The Cotton Castle - Turkey 9N 10D Tour (243962),Holiday Packages to Istanbul, Antalya, Cappadocia

Day wise Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrive at IST/SAW Airport Then Transfer to Hotel.

On arrival in Istanbul, you will be meet & greet at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of today is free to settle in or head out and explore independently. Overnight: Istanbul.
- Themes : Sightseeing
Day 2 : Full-Day Bursa Tour with Cable Car and Shopping Tour with Lunch.

(Breakfast & Lunch included - APPROX: 08:30 – 21:30)

The Bursa tour is a full-day adventure starting with a ferry ride across the Izmit Gulf, where you can enjoy the fresh air and picturesque views. The tour continues with a visit to Yalova City for a thrilling safari tour (optional).

Next, you will visit the Turkish delights factory in Bursa, where you can sample and purchase tradit ional Turkish sweets. You will also visit the Inkaya tree, which is more than 650 years old and is considered a natural monument. The tour then takes you to a natural bee house on the mountain, where you can see bees in their element and learn about beekeeping in Turkey. Lunch will be served on top of the mountain, featuring a tasty mix grill for meat lovers and vegetarian options

The tour then takes you to the Uludağ mountain ski center, one of the most popular ski destinations in Europe. Here, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and fresh mountain air, and even ride the cable car from the top of the mountain. To cap off the day, you will visit the ancient Green Mosque and Green Tomb, as well as the Silk House and an ancient Turkish Bath, to learn about Bursa's rich history and culture. Overall, the Bursa tour offers a diverse range of activities and experiences, making it a perfect day trip for visitors to Turkey.

Notes:

In case of heavy traffic, we can use the Osmangazi Bridge instead of the ferry

Please be ready 15 mins before the departure time

We provide this tour in English, Arabic, and Turkish languages
- Themes : Cable Car
Day 3 : Full-Day Princess Island with Lunch

(Breakfast/Lunch - APPROX: 08:30 – 17:30)

Explore Büyükada, the largest of Turkey’s Prince's islands, on this 9-hour excursion from Istanbul. Cruise across the Sea of Marmara, watching the sights of Istanbul slip from view. See the pedestrianized island in the best possible way – by bike (not included) or spend time at leisure, perhaps relaxing on one of its beaches, before returning to Istanbul. Travel from your hotel by air-conditioned coach to the port with your guide, and board the boat that will take you to the Prince's islands. The largest and most interesting of the islands is Büyükada, which is your destination for the day. From the boat, look back on the sights of Istanbul, seeing iconic landmarks such as Topkapi Palace and the pretty Kiz Kulesi (also known as the Maiden’s Tower), which was featured in the James Bond film, The World is Not Enough. Dock in Büyükada and then take a stroll through the streets on your own, soaking up the laid-back atmosphere of island life. Return to the boat and listen as your guide talks about the island’s history during the ride. Learn about its time as a place of exile for banished statesmen and royalty, and of its life as a monastic settlement during Turkey’s Byzantine-Christian period.

Pass lovely wooden mansions that are stunning examples of the island’s late Ottoman-era architecture, and look out over the sparkling sea. Seagulls are everywhere in Büyükada, and if you’d like to feed them your guide will give you simits (bread with sesame seeds) so you can toss them a treat. Have lunch in a restaurant, then spend the rest of your day at leisure on the island. Later, meet your guide at a pre-arranged time for your boat ride back to Istanbul. The last leg of your journey will be by coach, and you’ll be dropped off at your Istanbul hotel.
- Themes : Boat Cruise
Day 4 : Transfer to the Airport for ASR/NAV Flight. Transfer to hotel.

(Breakfast)

Say goodbye to Istanbul as you are transferred to the airport for your included flight to Kayseri in central Turkey. From here you will be transported to Cappadocia, the land of subterranean cave cities and rock castles.
- Themes : Castles
Day 5 : Full Day South Cappadocia Tour with Lunch : (APPROX. 09:30 – 16:00 )

Today will be another mystical day, we will start with a visit and walk in the Red Valley and discover rock-cut churches and hike 5 km through the Valley of Gulludere. Then keep going on with a visit to Cavusin village. Ancient Cavusin was already abandoned several about 11th Century. Lunch will be selection of Turkish Cuisine. In the afternoon drive to the Pigeon Valley for panoramic view, Underground City, dated back to the Hittites than used by the early Christians. Under Ground city specially carved to be used during the war time to save their lives as well as early Christians hide themselves from the Roman pressure, you can still see stables kitchen living room bedroom and more
- Themes : Sightseeing
Day 6 : Full Day Red Cappadocia Tour with Lunch

(Breakfast/Lunch)

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 the songs of the fairies. From here 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 earthenware pottery, 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 the ceramic & tile center to see how the ceramics are made by hand. After lunch, we visit the famous Zelve Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia. People of Goreme, at the heart of the Cappadocia Region, realized that these soft rocks could be easily carved out to form houses, churches, and monasteries. These Christian sanctuaries contain many 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 Turkish carpets are hand-woven. We complete the tour with a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.
- Themes : Museums
Day 7 : Transfer to the Airport for AYT Flight. Transfer to hotel.

(Breakfast)

Say goodbye to Cappadocia as you are transferred to the airport for your included flight to Antalya southern Mediterranean region of Turkey. From here you will be transported to Hotel in Antalya.
- Themes : Sightseeing
Day 8 : Full-Day Antalya City & Waterfalls Tour with Lunch.

(Breakfast/Lunch - APPROX. 09:30-17:00)

This immersive sightseeing tour begins at around 9:30 in the morning. First, head to the Duden Waterfalls National Park, the most visited in the Antalya region. Walk through this beautiful park and listen to the sound of rushing water. Behind the main waterfall, there is a natural cave where you can watch the cascades. Do not leave this place without taking great pictures behind the water flow and walking along the river with turquoise-colored waters. Once lunch at a local restaurant is finished, you will be given one hour to an hour and a half of free time to explore the old town (Kaleici). Get to see the top attractions of the city: Hadrianus Gate, Clock Tower, Kesik Minare (Truncated Minaret), and ancient city walls dating back to the second century. Old Town with its narrow stony streets is also a great place to explore a considerable number of boutiques, art galleries, and interesting museums. And don't forget to buy some memorable souvenirs from the authentic shops before leaving Kaleici! End the day with a convenient transfer back to your hotel
- Themes : Museums
Day 9 : Full-Day Pamukkale Hierapolis Tour with Lunch

(Breakfast – Lunch // APPROX. 06:00-18:30)

You will be picked up from your hotel at around 06:00 for the tour of Pamukkale, which is the center of natural thermal spring waters with healing properties. Due to the chemical properties in the water, pure white colored travertines and stepped water terraces have been created on the mountain slope. It is for its resemblance to cotton piles that it is called "Cotton Castle" in Turkish. Upon arrival, you will visit the travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis which has the biggest Necropolis with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. Also, the Sacred Pool is one of the highlights of the site (entrance is 130 TL per person extra self-payment). There shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient Roman ruins that lie beneath.
- Themes : Castles
Day 10 : Transfer to the Airport for the IST flight to catch a homebound flight

(Breakfast)

Say goodbye to Antalya, as you are transferred to the airport for your included flight to Istanbul. From Istanbul take a return flight to your home country with beautiful memories. .
- Themes : Sightseeing