Turkey complete

Departure from Italy with Pegasus flights from Bergamo, Bologna, and Rome / Turkish Airlines from Milan, Venice, Bologna, Rome, Naples, and Bari / AJet Airlines from Bergamo and Rome. Upon arrival in Istanbul, meet with the assistant and transfer to the hotel. Check-in to the reserved rooms, dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

30%

Nature

20%

History

30%

Adventure

10%

Food

10%

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the visit of the ancient Hippodrome, where chariot races once took place; visit of the obelisks and the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, famously known as the Blue Mosque. Visit to the Basilica Cistern, built under the reign of Justinian I in 532, during the most prosperous period of the Eastern Roman Empire. Lunch in a local restaurant. Visit to the Imperial Palace of Topkapi (Harem section excluded); residence of the Sultans for nearly four centuries, whose architecture with its magnificent decorations and furnishings bears witness to the power and grandeur of the Ottoman Empire. Continuation with an external visit of Hagia Sophia (which is now a mosque, entrance not included); a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, followed by free time at the Grand Bazaar. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

*Optional excursion available (for an extra fee, payable on-site): Bosphorus Cruise to admire both the Asian and European sides of the city and its most important palaces, mosques, and fortresses.

Culture

30%

Nature

30%

Adventure

20%

Food

20%

Breakfast and departure for the capital of Turkey: Ankara. Crossing the Eurasia Bridge and continuing via highway. Arrival in Ankara and lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed to Cappadocia, arrival in the late afternoon and check-in at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

*In the evening, after dinner, there is the possibility to attend the Whirling Dervishes show (optional, for a fee).

Culture

20%

Nature

30%

History

20%

Adventure

20%

Food

10%

Breakfast. A day dedicated to discovering the region of Cappadocia, birthplace of Saint George, a unique area in the world that combines natural wonders with places of great cultural interest.

*Possibility to take part in a hot air balloon ride to admire the breathtaking, lunar-like landscape of Cappadocia from above at sunrise (optional, at an extra cost, subject to reconfirmation based on seat availability). The ride may also be cancelled a few hours before departure due to adverse weather conditions.

Visit to the Goreme Open-Air Museum, the most spectacular and famous of the Cappadocian valleys, dotted with rock formations carved into tuff called "fairy chimneys" for their magical appearance. We will continue exploring the Goreme Open-Air Museum, which holds an impressive number of rock-carved churches, chapels, and monasteries with 11th-century frescoes, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll walk through the enchanting Devrent Valley, where time has eroded the rock into peaks, cones, and obelisks, then stop at a carpet and kilim workshop, where you can discover the secrets of traditional Turkish carpet weaving, with the optional opportunity to purchase or ship items. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit to the underground city of Ozkonak or a similar site, built by early Christian communities to protect themselves from Arab invasions. We will then visit the village of Uchisar, located within a tuff rock cone. Stop at a local artisan workshop specializing in semi-precious stones, gold, and silver for decorations and jewelry. Afterward, return transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

*In the evening, after dinner, possibility to attend a folkloric show with traditional Turkish dances (optional, for a fee).

Culture

20%

Nature

30%

History

20%

Adventure

20%

Food

10%

*Possibility to join the Jeep Safari excursion (optional, for a fee), one of the best ways to enjoy the unique landscapes of Cappadocia, its valleys, and the incredible mix of rock formations and rolling hills. A route full of scenic stops to photograph the landscapes and the iconic hot air balloons.

Breakfast. Departure for Pamukkale through valleys and mountain ranges, with a short stop to visit the Sultanhani Caravanserai (13th century), which served as a resting place for trade, pilgrimage, and military caravans, now converted into a museum. Lunch at roadside service areas or highway restaurants.

Arrival in Pamukkale and visit to the ancient city of Hierapolis, which was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in 17 AD, reaching its peak in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Visit to Pamukkale, also known as the "cotton castle", a town famous for its white petrified travertine terraces, formed by the lime in the thermal spring waters that flow in the area. Short stop at a textile workshop. Check-in at the hotel. Possibility to bathe in the hotel’s thermal pool. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

30%

Nature

30%

Relax

10%

Adventure

20%

Food

10%

Breakfast. Departure for Ephesus, the ancient city, the best-preserved classical city in Turkey, founded in 1000 BC (the ruins visible today date back to the 4th century BC). Here, you can admire the Odeon, the small theatre, the Temple of Hadrian, the Library of Celsus built in the 2nd century AD, one of the most famous libraries of the ancient world, the Marble Road with the Agora, the Arcadian Way leading to the port, and the Grand Theatre.

Lunch at a local restaurant and continuation to Izmir. En route, stop at a leather workshop for a brief fashion show. Arrival at the hotel in the afternoon and check-in. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

20%

Nature

40%

History

20%

Food

20%

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Istanbul with a stop in Bursa. Arrival in Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit of the Grand Mosque, built in Seljuk style, featuring an oratory with 12 pillars supporting the weight of twenty domes; and the Green Mosque, dating back to 1424, a symbol of the new Ottoman aesthetic, famous for its Iznik tiles. Lunch in a restaurant. Crossing the Osmangazi Bridge and arrival at the hotel in the evening. Check-in. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary may be subject to changes due to technical reasons or site management, monument closures due to holidays/events, or decisions by local authorities. No refunds will be issued for any missed visits.

Culture

30%

Nature

20%

History

20%

Adventure

20%

Breakfast at the hotel (according to the departure time) and transfer to Istanbul airport in time for the boarding formalities. Departure for Italy.

NOTE: The itinerary may be subject to changes due to technical reasons or site management. As this is a regular tour program, the distribution of buses and assignment of guides may vary from day to day.