Cappadocia to Constantinople
Dramatic landscapes and Istanbul, including the old Ottoman capital of Bursa
In Brief
| Antalya - 2 nights. Cappadocia - 2 nights. Ankara - 1 night. Bursa - 1 night. Istanbul - 3 nights. |
Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow via Istanbul to Antalya. Spend two nights at the 4-star Dedeman or Antalya Hotel.
Day 2 Visit Perge, Aspendos and the Archaeological Museum at Antalya. After dinner, enjoy a short walking tour through the old harbour of Antalya.
Day 3 Travel through Anatolia to the former Seljuk capital of Konya (5 hrs). Visit the Museum of Mevlana, founder of the ‘Whirling Dervish’ sect. Continue to Cappadocia (4 hrs) and stay two nights at the 4-star Hotel Perissia.
Day 4 Visit the Valley of Goreme with its early Christian church paintings, underground city of Kaymakh and castle of Uchisar.
Day 5 Travel via the ‘Salt-Lake’ to Ankara (4 hrs) for overnight at the 4-star Barceló Ankara Altinel or Royal Anka Hotel. A tour of the ancient citadel and modern capital includes the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations.
Day 6 Visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk and continue on to Gordion to view the tomb of King Midas. Travel to Bursa for overnight at the 4-star Hotel Holiday Inn or Kervansaray-Thermal.
Day 7 Visit the Green Mosque and Tomb of Sultan Murat II, the Great Mosque of Ulu Cami, the Muradiye Mosque and tombs of the Ottoman Sultan and Princes and the silk Bazaar. Take the ferry across the Bay of Nicomedia to Istanbul for three nights at the 4-star Barceló Eresin Topkapi or President Hotel. Enjoy a traditional dinner with music.
Day 8 A full-day tour includes the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar.
Day 9 Cruise along the Bosphorus, passing palaces, mosques and wooden waterside villas (yali). A visit to St. Sophia is also included.
Day 10 Return flight from Istanbul to Heathrow.
