Thursday, April 21, 2011

Escape to Turkey - Itinerary

I thought it might be interesting to capture the itinerary and some of the travel details for my Turkey Tour.  


Here's what I received from the booking agent:


Escape to Turkey  (8 days)
Tour Start Date:   Guaranteed departure every friday
This tour is bookable by single traveller - group not necessary
Eco Turkey Tour Prices - Per Person  
Double / Twin Room:  from Euro 699.00   Single Room:  from Euro 789.00
Escape to Turkey (8 days) Tour Summary:
We will take you to Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Ephesus and Kusadasi. This tour also includes 2 different domestic flights from Istanbul to Ankara and Izmir to Istanbul. If you are looking for a one week escape, this tour is suitable for you.
 8 DAYS ESCAPE TO TURKEY TOUR ITINERARY:
Day 01 - Friday - Istanbul - Arrival Day
Meet with Eco Turkey staff at Istanbul International Ataturk airport and transfer to your hotel. You will be given your room key and the rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 02 - Saturday - Istanbul City Tour - Ankara
(Breakfast included)
We depart at 08:30 for the Istanbul city tour. TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.
SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.
HIPPODROME Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Lunch break and then we head to the SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar) the air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice. After the Istanbul tour depart for Ankara by plane. Arrive to Ankara and check in to your hotel and The rest of the evening is you`re to enjoy Ankara. Overnight in Ankara.
Day 03 - Sunday - Ankara - Cappadocia Tour
(Breakfast and dinner included)
In the morning visit to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum at which numerous remnants from Stone Age, Neolithic Age, Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians and many others are on display; Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the national hero who founded modern Republic of Turkey. Then continue on to Cappadocia. After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake pass by the 13th century Seljukian Caravanserai Agzikarahan. After visiting Kaymakli Underground City, the place early Christians hid from persecutors, proceed to the hotel in Cappadocia for overnight. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 04 - Monday - Cappadocia Tour
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Optional balloon tour. Depart from the hotel at 09.30-10.00 depending on the arrival time of the participants and visit the valleys where animal-like natural formations like camels and fair chimneys are abundant. Drive on to Pasabagi in Zelve area where monks used to live in seclusion in rock cut rooms. Proceed to the pottery town of Avanos where Kizilirmak (Hallys), the longest river of Turkey, meanders leaving the red clay on its banks that has been the raw material of pottery for centuries. In the afternoon visit to Open Air Museum in Goreme to visit to the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. Stop by Pigeon Valley near Uchisar. Shopping time for the well-known merits of the area. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 05 - Tuesday - Konya - Pamukkale
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Today?s ride will be fairly long and tiring due to the long distance between Cappadocia and Pamukkale and lack of convenient lodging location. Drive to Konya to visit to the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the world-wide famous mystic figure. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Day 06 - Wednesday - Pamukkale Tour - Kusadasi
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Tour the ruins of Hierapolis including the magnificently preserved cemetery "Necropolis", the Main Street and Gates, the Thermal Baths, the Roman Theatre and the Museum. In the afternoon tour Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite; visit the Museum, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Theatre, the Stadium, the Agora, the Hadrian Baths, the Odeon, and the Bishop's Palace. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 07 - Thursday - Ephesus Tour - Kusadasi
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Morning tour to Ephesus area with Ephesus Antique City (Hillside Houses are excluded; entrance requires additional admission fee), one of the most popular ancient sites of Turkey with many acres of carefully excavated ruins; Virgin Mary?s House, where St. Mary is supposed to spend her last years together with St. John. Selcuk Ephesus Museum or St. John Church. Time for shopping. After Ephesus tour domestic flight to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 8 - Friday - Istanbul - End of Tour
(Breakfast included)
After breakfast check out from the hotel. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the future in one of our tours again. We make your return airport transfer services. Have a nice trip back home and thanks for choosing Eco Turkey.
8 DAYS ESCAPE TO TURKEY TOUR INCLUDES:
Arrival airport transfer from Istanbul Ataturk Airport
Domestic flight from Istanbul to Ankara
Domestic flight from Izmir to Istanbul
2 nights hotel in Istanbul
1 night hotel in Ankara
2 nights hotel in Cappadocia
1 night hotel in Pamukkale
1 night hotel in Kusadasi
7 breakfasts and 5 dinners
Guided Istanbul City tour
Guided Ankara tour
2 guided Cappadocia tours
Guided Konya tour
Guided Pamukkale tour
Guided Ephesus tour
Guided Pamukkale tour
All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
Professional English-speaking tour guides
Return airport transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport

8 DAYS ESCAPE TO TURKEY TOUR PRICES IN EURO:
Per Person Shared Double Single
3 Star Hotel € 699.00 € 789.00
4 Star Hotel € 765.00 € 899.00
5 Star Hotel € 999.00 € 1,379.00