Kervansaray Adventure with beach days

Departure from Italy with Pegasus Airlines. Upon arrival in Istanbul, meeting with the assistant and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in reserved rooms, dinner on your own, and overnight stay.

Culture

60%

History

80%

Adventure

10%

Food

30%

Breakfast at the hotel and departure to discover the Golden Horn: we will start with a visit to the Iron Church of St. Stephen, a Bulgarian Orthodox church located in a Turkish city, linked to the struggle for ecclesiastical independence in the 1830s and 1840s of the 19th century and the only iron Orthodox church in the world. We will then head to the picturesque and colorful districts of Fener and Balat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered the first settlements of ancient Constantinople.

Next, we will visit the Cathedral of St. George, the fifth church of Constantinople to host the Ecumenical Patriarchate since the 15th century. Previously an Orthodox convent for nuns, it was transformed into the patriarchal seat by Patriarch Matthew II (1598–1601). The tour will end at the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), where spices from Egypt were sold during the Ottoman era and which today is Istanbul’s largest market for typical products such as spices, sweets, and dried fruit. Here the excursion ends; return to the hotel independently. (*) Dinner at leisure and overnight stay.

*Optional excursion (with supplement) “Khalkedionia”: departure crossing the Eurasia Bridge and arrival at Çamlıca Hill, the highest point of the city, located on the Asian side, offering a magnificent panoramic view of Istanbul. Continue to Kadıköy, one of the liveliest and most popular districts of the city. Free time for lunch, with the opportunity to taste typical Turkish street food. In the afternoon, visit to Beylerbeyi Palace, the former summer residence of the Ottoman sultans, followed by transfer back to the hotel.

Culture

30%

Nature

20%

History

30%

Food

20%

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the “Imperial” tour of Istanbul: we will begin with a visit to the ancient Hippodrome, the center of entertainment and public life during the Byzantine Empire, where the famous chariot races took place. Here we will see the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Egyptian Obelisk, and the Serpent Column. We will then continue to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, a 17th-century Ottoman masterpiece, famous for its six minarets and its spectacular blue Iznik tiles. Visit to the Basilica Cistern, built in 532 under Emperor Justinian I, an extraordinary example of Byzantine hydraulic engineering with majestic columns and vaulted arches. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Visit to the Imperial Palace of Topkapi (Harem section excluded), the residence of the Ottoman Sultans for nearly four centuries, featuring courtyards, richly decorated halls, and imperial treasures that bear witness to the power and grandeur of the Ottoman Empire. Continuation with an external visit to the Church of Hagia Sophia, now a mosque, a symbol of Byzantine architecture and one of the most iconic monuments of Istanbul (entrance not included), followed by free time at the Grand Bazaar. Here the excursion ends; return independently, dinner at leisure, and overnight stay at the hotel.

*Possibility to take part in the optional Bosphorus Cruise (available at an additional cost, payable locally) to admire both the Asian and European sides of the city and its most important palaces, mosques, and fortresses.

Culture

30%

Nature

15%

History

40%

Food

15%

Breakfast and departure by bus to the capital of Turkey: Ankara. Passing through the Euroasia Bridge and continuing via the highway. Arrival in Ankara and visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, also known as the Hittite Museum, where artifacts are displayed chronologically, allowing visitors to follow the evolution of civilizations in Anatolia from prehistoric times to the Roman period. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continuing to Cappadocia, arriving in the evening and settling into the reserved hotel rooms. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

(*) Possibility of transfer from Istanbul to Cappadocia by air as an alternative to the bus trip with the following program (optional, at an additional cost): transfer to the airport for the Istanbul/Kayseri flight. Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Cappadocia. Free lunch. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel along with the other participants. (Baggage allowance for the flight 15 kg in the hold + 8 kg hand luggage. Any excess baggage will be subject to a surcharge.)

**In the evening, there is the optional opportunity (at an additional cost, payable locally) to attend a Sema ceremony of the Whirling Dervishes.

Culture

20%

Nature

40%

History

30%

Food

10%

Breakfast. The entire day dedicated to exploring this fantastic region, where Saint George was born, with its fascinating and original landscape, formed 3 million years ago by lava ejected from the Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes. Visit to the underground city of Ozkonak (or another similar one), built by Christian communities to protect themselves from Arab invasions. We will make a stop at a carpet and kilim workshop. Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit to the numerous monasteries and chapels of Göreme, carved into the rock and decorated with frescoes, crossing the Güvercinlik (Pigeon) Valley to enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of Uchisar, located atop a promontory of volcanic rock pierced by tunnels and windows. At the end of the day, stop at a handicraft workshop for decorations, typical stones, and jewelry of Cappadocia.
At the end of the day, there is the possibility to participate in the spiritual dance of the whirling dervishes (optional, payment on-site). Return to the hotel and dinner.

There is the possibility to take a hot air balloon ride to admire the breathtaking lunar landscape of Cappadocia illuminated by the first light of dawn (optional, payment on-site and subject to confirmation based on availability. This trip may be canceled even a few hours before the start due to adverse weather conditions).

In the evening, after dinner, there is the possibility to participate in a Turkish night, with folk performances and traditional dances (optional, payment on-site). Overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

30%

Nature

30%

History

30%

Adventure

10%

Breakfast. Early in the morning, departure to visit the Sultanhani Caravanserai (13th century), located on the legendary Silk Road, which served as a resting place for trade caravans, pilgrimages, and military convoys; today it functions as a museum. Lunch at a restaurant along the route (similar to a highway rest stop).

Arrival in Pamukkale, also known as the “cotton castle,” a town famous for its white travertine pools, formed by the lime contained in the thermal spring waters that flow in the area. Brief stop at a textile workshop, then arrival in Pamukkale in the late afternoon. Check-in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Culture

70%

Nature

20%

History

70%

Relax

10%

Breakfast and departure for the visit to Hierapolis, an ancient spa city founded around 190 B.C. by the King of Pergamon and flourishing during the Roman era, located above the thermal pools, featuring a beautiful theater and a large necropolis. Lunch, then continuation to Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in Turkey, founded around 1000 B.C. (the remains we see today date back to the 4th century B.C.), where highlights include the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the large theater. After completing the visits, transfer to the hotel for a seaside stay in Bodrum.

Nature

80%

Relax

100%

Adventure

60%

Wellness

70%

Free day to enjoy the sun and the beach on the turquoise coast according to the agreed plan, with the possibility to visit local beaches or take a trip to the Greek island of Kos, depending on the area of stay and the choice of seaside hotel, via ferry. Return to the hotel at your leisure. Dinner and overnight stay.

Nature

80%

Relax

100%

Adventure

60%

Wellness

70%

Free day to enjoy the sun and the beach on the turquoise coast according to the agreed plan, with the possibility to visit local beaches or take a trip to the Greek island of Kos, depending on the area of stay and the choice of seaside hotel, via ferry. Return to the hotel at your leisure. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast (depending on the departure time) and transfer to Bodrum Airport in time for check-in and boarding formalities. Departure for Italy with a flight via Istanbul.

PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary may undergo variations due to technical reasons or management of sites, closures of monuments due to holidays/events, or requirements of local authorities. No refunds will be made for any missed visits.