Istanbul, Cappadocia, Bursa and Antalya: 11-day sightseeing tour

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 1

   Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel — a day without excursions, only accommodation and rest after the road. The night passes in the province of Istanbul, dinner is not included.

2. Day 2

   Istanbul reveals itself as a city of emperors — but this excursion is for an additional fee. Among the main impressions are the former Hagia Sophia, now the Ayasofya Mosque, and the Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmet with six minarets. A boat trip on the Bosphorus is also paid separately, as is the whole day entirely. Night in the province of Istanbul, dinner is not included.

3. Day 3

   A day of the road and the first big discovery: after breakfast the way lies to Ankara, where the Atatürk Museum with the personal belongings of Mustafa Kemal awaits. Then a journey to Cappadocia — and upon arrival a view opens onto its landscape, which is called lunar. Night in a hotel in Cappadocia, breakfast and dinner are included.

4. Day 4

   The most airy day of the trip: an almost hour-long balloon flight at dawn shows the valleys and the landscape from above — for an additional fee. After breakfast — the Göreme Open-Air Museum and viewpoints, and also stops at a ceramic and carpet factory with a treat of lokum; in the evening, a dervish show is available upon request. All these excursions require separate payment. Night in a hotel in Cappadocia, breakfast and dinner are included.

5. Day 5

   The day begins with departure from the hotel and a journey to Mardin — a city carved into a rocky slope, where narrow streets and stone houses with carving create a sense of another time. Along the way — a stop at the ancient Karakuş Tumulus, a burial monument of the Commagene era. Dinner and night in a hotel in Mardin.

6. Day 6

   A day of Assyrian heritage: a journey to Midyat, where an Assyrian community has lived since ancient times, and silversmiths work in old stone houses with arches. Then a visit to the Deyrulzafaran Monastery — an ancient monastery that was once a patriarchal residence and to this day lives by the Syrian Orthodox tradition. Dinner and night in a hotel in Midyat.

7. Day 7

   The way to Gaziantep lies through Urfa, the city of prophets and one of the oldest in the world. Here — the Balıklıgöl complex with ponds and sacred carp, connected with the legend of Abraham. Gaziantep greets as the gastronomic capital of Turkey, the birthplace of pistachios and baklava, and as a city where an extensive collection of mosaics from ancient Zeugma is gathered. Dinner and night in a hotel in Gaziantep.

8. Day 8

   The longest journey of the trip: from continental Anatolia to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea through Adana. The road is scenic, but takes a lot of time — this is a day of contemplating the landscapes outside the window. Dinner and night in a hotel in Antalya.

9. Day 9

   A day of antiquity and thermal waters — an excursion for an additional fee. After breakfast and a visit to a leather goods shop, the way lies towards Denizli, to the ruins of Hierapolis on the limestone terraces, where the ruins of the Temple of Apollo have been preserved. Further — Pamukkale with snow-white travertine terraces that arose from calcium-rich springs; along the way, for an extra fee, one can taste wine of local production. Return to the hotel, night in Pamukkale, breakfast and dinner are included.

10. Day 10

    A day dedicated to the Ottoman beginning: an excursion to Bursa is included in the price. Bursa is the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, where in the streets and in historical places the Ottoman spirit is felt, and a panoramic view of the city shows it as a whole. Then a journey to Istanbul — a city on two continents with a rich history and unusual architecture. Night in the province of Istanbul, dinner is not included.

11. Day 11

    Departure day: depending on the flight time, the bus will take you to the airport for the return home.