Tour The Colors of Turkey

Culture

50%

Nature

20%

History

50%

Adventure

20%

Food

30%

Arrival in Istanbul, assistance, and transfer to the selected hotel. Overnight stay

Culture

60%

Nature

30%

History

50%

Adventure

20%

Food

20%

Breakfast. In the morning, we will begin with a half-day "Byzantine Tour": We will start by visiting the Süleymaniye Mosque, considered the most beautiful of Istanbul’s imperial mosques, built between 1550 and 1557 by Sinan, the chief architect of the Ottoman Golden Age. Next, we will head to the ancient walls of Constantinople, now known as the Mevlana Gate, built by Emperor Theodosius II in 413. These solid walls, several stories high and between three and six meters thick, protected the city from attacks by the Goths, Bulgarians, Russians, Arabs, and Turks. The walls were breached only twice: by the Crusaders in 1204 and by Mehmet "The Conqueror" in 1453.

Next, we will visit the Monastery of the Virgin of the Spring. According to historians Procopius and Cedrenus, the church was originally built by Emperor Justinian in the last years of his reign, near a water source previously known as the "Spring of Miracles", located outside the Theodosian Walls, near today’s Silivri Gate.

The tour ends in Eminönü, once the city's main entrance, now a bustling area that hosts the "Egyptian Market," also known as the Spice Bazaar. Free afternoon to explore the city, or you can join the optional "Bosphorus Tour" offered by our guide. Overnight stay.

Culture

50%

Nature

30%

History

50%

Adventure

20%

Food

20%

Breakfast. We will depart for a half-day tour of the "Golden Horn": We will head to the picturesque and colorful districts of Fener and Balat, protected by UNESCO and considered the first settlements of ancient Constantinople.

Next, we will drive along the shores of the Golden Horn and visit the Iron Church of St. Stephen, a Bulgarian Orthodox church in a Turkish city, linked to the struggle for ecclesiastical independence in the 1830s and 1840s. It is the only iron Orthodox church in the world

Culture

50%

Nature

50%

History

50%

Adventure

30%

Food

30%

Full Board. At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport for the scheduled flight (PC 2430 06:40-08:35) to Mardin. In the morning, visit to the Syriac Monastery of Deyrul Zafaran, one of the oldest monasteries in the world. For 640 years (until 1932), it was the residence of the Assyrian Orthodox Patriarch. The site was called Deyrul Zafaran (Saffron Church) due to the saffron cultivated in its surroundings. Every year, Assyrians from all over the world come here to pray and receive blessings.

Next, we will visit Mardin's city center. The city stretches along the slopes of a mountain crowned by its fortress. It is a caramel-colored town where the huge dome of the Ulu Camii Mosque stands out. This Seljuk Iraqi mosque, built in the 12th century, is located in a small yet intricate maze of alleys in the city center. We will pass by the Zinciriye Madrasa, whose minarets rise in the heart of the historic district.

The main street of the old town is Cumhuriyet Street, home to the vast and chaotic bazaar, where you can find delicate copper and brass works, the famous Aleppo soaps, and always the aroma of freshly baked bread. Lunch. Then, departure for Diyarbakır, one of the most important cities in the region, known in classical times as Amidiya. The city was annexed to Rome in 297 AD and became an essential part of the defensive line between the Roman and Parthian-Sassanid Persian Empires.

Upon arrival in Diyarbakır, we will start our walking tour of the historic center and its religious monuments, entering its ancient walls, strolling through its narrow, lively streets. We will stop at Hasan Pasha Han Caravanserai, now a must-visit spot to enjoy tea before visiting the Great Mosque, the most important of the twenty-two mosques in the city and the oldest in Anatolia, originally built as a Christian Cathedral of St. Thomas. We will continue the tour by visiting the Four-Legged Minaret, built by Kasim Khan. Legend has it that if you pass between its four columns seven times, it will bring good luck. Dinner and overnight stay

Culture

40%

Nature

60%

History

40%

Adventure

40%

Food

30%

Full Board. In the morning, departure for the visit to Mount Nemrut, home to imposing statues built in 38 BC by order of King Antiochus to surround his tomb. This is one of the most extraordinary sites in Turkey, located at 2,000 meters above sea level, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Upon reaching the summit of Mount Nemrut, we will visit the burial mound of King Antiochus, built with small conical stones and standing about 50 meters high. On both sides, across two terraces, we can admire the colossal statues of Greco-Babylonian deities. Lunch on the way at a roadside-style restaurant. Afterwards, departure for Malatya, famous for its apricot cultivation. Dinner and overnight stay.

Culture

40%

Nature

70%

History

50%

Adventure

40%

Food

20%

Full Board. Early morning departure for the Cappadocia region, where the indescribable harmony of a kaleidoscope of colors transforms shades of red and brown into gray, green, and yellow. Lunch. Upon arrival in Cappadocia, we will see the famous "Three Beauties of Ürgüp," where you can admire the mushroom-shaped rock formations and enjoy a panoramic view of Ürgüp.

Next, we will visit the small and beautiful town of Ortahisar, known for its 86-meter-high geological rock castle, which was transformed into dwellings by the Hittites. Dinner and overnight stay. At night, you can optionally attend a whirling dervish (sema) ceremony.

Culture

60%

Nature

50%

History

60%

Adventure

30%

Food

20%

Full Board. Optionally, you can take part in a breathtaking hot air balloon flight at dawn (The described program is for informational purposes and may be modified or canceled due to weather conditions).

Today, we will explore the unique Cappadocia region, where nature’s wonders blend with culturally significant sites. Our tour begins with a walk through the fascinating Devrent Valley, known as the "Valley of the Fairy Chimneys," where wind and water erosion on volcanic terrain have sculpted a spectacular landscape of peaks, cones, and obelisks.

Next, we will visit the underground city of Özkonak or a similar one, built by Christian communities to protect themselves from Arab attacks. We will stop at a carpet and kilim workshop. We then continue to the Göreme Open-Air Museum, which preserves an impressive collection of churches, chapels, and monasteries carved into the rock, featuring 11th-century frescoes, and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch.

In the afternoon, we will visit the spectacular volcanic sites of Avcilar ("Hunters' Valley") and Güvercinlik ("Pigeon Valley"), enjoying a breathtaking panoramic view of Uçhisar Castle, a fortress carved into a volcanic rock promontory filled with tunnels and windows. We will also stop at a handicraft workshop specializing in decorations and jewelry. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay. In the evening, you may optionally attend a traditional Turkish folk dance show.

Culture

40%

Nature

60%

History

30%

Relax

30%

Food

50%

Full Board. We will depart early in the morning to visit the Seljuk Caravanserai "Sultanhani" or a similar one, located along the legendary Silk Road, which once served as a rest stop for trade caravans, pilgrims, and military expeditions.

Lunch along the way at a roadside restaurant. We will then continue towards Pamukkale, also known as the "Cotton Castle", a small town famous for its white travertine pools, formed by the calcium-rich thermal waters that flow in the area. Dinner and overnight stay.

Culture

50%

Nature

50%

History

50%

Food

30%

Wellness

50%

Full Board. In the morning, we will visit Hierapolis, an ancient thermal city founded around 190 BC by the King of Pergamon, which flourished during the Roman era. It is located above the travertine pools and features a beautiful theater and an extensive necropolis.

Next, we will depart for Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in Turkey, founded around 1000 BC (the ruins we see today date back to the 4th century BC). Highlights include the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Great Theater. Lunch. Finally, we will stop at a leather goods showroom, where fashion shows and sales take place. Dinner and overnight stay.

Nature

60%

Relax

50%

Adventure

30%

Food

40%

Wellness

70%

Half Board. Free day in Kusadasi, with the possibility to visit the beaches or the greek island of Samos. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast. At the scheduled time, transfer to Izmir Airport (ADB) for the return flight to Italy via Istanbul. End of our services.