Christmas Package Tour Turkey
Tour Code: CS-TTX
Duration: 9 days 8 nights
Highlights: Istanbul (Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Spice Market, Half-Day Cruise), Ephesus (Walking Tour, Shrine of Mother Mary), Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Konya, Cappadocia
Departures: December 21- Every Year
Tour Price: $1190 per person in double occupancy (Small Group Tour)
Quick Overview
For that special holiday join us on one of our Turkey group tours There’s no stuffing birds or entertaining aunts Enjoy snowflakes on fairy chimneys, legendary sites at Ephesus, thermal springs at Pamukkale and exotic Istanbul full of wonders and with the festive season upon us the streets of Istanbul come alive.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul
Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 2 – Byzantine and Ottoman Heritage Tour
After breakfast at your hotel, you begin a full day sightseeing tour of Istanbul. Highlights include a visit to the illustrious Topkapi Palace (harem section is optional), the ancient Roman Hippodrome (site of chariot races) and the Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine church that was converted to a mosque in 15th century.
You will also visit the famed “Blue Mosque” and the Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest covered bazaar, where you’ll have free time to discover some of the nearly 4,000 tiny shops that line its maze of passageways. (B, L)
Day 3 – Half-Day Bosphorus Cruise, Kusadasi
This morning you’ll be picked-up at your hotel and proceed to the embarkation point of your Bosphorus cruise. The cruise offers you wonderful views of Istanbul’s European and Asian sides, who shores are lined with marble palaces, centuries-old wooden villas constructed in the Ottoman style, luxurious apartment houses and other residences.
You will also see Rumeli Fortress, a fortification built to control entry to the Bosphorus Strait and protect Istanbul. This afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for your short flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, you’ll be driven to your hotel in nearby Kusadsi, where you spend the night. (B)
Day 4 – in Ephesus and Xmas eve Dinner
After breakfast, you proceed to the ancient Roman city of Ephesus, visiting the impressive Isa Bey Mosque en route. Upon arriving in Ephesus, you begin your walking tour along its marble streets viewing the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Trajan Fountain. At the end of your walk, you will see the “Great Theater” where St. Paul preached. Then it’s time to relax and enjoy a buffet lunch.
This afternoon you will visit a carpet weaving cooperative to see how the renowned Turkish carpets are made by hand. Then you visit the Shrine of Mother Mary, the home believed to be where Mary spent the last years of her life, the Ephesus Archeological Museum, and the Temple Of Artemis (Diana), the site of one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B, L, D)
Day 5 – Kusadasi to Pamukkale
After breakfast you depart for Pamukkale, famed for its healing thermal/mineral baths and amazing, snow-white calcium terraces referred to as “petrified waterfalls”. After lunch, you visit Hierapolis, an ancient spa, where you’ll see its beautifully preserved Necropolis, main street, theatre and gates. Overnight in Pamukkale. (B, L, D)
Day 6 – Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia
Early this morning you depart for Konya, where you visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the mystic poet and Islamic spiritual leader, who founded the sect of ”Whirling Dervishes”, and the 13th century Seljuk caravanserai, “Sultanhan”. After lunch at a local Turkish restaurant, you continue to Cappadocia. (B, L, D)
Day 7 – Cappadocia
Your first encounter with Cappadocia’s almost Martian landscape is in the Dervent Valley, where you’ll see Pasabag’s “Fairy Chimneys”. Here it is said that “the voice of the wind harmonizes with the songs of the fairies”. Moving on, you’ll enjoy a visit to the Avanos Center of Terracotta Art.
After lunch, you visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum, whose frescoes are the best examples of Byzantine art in the region, followed by a visit to the Uchisar Rock Castle, where you’ll have a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding valleys. Your tour ends with a visit a carpet cooperative to see how beautiful Turkish carpets are hand-woven. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B, L, D)
Day 8 – Cappadocia, Istanbul
Depart from your hotel and explore the famous rock- hiking to the red valley from Cavusin Village. Then visit Cavusin Village. After lunch drive to the Pigeon Valley. In the afternoon, visit Underground City, where early Christians lived in fear and faith, which is one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia.
The underground city was originally carved out as eight floors; however four floors are available to visit. In wartime about 5000 people can refuge in. The tunnels are still used today.as storage areas, stables and cellars. On the way back, visit the natural castles at Ortahisar. Take flight to Istanbul for overnight stay. (B, L)
Day 9 – Departure
Free time until you are transferred to the airport for your homeward flight. Or you can extend your vacation with one of our short stay packages or cruises. (B)
PRICES& DEPARTURE DATES
| Departure Period | Per Person Double Occupancy | Per Person Triple Occupancy | Single Supplement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 December Every Year | $1190 | $1099 | $460 |
Departures: 21 December Every Year
What The Price Includes
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure
- Accommodation at 4-Star Hotels*
- Meals as specified in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- Transportation by non-smoking, air-conditioned mini/midi bus
- Services of a professional English-speaking escort/guide
- Half-day Bosphorus Cruise
- Sightseeing tours and excursions per itinerary
- Entrance fees to the sites visited, per itinerary
- Hotel taxes and services charges
Upgrade to 5-Star or Boutique Hotels available (rates on request)
Not Included
- Domestic flights
- Gratuities to tour staff
- All items of a personal nature (laundry, taxis, etc.)
- Beverages (except for those served with breakfast).
- Visa fees
