INDISPENSABLE TURKEY
Indicative itinerary subject to changes until departure date
Day 1 Portugal / Istanbul
Arrival at the airport at least 2 hours in advance. Check-in formalities and departure on flight to Istanbul. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Day 2 Istanbul
Breakfast. Free day to discover the city or take optional excursions. Accommodation.
Day 3 Istanbul / Ankara
Breakfast. Departure to Ankara. Visit to the Mausoleum of Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 4 Ankara / Cappadocia
Breakfast. Departure to Cappadocia and visit to an underground city. Built as shelters for Christians, they are composed of several floors ventilated by chimneys. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 5 Cappadocia
Breakfast. The day is dedicated to exploring and discovering this fascinating region, unique in the world. The Göreme Valley, an incredible Byzantine monastic complex composed of churches carved into the rock with beautiful frescoes, the troglodyte villages of Pasabag in Zelve, the natural fortress of Uçhisar, Ortahisar, the fairy chimneys of Ürgüp, stone cones topped by flat rocks; Avanos, a village of craft and weaving centers. Visit to an underground city. These cities were built as shelters by Christians of the time and are composed of several underground floors, ventilated by chimneys, where you can admire the communal dormitories, kitchens and dining rooms. The day ends with a visit to a handmade carpet workshop. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 6 Cappadocia / Pamukkale
Breakfast. Departure to Pamukkale and en route visit to the 13th century Sultanhan Caravanserai, where camel caravans on the silk route once stopped. Continue to Pamukkale. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 7 Pamukkale / Ephesus / Kusadasi or Izmir
Breakfast. Visit to ancient Hierapolis and the Cotton Castle, a natural wonder of gigantic white limestone cascades. Departure to Ephesus, the best-preserved ancient city in Asia Minor. Visit to the Temple of Hadrian, the Roman baths, the Library, the Odeon and the theater, as well as the House of the Virgin Mary and the column of the famous Artemision, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. On the way to Izmir or the Kusadasi region, visit to a leather workshop. Arrival, dinner and accommodation.
Day 8 Kusadasi or Izmir
Breakfast. Free day with optional excursion to the typical villages of Urla, Çesme and Alacati. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 9 Kusadasi or Izmir / Pergamon / Istanbul
Breakfast. Departure to the ancient city of Pergamon. Visit to the Asclepion, the famous hospital of the ancient world, dedicated to the god of health, Asclepius, the sleeping tunnels, the small theater for patients, the pools, the long ancient street and the courtyard with Ionic columns. Departure to Istanbul and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Day 10 Istanbul / Portugal
Breakfast. At a time to be arranged locally, transfer to the airport for boarding return flight. Check-in formalities and departure. Arrival.
