Dream Tour of Turkey for New Year's Eve

Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). After customs formalities, passport control, and baggage claim, meet our assistant outside the terminal and transfer to the selected hotel.

Accommodation in the reserved rooms, dinner and overnight stay.

Culture

50%

History

60%

Adventure

30%

Breakfast at the hotel and free day, or optional participation (at an additional cost, payable locally) in the “Imperial Istanbul” tour. The visit begins at the ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople, the center of Byzantine public life, where chariot races once took place and where the famous obelisks can still be admired today. Continue with a visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Next, visit the impressive Basilica Cistern, an extraordinary underground structure built in 532 under Emperor Justinian I, during the height of the Eastern Roman Empire. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the magnificent Topkapi Palace (Harem section excluded), residence of the Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries. Its architecture, enriched with splendid decorations and precious furnishings, reflects the power and grandeur of the Ottoman Empire. Continue with an exterior visit of the Hagia Sophia (entrance not included), a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, followed by free time at the Grand Bazaar. Return to the hotel on your own.

Optional Bosphorus cruise (at an additional cost, payable locally), offering breathtaking views of both the European and Asian sides of the city, with its most iconic palaces, mosques, and fortresses.

Dinner at leisure and overnight stay.

In the evening, optional participation (at an additional cost, payable locally) in a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner at a traditional venue, to celebrate the arrival of the New Year in a festive and authentic atmosphere.

Culture

50%

History

40%

Adventure

30%

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Ankara, the capital of Türkiye, crossing the scenic Eurasia Tunnel, famous for its spectacular views over the Bosphorus Strait. Arrival in Ankara and lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Cappadocia, a unique region in the world known for its extraordinary landscapes and distinctive rock formations. Arrival at the hotel in the late afternoon, accommodation in the reserved rooms. Dinner and overnight stay.

In the evening, there is an optional opportunity (at an additional cost, payable locally) to attend a fascinating Whirling Dervishes (Sema) Ceremony, an expression of the mystical Sufi tradition.

Culture

60%

History

50%

Adventure

40%

Full board. At sunrise, there is the possibility to take an unforgettable hot air balloon ride to admire the lunar landscape of Cappadocia from above, illuminated by the first light of day (optional, at an additional cost and subject to availability; the activity may also be cancelled a few hours in advance due to adverse weather conditions). Full day dedicated to exploring Cappadocia, the birthplace of St. George and a unique region in the world for its extraordinary combination of natural wonders and historical and cultural heritage. We begin with a walk through the spectacular Devrent Valley, known as the “Fairy Chimneys Valley”, where wind and water erosion on volcanic terrain have shaped pinnacles, cones, and remarkable rock formations. Continue with a visit to an underground city (such as Özkonak or a similar one), ancient shelters carved into the rock by early Christian communities to protect themselves from Arab raids. Stop at a carpet and kilim workshop. Visit to the Göreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves an exceptional complex of rock-cut churches, chapels, and monasteries decorated with 11th-century frescoes.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, admire the volcanic landscapes of the Avcılar and Güvercinlik valleys, with a panoramic view of Uçhisar Castle, an impressive natural fortress carved into tuff rock and full of tunnels and openings. Stop at a workshop for the processing of semi-precious stones, gold, and silver. Return to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay. In the evening, optional attendance (at an additional cost) at a traditional Turkish folk dance show.

There is the possibility to take part in an exciting optional excursion (at an additional cost, payable locally) on a Jeep Safari, one of the best ways to admire the unique landscapes of Cappadocia, including spectacular valleys, rock formations, and gentle hills. The itinerary includes several scenic stops to photograph breathtaking views and the iconic hot air balloons. Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Pamukkale, crossing valleys and mountain ranges. Along the way, visit to a Seljuk caravanserai, a historic stop along the ancient Silk Road.

Lunch at roadside restaurants or service areas.

Arrival in Pamukkale in the late afternoon and accommodation in the reserved rooms. Possibility to use the hotel’s thermal pool. Dinner and overnight stay.

Culture

40%

History

60%

Relax

20%

After breakfast, visit to the ancient city of Hierapolis, destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in 17 AD, reaching its peak between the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Continue to Pamukkale, where visitors can admire the spectacular natural terraces formed by the slow, millennia-long flow of calcium-rich thermal waters. On the hillside, dozens of natural pools create a unique and almost surreal landscape where time seems to stand still. The name “Pamukkale”, meaning “Cotton Castle”, comes from the bright white appearance of these formations. Short stop at a textile workshop. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Continue to Ephesus for a visit of the ancient city. Located at the foot of a hill, Ephesus preserves outstanding remains of the classical world: the Odeon, a small theatre; the Curetes Street with its temples and statues; the Library of Celsus, built in the 2nd century AD and one of the most famous libraries of antiquity; the Marble Street next to the Agora; the Arcadian Way, which led to the port; and the magnificent Great Theatre, with a capacity of around 25,000 spectators. During the route, stop at a leather workshop with a short fashion show demonstration. Arrival at the hotel in the afternoon and accommodation in the reserved rooms. Dinner and overnight stay.

Culture

60%

History

50%

Relax

20%

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Istanbul via Bursa. Arrival in Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, and visit to the Grand Mosque and the Green Mosque (1424), outstanding examples of early Ottoman architecture, famous for their exquisite İznik tiles. Free time for shopping in the city center.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Continue across the modern Osmangazi Bridge and arrival in Istanbul in the evening. Accommodation in the reserved rooms, dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast. At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport to take the return flight to Bergamo. End of our services.

PLEASE NOTE: The location and details of the New Year’s Eve dinner will be announced on November 28. Where it says "The visit ends" or "The excursion ends", guests are expected to return independently or may join optional excursions offered on-site. As this is a regular program, the division of buses and assignment of guides may vary daily. The itinerary may change due to weather conditions, technical reasons, site management, monument closures for holidays/events, or local authorities’ requirements.