Upon your arrival at the airport, our team will be present to facilitate your transfer to the hotel. Please refer to the information boards located in the hotel reception area for details regarding the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travelers.

Join us for a panoramic tour of a remarkable city that straddles two continents. Our itinerary includes a visit to the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent, the largest mosque in Istanbul, as well as the ancient city walls, the Golden Horn, and the fishing district, where we will take in the stunning exterior of Hagia Sophia. At the end of the afternoon, we will arrange for a transfer to Taksim, the city’s most bustling commercial and local district. You will have time to enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants, take a ride on the historic tram that runs through the area, or explore the nearby Galata Tower.

The Ottoman Empire’s administrative center, the Topkapi Palace, with its magnificent courtyards and pavilions, will be open to the public early in the morning. After that, we’ll take a two-hour boat ride on the Bosporus. We will travel in a boat reserved exclusively for Europamundo passengers. Istanbul is divided into two parts by the Bosporus, a strait that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Asian and European As we pass under the two bridges that connect Europe and Asia, we will take in the sultan’s palaces, typical wooden houses, and Ottoman villas, and we will enjoy watching the strait’s animation with all of its boats. We will disembark on the Asian side, where we will have ample time to stroll through the Uskudar neighborhood, which is notable for its quiet streets, Yemi Valide, the maiden’s tower, and its large mosques. It’s lunchtime. We continue our journey toward the Anatolian peninsula in the afternoon. Dinner is included upon arrival in ANKARA.

Visit to Ankara and Cappadocia’s stunning landscapes. We include a trip to Ankara, the cosmopolitan capital of Turkey with more than 5 million inhabitants and a lot of cultural life thanks to its performing arts center, home to the State Ballet and Opera, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra, and a lot of national theater companies, after breakfast. We will go to Ankara’s powerful castle, the impressive Mausoleum of Ataturk, which was built eight centuries before Christ. Additionally, we include the entrance to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which provides insight into the various cultures that shaped Turkey. Toward the finish of the morning, we will stop at a huge shopping center, with various decisions of food in its food court. After lunch, we continue to the region of Cappadocia. Along the way, we will stop next to the SALT LAKE, which is known for its breathtaking landscapes, and we will visit HACIBEKTAS with the utmost respect for the pilgrims (appropriate attire and silence are recommended during the visit). Hacibecktas, a thirteenth-century Sufi mystic, is buried in this sanctuary. NEVSHEIR is the next stop, and dinner is included.

Experience the breathtaking landscapes of unique formations and charming towns. Dinner is included. Enjoy a full day in the remarkable region of Cappadocia, renowned for its otherworldly scenery, ancient churches, and cave dwellings. We will explore the Göreme Valley, home to an open-air museum featuring rock-carved churches, with entry tickets provided. Our journey will take us to Uçhisar, a natural fortress, followed by a visit to the underground city of Kaymaklı, which has the capacity to accommodate 30,000 inhabitants. On our return to Avanos, we will stop at Paşabağ, known as the Valley of the Fairies, where we will have the opportunity to stroll through this stunning natural landscape. Free time and dinner are included.

We will visit the IHLARA Valley, which is at the far end of Cappadocia; known for the purity of its waters, churches, and rock-cut settlements. After that, we continue our journey by making a pit stop at a CARAVANSERAI from the 13th century before reaching KONYA, where we pay a visit to the Mevlana (Rumi) Mausoleum. The Dervishes’ sect will be discussed in this location (entry is included). Included is dinner. We recommend that you attend the cultural center’s whirling dervishes dance performance at night.

Our journey takes us along a scenic path between the lakes, leading us to EGRIDIR, an enchanting town adjacent to a large lake, distinguished by its historic walls and mosques. We will have time to savor lunch. Subsequently, we continue our travels to PAMUKKALE-Hierapolis, famous for its calcareous waters that have sculpted the remarkable Cotton Castle (entrance included). Dinner is included in the itinerary.

We will proceed towards EPHESUS, renowned as the most well-preserved ancient city in Asia Minor, which boasted a population of approximately 250,000 two millennia ago. Our exploration will include the house of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of Saint John, and the remarkable ruins of Ephesus (entrance fee included). Following this, we will continue to KUSADASI, a vibrant coastal town known for its lively atmosphere, commercial activity, and a quaint castle. Dinner will be provided.

Our journey takes us to Izmir, Turkey’s fourth most populous city. With the guidance of our tour leader, we will engage in a brief exploration of this city, which is celebrated for its modernity and western influences in values, ideology, and lifestyle. After our visit, we will proceed back towards the interior of Turkey, pausing for lunch en route to Bursa. Bursa, the fourth largest city in the country, is recognized for its historic center, which has earned UNESCO World Heritage status, showcasing its traditional commercial districts, mosques, religious schools, and public baths, with the Green Mosque being particularly prominent. We will arrive in Istanbul by the end of the day.

After breakfast, end of our services.