On our last day in Istanbul, after a pleasant breakfast, we will check out and visit Dolmabahce Palace with a short drive to the shores of the Bosphorus. Overlooking the Bosphorus, this palace has a rich collection of Bohemian crystal, with priceless paintings, furniture and the famous Harem section, made using 14 tons of pure gold in its interior decoration. Then we will join a private 2-hour Bosphorus boat tour at Kabatas Pier. After having lunch at a local restaurant, we will transfer to Istanbul Airport for our flight to Izmir at 17:00, then arrive at our hotel in Kusadasi with a one-hour transfer. Dinner and accommodation in Kusadasi.

We move early in the morning to avoid the crowds and first go to the House of the Virgin Mary; Next, we visit Ephesus, which was founded by the Ionians in the 11th century BC. As we wander through the streets of Ephesus, we see several structures such as the Fountain of Trajan, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Library. In addition, we visit the Terrace Houses: a series of living units with the most beautiful floor mosaics, frescoes, terra cotta pipelines and private bathrooms for the rich and elite of Ephesus. In the afternoon, we will visit St. John’s Basilica, which is believed to be the tomb of St. John, the beloved apostle of Jesus, one of the Apostles. From the Basilica, we will be able to see the ruins of the Temple of Artemis. We end the day with a visit to Isa Bey Mosque, then we move to Kusadasi to rest. Dinner and accommodation in Kusadasi.

After breakfast, we first move towards Prienne, this place used to be one of the leading members of the Panionion Association. As we move further south, we visit Miletos and then arrive in Didim. In Didim, depending on the situation, we will have lunch at a local restaurant opposite the temple. As the historian Pausanias writes; “The temple of Apollo at Didymoi and the oracle there are older than the Ionian settlement.” Dinner and accommodation in Kusadasi.

On the way out, we drive towards Aphrodisias, and Aphrodisias was a city dedicated to the cult of Aphrodite. After visiting the Museum of Sculptors in Aphrodisias, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. On arrival in Pamukkale we visit Hierapolis, then we will have time to stroll on the calcium terras or enjoy the thermal facilities. Dinner and accommodation in Pamukkale.

In the morning, it takes us to the beautiful ancient city of Sagalassos with a magnificent scenic route through Burdur. This is one of the very few ancient cities where we can see how the sacred fountains function. After that, we continue to Antalya. Upon arrival in Antalya, we have lunch at a local restaurant and then visit the Archaeological Museum, which was awarded the Museum of the Year in Europe. Dinner and accommodation in Antalya.

In the morning, we first visit Perge, one of the most impressive places in Pamphylia, and then visit Aspendos, the best-preserved ancient theater in the world. After having lunch at a local restaurant near the Aspendos Theater, we will spend the afternoon resting and relaxing at Lara Beach. Dinner and accommodation in Antalya

After breakfast, we take an early departure and take a magnificent route over the Taurus Mountains to Beyşehir, where we visit the Eşrefoğlu Mosque. After having lunch at a local restaurant, we arrive in Konya in the late afternoon and visit the world-famous Mevlana Museum, where the mystical philosophy of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi is taught. Dinner and accommodation in Konya.

Today, we are on our way to Cappadocia to visit the Sultanhani Caravanserai, a place used by medieval merchants to stay overnight Then we arrive in Ihlara Valley and have our lunch at a local restaurant by the river. After lunch, we walk through the canyon along the Anatolian Steps to the village of Belisırma, ancient Peristrema. This valley, established on the banks of the Melendiz River, is known as the “Sky Valley” Rock-cut churches form a gallery of early paintings noted for their accuracy. Dinner and accommodation in Cappadocia.

Our first real encounter with the almost Mars-like landscape of Cappadocia with our standard 60-minute hot air balloon ride at dawn takes place in the Devrent Valley, where the rock formations are amazing. A walk through the Zelve Open Air Museum is a journey into the past, where cave dwellings were found. This is the oldest settlement in Cappadocia and one of the last abandoned monastic settlements. After Zelve, we take a break at the places known as the “fairy chimney” of Pasabag, where the sound of the wind harmonizes with the songs of the fairies.From here we stop to Avanos for a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop, a place that has been the center of pottery art since 2,000 BC. After lunch in Avanos, we visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia. These are found in rock churches decorated with frescoes and paintings dating back to the 10th century. We complete the tour with a visit to Uchisar Castle, which offers you a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. Dinner and accommodation in Cappadocia.

Our first stop is Soganli Valley, an open-air museum located in a wild natural setting close to a typical Cappadocian village. Along with rock churches and frescoes of different styles. After that, we drive through the virgin villages of Cappadocia to Mustafapasa, surrounded by “desktop” mountains. On the way, we visit the Keslik Monastery near the village of Cemil, it hides its frescoes with a very thin layer of smoke that can only be seen by the light of the torch. After having lunch in an old Greek house hosted by a local family, we descend towards the center of the world towards the Kaymakli Underground City, one of the largest and deepest in Cappadocia, one of the many settlements. Dinner and accommodation in Cappadocia.

You will be transferred to Cappadocia Airport to catch the flight that provides the best connection with your international flight in Istanbul.