Tour Kervansaray

Departure from Italy with Pegasus/AJet Airlines flights. Upon arrival in Istanbul (SAW or IST), proceed through customs formalities (passport control and baggage claim), meet with the assistant, and transfer to the hotel. Check into the reserved rooms, free time for dinner, and overnight stay.

Culture

30%

Nature

15%

History

40%

Food

15%

Breakfast and departure to explore the "Golden Horn": we will begin by visiting 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 and the only iron Orthodox church in the world. We will then head to the picturesque and colorful neighborhoods of Fener and Balat, UNESCO heritage sites and considered the earliest settlements of ancient Constantinople. Next, we will visit the Cathedral of St. George, the fifth church in Constantinople to host the Ecumenical Patriarchate since the 15th century. Previously a convent for Orthodox nuns, it was transformed into the patriarchal seat by Patriarch Matthew II (1598–1601). We will conclude the visit at the Spice Bazaar, or Egyptian Bazaar, where spices from Egypt were once sold during the Ottoman era, now Istanbul’s largest market for local products such as spices, sweets, and dried fruits. (*) Here the excursion ends, free return, free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

*Possibility to take part in the optional excursion (with a supplement) “Khalkedionia”, which includes: departure crossing the Eurasia Bridge and arrival at Camlica Hill, the highest point of the city, located on the Asian side, from where you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of Istanbul. The tour continues to Kadıköy, one of the liveliest and most popular districts of the city. Free time for lunch, during which you can taste typical Turkish street food. In the afternoon, visit to the Beylerbeyi Palace, the former summer residence of the Ottoman sultans, and transfer back to the hotel.

Culture

30%

Nature

20%

History

30%

Food

20%

Breakfast and departure for the "Imperial" tour of Istanbul: we will begin by visiting the ancient Hippodrome, the center of entertainment and public life during the Byzantine Empire, where the famous chariot races were held, including the renowned Obelisk of Theodosius, the Egyptian Obelisk, and the Serpentine Column. We will continue to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, a 17th-century Ottoman masterpiece, famous for its six minarets and spectacular Iznik blue tiles. Continuation of the visit to the Basilica Cistern, built in 532 under Emperor Justinian I, an extraordinary example of Byzantine hydraulic engineering, featuring majestic columns and vaulted arches. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Visit to the Topkapi Imperial Palace, excluding the Harem section, residence of the Ottoman Sultans for nearly four centuries, with courtyards, richly decorated rooms, and imperial treasures that testify to the power and majesty of the Ottoman Empire. We will continue with an external visit of Hagia Sophia, now a mosque, a symbol of Byzantine architecture and one of Istanbul’s most iconic monuments (entrance excluded), followed by free time at the Grand Bazaar. Return to the hotel. Here the excursion ends, free return, free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

30%

Nature

20%

History

30%

Food

20%

Breakfast and departure by coach to Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Crossing the Eurasia Bridge and continuing via highway. Arrival in Ankara and visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, also known as the Hittite Museum, where artifacts are displayed in chronological order, allowing visitors to follow the evolution of civilizations in Anatolia from prehistory to the Roman period. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Cappadocia, arrival in the evening, and check-in at the reserved hotel rooms. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.

(*) Day 4 - Option to transfer from Istanbul to Cappadocia by plane as an alternative to the bus journey with the following program (optional, for an additional fee): transfer to the airport for the Istanbul/Kayseri flight. Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel with the rest of the participants.

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.

Culture

30%

Nature

30%

History

30%

Adventure

10%

Breakfast. Very early in the morning, departure to visit the Caravanserai of Sultanhani (13th century), located on the legendary Silk Road, which served as a rest stop for trade caravans, pilgrims, and military caravans; today it is a museum. Lunch along the way.

A short stop at a textile workshop and arrival in Pamukkale in the late afternoon: also known as the “cotton castle”, it is a town famous for its white petrified travertine terraces formed by the lime contained in the thermal spring waters that flow in the area. Accommodation at the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Culture

30%

Nature

20%

History

30%

Wellness

20%

Breakfast. In the morning we visit Hierapolis, an ancient thermal city founded around 190 BC by the king of Pergamon and very prosperous during the Roman period, built on top of the pools with a beautiful theater and ruins.

Next, we depart for Ephesus. Lunch at a local restaurant in the Selcuk area.

Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in Turkey, built in 1000 BC (the remains we see today date back to the 4th century BC), where you can admire: the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and its grand theater. At the end of the tour, we will stop at one of the places where parades are held and leather goods are sold. Arrival in Izmir, hotel accommodation, dinner, and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel (depending on the departure time) and transfer to Izmir airport in time for check-in procedures. 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.