Discover Turkey with Arif Yasa Private Tours

---

 Arrive in Istanbul and you will be met and transferred to your hotel and free time. In the evening meet your guide to go through details of your tour. Overnight in Istanbul. 

 Depart hotel at 09:00 in the morning with your tour guide for a guided tour of Istanbul visiting Roman Hippodrome where horse carriage races were taken places during Byzantine times. Continue to Blue Mosque which was built by Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in 1616 and the interior is decorated with 20000 exquisite blue tiles from Iznik. Later we will visit Topkapi Palace which was home to Ottoman Sultans from 1460 till 1856. Today the palace is a museum and houses a rich selection of Ottoman jewelry, weapons, robes worn by sultans and Muslim sacred trust. After lunch we will see the Underground Basilica Cistern, the largest one built by Byzantines in 532 and Hagia Sophia which was also built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 537. Overnight in Istanbul. B. 

 This morning we will travel through European Turkey to Gallipoli Peninsula where one of the most bitter trench warfare took place during WW1. We will visit Anzac (Australian and New Zealander) Memorials before taking a ferry to cross Dardanelles to Çanakkale on the Asian side. Overnight in Çanakkale. B.D. 

 In the morning we will visit legendary Troy where Trojan War happened according to Homer’s Iliad. After a guided tour of Troy continue to Assos on the Aegean coast. Visit ruins of Athena temple in Doric style from 6th C BCE and enjoy views of Aegean and Greek island of Lesbos.  Overnight in Assos. B.D. 

 This morning we travel along the beautiful coastline of Aegean to the town of Bergama, the ancient Pergamon. Visit the well preserved Acropolis and Asklepion which used to be a complex hospital in ancient Greek and Roman times. Later in the afternoon we will continue to Selcuk near Ephesus. Overnight in Selcuk. B.D. 

 Morning tour of Ephesus the best preserved Greek - Roman site. We start our tour at the upper gate and have comprehensive tour of these ancient ruins. After Ephesus we will also visit the site of temple of Artemis which was one of the seven wonders of ancient world and Basilica of St John. Later we will drive to Sirince Village where you can explore the local market and charming downtown with old houses before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Selcuk or Kusadasi. B.D. 

Show location

 Today we will visit Aprodisias well known for its sculpturing school in ancient times. We will see some of the finest marble stattues and carvings along with ruins of well-preserved theater, Hadrian's bath and temple of Aphrodite as the city was a cult center for the goddess of beauty. The 30000 seated stadium and a thetrapylon are the best preserved from the ancient times. After lunch we will travel along the meander valley to Pamukkale to see the calcified rock terraces and remains of ancient Hierapolis. Overnight in Pamukkale. B.D 

 This morning we will travel through plains of central Anatolia to the town of Konya where Rumi founded the Sufi order of Mevlevis known as whirling dervishes. In Konya we will visit the Museum of Whirling Dervishes to see how dervishes used to live in the past. We will also visit Karatay Medrasa and Ince Minareli Medrasa to learn and talk more about early Turkish Islamic culture and history from Seljuk period. Overnight in Konya. B.D. 

 This morning we will travel along the ancient Silk Road and visit and old Seljuk Caravanserai where merchants and travellers used to stay. Later we will continue to Cappadocia visiting Ihlara Valley, a beautiful river gorge with old troglodyte cave houses and old Byzantine cave churches carved into the soft volcanic cliff side of the valley. We will walk along the river through the valley exploring old Byzantine cave churches and monasteries with frescoes depicting Bible. After a lunch break by the river in Belisirma village we will continue to visit Kaymakli Underground city carved into deep underground and used at the time of wars. In the evening we will enjoy a whirling dervish ceremony show. Overnight in Cappadocia in an authentic stone and cave hotel. B.D. 

Optional Balloon flight in the early morning. Today you will visit Uchisar for a panoramic view of Cappadocia and exploring a cave house for a great introduction to Cappadocia. Later drive to Cavusin village to explore the old part where many cave house has been deserted in the last century. Drive to pasabagi to see fairy chimneys. After lunch visit Avanos pottery workshop to see how terracotta and blue tiles made. Later visit Goreme open air museum to see some of the finest cave churches with well-preserved frescoes. Overnight in Cappadocia. B.D.  

 In morning we will take a flight back to Istanbul. Transfer and check into your hotel. In the afternoon we will explore off the beaten areas of old Istanbul on foot from Grand Bazaar to Spice Market. Overnight in Istanbul. B. 

 You will be picked up from your hotel 3 hours prior to your outbound flight departure and transfer to airport. Tour will end at the airport. B. 

For prices and booking, please contact us.

•  Guiding service by an experienced expert English speaking tour guide, 
• Transport by a chartered comfortable Mercedes Van or Minibus depending on group size,
• Accommodation as per itinerary in the hotels listed or similar, 
• Meals as listed in the program B: Breakfast, L: Lunch and D: Dinner 
• Admission fees to the sites listed in the program, 
•  Airport transfers, 
• Domestic flights,

•  International flights 
• Travel insurance
• Meals not listed 
•  Drinks,  
• Gratuities