Splendid Turkey. You will discover a country, which conceals natural and historical treasures. For thousands of years it knew how to preserve the wonders that ancient civilisations left as their heritage…
Astride between the Occident and the Orient, Istanbul is the meeting point of two continents and several cultures. Founded more than 2600 years ago, it was initially Byzance then Constantinople before becoming the sumptuous capital of the Ottomans for almost 5 centuries. Today it is a gigantic cosmopolitan city where the past and the present mix in a striking synthesis. In visiting its most beautiful monuments we will show you its fascinating beauty.
Cappadocia offers one of the most surreal spectacles in the world. On a plateau made of a very soft volcanic ground, a mixture of ash and mud thrown up by two principal volcanoes. The wind and rain combined to carve cones, fairy chimneys, canyons and valleys. Man found an ideal refuge in this strange world, and built troglodytic dwellings, underground cities and rock-cut churches richly decorated with frescoes which you will discover during in this tour.
The shores of the Aegean Sea coast are some of the most charming in Turkey. This exceptional area is mainly renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved archaeological sites laid out here and there along the coastline, demonstration of more than 5000 years of history, culture and mythology, and, for 300 days a year the sunshine in which this coastline bathes at the food of a pine-forest covered mountain. Judge it for yourself…
Itinerary: 15 days: Cultural voyage
Days 1 to 4 / Visits the principal monuments of Istanbul:
Topkapi Palace, Kahriye museum, Haghia Sophie museum, Blue Mosque, the covered bazaar, spice bazaar. Etc…
Day 5 to 7 / Cappadocia :
Visit: Goreme and Zelve open air museums, Derinkuyu (underground city), fortress of Uchisar… And en route, the Hittite museum in Ankara.
Days 8 to 14 / Aegean Coast:
Main visits: Pamukkale, Aphrodisias, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Priene, Miletus, Dydimes, Izmir, Pergamum etc… And, en route, in Konya, the museum of the mystic Mevlana Celalettin Rumi, founder of the whirling Dervishes’ Sufi order.
Day 15 / Return:
Transfer to Istanbul airport for the return flight.
Nights in comfortable hotels.
