Day 1: Istanbul – Izmir – Kusadasi

Arrive at Istanbul Ataturk airport and proceed for your connecting flight to Izmir, On arrival at Izmir drive to Kusadasi, arrive and check in at the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Kayhan Bey or Dabaklar Hotel or similar.

Day 2: Kusadasi – Full Day Ephesus Tour (B,L,D)

Breakfast. Visit Virgin Mary's House. According to predominant Christian tradition, Mary was brought to Ephesus by the Apostle John after the Resurrection of Christ and lived out her last days in Ephesus.

The Ephesus guided tour will begin with a walking tour through one of the most magnificent excavations in the world. See Odeon, The Fountain of Trajan, the five terraces of apartment houses, the steam baths of Scholastika, the Temple of Hadrian and impressive Library of Ephesus. The library is adorned with columns and statues. The Grand Theater, where Saint Paul preached, is the largest theater is antiquity with capacity of 24,000 seats. The coach will pass through the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession.

After lunch, visit the Temple of Artemis (Diana), built in honor of the Greek Goddess of hunting, wild nature and fertility. Deemed as one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World it was the largest marble temple in ancient Greece, almost 4 times larger than the Parthenon in Athens. The temple served as both, a marketplace and religious institution. Offerings by thousands of pilgrims each year enabled the temple to grow so wealthy that it became the world's first bank. Today, little remains of the magnificent structure. Your guide will describe its importance, its wealth and the conflict that existed between the Romans and Christians who settled in the area over the centuries. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Kusadasi – Full Day Pamukkale Tour (B,L,D)

Breakfast. Drive for 3 hours to Pamukkale (Hierapolis), a former Roman spa city, east of Kusadasi and arrive at the North Gate. See the Necropolis (cemetery), which is one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Anatolia with 1,200 graves. See the Roman Bath, Domitian Gate, the Main Street and Byzantine Gate. The gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale are located next to the ruins of Hierapolis. Walk to the natural warm water terraces formed over the centuries by running warm water that contained calcium. The temperature of the water is about 35 degrees. The layers of white calcium carbonate, built up in steps on the plateau and gave the site the name Pamukkale (Cotton Castle). Take your swim suit along for a dip in the waters. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Izmir – Kayseri

After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and transfer to Izmir airport to fly to Kayseri. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. Rest of the day is free at leisure for relaxing, shopping and exploring this quaint little town on your own etc. Dinner and overnight

Day 5: Cappadocia – Full Day Sightseeing Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the full day tour of Cappadocia. Visit the valleys, see the animal-like natural formations like camels and fairy chimneys. Drive on to Pasabagi in Zelve area where monks used to live in seclusion in rock cut rooms. Proceed to the pottery town of Avanos where Kizilirmak (Hallys), the longest river of Turkey, meanders, leaving behind red clay, the raw material of pottery for centuries. In the afternoon, visit the Open Air Museum in Goreme. See the magnificent architecture of the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible.

In the evening, opt for the Whirling Dervishes show. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Cappadocia - Afternoon Tour - Istanbul

Early in the morning at 4 am, take an optional hot air balloon tour. Nothing can prepare you for the awesome sights as the sun rises over the spectacular surrealistic landscapes. Excellent flying conditions allow the balloons to gently drift over and between the fairy chimneys, pigeon houses hewn into the unique rock formations, orchards and vineyards, through impressive valleys, each with distinctive rock formations, colors and features and then float up over rippled ravines for breathtaking views over the region.

Return for breakfast at your hotel and relax awhile. At 12 pm, check out and proceed to Kaymakli Underground City. Carved by the Hittites about 3500 years ago, this multi-level underground city was used by early Christians as a main shelter from marauding enemies during the 6th and 7th centuries. Kaymakli is one of the biggest underground cities in Cappadocia with 7 levels including stables, temples and wineries. On the way back, stop at the spectacular vista point overlooking Pigeon Valley. You will be able to see Rose and Red valleys, Uchisar Castle and even Mount Erciyes, depending on weather conditions. Your last stop will be in a local winery in Uchisar.

After the tour ends, at 6 pm, transfer to Kayseri airport to depart for Istanbul. Arrive around 8 pm and transfer to your hotel for overnight.

Day 7: Istanbul – Full Day Tour & Bosphorus Cruise

After breakfast, discover Istanbul. From the coach, see the Golden Horn, the historic inlet of the Bosporus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming the natural harbor of the historical peninsula separating the old and the new parts of Istanbul where the first colonies settled during the Byzantines. Proceed to the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), with its different aromas of various spices.

Board the Bosphorus Cruiser and take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture, modern residential apartments as you cruise along. View the Rumeli Fortress (from the boat), the historical armament built by the Conqueror to control and protect the Bosphorus. A unique example of military architecture and modern must see.

After lunch at a Turkish restaurant, visit Dolmabahce Palace, the residence and main administrative center of the Ottoman Sultans. The palace is famous for its great collection of European antiquity, furniture and 4.5 tons chandelier. It has 285 rooms and 46 halls. See the study and restroom of Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republicis. See the Camlica Hill or Yeditepe, offering a panoramic view of Istanbul and Bosporus. Overnight.

Day 8: Istanbul – Full Day Tour

Breakfast. Tour the old city today. Visit Hagia Sophia (closed on Monday), also called the Church of Divine Wisdom; it is a masterpiece of grandeur and proportion. Coveted by the Islamic East and Christian West, the Hagia Sophia is one of mankind's greatest treasures. See the Blue Mosque, one of the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul, with its beautiful domes and semi domes, nice courtyards and six slender minarets. The Hippodrome and Obelisks in the square in front of the Blue Mosque cover the site of the ancient "Hippodrome", one of the most famous areas in Byzantine. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Visit Topkapi Palace (closed on Tuesday), which was more than just the private residence of the Sultan and his court. It was also the seat of the Supreme Executive and Judiciary Council. Today, it is a museum holding large collections of Japanese and Chinese porcelains and displaying holy relics. See the Divan and the training school. (This tour excludes the treasury section), Then continue to the Rustem Pasha Mosque designed by the court architect Sinan for the Grand Vizier Suleyman the Magnificent. A typical example of Islamic architecture, it is famed for its exquisite and colorful tiles set in floral and geometric designs. Overnight. He hotel.

Day 9: Istanbul

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport.