: R7870
This express tour visits Istanbul, Ankara & Cappadocia'- giving you a taste of shisha, coffee and kebabs..
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Ex JNB | R7 870 |
Ex CPT | R9 170 |
Package Validity | Set travel dates: 05 - 14 FEB 2017.Tour operates with a minimum 25 people per departure. ** BOOK & PAY a minimum 45 days prior to departure ** Limited seats available - first come first served. |
Destination | Turkey |
{tab Description}
- Return flights to Istanbul
- Pre-payable airport/security taxes
- Return airport/hotel transfers
- 7 nights 5* hotel accommodation as per itinerary
- Breakfast daily
- Touring by air conditioned coach
** Upgrade to include 6 lunches & 7 dinners PLUS all tours & entrance fees to museums & historical sites as mentioned in the itinerary under Optional Tours starting from an additional EUR 359 per person (payable BEFORE departure) **
** Clients travelling from Durban are to please contact their travel agents for domestic add-ons . **
** Please note that there are a limited number of seats - book now and don't be disappointed ***
{tab Day 1}
Istanbul
A warm Welcome to Istanbul, located in the center of the Old World with a history of over 2,500 years & one of the world's great cities, famous for its historical monuments & scenic beauty. This is the only city in the world which spreads over two continents; Asia & Europe.
On arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport you make your way to through passport control & into the arrivals hall where you look out for our representative. The guide will be holding a name board with your surname or group name on it. They will assist you at the airport & transfer you to your hotel.
Once at your hotel, your guide will give you an orientation briefing before leaving you to enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
{tab Day 2}
Istanbul
Today you have the day at leisure.
Optional tour ( at an additional cost):
After breakfast you are collected from your hotel for a half day tour. This tour includes a visit to Topkapi Palace & the Grand Bazaar with a visit to the Imperial Palace of Topkapi (Harem section is optional), an opulent residence of the sultans for almost four centuries whose architecture with the magnificent decoration, bear witness to the power & majesty of the Ottoman Empire.
Next you visit the Grand Bazaar, the largest indoor market in the world. Lunch at a local restaurant ( all drinks & extras are for your own account).
You visit a production centre specializing in leather clothes & traditional hand-made carpets before returning to your hotel in the late afternoon.
{tab Day 3}
Istanbul - Ankara (425km)
You have the morning at leisure to do some optional touring or last minute shopping before departing by road for Ankara.
Optional tour (at an additional cost):
After breakfast you are collected from your hotel & taken on a tour of some highlights in Istanbul. This tour includes a visit to the Byzantine Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque & Basilica Cistern.
You start the tour with a visit to the Hippodrome of Constantinople, originally a circus that was the sporting & social centre and now days named Sultanahmet Meydanı (Sultan Ahmet Square).
Next you visit the The Sultan Ahmet Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior which was originally part of a complex comprising of a hospice, hospital , soup kitchen & open air street market.
Next you visit the Basilica Cistern, also known as the "Sunken Palace" or "Yerebatan sarayi" in Turkish. It was constructed by Justinian in 532AD, primarily to supply water to the Byzantine Palace. Walk to the back of the Cistern & you find the upside down Medusa head supporting one of the columns.
Lunch at a local restaurant (all drinks & extras are for your own account).
This afternoon you depart for Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Travelling by road, you arrive at your hotel in the early evening.
{tab Day 4}
Ankara - Cappadocia (325km)
You have the morning at leisure to enjoy at your hotel or do some optional touring before departing for Cappadocia.
Optional tour:
You depart your hotel on a panoramic city tour during which you stop for a photo opportunity at the Mausoleum of Ataturk; the founder of the Turkish Republic. Next you visit the Agzikarahan Caravanserai (or Saruhan).
Lunch at a local restaurant (all drinks & extras are for your own account).
Arrive in Cappadocia & transfer to hotel.
{tab Day 5}
Cappadocia
Today you have the day at leisure to do some optional touring.
Optional Tour:
You are collected from your hotel and start your tour with a visit to the petrified Valley of Goreme with its rock churches decorated with frescoes. Next you visit the Valley of Avcilar.
Lunch at a local restaurant (all drinks & extras are for your own account). After lunch you explore the Village of Uchisar after which you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Additional tour: This tour is additional to the packaged tours offered in this itinerary
Hot balloon tour: explore the spectacular surrealistic landscapes combined with excellent flying conditions allow the balloons to gently drift over and between 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.
{tab Day 6}
Cappadocia
You have the day at leisure to enjoy at your hotel or do some optional touring.
Optional tour:
Today you visit one of the most famous Underground Cities in the world & Dervent Valley. This is an underground city with vast proportions: common rooms, dormitories, chambers, bathrooms, kitchens, storage rooms, wine cellars with wine press, stables, chapels & graves, all arranged on eight levels. Security was originally provided by rolling huge round stones in front of the entrances & tunnels, closing it off from the outside world. An inspired ventilation system, that remarkably still works to this day, was produced by carved air shafts linked to cisterns where water was stored. Lots of underground cities have been counted in the region.
Lunch at a local restaurant (all drinks & extras are for your own account)
Time permitting, you may visit some of the additional churches & structures in the area & a traditional Onyx Center where you can buy various high quality onyx handicrafts.
{tab Day 7}
Cappadocia - Istanbul (675km)
Today you continue your journey by road to Ankara, visiting the Salt Lakes en-route.
Your first stop today is a "photo stop" at Salt Lake. It is the second largest lake in Turkey but its surface & water level vary according to the seasons. It reaches its higher level, 1-2 m/3-6 inches at the end of winter, & in summer the lake dries out & a wide marsh covered with a 30cm/12 inches salt layer forms.
From the salt lakes you continue on to Istanbul. You arrive in Istanbul in the late afternoon & check in at your hotel.
Optional Package :
Lunch at a local restaurant (all drinks & extras are for your own account).
{tab Day 8}
Istanbul Departure
Today you have a transfer from your hotel to the airport in time to check in for your onward flight.
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