ITINERARY
DAY 00. Thursday, August 29. LIMA- ISTANBUL
Departure by intercontinental flight to Istanbul. Overnight on board
DAY 01. Friday, August 30. ARRIVAL TO ISTANBUL
Arrival at Istanbul airport. Reception and transfer to the hotel (most hotels accept check-in only after 14h00). Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 02. Saturday, August 31. ISTANBUL
Breakfast. Your guide will be waiting for you at 08:00 am (local Turkish time) at the hotel reception. We ask for your punctuality to make the best use of your day. Transfer to the historical center of Istanbul. Free day for activities of your choice. Return on your own to the hotel, at the time of your choice. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 03. Sunday 01 September. ISTANBUL / ANKARA
Breakfast. Departure from the hotel for a panoramic tour of the Taksim area, the heart of the modern part of Istanbul, including a walk along the pedestrian Istiklal Avenue, one of the most famous in the city. Free time for lunch. Continuation of the trip to Ankara (450 km). Arrival in the Turkish capital. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 04. Monday 02 September. ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast. Visit the mausoleum erected in honor of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Departure to Cappadocia (290 km). Arrival and lunch in a local restaurant. Photo stop in the beautiful valley of Avcilar and then in the village of Uçhisar, one of the most typical villages of the region. Then visit a jewelry center to discover the typical stones of the country. Continuation to the hotel in Cappadocia. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 05. Tuesday 03 September. CAPADOCIA
Breakfast. Day dedicated to the discovery of this unique region, starting with the Goreme Open Air Museum, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1984. It contains the best collection of cave churches in Cappadocia. Lunch at a local restaurant. Stop in the charming Red Valley (Devrent). Free time in Ortahisar, a picturesque agricultural village. The tour continues with a visit to a handicraft center, famous for its carpets. Before returning to the hotel, time to explore a historic subway city, known for its secret houses and tunnels, which several villages have used as a refuge over the centuries. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06. Wednesday 04 September. CAPPADOCIA / KONYA
Visit to the fascinating Valley of Love, a place of natural wonders with incredible "fairy chimneys". Lunch at a local restaurant. Departure to Konya (250 km), capital of the Seljuk Turks. On the way we will find the remains of a Seljuk caravanserai, located on the ancient Silk Road. Arrival and visit the Mevlana Museum, mystic poet and one of the first humanists in the world who preached humility, wisdom and love. Continuation to the hotel in Konya. Dinner at the hotel. Lodging.
DAY 07. Thursday 05 September. KONYA / PAMUKKALE
Breakfast. Departure to Pamukkale (420 km). Popularly known as the "Cotton Castle", it is a dazzling formation of white limestone waterfalls formed by mineral springs. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the impressive white travertines and ruins of the nearby Greek city of Hierapolis. Arrival at the hotel in Pamukkale. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 08. Friday 06 September. PAMUKKALE / EPHESUS / SMYRNA OR KUSADASI
Breakfast. Departure to Ephesus (180km). Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit of the archaeological site of Ephesus, the second largest city of the Roman Empire. Continuation of the trip with visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, a Catholic and Muslim sanctuary located on Mount Koressos. During the visits to this region, you will attend a fashion show at a leather export center. Continuation to the hotel in the region of Kusadasi or Izmir (between 30 km and 110 km). Dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 09. Saturday 07 September. REGION OF IZMIR OR KUSADASI / BURSA / ISTANBUL
Breakfast. Departure to Bursa, ancient capital of Turkey (between 300 km and 430 km). It was the largest silk trading center during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Visit of the Green Mosque and the Green Mausoleum, named after the green Iznik tiles covering its interior walls. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continuation to Istanbul (160 km). Arrival and installation at the hotel. Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 10. Sunday 08 September. DEPARTURE FROM ISTANBUL
Hotel services end with breakfast (the room may remain occupied until 10:00 or 12:00 hrs, according to the rules of each hotel). Free time until transfer to Istanbul airport. Return to your country.
