Turkey in a Nutshell 7 Day Tour

Welcome! We are honored to host you amidst the mystical beauties and history-infused atmosphere of Turkey. Your English-speaking transfer consultant will meet you at the gate of the Istanbul International Airport- International Arrivals Terminal.

Istanbul, a city steeped in rich history, vibrant culture, and delectable cuisine. Upon arrival, make your way to the hotel, settle in, and, if your schedule permits, spend the rest of the day at your own pace, immersing yourself in the timeless charm of this historic metropolis. 

Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Meet your guide at the lobby of your hotel. Today’s tour will start with a visit to the Roman Hippodrome, that used to be one of the Roman World's largest stadiums where chariot races and gladiator fights took place.

Next will be the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii), the masterpiece of 17th century Ottoman imperial mosque architecture; famous for its unique, handmade, original Iznik Tiles, impressing visitors with their rich, predominant blue colors and oriental patterns, which have become collective items auctioned at celebrated houses like the Sotheby’s.

Then proceed to the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) built by Emperor Justinian in 537 AD as the biggest and the most impressive Christian cathedral of its style. It is one of the most extraordinary masterpieces in the history of world architecture. This awesome building inspired countless generations with its colossal definition of what the ideal interior space in a domed basilica should be, and with its innovations in weight-support and construction techniques. This exemplifies the very best of Byzantine, Renaissance, Christian and Islamic Art, due to Hagia Sophia’s unique religious and cultural heritage.

Next will be the Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi). No bazaar, however, is more dazzling than the Grand Bazaar, built in 1461, and has been in service ever since. Along with magnificent mosque complexes, the mother of all bazaars was a monument to the “Rise of Istanbul”- the great master plan of the Turks for the rejuvenation and reanimation of an old imperial capital. It contains 4.000 shops, employing more than 20.000 people all under one roof. Everything imaginable is for sale including; gold and silver jewelry, rugs, carpets, antiques, tiles, leather, souvenirs, but just seeing and experiencing this mother of all bazaars is worth the trip.

Today’s last visit will be the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the first residence of the Ottoman Sultans for about 400 years, perfectly nestled at the Historical Peninsula where they ruled three continents and seven seas. Currently, Topkapi Palace offers its visitors great displays of the Ottoman Family Dynasty Collections including; 86 carat Kasikci (Spoonmaker’s) Diamond, the Topkapi Dagger, The Golden Throne, The Holy Relics and many more.

Return back to the hotel for overnight.

After breakfast, you will travel on a domestic flight to Cappadocia and start your excursion in the mesmerizing “Land of Beautiful Horses” featuring visits to; Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where towering fairy chimneys are on display. We will step inside the rock-cut churches and chapels, to admire fresco decorations from early Christian and Byzantine era.

Uchisar, the highest point of the region for taking great pictures of volcanic landscape and troglodyte dwellings.

Pigeons’ (Guvercinlik) Valley, where you will admire countless little niche-style carved bird houses, used by human beings since the Neolithic period for obtaining guano for fertilizing their fields.

One of the other highlights of the day will be an educational experience of The Major Turkish Art of Weaving at its birthplace. Not only will you be amazed by the artistic creations; but rolling, and flying internationally awarded carpets, kilims, cicims and more, which will all take your breath away.

Last call of the day will be one of the hundreds of Underground Cities of Cappadocia, for discovering how early Christian missionaries survived from the Arab and Sassanid persecution in these gigantic underground caves.

Overnight and dinner at the hotel.

Early wake up for a unique Optional Program, to venture deep into the land of fairies, to be introduced with extraordinary works of nature creating a setting fit for fantasy. Depending on the weather conditions in the early morning at sunrise, you will be transferred to the meeting point for a trip like no other, a Hot Air Balloon Expedition over Cappadocia which will last about an hour. For those of our guests who consider not to join the hot air balloon experience, we offer an Optional Program with four-wheel SUVs, a Jeep Safari Tour in the pursuit of hundreds of colorful balloons on the sky. 

Afterwards you will be back at the hotel for freshening up and breakfast.

Following breakfast at the hotel, you will drive to the capital city of Turkey, Ankara. After a smooth drive of two hours, you will arrive at the shores of the Salt Lake, the second largest lake of Turkey, occupying a huge area in the arid central plateau of the country. Especially during dry summer months, most of the water evaporates in huge quantities, leaving a thick salt crust on the surface, creating an awesome scenery.

Upon arrival to Ankara, you are going to visit Anitkabir, Ataturk’s mausoleum, where we pay our respects to the revered founding father of modern Turkey, and will learn about modern Turkish Republic’s recent history.

Overnight and dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast and check out from hotel, we will proceed to Ankara Airport for a morning domestic flight to Izmir. Upon arrival to Izmir, we will continue for a 45-minute easy and comfortable drive to the remarkable Greco-Roman ancient site, Ephesus, dating back to 11th century BC. It has been excavated and restored since 1870. It is one of the world’s most fascinating sites of antiquity. We will start our walking tour through Royal Road, also known as the Arcadian Way, a 4th century white marble chariot road that leads to the most striking building, which is the two-story Library of Celsus, once housing 12,000 scrolls of Papyrus and parchment manuscripts, making it the 3rd largest in the ancient world. Ephesus Theatre, with 25,000 seats, has exceptional acoustics and is still in use today for concerts and theatrical performances.

Next will be the House of Virgin Mary. A beautiful winding road offers wonderful views of the valley en route to the Shrine of St. Mary. The diminutive house, beautifully situated in the Solmissos Mountains, is considered by the Vatican to be the final resting place of Virgin Mary. Its idyllic garden contains a spring thought to have curative properties, which can be sampled by all.

Today’s Ephesus, Selcuk town, is known to be the epicenter of Turkey’s world-famous leather production region. If time permits, you may enjoy some leather shopping at those famous factory outlet stores before arriving to Izmir. 

Overnight and dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast and check out from the hotel, you will drive to the old town of Izmir to visit a wonderful colorful market neighborhood, Kemeralti, where you will be surrounded by locals at their famous open air street market, which is in tune with the way most people in Izmir cook and eat. You will indulge yourself with the huge variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, with plenty to discover for the “foodies”. Feel the real bazaar shopping experience with the fish mongers, bakers, butchers, and grocers singing openly to attract you to their stall.

Following this unique “local experience” you will continue to the Ancient Agora of Smyrna, built on the orders of Alexander the Great, probably in the 2nd century BC. This well preserved and restored Roman marketplace was also a venue for political gatherings and elections.

Then drive to Urla, this town beautifully built on the Aegean shore, nowadays becoming the epicenter of Turkish boutique wine production, and also a leading town of Turkish culinary life. You are going to admire little local artists’ ateliers, art galleries, artisan chocolatiers, coffee shops, while you are strolling on the tiny charming cobblestone streets of the town.

At the end of your tour in Urla, you will drive to Izmir Airport to take your domestic flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival to Istanbul, you will be transferred to your hotel. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner accompanied by your “traveling family”.

Dinner is included and overnight at hotel.

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning and we hope to see you again in the not-too-distant future. Transfers to airport.