Clasical Turkey Excursion – Safranbolu Edition

Day Wise Description

D 01 ISTANBUL – SAFRANBOLU: (LUNCH, DINNER)

1. Upon Arrival: Meet your tour director at Istanbul Airport.
2. Sightseeing Begins: The tour will cover the following highlights:
3. Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque): Admission is not required; suggested time is 30 minutes. This mosque exemplifies the architectural prowess of the Ottoman Empire and symbolizes Istanbul's cultural heritage.
4. Byzantine Hippodrome Square: Admission is not required; suggested time is 40 minutes. Once a lively arena for chariot races and gladiator contests, it now features historical monuments like the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, and the German Fountain.
5. Hagia Sophia Mosque Photo Stop: Admission is not included; suggested time is 60 minutes. This site uniquely blends Christian and Islamic traditions. Muslim travelers can access the first floor for prayer, while the second floor is reserved for tourists.
6. Safranbolu Old Town: Admission is not required; suggested time is 90 minutes. A UNESCO World Heritage site, its narrow cobblestone streets are lined with restored Ottoman timber-framed houses, now serving as boutique hotels and restaurants.
7. Dinner and Overnight: Enjoy dinner and stay overnight in Safranbolu.

D 02 SAFRANBOLU – CAPPADOCIA: (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)

1. After Breakfast: We will commence sightseeing, covering the following.
2. English-speaking Tour Director & LDC: Included in the tour.
3. Cinci Hammam Outside Photo Stop: Admission is not included; suggested time is 10 minutes. This famed bathhouse has been wonderfully restored and was a vital community hub during the Ottoman era, serving as a place for hygiene, gossip, and business deals.
4. Koprulu Mehmet Pasa Mosque: Admission is not required; suggested time is 20 minutes. Built in 1661, this mosque features a beautiful interior and a metal sundial added in the 19th century.
5. Cinci Han “Caravanserai” Outside Photo Stop: Admission is not required; suggested time is 30 minutes. This 17th-century structure highlights the town's historical significance as a trading stop on routes to and from the Black Sea.
6. Safranbolu Bazaars “Yemeniciler Arastasi”: Admission is not required; suggested time is 30 minutes. The bazaars are filled with locally made crafts, including leather, textiles, and traditional sweets like halva and Turkish delight.
7. Turkish Coffee Experience at Leyla Hanim Mansion: Cost of coffee included; tasting experience lasts for 45 minutes. Learn traditional techniques for making Turkish coffee and enjoy tasting sessions at a local coffee shop.
8. Dinner and Overnight in Cappadocia: Conclude the day with dinner and an overnight stay in Cappadocia.

D 03 CAPPADOCIA: (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)

1. After Breakfast: We will commence sightseeing, covering the following.
2. English-speaking Tour Director & LDC: Included in the tour.
3. Cappadocia Hot Air Ballooning: Optional; experience the charming landscape during sunrise. This adventure allows you to explore hard-to-find places in Cappadocia from the sky.
4. Turkish Carpet Weaving Course: Art experience stop; suggested time is 60 minutes. Rug weaving in Anatolia began with Turkish tribes from Central Asia, showcasing traditional techniques.
5. Pigeon Valley: Admission is not required; suggested time is 30 minutes. This area features caves and dove coops used by farmers to collect pigeon droppings, an excellent natural fertilizer.
6. Uchisar “Castle” Village: Admission is not required; suggested time is 20 minutes. Uchisar Castle, built on a hilltop, offers stunning views and is the highest point in Cappadocia.
7. Avanos Pottery Village and Traditional Pottery Art Atelier: Art experience stop; suggested time is 60 minutes. Located by the Kizilirmak (Red River), this village showcases local pottery-making techniques using red clay.
8. Underground City: Admission is included; suggested time is 45 minutes. Explore this ancient refuge for Christians, featuring bedrooms, a church, and food storage rooms connected by extensive corridors.
9. Turquoise & Onyx Handmade Store: Shopping stop. Discover handmade onyx and turquoise stone arts, with turquoise named by Marco Polo as the "color of Turks."
10. Dinner and Overnight in Cappadocia: Conclude the day with dinner and an overnight stay in Cappadocia.

D 04 CAPPADOCIA – KONYA – PAMUKKALE: (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)

1. After Breakfast: We will commence sightseeing, covering the following.
2. English-speaking Tour Director & LDC: Included in the tour.
3. Ancient Caravanserai: Admission is not required; suggested time is 30 minutes. This roadside inn provided rest for travelers and supported commerce along trade routes like the Silk Road.
4. Melvana Celaleddin-i Rumi: Admission is not required; suggested time is 45 minutes. His teachings promote tolerance, goodness, and love across all religions.
5. Cotton Textile Factory Outlet: Local product stop; suggested time is 60 minutes. Denizli is renowned for its textile industry, and we will visit a factory outlet before leaving the city.
6. Thermal Hotel Stay: Tonight we will stay at a thermal hotel featuring mineral-rich spring water available in indoor and outdoor pools. The hotel offers natural healing waters in a pleasant environment, with complimentary pool service for guests.
7. Dinner and Overnight in Pamukkale: Conclude the day with dinner and an overnight stay in Pamukkale.

D 05 PAMUKKALE – EPHESUS – KUSADASI: (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)

1. After Breakfast: We will commence sightseeing, covering the following.
2. English-speaking Tour Director & LDC: Included in the tour.
3. Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) & Hierapolis Ancient City: Admission is included; suggested time is 90 minutes. Explore the extensive ruins of Hierapolis, known for its thermal baths, and see the unique terraces of Pamukkale formed by white limestone deposits from thermal springs.
4. Cotton Textile Factory Outlet: Local product stop; suggested time is 60 minutes. Denizli is famous for its textile industry, and we will visit one of the factory outlet stores before leaving the city.
5. Isa Bey Mosque: Admission is not required; suggested time is 40 minutes. Constructed in 1374-75, this mosque is one of the oldest and most impressive examples of architectural art from the Anatolian beyliks.
6. Dinner and Overnight in Kusadasi: Conclude the day with dinner and an overnight stay in Kusadasi.

D 06 KUSADASI – BURSA: (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)

1. After Breakfast: We will commence sightseeing, covering the following.
2. English-speaking Tour Director & LDC: Included in the tour.
3. Leather Outlet Shopping Center & Fashion Show: Local product stop; suggested time is 60 minutes. Start the day with an upbeat fashion show showcasing high-quality leather products made in Turkey.
4. Bursa Grand Mosque “Ulu Camii”: Admission is not required; suggested time is 30 minutes. This prominent landmark features two towering minarets and 20 domes, making it one of the most important mosques in Bursa and the fifth most significant in Islam.
5. Silk Market “Koza Han”: Admission is not required; suggested time is 30 minutes. This market highlights Bursa's historical silk industry, which gained international fame during the 16th and 17th centuries.
6. Pay Respect to Osman Gazi & Orhan Gazi: Admission is not required; suggested time is 30 minutes. Visit the tombs of Osman Gazi, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, and his son Orhan Gazi.
7. Dinner and Overnight in Bursa: Conclude the day with dinner and an overnight stay in Bursa.

D 07 BURSA – ISTANBUL: (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)

1. After Breakfast: We will commence sightseeing, covering the following.
2. English-speaking Tour Director & LDC: Included in the tour.
3. Turkish Delights & Tea & Sweet Temptations Shop: Admission is not required; suggested time is 60 minutes. Immerse yourself in the rich flavors of Turkey with a delightful experience featuring Turkish Delight and Apple Tea, along with free time to explore local products.
4. Bosphorus Cruise Tour: Admission is included; private charter boat; suggested time is 70 minutes. Enjoy the sights and sounds of both the Asian and European sides of Istanbul as you cruise through this vital waterway.
5. Spice Bazaar: Admission is not required; suggested time is 90 minutes. No visit to Istanbul is complete without exploring the atmospheric Spice Bazaar, built in 1664 as part of the Yeni Camii complex, also known as Mısır Çarşısı or Egyptian Bazaar.
6. Grand Bazaar: Admission is not required; suggested time is 120 minutes. One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, featuring 61 streets and over 4,000 shops, attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.
7. Dinner and Overnight in Istanbul: Conclude the day with dinner and an overnight stay in Istanbul.

D 08 ISTANBUL – DEPARTURE: (BREAKFAST)

1. After Breakfast: We will commence sightseeing, covering the following.
2. English-speaking Tour Director & LDC: Included in the tour.
3. Transfer to the Airport: For your flight back home, bringing back wonderful memories and superb souvenirs from your Turkish vacation.