Tour Turchese

Arrival at the airport and, after completing customs procedures (passport control and baggage claim), meeting with the assistant outside the terminal.

Departure for the city of Aydın. Arrival in the evening, accommodation in the reserved rooms, dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

40%

Nature

30%

History

60%

After breakfast, visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, destroyed by an earthquake and later rebuilt in 17 A.D., reaching its peak during the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D.

Continue with a visit to Pamukkale, famous for its spectacular limestone terraces: here visitors are amazed by the numerous natural pools formed over millennia by the slow flow of mineral-rich waters. This unique landscape resembles a petrified waterfall, evoking the image of a gigantic frozen fountain. In fact, the name Pamukkale means “cotton castle.”

Departure for Konya through scenic valleys and mountain ranges. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Arrival in Konya in the afternoon and visit of the city, historically linked to Mevlana, founder of the Whirling Dervishes and an important Muslim mystic, contemporary of Saint Francis. Visit to the Mevlana Mausoleum, now a museum and an important place of pilgrimage, where a strong sense of spirituality can be felt.

At the end of the visits, transfer to the hotel, accommodation in the reserved rooms, dinner and overnight stay.

Culture

40%

Nature

30%

History

60%

Party

15%

After breakfast, departure towards Cappadocia, with a short stop to visit the Sultanhani Caravanserai (13th century), now used as a museum.

Continuation of the journey with a stop for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit to Ozkonak (or Saratli), one of the most fascinating underground complexes in the region, part of the famous “underground cities” carved into the rock.

Arrival at the hotel, accommodation in the reserved rooms, dinner and overnight stay.

In the evening, optional opportunity to attend a folkloric show (extra charge) featuring a belly dancer.

Culture

60%

Nature

30%

History

40%

Adventure

10%

Optional opportunity to take part in an unforgettable hot air balloon excursion at sunrise, offering breathtaking views over Cappadocia’s unique landscape (optional, extra charge and subject to availability. The excursion may be cancelled even a few hours before departure due to adverse weather conditions).

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum, one of the most spectacular sites in the region, famous for its tuff rock formations known as “fairy chimneys,” which give the landscape a magical atmosphere.

Continue with a visit to Devrent Valley, where natural erosion has shaped the rocks into peaks, cones, and obelisks.

Stop at a local cooperative to discover the secrets of traditional Turkish carpet making, with an optional opportunity to purchase and arrange shipment. Lunch at a restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit Uchisar Citadel, an impressive fortress carved into the tuff rock, followed by a visit to a workshop specializing in the crafting of semi-precious stones, gold, and silver.

Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

History

40%

Food

20%

After breakfast at the hotel, departure towards Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Arrival and lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, continuation to Istanbul, crossing the scenic Eurasia Tunnel, renowned for its remarkable views.

Arrival in the evening, accommodation in the reserved rooms and overnight stay. Dinner at leisure.

Culture

60%

History

70%

Adventure

20%

After breakfast, departure for a panoramic tour of the ancient city walls during the transfer to the historic center, reaching Sultanahmet Square.

Visit of the ancient Hippodrome, once the venue for chariot races in Byzantine times, and its obelisks. Continue with an external visit of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia (now a mosque, entrance not included), a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture.

At the end of the visits, return to the hotel at leisure. Dinner at leisure.

Alternatively, optional excursion (payable locally) for a more in-depth exploration of Istanbul. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Basilica Cistern, built in 532 during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, at the height of the Eastern Roman Empire. Continue with a visit to the Topkapi Imperial Palace (Harem section optional), residence of the sultans for nearly four centuries, renowned for its magnificent decorations and as a symbol of the power of the Ottoman Empire. Free time at the Grand Bazaar. Then transfer to the Golden Horn for embarkation on a Bosphorus cruise, offering views of both the European and Asian sides of the city, along with its most important palaces, mosques, and fortresses. Return to the hotel.

Culture

90%

Nature

20%

History

100%

After breakfast at the hotel, early morning departure towards Kuşadası via the highway.

Arrival at the ancient city of Ephesus and lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, guided visit of the archaeological site: the Odeon, a small theater used for concerts and meetings; Curetes Street, lined with temples and statues; the famous Library of Celsus, built in the 2nd century A.D. and considered one of the most important libraries of the ancient world; Marble Street alongside the Agora; Arcadian Way leading to the port; and the magnificent Theater with a capacity of about 25,000 spectators.

Stop at a leather workshop. Continue to Kuşadası or Aydın.

Arrival at the hotel, accommodation in the reserved rooms, dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for the return flight to Italy. End of our services.