Turkish Delight / Pre

Updated on 2014-01-29

Enjoy two great destinations just before your cruise!

 

Daily Program

Day 01

You will start out on your exclusive expedition to Cappadocia by boarding the connecting domestic flight to Kayseri / Nevsehir from Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Arriving in Kayseri / Nevsehir, you will continue on your deluxe minivan to reach the very heart of the most fascinating region of Turkey. Cappadocia will thrill you with its unique landscapes formed by erosions of winds and water. You will carry on to your rock-carved hotel where your private guide will assist you with the check-in procedures and settle you in your room for some rest before tomorrow’s touring.

You will attend this evening the captivating ceremony of Whirling Dervishes, who were the mystic philosophers of 13^th century, organized in the enchanting atmosphere of Saruhan, 13^th century caravanseraglio. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 02

This morning you will enjoy an unforgettable memory of Cappadocia: Hot air ballooning over the nature-formed valleys. You will be collected from your hotel approximately at 5.30 am to head to the selected launch site for your hot air ballooning experience. Concluding your experience, celebrate the joy of viewing Cappadocia from the air with a glass of champagne and return to your hotel approximately by 8.30 am.

Your exploration of the region will begin with the Monastic Center of Goreme. Through an extensive tour of the Monastic Center that currently functions as an open-air museum, you will have the opportunity to see some of the very well preserved rock-hewn churches such as Dark Church and Buckle Church decorated with colorful Byzantine frescoes depicting biblical scenes. Your next stop is Kaymakli Underground City, a subterranean settlement composed of troglodytic cave dwellings, where early Christians lived protecting themselves from invaders. While you drive through Ortahisar before returning to your hotel, you will enjoy taking pictures of gorgeous valleys with rustic colors, fairy chimneys and many other conic rock formations like the Three Beauties that locals have created many legends about. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 03

Waking up to pamper yourself with a delicious breakfast watching the awesome views of rock formations, you will set off to see and maybe even to make it to the top of the rock-carved natural citadel of Uchisar to enjoy a superb view of the region. You will then walk through the valley of Zelve that was a town composed of hundreds of rock-carved houses occupied until 1942. Touring Pasabag Valley, you will adore the view of these tower-shaped hermitages that look as if they have been sculptured by contemporary artists! Women of Cappadocia are known for their talent in handicrafts and have been weaving the finest rugs of Turkish folk arts in the region for many centuries. Today, you will have the chance of visiting one of the local weaving courses where you can blend with the local Cappadocian people and see how they compose their “woven poetry”! Another major site of interest in the region is Avanos, the famous town of Cappadocia that was established by the Hittites on the riverbanks of Halys River. Making use of the red clay that is obtained from the shores of this famous river, Hittites created outstanding examples of pottery ware and used potters wheel as early as 2^nd millennia BC. You will visit the studio of one of the famed pottery artists and observe his interactive workshop of creating masterpieces of pottery and ceramics. You will conclude your touring in Cappadocia and take the late afternoon flight back to Istanbul, one of the most important and inspiringly beautiful cities of the world history! Your guide will lead you to your luxury minivan for the private transfer to your hotel during which you can catch the first glimpses of this fascinating city where the continents meet each other! You will carry on to your hotel for check-in and relaxation while your guide delivers you a brief orientation as an introduction to the charms of the city. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 04

Founded in 13^th century BC, Greeks, Romans, and the Ottoman Turks left their traces of culture and architecture in Istanbul. You will meet your private guide at the lobby of your hotel in the morning and start your explorations in Istanbul from the breathtaking Blue Mosque standing in great prestige with its six minarets and perfectly proportioned dome. Continue your morning with a visit to the magnificent home of the Ottoman Sultans: Topkapi Palace! Today, you will enjoy an intense tour of the palace going through the corridors and different sections of also the Harem where Sultan lived with his family members. Leaving the Harem through the “Golden Corridor”, you will reach the inner courtyard to see the Treasury that displays exclusive examples of jewelry and accessories which were dressed by the Sultans or were given as gifts to ambassadors. Your next stop is the Basilica of Saint Sophia built by Justinian the Great during 6^th century. Adorned with rich mosaic murals and colossal columns, Saint Sophia is a true world heritage that has accommodated various faiths throughout the different periods of history. Later in the afternoon, you will find yourself drifting through one of the earliest shopping malls ever built in history, Grand Bazaar which maintains its charm and volume of business to the modern day with its indoor and outdoor sections. Nuru Osmaniye District (Glamour of the Ottomans) neighbouring the Grand Bazaar was where the Genoese and Venetian merchants had their ware houses to store their inventory of brass, copper, rugs and tiles before they were loaded on the ships to sail to Venice and Genoa. Today, Nuru Osmaniye District is where you can find the most reputable stores with wide collections of jewelry, antiques and oriental rugs. Your guide will escort you back to your hotel at the end of your sightseeing. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 05

You will experience this morning the wonder of changing continents in minutes only which is a memory to hold on to for a lifetime. Driving over the Bosphorus Bridge, built in 1973 by British civil engineers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of foundation of Republic of Turkey, you will reach the Asian shores of the city. You will then capture an overall view of the city with the beautiful scenery of the Bosphorus from the top of the Camlica Hill. You will return to the European section of Istanbul by crossing the Bosphorus on public ferry, known as vapur among the locals and a very popular form of public transportation in the city. Docking at the busy coastal neighborhood of Besiktas famous for its open markets of fresh vegetables, fruits and seafood, you will take a leisurely walk along the strait to Ortakoy, a lovely cove on the shoreline to enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee where in 1492 Sephardic Jews arrived to set foot on Ottoman lands escaping from Spanish Inquisition to start a brand new life. Today’s Ortakoy is a charming and lively neighborhood famed for its cafes and boutiques displaying authentic jewelry made of beads and where locals go for pleasurable time spent at fish restaurants. Your guide will accompany you to Istanbul Port for embarkation to your cruise ship at the end of your sightseeing.

Notes

Rates Include:

- Escorted private airport transfers in Cappadocia.

- One-way escorted private transfer from Istanbul Airport to hotel.

- 2-night accommodation in Cappadocia on BB basis.

- 2 night accommodation in Istanbul on BB basis.

- Services of the same English-speaking professional private tour guide throughout the tour.

- Transportation by deluxe A/C non-smoking minivan throughout the program.

- All entrance and parking fees for the sightseeing mentioned in the program.

- Whirling Dervishes Ceremony.

- Hot air balloon flight – Queen Flight (1 hour).

- Round-trip domestic flight tickets for Istanbul-Kayseri/Nevsehir & Kayseri/Nevsehir-Istanbul.

- Complimentary refreshments throughout the journeys on the vehicle.

- Travel kits with map, guidebook, useful information sheet, stamped postcards and bookmark.

 

Rates Exclude:

- Single supplement for the hotels.

- Meals except for breakfasts at the hotels.

- Beverages at the hotels and elsewhere.

- Honorary gratuities for the guide and driver.

- Personal expenses.

 

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