Turkey Tour

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, after completing customs formalities, meet with the assistant and transfer to the hotel. Dinner at leisure and overnight stay.

Culture

80%

History

70%

Adventure

10%

Food

20%

Breakfast and full day at leisure to explore Istanbul, a city of timeless charm that bridges East and West. You’ll have the day free to discover the city on your own - wander through the colorful bazaars, the historic alleys of Sultanahmet, or along the scenic shores of the Bosphorus. Dinner on your own and overnight stay at the hotel.

*Alternatively, you can join an optional full-day excursion (with supplement), which includes the following itinerary:

Departure for a full day dedicated to history and beauty in the heart of Istanbul. The tour begins with a visit to the ancient Byzantine Hippodrome, once the social and sporting center of the empire, where chariot races were held. Today, you can admire historical landmarks such as the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. Next, a stop at the majestic Sultan Ahmed Mosque, widely known as the Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets and stunning blue Iznik tiles that decorate its interior. Continue with a visit to the fascinating Basilica Cistern, one of Istanbul’s hidden architectural gems. Built in 532 AD under Emperor Justinian I, it is among the largest underground cisterns in the city and a remarkable example of Eastern Roman engineering. Lunch in a local restaurant, where you’ll enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine. In the afternoon, visit the grand Topkapi Imperial Palace (entrance to the Harem section not included), the former residence of Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. Its exquisite architecture, lavish decorations, and furnishings reflect the power and splendor of the Ottoman Empire. Then, an external visit to Hagia Sophia, now a mosque, and one of the most iconic landmarks of Istanbul, a true masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Free time at the famous Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, ideal for shopping local crafts, spices, carpets, and jewelry.

*Optional: take part in a Bosphorus cruise excursion (bookable locally, with supplement). This panoramic boat tour offers breathtaking views of both the European and Asian shores, showcasing historical palaces, mosques, Ottoman villas, and ancient fortresses.

Return to the hotel at the end of the visits. Dinner on your own and overnight stay.

Culture

80%

History

70%

Adventure

30%

Food

50%

Breakfast and departure for the capital of Turkey: Ankara. Crossing the Eurasia Bridge, famous for its stunning panoramic views. Arrival in Ankara and lunch at a local restaurant. Continuation 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

60%

Nature

40%

History

70%

Adventure

10%

*Possibility to join a hot air balloon tour to admire the breathtaking, lunar-like landscape of Cappadocia from above, illuminated by the first light of dawn (optional, at an additional cost, subject to reconfirmation based on availability). This tour may be cancelled even a few hours before departure due to adverse weather conditions.

Breakfast and full day dedicated to discovering this fantastic region: Cappadocia. We begin with a visit to the Göreme Open-Air Museum, which features a rich and fascinating collection of churches, chapels, and monasteries carved into the rock, decorated with 11th-century frescoes, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We continue with a walk through the enchanting Devrent Valley, also known as the "Valley of Fairy Chimneys" due to its unique peaks, cones, and obelisks formed by the erosion of volcanic rock by wind and water. During this tour, we will stop at a carpet and kilim workshop. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit the underground city of Ozkonak (or a similar one), built by early Christian communities to protect themselves from Arab invasions. The tour continues to the citadel of Uchisar, located within a cone-shaped tuff rock, and we visit a local workshop specializing in semi-precious stones, gold, and silver for jewelry and decorative items. Afterwards, transfer back 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

80%

Nature

70%

History

80%

Adventure

50%

*Possibility to join a 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 gentle hills. The itinerary includes several scenic stops, ideal for photographing 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 merchants, pilgrims, and military caravans, and today functions as a museum. Lunch at roadside stops or restaurant-service stations along the way.

Arrival in Pamukkale and visit of the ancient city of Hierapolis, which was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in 17 A.D., reaching its peak in the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. Visit to Pamukkale, also known as the “Cotton Castle,” a town famous for its petrified white travertine terraces formed by calcium deposits from thermal spring waters. Short stop at a textile workshop. Hotel check-in. Possibility to bathe in the hotel’s thermal pool. Dinner and overnight stay.

Culture

90%

Nature

50%

History

100%

Adventure

20%

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

50%

History

50%

Adventure

80%

Food

40%

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.

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.