Description
Departing: Istanbul
Day 1
Arrival to Istanbul, transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 Istanbul
After breakfast, we visit St. Sophia Church – one of the most remarkable buildings ever erected anywhere.The Blue Mosque with slender minarets shooting skywards and the Hippodrome; the centre of the city in the Byzantine time. After lunch we visit Topkapi Palace – the ancient residence of the Ottoman sultans- and the Grand Bazaar; the biggest oriental market in the world. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3 Istanbul – Bursa
After breakfast, we depart for a short Bosphorus trip by boat. After lunch we depart for Bursa- the Ottoman capital in the 14th. century-. On the way visiting the Green Tomb and the Green Mosque, both exhibiting the dazzling beauty of the tiles. Dinner and overnight in Bursa.
Day 4 Bursa – Ayvalik
After breakfast, we depart for Canakkale. On the way, there will be a possibility to purchase textile products. Lunch in Çanakkale. After lunch we visit the ancient city of Troy, which reminds us of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Dinner and accommodation in Ayvalik in the old Greek quarters and a life style still dominated by a mixture of Turkish and Greek cultures.
Day 5 Ayvalik – Kusadasi
After breakfast, we drive to Selcuk via Izmir. On the way we visit the antique city of Ephesus; the most important harbour of its time. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 6 Kusadasi – Pamukkale
After breakfast, we visit the Artemis Temple and the House of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After lunch, we depart for Pamukkale via Denizli. In the afternoon, we arrive in Pamukkale. Where we will visit the travertines and the antique city of Hierapolis, founded as a thermal centre by Pergamon King Eumeens II. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
Day 7 Pamukkale – Istanbul
Driving to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Day 8
Transfer to the airport.