Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul

Meeting and assistance at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul - Full-day city tour

Visit St. Sophia Museum, the magnificent Byzantine Church of all times; Blue Mosque, one of the biggest mosque of Istanbul famous for its blue tiles and six minarets; Hippodrome, the former center of sportive and political activities of Constantinople; Grand Bazaar*, a bazaar that will tempt even the non-shoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather and souvenirs.Lunch at a local restaurant.After lunch, visit Topkapi Palace, the former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was once ruled. Today, it is a spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelains and the very famous treasury of the Royal Family. Also it has unrivalled collections of jewellery, including the Spoonmaker's Diamond. Continue the tour with the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent**,designed by Sinan, the greatest architect of his day and originator of the Classical Ottoman style of architecture. Return to the hotel and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3: Istanbul - Half-day Bosphorus cruise / Ankara

We begin with a brief visit to the 17th century Spice Bazaar***, one of Istanbul's most colorful and bustling attractions. Next, we take an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the majestic strait that runs through Istanbul, linking Europe and Asia. From our cruise boat, we view the dramatic sights lining the Bosphorus wooded shores : mosques, a bridge that for a time was the worlds longest and the massive Rumeli Hisari, a fortress built by Mehmet the Conqueror in just three months as he prepared to conquer Istanbul. Also noteworthy are the 19th century mansions of the Ottoman elite and the Sultans fanciful gingerbread palaces and hunting lodges. Return to the hotel. P.M. transfer from hotel in Istanbul to hotel in Ankara by bus.(You will be picked up around 14.00 / 15.00 hrs from your hotel in Istanbul and you will arrive to your hotel in Ankara at around 20.30) Overnight in Ankara.

Day 4: Ankara / Cappadocia

After breakfast tour starts from hotel in Ankara. Visit Anatolian Civilizations Museum (Hittite Museum).The Mausoleum of Ataturk is the next stop. Lunch will be taken in Ankara and then drive to Cappadocia for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Cappadocia

Breakfast at the hotel, morning visit to the Underground city of Kaymakli and Citadel of Uchisar. After lunch continue with the valley of Goreme and open air museum, Cavusin village, Pasabag valley and Avanos. After tour transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 6: Cappadocia / Ankara / Istanbul

After breakfast drive to Urgup and Ortahisar. The last stop will be 13 th century Seljukian Caravanserai on the ancient silk road. Lunch on the way to Ankara, transfer to Ankara airport for the flight to Istanbul. Arrival to Istanbul airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 7: Departure from Istanbul

Breakfast and transfer to the airport.

* Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
** Due to the ongoing renovations at Süleymaniye Mosque, we visit the Rüstem Pasha Mosque instead, another masterpiece by Sinan that has the most exquisite and extensive Iznik tile decoration of any mosque in Istanbul.
*** Spice Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
***Spice Bazaar may be visited prior to the Bosphorus Cruise, depending on the number of tour participants.