Turkey Highlights with Pamukkale

Welcome to Turkey! When you arrive at Istanbul airport today, our representative will be waiting for you with your name tag. Then transfer you to the hotel in downtown with our well prepared private car. The remainder of today is left for you to recover from jet lag.

► Visa Information:
Visa-free entry into Turkey is available for visitors holding a valid visa from a Schengen country, Ireland, the US, or the UK for stays up to 90 days. For travelers who do not qualify for the visa exemption, you can obtain e-Visa approval by filling in the relevant information, uploading the required documents and paying the visa fee on the Turkey e-Visa official website. Please contact us if you have any questions concerning visa, duration of stay and itinerary.

► Free Time Suggestion:
If you feel well after unpacking luggage, go explore this city on your own. Numerous historical relics are easily accessible by foot from the hotel we select. Beyazit Tower is an ideal destination, a 15-minute walk northwest of the hotel. It is presently used to forecast the weather instead of serving as a fire tower. It emits different lights to indicate the weather: blue says sunny, green rainy, yellow foggy and red snowy. With twelve windows on its highest story, you can take in a broad panorama of Istanbul.

► Safety Tips:
Use Bitaksi or Uber to hire a car to explore destinations beyond old city area, or take Tram Line T1 at Gulhane Station, which is adjacent to your hotel. Hailing a street taxi may result in exorbitant charges or possibly risk your personal safety. And please exercise caution when you are in the downtown area, especially when interacting with strangers. They may hide fraud and theft by offering teahouse invitations, helping with luggage, or polishing shoes.

Accommodation: Yasmak Sultan Hotel, Istanbul (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, our guided tour will start with the Hagia Sophia, a superb example of religious integration. Inside, the ceiling is painted with colorful frescoes in Byzantine style. Jesus’ portrait above the main entrance of the inner porch will be your visual center. Then you’ll be leaded to visit the Blue Mosque. More than 20,000 white and blue Iznik tiles that adorn the inside walls give the space its name and fascinating color. With six spectacular minarets, you can envisage its illustrious standing within Turkish and global Islamic cultural circles.

► Tips: Make sure your clothing cover shoulders and knees when visiting Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Women are required to wear headscarves. Clothing rental service is offered at the entrance to help you fit the requirements. An extra pair of socks is necessary to prevent infection because the carpets in the visiting area may be slightly damp due to the numerous tourists and shoe-off visits.

Our next destination is the Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square). Admire the Serpent Column here to find the allure of ancient civilization, or just watch the constant stream of people on the square’s benches to discover its contemporary vibrancy. Then we’ll continue to visit the Topkapi Palace. It has transformed into a captivating museum, preserving the rich heritage of the Ottoman Empire (1299-1923). It also offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Bosphorus Strait from its fourth courtyard. We’ll visit the Basilica Cistern instead when the Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday.

★ Special Access to the Harem of Topkapi Palace
With our all-inclusive tickets, get a glimpse of the opulence and prosperity of the Ottoman Empire in the Harem of Topkapi Palace. You can also thoroughly examine the contemporary amenities and decorative style in this treasure gallery.

The last site on today’s visiting list will be Grand Bazaar, which comprises more than 4,000 stores arranged along over 60 intersecting streets. Here, haggling with store owners will be an enjoyable experience. The secret to gain lower price is to be patient and smile. To gain a deeper understanding of Turkey’s culinary culture, you can also sample traditional Turkish specialty here, including Kebab, Turkish coffee, and Pide (Turkish pizza). We’ll visit the Beyazit Square instead when the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday. At last, our guide and driver will transfer you back to the hotel.

► Recommended Restaurant: Kosk Kebap Durum Evi
Have dinner at the Grand Bazaar, or dine at a restaurant near your hotel. An excellent option is Kosk Kebap Durum Evi, which is located a 5-minute walk southeast of the hotel and costs about TL 400-500 (USD 12-15) per person. Kebap is a classic Turkish delicacy that is best enjoyed here, and an outdoor deck is available to admire the scenery. Adana kebabs, eggplant kebabs, and pides are must-tries, all of which are juicy and flavorful. For dessert, try Baklava made with honey and tahini.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Yasmak Sultan Hotel, Istanbul (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, the guide and the driver will transfer you from the hotel to the pier for a Bosphorus Strait cruise, which is the best way to immerse in the cityscapes on both Asian and European sides. Within the 2-hour cruise, you will witness the famous Bosphorus Bridge, magnificent Dolmabache Palace, and churches, mosques and villas of various styles along the banks. Seats are not fixed, so firstly choose one on the left side or ascend to the second floor, where you can enjoy the stunning view in all directions. Bring the leftover bread from breakfast, because you will encounter cute seagulls here.

Then you’ll be escorted to the airport to take a 1-hour flight to Izmir. Upon your arrival, our local driver will pick you up and escort you to the hotel in Kusadasi, a resort town on Aegean coast. After check-in, enjoy the unrivaled sea view and port from the beachside hotel we hand-picked, or take a 10-minute taxi ride southwest to Sevda Tepesi observation deck. It is free to enter and offers a panoramic view of the region. Beneath the observation deck lies the gypsy community, a vibrant array of colorful houses captivating your eyes. You can also witness the majestic sunset from here, capturing unforgettable moments in photographs.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel, Kusadasi (4 stars) or similar

Today’s guided tour will start with the Temple of Artemis. The construction of the temple spanned an astonishing 120 years, only to suffer a tragic flame in 356 BC. Currently, just one column stands here to tell you its former grandeur. It is said that the arsonist was named Herostratus. Despite humble origins and mediocrity, he tried to etch his name in history through a sensational act. So he burned down the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is hard to imagine that this magnificent temple was destroyed for such an absurd reason.

Then we will visit Ephesus Archaeological Museum and Ephesus Ancient City, where you can trace the past glory of Roman Empire (27BC-1453AD) by visiting the statue of Artemis, Temple of Hadrian, Celsus Library, Baths of Varius and Grand Theater. Pay extra attention to the public restrooms during your visit. The round holes carved into the marble slabs served as the toilets. Although there were no cubicles or curtains, the ancient Romans accepted this setting without much concern. Dressed in flowing robes and holding scrolls, they sat around public toilets, attending to their physical needs while engaging in heated discussions on topics ranging from politics to philosophy. Imagine what an interesting scene that was!

► Tips on Visiting Ephesus Ancient City
1. Dress in beige, white or blue to complement the atmosphere of the ancient ruins;
2. Wear sunscreen and bring enough water since we’ll explore this massive relic for a long-time walk;
3. Be careful of the gladiators’ photo invitations as they may ask you for 10 euros.

In the afternoon, we’ll head to visit the House of the Virgin Mary. It was declared a Christian holy site in 1961, a place of spiritual sustenance and admiration for believers. Every year on August 25, the anniversary of the Virgin Mary’s death, Christians come here to pray for her protection and guidance. In the end of the day, return to the hotel to have a good rest.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel, Kusadasi (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, we’ll drive about 2.5 hours to visit Pamukkale. This natural wonder shimmers in the morning light with mineral-rich water trickling gently down from the hot springs above. Marvel at the unique geological formations here and learn about the legends that have grown around this magical place with our knowledgeable guide.

► Tips: Prepare a pair of socks to ease the pain since part of the trip requires walking barefoot in the travertine pools with many stones at the bottom. And bring a plastic bag to pack your shoes as the lockers here are charged separately.

Then we will visit the Hierapolis Ancient City at the top of Pamukkale. It once flourished as a popular hot spring resort for both nobles and folks. Delve into its glorious past from the well-preserved semicircular grand theater, which boasts 50 rows of seats and now sometimes hosts performance. The edge of the stage is adorned with intricate stone carvings, which vividly narrate fairy tales. From the theater’s summit, a panoramic view of the ancient city stretches before you. Another must-see is the Cleopatra Antique Pool here. Embedded in ruins, this hot spring pool is surrounded by the ruins of ancient Rome. It provides you with a unique chance to soak in the hot spring that was said to be visited by Cleopatra. If interested, you can experience at additional pay. Remember to bring your swimming gear. After the tour, you will be escorted to a local hotel to settle down.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal, Pamukkale (5 stars) or similar

After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport to take a 1.5-hour flight back to Istanbul. Upon your arrival, our local guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel in Istanbul’s downtown area. Then you can spend the rest of the day as you like.

► Free Time Suggestion:
If you feel fine, walk southeast of the hotel for 8 minutes to visit the Basilica Cistern, also called Sunken Palace. It is 9 meters (29.5 feet) deep underground and supported by 336 stone pillars with delicate carvings, just like a mysterious palace. Try to stick your thumb into the small hole in the Tear Column and spin it around, which is said to grant wishes and bring good luck. Getting out from the Basilica Cistern, walking northward for about 5 minutes is the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. The most important collections here are the sarcophaguses and stone carvings from ancient Greek, including the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great. The relief on it is lifelike, and even some of the previous colors are still visible.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal, Pamukkale (5 stars) or similar

According to your flight time, our driver will transfer you to the airport in time. Our service for this 7 days Turkey tour package will end here. Wish you a pleasant journey home!

► For Your Information:
If your flight departs in the late afternoon or evening, consider to explore the Seven Hills Restaurant, a 15-minute walk southeast of the hotel. You may once more engage intimately with seagulls while overlooking iconic sites like Hagia Sophia on its lovely patio. It serves a wide range of Mediterranean and Turkish dishes, for about TL 800-1,000 (USD 24–30) per person, including kebabs, seafood platters, and rice puddings. Make reservations in advance because lunch is popular. You may also browse and take photos for free. Here are some photography tips for you:
a. The best photo position is from the terrace on the 4th floor, which gives you the best angle to capture those landmarks;
b. Face the sea and let it serve as your backdrop, or take a picture with the bright yellow roof of the hotel next door for a truly unique shot;
c. The restaurant provides leftover fries, which you can use to attract seagulls and capture playful interactions;
d. Wear solid-colored clothing or a headscarf with local characteristics to enhance the overall texture of your photos.

If you want to extend your Turkey tour to other destinations, such as Cappadocia and Konya, or explore other countries in Asia and Europe, contact us to tailor your itinerary.

Meals: Breakfast