Istanbul & Ephesus / Short Stay

Duration: 06 Days / 05 Nights
Highlights: Istanbul, Ephesus Ancient City, Pamukkale, Hierapolis
Departure Dates: Everyday
Note: Use the below itinerary as an outline, you may omit or add other attractions you have in mind. You can fine-tune the itinerary or change it as much as you like & our travel consultants will work with you until all your questions are answered & you are satisfied.

Day 01 : Istanbul Arrival
Upon arrival to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, you will be met by our staff & accompanied during the transfer to your hotel. You have the afternoon & evening free to relax &/or check out the city.

Day 02 : Istanbul
Your guide will take you to visit some of Istanbul’s most fascinating sights such as the Blue Mosque; unique with its 6 Minarets, St Sophia Museum; the jewel of Byzantine architecture in Istanbul, a 6th Century Church dedicated to Divine Wisdom. We walk around the Hippodrome where once chariot races & other activities took place during the Roman period. We’ll have lunch at a local restaurant serving Turkish Cuisine before heading to the Grand Bazaar; worlds oldest & biggest covered bazaar with more than 4000 shops which are still in business today. Finally we visit Topkapi Palace; the home of the Ottoman Sultans & their families for over 400 years, a city within a city with 3000 residents. At the end of the tour your guide will take you back to your hotel, evening at leisure.

Day 03 : Flight to Izmir / Ephesus Tour
Transfer to Istanbul Airport Internal Terminal for flight to Izmir. Upon arrival to Izmir Airport, meeting tour guide at airport & drive to visit the remains of Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Then on to visit Ephesus Ancient City, the best preserved Greco-Roman city in the world. Here you will explore the Agora, Odeon, Curettes Street, public toilets, Celsius Library, Roman Baths, Grand Theatre, Marble Street. After a lunch break depart for the House of Virgin Mary & visit the chapel where she is said to have spent her last days. Finish the day tour with a visit the Basilica of St. John & see the ruins of Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Transfer to your hotel in Kusadasi or Selcuk.

Day 04 : Aphrodisias & Pamukkale / Izmir to Istanbul flight
We will check out from hotel & drive for 1.5 hours to reach Aphrodisias. As its name implies, it was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of Love. The city was built near a marble quarry, which was extensively exploited in the Hellenistic & Roman periods, & sculptors of marble from Aphrodisias became famous in the Roman world. After lunch we will continue the day with visit to Pamukkale. This natural phenomenon leaves thick white layers of limestone & travertine cascading down the mountain slope, which resemble a frozen waterfall. There will be free time to walk on the terraces (where allowed). We then visit Hierapolis, which is adjacent to Pamukkale. The ruins of the ancient city cover more than a mile. Transfer to Izmir Airport at the end of the tour, flight to Istanbul & transfer to your hotel upon arrival to Istanbul.

Day 05 : Istanbul
Start the day with a drive to Golden Horn, along the way see traces of local history, view Fener Orthodox Patriarchate, Metal Church of St Stephen the Bulgarian, Ahrida Synagogue, Eyup Sultan Mosque & see the 21km long City Walls of Istanbul. You will visit the Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar), then board the ferry which has become one of the icons of Istanbul. Alongside million dollar mansions we will see the two bridges linking Europe & Asia by road, as well as the seaside summer palaces & unique wooden houses not to mention the natural beauty of the forests above. Your afternoon will be free to discover Istanbul.

Day 06 : Istanbul Departure
Option to extend package with additional night(s) in Istanbul or we will arrange for the transfer to Istanbul International Airport for your return or onward flight.