Istanbul, Ephesus & Bodrum

ISTANBUL, EPHESUS & BODRUM

7 Days Fully Guided Tour of Turkey
See some of Exclusive sites on this incredible 07 Nights & 08 Days private tour with your own driver & expert guide. Leaving from Istanbul. Visit imperial Istanbul city of Roman, Byzantine & Ottoman Empires.

Walk in the marble streets of Ephesus on the west coast of Anatolia, See House of Virgin Mary, Temple of Artemis - one of the seven wonders of ancient world.

Explore Bodrum with it's historical sites, museums, Castle & ancient Wind Mills on Panorama Hill with the view of Aegean Sea.

The very well-planned and wide-ranging itinerary
Outstanding, incorporating history, culture, place, and natural environments
With the variety of accommodations
Extremely helpful Tour Guide - thoughtful about all of the travel details, knowledgeable, good humored.

HIGLIGHTS

PRICING : From $ (Custom Trip)

(based on two travelers) with 5 Star Hotels

Tour Name: ISTANBUL, EPHESUS & BODRUM

Tour Type: Private & Guided Tour - just for your party. ( It is NOT a shared / group tour )

Tour Start & End Point: Istanbul

Tour Duration: 07 Nights / 08 Days

Operates: All year - round

Transport: Minivan / Minibus / Coach

Stay: According to your preferences ( in a 3 star, 4 Star, Boutique, 5 Star or Deluxe Hotels)

DAY 01: ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL

Your guide will meet you inside the arrivals hall, assist with luggage and escort you to the vehicle. Transfer you to your hotel.

Night in Istanbul (Meals: No)

DAY 02: ISTANBUL - OLD CITY

A day simply filled with classical Istanbul places!

Your private guide will pick you in the morning & go to Old City.

Our first stop is The Hippodrome of Constantinople - It was the heart of Old City as the “Largest Hippodrome of The Ancient World” built as an arena for chariot races and Olympic games.

Later we walk to Blue Mosque - is Istanbul's imperial Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I, built in 17'th C. as one of the most famous mosque complexes in both the Turkish and Islamic worlds, as It is a great example of Classic Turkish-Ottoman architecture

Today we also visit the Hagia Sophia, the Church of Divine Wisdom. Once a Pagan temple, converted to first Church by Constantine the Great, later restored in the 6th century by Justinian I as the largest basilica in the Christian world, Sultan Mehmet II converted it into an Ottoman imperial mosque After the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453. It Is a masterpiece of Roman & Byzantine architecture.

Spend some quality time in Topkapi Palace - the wondrous royal residence of Ottoman sultans for 400 years & one of the main attractions in Istanbul.

Finish the day with visit to Grand Bazaar - In operation since the 15th century, the Grand Bazaar is one of the world's largest covered markets, with 58 streets and over 4,000 shops. The bazaar is especially known for its jewelry, leather, pottery, spices and carpets.

Night in Istanbul (Meals: B)

DAY 03: ISTANBUL - BOSPHORUS, SPICE MARKET & HARBOUR AREA

Your day starts with a private

Cruise on the Bosphorus, It is a Cruise trip up the 32 km long strait which joins the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea. Enjoy the panoramic face of Istanbul’s both European & Asian shores. With this 1.5 hours boat cruise you may see wonderful palaces, mansions, kiosks, modern bridges, wooded hills; villages large and small - modern and old-fashioned; the old wooden waterside Ottoman mansions & kiosks.

Golden Horn; a fresh-water river dividing Old Istanbul from the Pera (New City) and forming the natural harbor that has Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of years.

Take a stroll around the Old Bazaar area and Rustempasa Mosque - is built in 1563 by Ottoman architect Sinan as the first example of his masterpieces in Istanbul, interior is covered with the finest examples of exquisite Iznik colored tiles.

Later we walk in to the Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar - It is the second largest bazaar in Old City and still the Center of the commercial hub & a bustling gastronomic paradise since 1664 for exotic spices and dried fruits, nuts, olives, Turkish delight & Turkish Coffee, jewelry and other high-margin goods.

We end the day with a panoramic visit of Galata Tower, has dominated old Istanbul‘s skyline since 1248 and still offers the best panoramic views of the city ( Golden Horn, Pera & Taksim Area, view of Bosphorus, Asian Side & Old City wit its Palaces, Mosques & ancient sites)

Night in Istanbul (Meals: B)

Day 04: FLIGHT TO IZMIR & EPHESUS

Morning pick up & transfer to Airport in Istanbul. Take a flight to Izmir direct.

Upon Arrival to Izmir, Visit with your tour Guide;

Ephesus - "city of the Mother Goddess" an ancient city devoted to Goddess Artemis, is the best-preserved Hellenistic & Roman city in the Mediterranean world, It was a the biggest & the wealthiest Metropolis of Asia Minor & the final Market of the King Trade Route as the most important trading center in Asia.

House of The Virgin Mary - this stone house is located in a nature park on a hilltop above Ephesus, is believed to be the last residence of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. The peaceful site is sacred to both Christians and Muslims, and is visited by many tourists and pilgrims. -

Old Village of Sirince, A mountaintop 17 Th C. tiny & beautiful, historic Turkish village of Sirince (famous for delicious homemade fruit wine) - a hillside of half-timber traditional houses overlooking panoramic views of vineyards and olive orchards. And Yes, We will have the lunch in Sirince - a local restaurant with delicious local cuisine

We transfer you to your hotel and free time to relax at hotel with a view of Aegean Sea.

Night in Kusadasi (Meals: B&D)

DAY 05 BODRUM

Bodrum, Turkey’s premier seaside retreat, is built on the ancient ruins of Halicarnassus - the capital of kingdom of Caria, on the western coast of Asia Minor (Modern Turkey) during the Hellenistic Ages. Bodrum is known as the sail and party capital of Turkey with its Greek-style whitewashed houses covered in purple bougainvillea dotting the hillsides, also throbbing with cafés, restaurants, discos and numerous beaches where you can enjoy good swimmning and elegant bars & restaurants.

Sites:

St. Peter's Castle & Museum of Underwater Archeology, Visit the Remains of the Mausoleum - one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, City Walls on Myndos Gate, Ancient Theatre of Halicarnassus and Hike on the Panorama Hill to see the ancient Windmills with an amazing view of crystal clear Aegean Sea.

Night in Bodrum (Meals: B&D)

DAY 06 BODRUM

Your guide will be on hand for a possible walking tour or an optional Boat Trip, advice and assistance but the day is yours to spend as you decide.

Night in Bodrum (Meals: B&D)

DAY 07: FLIGHT TO ISTANBUL / FREE AFTERNOON

Morning pick up & transfer to Airport in Bodrum. Take a direct flight (70 min) to Istanbul.

Upon Arrival to Istanbul, We transfer you to your hotel and free time to relax at hotel

Night in Istanbul (Meals: B)

DAY 08: DEPART ISTANBUL

Pick up from your hotel 4 hour in advance your flight & transfer to airport.

(Meals: B)

Inclusions

Expertise of Our travel specialists
All accommodations - 5 star or Deluxe Resorts
All ground transportation and airport transfers in Istanbul
Private Guide in your preferred language (English, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, French)
Sightseeing, visits, and entrance tickets/fees
All Domestic Flight Tickets
Listed meals only
All parking tickets and petrol.
All taxes

Exclusions (Not Included)

All Drinks & Lunches (We let Customers have the total freedom to choose their lunch, our guide will show the local restaurants)
International airfare for Turkey
Dinners in Istanbul Hotels
Optional Tours & Activities
All personal expenses.
Services of local porters in hotels, receptions, and other staff
All customary tips to Guide & Driver