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Itinerary: |
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What
is more joyfull than your car and hotel's reservation are handled by
an agency? Take the advantage of the flexibility in the Cradle of
Civilization. Steer your car as you wish, stop over as you like or
just taste the freedom by your own car. Pick your car and let us
reserve your car and hotels. Meet with our regional guides in each
city. Get your camera and camcorder ready!
DAY 1 ISTANBUL
Welcome to the
paradise of two continents. Istanbul is described as irresistanbul,
the capital of all empires. Deren Koray (D&K) staff will meet you at
the airport, for the delivery of your car. Welcome to
Istanbul, get acquaintance
with this big city, check-in and just relax. [B]
DAY
2 ISTANBUL
Today’s full day
excursion will start with one of the landmarks of Istanbul The Blue
Mosque which is famous for blue and white
Iznik tiles was built between
1609-1616. We’ll proceed for the ancient Hippodrome, the scene of
chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life, stands in the
open space. The Basilica of St
Sophia, one of the finest buildings of all time built by Emperor
Justinian now Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s Mosque. Exploring the majestic
serenity and the fine Byzantine mosaics of the building. Lunch at
Konyali one of the well known restaurants in Topkapi. Time to visit
Topkapi Palace having the
galleries exhibiting the imperial collections of gorgeous crystal,
silver and Chinese porcelain of Ottoman era. Visit Harem, the
secluded quarters of the wives, concubines and children of the
sultan, charms visitors, an exhibition of imperial costumes worn by
the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the treasury
and a priceless collection of miniatures from medieval manuscripts.
Finally we’ll depart for gorgeous
Grand Bazaar having over
4000 shops inside. Ready to get lost? Go on then. At night we’ll
join informative light & sound show in front of Blue Mosque. Tonight
we’ll give some safety instructions about driving car in Turkey,
Turkish customs and Turkish culture [B]
DAY
3 ANKARA
Ready to start the
engine? Today you’ll depart for capital
Ankara thru the Bosphorus
Bridge linking two continents. En route lunch at Bolu famous for its
cook and own cuisine in Turkey. Tea break, Arrive at Ankara. Check-in
at hotel. Just relax for 2 hours. Late in the afternoon we’ll visit
Anitkabir the impressive
modern form of Ataturk's Mausoleum
where ancient and modern architectural concepts testifies to the
power and grace of Turkish architecture took place. In the afternoon
we’ll serve you buttered gozleme (Turkish Creppe) with semaver tea a
typical Turkish tea maker device working with charcoal. It’s a must
to try this delicious tea that you’ve never taste before. At night
enjoy your city tour by your own car. [B]
DAY
4 ANKARA - CAPPADOCIA
Today we invite you
to explore Museum of Anatolian
Civilizations with its priceless collection of Paleolithic,
Neolithic, Hatti, Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian and Roman artifacts,
For lunch we’ll pass to Byzantine Ankara Castle for traditional
Zenger Pasha Restaurant. Then we’ll proceed for Roman Baths with its
Roman structure remain. Temple of Augustus and Rome await your
exploration.
Ethnographical Museum which houses magnificent Seljuk doors of
carved wood, is our next stop. Time to proceed to moonscape
Cappadocia where the works of man blend unobtrusively into the
natural moonscape surroundings. In the afternoon visit Agzikarahan
and the skirt of the natural citadel of Uchisar, an informative
quick local tour for this region and a small lecture about forming
the natural fairy chimneys will be given here, then arrive at hotel
and check-in. Dinner will be served at hotel. [B]
DAY
5 CAPPADOCIA
Today we’ll start
to explore Goreme with
Derinkuyu Underground City.
Ready to get lost in 8 layer of this hidden city? You’ll see miles
of tunnels and grape-treading areas in this lighted city. See the
deceitful pathways and hidden corners to fail the enemy of this city
that were used by the early Christians in order to defend themselves
from the persecution. Next stop will be Göreme Valley where you’ll
walk thru the pathways and tunnels among the fairy chimneys and
visit the churches having gorgeous frescoes dated back 11th to 12th
century and many more. Zelve Open Air Museum offers the visitors
just a culture & nature parade, then we’ll proceed
Avanos where the most popular
handicraft is made, have the chance to try your hand at making a pot
in one of the many studios as well as weaving and knotting. Lunch at
one of the restaurants at (don’t be surprised by the new name of the
area) Bill Clinton’s Valley and after the president’s place we’ll
proceed for Uchisar Castle and we’ll visit a local Doyurgan winery.
Dinner at in the middle of cones and fairy chimneys at Karakus
Restaurant in a very traditional with its unlimited entertainment
and splendid regional cultural show including Whirling Dervishes
Ceremony and Turkish folk dance with banquet with the traditional
way Ürgüp. Join one of the
folk-animation in here! [B]
DAY
6 KONYA – ANTALYA
After having
breakfast we’ll depart for Ihlara
Valley the impressive canyon. Byzantine rock chapels covered with
frescoes pierce the canyon walls. Some of the best known are the
Agacalti (Daniel) Church, the Yilanli (Apocalypse) Church and the
Sümbüllü (Hyacinth) Church. You can see the beautiful silhouette of
Mt. Hasan rising like a crown above the town. After a lunch break we
will tool along Konya one of
Turkey's oldest continuously inhabited cities was known as Iconium
in Roman times. The capital of the Seljuk Turks from the 12th to the
13th century, visiting green tiled mausoleum of Mevlana the founder
of Whirling Dervishes. The Karatay Medrese, now is a museum,
displays bold and striking Seljuk ceramics. Proceed for Catalhoyuk
is a fascinating Neolithic site dating from the eight millennium B.C
which makes it one of the world's oldest towns. At night we’ll
arrive in Antalya known as Turkey's tourism capital, check-in at
hotel. [B]
DAY
7 ANTALYA
It is impossible to
see all historical sites within 2 days around
Antalya however we'll
choose the majority. We'll start to explore Antalya from the city
center. We'll park the cars and we'll walk in
Kaleici District to see
the Hadrian Gate (constructed in 117-138 AD) which was considered as
the entrance of Antalya, Hidirlik Tower, a typical Seljuk
architecture Truncated
Minaret which is the symbol of Antalya, Kesik Minaret and
typical narrow Mediterranean style streets with its historical
houses. Antique harbor is another main site to see for our strolling.
Now we'd like to invite you a "grand falls cruise" from here in
order to see the marvellious scenery of the falls from the sea. Time
to have our lunch. Now we'll pass
Antalya Museum that was
awarded by the European Council in 1988 as the best museum of the
year. Here you'll see an exhibit starting with the natural history
section proceeding chronologically through the Stone and Bronze Ages
and following classical and Hellenistic periods till the Ottoman Era.
After museum we'll set free for your own exploration. Those who'd
like to enjoy the crystal clear water why not going to Konyaalti
Beach for the tepidity of Mediterranean? You can also get the
advantage of shopping in Antalya for your souvenir. At night we'll
have a dinner at Konyaalti District with unlimited entertainment.
Dancing with belly dancer is compulsory tonight (We're joking)..
[B]
DAY
8 ANTALYA - ALANYA
(& ENVIRONS)
Well, today is the
final day of our tour. Early in the morning we'll depart for Alanya
the port of Ottoman Empires with its beautiful environment. Time to
wind up Alanya Fortress
by car. Watch the spectacular view of Alanya from here. Now we'll
steer Damlatas Cave with its damp air underground. After Damlatas
we'll turn back Manavgat Falls. Here listen to the music of water
which makes you relaxed under the sycamore shadow. We'll have
buttered trout as a lunch in here. You certainly will love this.
After lunch we'll drive for an ancient city
Side dated back 7th century
B.C. We'll enter here passing by the city walls. Columned street,
the basilica, the museum and the 15000 spectator capacity stunning
theater and the temple of Dionysus await us. When we'll reach the
harbor we'll see temples of Athena & Apollo. After Side we'll stop
over Aspendos that is
the best preserved amphi-theater in Turkey. Now it is still being
used for the festivals and concerts with its 30000 spectator
capacity. The basilica on the Acropolis and the best preserved Roman
aqueduct are still glamour. Time to move towards to
Perge which is another
important ancient city dated back 12-13th century B.C. This
Pamphilian city is considered as the greatest and the most glorius.
The 15000 spectator capacity theater is still under construction
then we'll visit well preserved and the impressive stadium. The
Roman baths, the church, agora, the street having shops and the
acropol are places for our visit. Well, we know it was a great and
tiring day for you. Those who would like to still have some juice
(!) Düden Falls and Düden Cave are the last places for today's visit.
Get ready for the farewell dinner at Kaleici District. Rest of the
night is at your leisure. [B]
DAY
9 PAMUKKALE
In the morning
we’ll depart from Antalya to
Pamukkale the magical and spectacular natural site, unique in
the world, that declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, just
before Pamukkale stopping over for Aphrodisias, dedicated to
Aphrodite, the goddess of love, explore the theater & stadium still
remain. Lunch in here in a very traditional way, then we’ll arrive
at Pamukkale (Hierapolis) which is a fairyland of dazzling white,
petrified castles. Thermal spring waters laden with calcareous salts
running off the plateau's edge have created this fantastic formation
of stalactites, cataracts and basins. The hot springs have been used
since Roman times for their therapeutic powers. Dinner at the hotel
in Pamukkale. Here is a small tip: Take the advantage of this magic
water for your body. [B]
DAY
10 EPHESUS - IZMIR
Today we’ll explore
the ancient city Hierapolis with its theater and with other ruins.
St Apostle Philip was killed and the St. Philip Church was built
inhere. Just join us for the others. After having lunch at Kelleci
Kardesler or Mantar House, we’ll proceed
Ephesus, once the commercial
center of the ancient world and one of the highlights of Turkey. The
city was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple, once
considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and rebuilt
several times. Did you know? St. Paul Preached here!. Heracletes
Gate, Curates Street, Scholastic Baths, Celcus Library, Marble Road,
Great Theater, Arcadian way, (Harbor Street), The Basilica of St.
John, Virgin Mary’s House
which was visited by Paul, Pope the 6th and Pope Jean Paul are other
major points for our visit. After Ephesus, we’ll depart for the
typical Turkish Village Sirince taste the vine & gozleme cooked by
wooden flame. Just after we’ll give a small break. The car shower
will take your attention as well as the local pottery shops. 78km
later we’ll arrive Izmir. At
night we’ll have our dinner in Cordon Bleu Restaurant in the city
center. [B]
DAY 11
IZMIR
– CITY TOUR
Today we’ll explore
the pearl of Aegean Region. Starting to visit Velvet Castle & Agora,
watch the spectacular view from here for Izmir Bay. Time to visit
Bayrakli where the original city
was established in the 3rd millennium B.C. and one of the Seven
Churches mentioned as Smyrna in the book of Revelation. Proceed for
ancient Konak Mosque, Izmir clock tower which is the symbol of Izmir,
walking towards to Ethnography Museum in Varyant, visiting the
museum and Kemeralti Grand Bazaar, Kizlararagasi Hani where the
traditional “Tiredness Coffee” will be served, and Hisarönü. Get
ready your life’s night out! At night we’ll invite you to a dinner
in a very traditional way at Authentic Middle Asia Restaurant in
Kemalpasa & Turkish night, explore the real culture of the Turks.
[B]
DAY
12 IZMIR – PERGAMON – ASSOS
Today we’ll depart
for Pergamon once a great
center of culture, survives as one of Turkey's finest archaeological
sites. On the Acropolis, a hill above the modern town, are the
remains of the celebrated library, a steep and impressive theatre,
the temples of Trajan and Dionysus, the monumental altar of Zeus,
the sanctuary of Demeter, a gymnasium laid out on three terraces and
the Agora. The Asclepion, located to the southwest of the lower city,
was a sanctuary dedicated to the god of health, Asclepios. Did you
know that the symbol of modern medical came from here? The rest of
the information will be given here by the professional guides. In
town Archaeological and Ethnographical Museum is in our list for
visiting, arrive at Assos
at night. [B]
DAY
13 TROY – CANAKKALE
– ISTANBUL
We’ll start the day
in picturesque fishing town Assos then we’ll visit the ruins of
Troy dated back to 3rd
century B.C., The Trojan War took place between Greek & Trojan
people for the honor of Helen, Just pay attention to the story of
Wooden Horse in here. You’ll love this. After Troy we’ll reach
honored Dardanelles (Canakkale) that connects the Sea of Marmara and
the Aegean. Since Canakkale
has a strategically importance, the castles in here barely visible
at both Asian and European sides. Cross the Gallipolli by car-ferry,
here you can take the picture of World War I Memorial of Dardanelles,
along the Thrace & Marmara Sea and passing thru Saroz Bay, en route
Tekirdag famous for it’s Raki
(traditional anise spirit alcohol drink) and meatball. In the
afternoon we’ll arrive in Istanbul and at the hotel close to the
airport. [B]
DAY
14 END OF OUR
SERVICE
After breakfast,
depart for your hometown to say home sweet home. Transfer to Ataturk
Airport via your car just leave the car's key at the rental desk.
Time to have your present in order to make this trip memorial. It’ll
be pleasure to host you in Turkey again as there are so many things
to see. Thanks for choosing the right agency and have a safe journey
home. [B]
By D&K, what you see is what you get, Enjoy your
stay ! |
