Turkey with Luxury & Style (11 Days): A Sample Itinerary

ID #: DT-T-11-3-10-08-BESI


 
Dolmabahce Mosque
Goreme Valley Fairy Chimneys

DavidTravel Itinerary Highlights include:

• Spend the day exploring Istanbul and its most famous sights: the Basilica Cistern, the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Suleymaniye Mosque and the Pera District
• Fly to Cappadocia to see the rock-carved churches at Goreme. Retire to your boutique hotel, renovated from authentic Cappadocian housing
• Explore the underground village of Kaymakli. After lunch, visit the potters of Avanos, who have practiced their craft for more than 4,000 years
• Fly to Izmir and view the remains of the great Ionian city of Ephesus, the best preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean
• Drive to Bodrum, stopping en route to explore the ruins of Priene, the massive Temple of Apollo at Didyma, the temple at Euromos and the fascinating Museum of Underwater Archaeology
• Fly to Istanbul and view the City Walls before visiting the Grand Covered Bazaar
• Visit Dolmabaçe Palace, the finest example of Ottoman Baroque in the city. Enjoy a private afternoon cruise on the Bosphorus

Overview:

Turkey's archaeological and cultural wonders, and its long Mediterranean coastline, are a Mecca for tourists, attracting millions of European holidaymakers each year. Among the top draws is Istanbul with its fabulous setting, wealth of historic sights and vibrant cultural life. Also not to be missed are the amazingly well-preserved remains of Greco-Roman cities such as Ephesus or Pergamon, and the coastal resorts with their sandy beaches and hedonistic nightlife.

For the adventurous, the austere beauty of the Anatolian plateau, the surreal eroded landscape of Cappadocia and the atmospheric ruins of the enigmatic Hittites await discovery. Here, too, is the unique experience of watching the Whirling Dervishes spin their way to ecstasy.

Wherever visitors travel in Turkey they are assured a warm welcome. Turks have a strong tradition of hospitality and the words ‘Hos Geldiniz', which means literally ‘Your coming brings happiness', will ring often in a traveler's ears.