14 Nights/ 15 Days Islamic & Cultural Turkey

Breakfast and departure for Istanbul Islamic and Sahabe Tour. Istanbul is the center of religion for centuries. After the ottoman period Islamic Religion separated throughout the city. First we visit to  Arab Mosque (Arap Camii) is the only mosque in Istanbul that was converted from a Roman Catholic Church. Originally it was built in the fourteenth century. The first grand mosque which was built in the city proper is the Eyup Sultan Mosque (1458). Next to Eyup Sultan Mosque we will visit the tombs of the Sahabe, which is very famous in Turkey by being the first generation of Muslims, who had come as far as Istanbul and besieged the city. The small Sahabe Cemetery just outside Egrikapi Gate may seem like a standard Muslim cemetery. We will climb Pierre Loti Hill by cable car which is located close to Eyüp Sultan Mosque and where the Golden Horn view can be watched the best.  From the location of the hill, you can see the two sides of the Golden Horn, namely Beyoğlu and Fatih. The domes and minarets of the mosques rising on the Historical Peninsula of the Golden Horn are worth seeing. You can watch Fatih Mosque, Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, Beyazıt Tower, Hagia Sophia Museum and Topkapı Palace from a far with the binoculars on the observation deck. Then visit to The Merkez Efendi Mosque was built on the site of a dervish lodge which had been commissioned by Süleyman the Great and built by the architect Sinan in 1517. After the death of Merkez Efendi, the mosque that bears his name was built in his memory between 1552-1572. Lunch at a typical Turkish restaurant. Continue to visit The Süleymaniye Mosque becomes most meaningful when understood in its historical and cultural context. It was built during the latter part of Süleyman's long and prosperous reign, which stretched from 1520 to 1566. Continue to the Rüstem Pasha Mosque which was designed by Ottoman imperial architect Mimar Sinan for the grand vizier Rüstem Pasha (the husband of one of the daughters of Suleiman the Magnificent by Hürrem Sultan(Roxelana), Mihrimah Sultan). Rüstem Pasha died in July 1561 and the mosque was built after his death from around 1561 until 1563. The mosque complex hosts now a religious school. Return to your hotel and overnight.

Breakfast and departure for full day city tour. Visit to THE HAGIA SOPHIA GRAND MOSQUE, which is ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great, in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time, now coverted to a mosque. Across the St. Sophia, built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. HIPPODROME Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Lunch at a typical Turkish restaurant. Proceed to The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, which was Constructed in 1524, the building was formerly the palace of Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha, who was the second grand vizier to Suleiman the Magnificent, and was once thought to have been the husband of the Sultan's sister, Hatice Sultan.The collection includes notable examples of Islamic calligraphy, tiles, and rugs as well as ethnographic displays on various cultures in Turkey, particularly nomad groups. These displays recreate rooms or dwellings from different time periods and regions. Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque is a 16th-century Ottoman mosque which was commissioned jointly by the grand vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha and his wife İsmihan Sultan. It was designed by the imperial architect Mimar Sinan and completed in 1571/2. The mosque is noted for the fine quality of the Iznik tiles that decorate the interior walls. Final visit to The Little Hagia Sophia mosque, formerly the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus , is a former Greek Orthodox church dedicated to Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Constantinople built between 532 and 536, and converted into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire. Return to your hotel and overnight

We will visit TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. Continue to Dolmabahçe Palace which was built between 1843 and 1856 when the Ottoman Empire was losing its power. This superb palace displays the richness and power that the Sultans had. Drive to Asian side of Istanbul by passing through Bosphorus Bridge. Contınue to Çamlıca Hill one of the highest point in Istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosphorus from the beautiful gardens, landscape in traditional style, as you sip your drinks in a cafeteria. Visit to Çamlıca Mosque which is considered the newest symbol of the city since its foundation, is the biggest mosque in the history of the republic. Final visit to The Museum of Islamic Civilizations in which you can see the Turkish Weaving Art, Artifacts Attributed to the Prophet, Decorative Elements in Islamic Art, The First Temple Kaaba, Damascus Documents, The Holy Kuran and Enclosures, Science in Islam, Berats and Edicts, Calligraphy, Ottoman Clothing, Talismanic Objects, Destimal Tradition and Sanduka Pusheeds, Conquest in Islam, Turkish Tile Art, Islamic Coins. Return to your hotel and overnight.

Early breakfast and departure for Canakkale via  Gallipoli to will visit the battle fields. We arrive Gallipoli around 12:00am and we have lunch break, relax a little bit and then depart for the battle fields. Visit Gabatepe Museum. Start visiting the fields with Ariburnu Cemetery and Anzac Cove because these are the places where the war had started. Then Beach Cemetery, Shrapnel Valley and Plugges Plateau. After the tour, we drive to your hotel, dinner and overnight in Canakkale.

After breakfast departure for Troy. Visit the famous archeological and mythological site of Troy, home of the Trojan horse and Helen of Troy. After Troy tour, 3-hour drive to Pergamon. Lunch break around 13:00pm and after the lunch depart for tour of the magnificent Acropolis of Pergamon. Its impressive temples and library made it a renowned cultural and political center at that times. Pergamon is a famous city for its jewelry, stones and silver. So on the way, we will visit a jewelry center for 30 minutes. Continue to Kusadasi, arrival to your hotel, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and departure for Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient sites in the world en-route, visiting the Temple of Artemis, Curetes street, famous Roman baths, Celsus Library and Grand theatre. Lunch break around 13:00 pm. After the lunch, we will visit a place which continues to perform one of the oldest arts of Turkey; a carpet weaving center. After Lunch we will do a Turkish Village Tour. Sirince's construction style today belongs to Anatolian Greeks. The houses on the slope are all original with their white paints. Sirince Village also has a fantastic reputation for making some of the best wines nonalcoholic in Turkey - especially fruit wines. In the evening you will be tested about your knowledge of making fruit wine. On the way we will visit one of the famous leather production centers of the region, where you will have the opportunity to get a good factory rate. Arrival to your hotel, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and  departure for Pamukkale. Around 12.00 and we have a lunch break until 13.30. Afterwards we shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, then walk around this natural phenomenon and have the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

After breakfast departure for Antalya. It takes around 4 hours. Arrival to your hotel, and rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Antalya.

Breakfast and  departure for Perge and Aspendos. PERGE: According to the geographer Strabon. Perge has been founded by Akhas who came down here after the Trojan wars. Perge was first mentioned in 334 BC when Alexander the Great passed through here. In the following years, Perge went under the control of Pergamon when the Kingdom of Pergamon became a part of the Roman city. In the first and the second centuries BC, Perge became one of the richest towns in Pamphylia. Therefore, it is not a surprise that St. Paul started his campaign in Anatolia from Perge in 46 AD. After Perge, we will depart for Aspendos. Lunch break on the way. ASPENDOS: The eastern land of Antalya was called Pamphylia in ancient times. Aspendos (Belkis) lies 47 km east of Antalya in the Pamphylian plain. In 486 BC, Greeks and Persians had a great battle here (Greeks won, they didn't stay for long). During the reign of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-80 AD) Aspendos got its theatre, which is the best preserved of all. It was built by Romans and maintained by Byzantines and Seljuks. The ruins of the ancient city are extensive and include a stadium, an agora, and a basilica. Return to your hotel, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and departure for Cappadocia via Konya. At konya visit to Mevlana Museum and Alaaddin Mosque. Continue to Cappadocia, dinner and overnight.

Early in the morning optional Hot Air Balloon Tour. Our first real encounter with Cappadocia almost Martian landscape is in the Dervent valley. We visit Pasabag’s “fairy chimneys”, where the voice of the wind harmonizes with songs of the fairies. Fromhere we pause at Avanos center of terracotta art which is a popular destination because of its attractive old town with cobbled streets, and views over the river and is its production of earthenwarepottery, it is also the most economic activity in the town. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date right back to the Hittites, and the ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kızılırmak has always been used. A visit to ceramic & tile center to see how the ceramics made byhand. After lunch we visit the famous Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art inCappadocia. People of Goreme, at the heart of the Cappadocia Region, realized that these soft rocks could be easily carved out to form houses, churches, monasteries. These Christian sanctuaries containmany examples of Byzantine art from the post-iconoclastic period. These frescoes are a unique artistic achievement from this period. You visit a carpet cooperative, where you'll see how exquisite Turkishcarpets are hand-woven. We complete the tour with a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia .Return to hotel, dinner and overnight.

Early morning Hot Air Balloon tour Depart from your hotel to visit Red valley through Cavusin and explore the famous rock- cutchurches and hike 2 km. Then visit Cavusin village. Old Cavusin was abandoned several decades ago due to avalanches. The current village of Cavusin is located on the road. Old Cavusin, with its rock-cut dwellings and stone houses, had several hermitages. After lunch drive to the Pigeon Valley. In the afternoon visit Underground City, where early Christians lived in fear and faith. The houses in the village are constructed around the nearly one hundred tunnels of the underground city, which is one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. The underground city was originally carved out as eight floors; however four floors are available to visit. In wartime about 5000 people can refuge in. The tunnels are still used today as storage areas, stables, and cellars. Return to your hotel, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and departure for Istanbul via Ankara. You will make a panaromic city tour in Ankara, continue to Istanbul, arrival to your hotel and overnight.

Breakfast and transfer to Istanbul International Airport for home bound flight.