa, Damlacik Tepesi Yakubiye Mahallesi, Sanliurfa 63200 Turkey
Today we will explore the other side of Urfa. Stopping first at the Sipahiler Open Market where you can stroll through an ancient bazaar. This is the only covered bazaar in Turkey that begins with prayers every single morning, a tradition stemming from the Ottoman Empire period when the blend of trade and God's blessings in the Ahi-Style unity of the traders in the same building. Although all shops are rivals in this tradition they support each other. This place is also considered a training school where a master/apprentice relationship is found in every shop. Our guide will tell us the whole story, answer questions and make suggestions for some independent time. This would be a good time to taste "mirra," a very strong local coffee served by a waiter. The fingertips of the waiter and client touch each other in order to release the accumulated electricity from the body into the soil.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Sanliurfa Archeology and Mosaic Museum, Camlik Caddesi, Sanliurfa 63200 Turkey
In Şanlıurfa, there are also some other important places to see, such as the Gümrük Inn, Gölbaşı Park, the Şanlıurfa Castle, the Rizvaniye Mosque, the Cave of Saint Hiob, and the Archaeological Museum. Time to return to Urfa to be welcomed in a traditional house – Yıldız Sarayı Mansion – in the city in order to experience traditional Turkish hospitality and the culture of the Turkish and Kurdish people. We will fit the major places in our allotted time for today.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at one of the Ottoman Style traditional boutique hotels in the heart of the city.

Day 4: Gaziantep City - Dülük - Zeugma Ancient City - Yesemek and Environs [B] [L] [D]

Stop At: Dülük, 27000 Şehitkamil/Gaziantep, Turkey
We rise very early today and head to the west of Gaziantep to visit the Dülük Archaeological Site dating back to prehistoric times. Dülük is considered one of the most historically vivid cities in Turkey. Here we will see some artefacts and arithmetic processes from the Copper Age. This city, also called Doliche, is on the road from Germanicia to Zeugma situated at the point on the Silk Road where the four cardinal points intersect. After the settlement of modern Gaziantep, the city lost its status and has not changed much over the years. There are many underground rock tombs and the biggest underground "Mithraic temple" ever found in Turkey. Archaeologists have found 30,000-year-old Neolithic Dulicien culture artefacts in the same location. The Hittites and later the Romans used this ancient place for socializing and religious worship.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Zeugma Belkis Antik Kent, Nizip ,Belkiz, Gaziantep Turkey
After Dülük we will be heading to the ruins of Belkis (Zeugma) in the outskirts of Nizip. Nizip is famous for its superb olive oil products. Want a taste? We will surely stop by one of the olive oil factories for a short visit. Zeugma has a mound, which has been turned into a citadel. Roman Period mosaics found here are well worth seeing. We will surely appreciate the beauty of art. After a regional lunch in Belkis, we will proceed to Yesemek the location of a Hittite sculpting school dating back to 9th or 10th century.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Yesemek Open Air Museum, Yesemek Koyu Islahiye, Islahiye, Gaziantep Turkey
In Yesemek, we will find 200 works of art on display that reveal the beauty of the Hittite art form. Excavation findings revealed the workshop to date back to 900-800 BC within the late Hittite State Period. It is also thought that the workshop continued to manufacture goods during the sovereignty of the Zincirli Mound, the capital of the Samal Kingdom, a powerful state in the Islahiye district during the 1st millennium BC.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Karkamış, Gaziantep, Turkey
Next, we will drive to Karkamış, on the banks of the Euphrates River, now known as the Fırat River. Karkamış, once a Hittite capital, is another important archaeological site for today's exploration and a place to enjoy time on the banks of the Euphrates. Before dusk, we return to Gaziantep for dinner. Here we admire the real taste of Anatolia with its most-cultivated product, pistachios, in every single appetizer-sized dish. Weird? Think twice...
Duration: 45 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner: Dinner will be served in a traditional way in Ankara's notable restaurant Zenger Paşa Restaurant.
Accommodation included: Overnight at one of the five-star hotels in the heart of Gaziantep city.

Day 5: Cappadocia Region [B] [L] [D]

Stop At: Derinkuyu Yeralti Sehri, Derinkuyu Turkey
Today we explore Cappadocia both by van and on foot. For those who prefer not to walk, there are many cosy cafes in front of the places of interest that can be enjoyed while others take a walking tour. We begin with the famous Derinkuyu Underground City. Are you ready to get lost in the eight layers of this hidden city? You’ may see miles of tunnels and grape-treading areas in this lighted city. See the deceitful pathways and hidden corners to confuse the enemy and keep them from reaching this city. These same pathways were also used by the early Christians to protect themselves from persecution.
Duration: 8 hours

Stop At: Goreme National Park, Goreme 50180 Turkey
Next stop is the Göreme Valley where we might walk thru the pathways and tunnels among the fairy chimneys and visit churches with gorgeous frescoes that date back to the 11th and 12th centuries. The Zelve Open Air Museum offers visitors a culture and nature parade. Your lunch (paid on your own) will be at one of the restaurants. Don’t be surprised by the new name of the area – Bill Clinton’s Valley. After the president’s place, we’ll proceed to Üçhisar Castle and visit a local Doyurgan winery for the homemade taste of Turkish wines.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Hot Air Balloon Cappadocia, Avcılar Mahallesi, Mehmet Tan Cd. No:7, 50180 Göreme/Nevşehir Merkez/Nevşehir, Turkey
Afterwards, you are invited to have an extraordinary “bird's eye view” experience. Would you relish a ride in a balloon above the region? Ballooning is becoming very popular in Capadoccia so why not take this opportunity (optional and depends on weather conditions); Get ready for the journey of your life. This activity is at an additional cost and requires 24 hrs advance reservation. The rest of the group can enjoy the traditional Turkish way of shopping in the region.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Red Valley, Nevsehir Ortahisar, Nevsehir 50650 Turkey
After ballooning and some other cultural activities in Cappadocia, we go to some of the best of the best rock formations carved by nature --- the Red and Rose Valleys. When the sun goes down the region turns red and this is why Turkish people call this area “red” or “rose.” But wait, one must-do thing that few people know about is seeing a magnificent sunset along with regional wine and cheese. Have this experience with us and have your camera ready.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Dervis Evi Whirling Dervishes, Goreme Kavsagi Ortahisar Kasagasi, Goreme 50650 Turkey
After dinner, we go to a 12th-century caravanserai Dervish House in Göreme for a spiritually incredible Whirling Dervish ceremony. Be sure not to miss this extraordinary Sufi cultural show, but don't forget, absolutely no applause or photos are allowed. Those who do not wish to attend the ceremony can enjoy strolling around the hotel and doing some shopping or people watching.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in your unique “cave” style hotel. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day 6: Sultanhan Caravanserai and Konya (Iconium) [B] [L] [D]

Stop At: Sultanhani Kervansarayi, SultanhanI Zafer Mahallesi Sehit Murat Caddesi No 3, Sultanhani 68190 Turkey
Today we depart for Konya, the home of “tolerance” and “whirling dervishes.” On the way, we have a stopover at Sultanhani, Aksaray. This caravanserai, or roadside inn, was constructed in 1229 by Alaeddin Keykubat. Explore the living style of nomadic communities and the hotel concept of that era. See the reliefs of Seljuk's time and many more amazing sites as well.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Konya, Konya
We then arrive in Konya, one of Turkey's oldest continuously inhabited cities, known as Iconium in Roman times and the capital of the Seljuk Turks from the 12th to the 13th century. Visit the mausoleum of Mevlana (Rumi); the theological college Karatay Medrese displays bold and striking Seljuk ceramics and was the Whirling Dervish's monastery in the 13th century. Listen to the story of the philosophy of the Rumi and Sufi's in this holy city. Our guide will give some real examples of major importance from their living styles and we bet you'll want to learn the rest of the story. We will present samplings from the cuisine of Konya. Get ready for a real taste paradise.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Tonight, we will stay at a traditional Konya house right in the city centre.

Day 7: Çatalhöyük Neolithic Site and Pamukkale [B] [L] [D]

Stop At: Catalhoyuk Ruins, Catalhoyuk Yolu Cumra Merkez, Cumra Turkey
If you enjoyed your visit to Urfa's Göbeklitepe, you will love Çatalhöyük. We travel to the Çumra region in the southwest. This region is a very large Neolithic and Chalcolithic proto-city and was continuously inhabited for 1400 years between 7400 and 6000 BC. Çatalhöyük, while illuminating the history of mankind, its art and way of life, also raises numerous questions. We will try to find the answers while we are exploring. Between three and eight thousand people lived in each layer at Çatalhöyük. In other words, between about 50,000 and 150,000 inhabitants resided at Çatalhöyük with their own time and their own concepts. Our guide will explain details of the galleries in Çatalhöyük and you will now understand why Turkey is called the Cradle of Civilization.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Pamukkale, Pamukkale
After lunch – if time permits – you will be able to observe the traditional practice of every day (especially on Fridays) noon prayers at a regional mosque before departing for Pamukkale, a magical and spectacular natural site that was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. Here the thermal spring waters laden with calcareous salts running off the plateau's edge have created this fantastic formation of stalactites, cataracts and basins. The hot springs have been used since Roman times for their therapeutic powers. Pamukkale. After a light dinner, there couldn't be a better time to bathe and soothe your tired body in these ancient waters.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in your unique selective spa hotel close to Hierapolis ancient city.

Day 8: Pamukkale - Laodicea - Aphrodisias - Şirince Village [B] [L] [D]

Stop At: Hierapolis & Pamukkale, Pamukkale 20280 Turkey
Today we visit Hierapolis with its well-preserved baths. The Basilica (dating back to the 6th Century AD), the temple of Apollo, the theater that could cater 14,000 spectators at a time, the church that was dedicated to St. Philip, the Domitian Arch, and the Necropolis. Because of the healthy water in Pamukkle, this city once was called a sacred city. After strolling through the historical remains we'll have the lunch in one of the restaurants in Pamukkale.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Laodicea, Just off Denizli - Pamukkale, Denizli Turkey
Time to pay a brief visit to Laodicea (Eskihisar), the city whose believers were known in the bible as lukewarm. It was a commercial city situated on trade routes. The two theatres, the stadium and the other ruins await our visit here. The city was established in the 3rd century BC and the King of Syria Antiochus the Second Theos gave the name of his wife to the city. Roman water arches are still visible. Unfortunately, Laodicea displays a very limited history; however, it is important to see as it is written about in the Book of Revelation.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Aphrodisias, 80 km from Pamukkale, Geyre Turkey
Afterwards, we proceed to Aphrodisias, an important religious sites dating back to 2800 BC. Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, was also called Venus by the Romans. After the 8th century, the city became more popular due to the temple of Aphrodisias and was a favourite place of pilgrims for almost 1000 years. The city walls surround over 3,5 km were built in the late Roman Period. We will the ruins of Sebasteion; the theatre established in the late Hellenistic period; the sculptures (mostly displayed in the museum); the ruins of the baths; the gymnasium; the Byzantium Stavropolis, baths with carved gates devoted both Aphrodite and Hadrian; the big pool which was excavated by the archaeologists in the recent years; the marble construction of the Odeon; The Temple of Aphrodite; the Bishop’s church; the two columned Tetraphylon, and the well-preserved stadium for 30,000 spectators. Aphrodisias is an important ancient city in terms of art as well as science and philosophy.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sirince, Sirince, Izmir Province, Turkish Aegean Coast
After Aphrodisias, we head to a lovely Anatolian Village where we spend our night in a very traditional way. This lovely traditional Anatolian village has many things to tell you. Imagine a natural village where you can discover typical Turkish village life and traditional Anatolian houses surrounded by nature. The village offers great views, lovely food, entertainment and so many more. Perhaps the perfect synthesis between a Turkish traditional village and a Greek traditional village. Actually, the village, the name of which in Turkish really means "sweet," used to be known as "Cirkince," which means "ugly," an ironic impression on the beauty of the village and also used to prevent others. As people knew that the town's site and architecture were really spectacular, in 1926 they changed their name into Sirince. The village is located on a hill, approximately 12 km from Ancient Ephesus and 85 km away from Izmir. The traditional village-style architecture is truly special.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in your unique “Traditional Turkish Village” style boutique hotel in Şirince village for tonight.

Day 9: Ephesus Ancient City and Flying to Istanbul [B] [L] [D]

Stop At: Ancient City of Ephesus, Selcuk 35920 Turkey
After a hearty breakfast, we start our day in Ephesus, once the commercial centre of the ancient world and one of the highlights of Turkey. The city was dedicated to the Goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple was once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and has been rebuilt several times. Did you know that St. Paul was alleged to have preached here? The Heracles Gate, Curates Street, the Scholastic Baths, the Celcus Library, the Marble Road, the Great Theater, Arcadian way (Harbor Street), the Basilica of St. John, the Virgin Mary’s House which was visited by Pope Paul VI and Pope Jean-Paul II are other major points for our visit.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Stop At: Selcuk, Selcuk, Izmir Province, Turkish Aegean Coast
After Ephesus, we'll visit a carpet weaving centre. supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism with the latest technology development in the weaving industry. Get informed about how to build up a traditional rug by examining each stage from the live displays using peasants in traditional dress for an authentic marquee. Give it a try and get informed about how loops are synchronized.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, Dokuz Eylül, 35410 Gaziemir/İzmir, Turkey
After dinner, we will head to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport – Domestic Terminal for our flight to Istanbul (45 mins). We will connect you to Istanbul.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Stop At: Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Sanayi, 34906 Pendik/İstanbul, Turkey
Upon your arrival in Istanbul, we are transferred to a special class Ottoman Empire Chalet-type Hotel in the historic peninsula. A light dinner will be served.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at one of the Ottoman Chalet style hotels in Sultanahmet District for tonight.

Day 10: Sultanahmet Historic Peninsula District [B] [L] [D]

Stop At: Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
After a hearty breakfast, the most important landmarks await our exploration. In Sultanahmet District, our first stop is the Blue Mosque. What can we say about this masterpiece? Facing St. Sophia stands the supremely elegant, six-minaret, imperial Sultanahmet Mosque. Built between 1609 and 1616 by the architect Mehmet, the building is more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque because its interior gleams with a magnificent panelling, of blue and white Iznik tiles. During the summer months an evening light and sound show both entertain and inform. The Mosque of Sultan Ahmed is the first of the two mosques with six minarets in Turkey. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of Istanbul 's impressive monuments. The mosque is also one of the Ottoman mosques in Turkey dominating the skyline of Istanbul. You can easily spot the minarets in these panoramic photos of Istanbul. The majestic Blue Mosque is difficult to miss in the middle of Istanbul.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Hippodrome, Binbirdirek, Sultan Ahmet ParkI No:2, Istanbul Turkey
Next, we’ll proceed to the ancient Hippodrome. Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races and the centre of Byzantine civic life, stood in the open space in front of the Blue Mosque. Of the monuments which once decorated it only three remain: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Remains from the curved-end section of the Hippodrome's wall can be seen on the southwest side of these three monuments. Today the square forms the centre of Istanbul's historical, cultural and touristic activities. You should take particular note of the surrounding wooden houses, particularly the 18th-century ones on Sogukcesme Street.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
After lunch, it's time to visit Topkapi Palace. For almost 400 years, Topkapi Palace had been the Ottoman Sultans' residence. The palace is now transformed into an important tourist attraction, a museum. On a spot of land at the confluence of the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea stands the Topkapi Palace, the maze of buildings at the center of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries. In these opulent surroundings the sultans and their court lived and governed. A magnificent, wooded garden fills the outer or first court. On the right of the second court, shaded by cypress and plane trees, stand the palace kitchens, now galleries exhibiting the imperial collections of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain. To the left, the Harem, the secluded quarters of the wives, concubines and children of the sultan, charms visitors with echoes of the intrigue of centuries.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Topkapı Palace Harem, Harem İçi Sultanahmet Topkapı Sarayı, Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Time to visit the Harem quarter of Topkapı Palace. The word Harem is Arabic, meaning forbidden originally. The Harem was not only an erotic hut, unlike many don't want to believe. It was forbidden for all males, except the black noblemen guarding the sites, the Sultan's private space and his sons. On the other hand, women had no difficulty entering. But there was no way out once you get in. Built in the late XVIth century, the Harem was a maze of about 300 beautifully tiled rooms, connected by courtyards and wells. More than 1.000 harem women, children and black eunuchs were at home in its height or gilded cage we say. After the admission of Harem, the girls were trained and converted into Islam and they received an adequate palace training: how to write, read, play an instrument, sing, dance, and make the Sultan happy. The Harem's leader was its “Valide Sultan”, the sultan's mother. Not only did she keep the Harem organised, she also decided on the woman's life and death
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Hagia Sophia Museum, Ayasofya Square, Sultanahmet, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Ready for the experience of your life? Follow your guide then. Hagia Sophia is one of the old world's greatest monuments, the most spectacular of Istanbul religion buildings, also referred to as the world's eighth wonders. The Basilica of St. Sophia, now called the Ayasofya Museum, is unquestionably one of the finest buildings of all time. Built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, its immense dome rises 55 meters above the ground and its diameter spans 31 meters. Just linger with our official guides here to absorb the building's majestic serenity and to admire the fine Byzantine mosaics. (Open every day except Monday). A remarkable achievement in architectural history, Hagia Sophia. Living evidence of the human rage against physics laws. A monument with a transcendental significance. With its majesty and beauty, Hagia Sophia is still one of the UNESCO 's World Cultural Heritage Sites.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Basilica Cistern, Alemdar, Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
We will take an exciting journey underground where hundreds of Byzantine cisterns are left from the days when Istanbul was Constantinople. It is here, below Istanbul, that we will begin your exciting tour with the grandest of all Basilicas – the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıç) - so-called because it lay beneath the Stoa Basilica, a grand Byzantine public square. The Basilica Cistern, built by Justinian around 532 AD, is also called the Sunken Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Saray Sarnıçı). Its impressive size measures 138 meters long and 64.6 meters wide, and it covers an area of nearly 1000 square meters (2.4 acres); it has a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters (over 21 million US gallons) and 336 marble columns. The Basilica Cistern stored water for the Great Palace and nearby buildings. After being forgotten, it was rediscovered by Petrus Gyllius, who came to Constantinople in search of Byzantine monuments.
Duration: 40 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at one of the Ottoman Chalet style hotels in Sultanahmet District for tonight.

Day 11: Istanbul City Tour featuring Grand Bazaar - Dolmabahçe Palace and Bosphorus Cruise [B] [L] [D]

Stop At: Grand Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
One could visit Istanbul for the shopping alone. The Kapali Carsi, or Covered Bazaar, in the old city, is the logical place to start. This labyrinth of streets and passages houses more than 4,000 shops. The names recall the days when each trade had its own quarter: the goldsmiths' street, the carpet sellers' street, the street of the skullcap makers. Still the commercial centre of the old city, the bazaar is the original shopping mall with something to suit every taste and pocket. Turkish crafts, the world-renowned carpets, brilliant hand-painted ceramics, copperware, brassware, and meerschaum pipes make charming souvenirs and gifts. The gold jewellery in brilliantly lit cases dazzles passers-by Leather and suede goods of excellent quality make a relatively inexpensive purchase. The Old Bedesten, in the heart of the bazaar, offers a curious assortment of antiques. It is worth poking through the clutter of decades in the hope of finding a treasure.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Dolmabahce Palace, Visnezade Mahallesi Dolmabahce Cd, Istanbul 34357 Turkey
The next landmark in Istanbul is Dolmabahce Palace. The palace was built in 1856 by Sultan Abdulmecit I, and is a white Bosphoreian pearl where Ottoman navies anchored. The facade of Dolmabahçe Palace stretches for 600 meters along the European shore of the Bosphorus. The vast reception salon, with 56 columns, and a huge crystal chandelier weighing four and a half tons and lit by 750 lights, never fails to astonish visitors. At one time, birds from all over the world were kept in the Bird Pavilion for the delight of the palace's privileged residents. It's difficult to miss the Dolmabahce Palace. It is one of Istanbul's icons and Turkey 's largest palace. The Ottoman Empire, home to 6 Sultans throughout his life, was the administrative centre and is particularly the site of Modern Turkey 's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk spending his final days before his death. The palace is an impressive combination of Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassic design, combining Ottoman architecture. A must see!
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Are you ready to see the other Istanbul? The cruise takes us along the Bosphorus passing under the two bridges that link the Asian and European continents. Get ready to see a parade of imperial palaces. Kız Külesi, Çiragan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Kırmızı Yalı, Küçüksu Kasrı, Rumeli Hisarı, Anadolu Hisarı, Kanlıca (famous for honey and creamy yoghurt), Beykoz, and Tarabya, are some of the important places you’ll observe from the boat. After this lovely cruise, we will take you back to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon and night are yours.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Assos at one of the traditional fishing village style boutique hotel in picturesque Behramkale.

Day 12: Transfer to Istanbul Airport [B]

Stop At: Istanbul Airport, Tayakadın, Tayakadın İhsaniye Yolu No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Turkey
After breakfast, head off to your hometown to say sweet home. We will transfer you to Istanbul International Airport for your international flight. Well, time to have your gift to make this trip memorable. It's going to be a pleasure to host you in Turkey again as there are so many things to see. Thank you for choosing the right agency and have a safe trip home!
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.