ESSENCE OF TURKEY

Our trip begins from Antalya. Upon arrival, we will meet our tour guide and get transferred to our hotel. We will have the rest of the day to explore the city or walk on its beautiful beaches to enjoy the Mediterranean weather.

In the morning, we will explore the top highlights of Antalya, including Konyaaltı Beach, located on the Turkish Riviera west of Antalya, which is an excellent place for relaxing and sunbathing. Not only will you enjoy sand and sun, but also you will experience Konyaalti Beach entertainment facilities! Our next stop, the Alaaddin Mosque (Turkish: Yivli Minare Mosque), is a historical mosque built by the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubad I. The Hadrian’s Gate or Three Gates (Turkish: ÜçKapılar) is the only remaining entrance gate within the walls that surrounded the city and the harbor.

Early in the morning, we will hit the road to beautiful Ankara (480 km). Ankara is the second most important city in Turkey! Culture and history are interlaced through the streets of this city. After checking into the hotel and having a short rest, we will visit the Temple of Augustus and Roma. The ruins of the temple are located next to the Hacı Bayram Mosque. In 2016, Hacı Bayram District, together with the Hacı Bayram Mosque and the Augustus Temple, was added to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage. Then, we will visit Ankara Castle (Turkish: Ankara Kalesi), which overlooks the city and the historic houses of old Ankara.

For our second day in Ankara, we will go to Ataturk’s Mausoleum (Turkish: Anitkabir), the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader, founder, and the first President of the Republic of Turkey. Next, we will visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum (Turkish: Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi), a fantastic museum with relics from over 8,000 years ago. Later, located in the heart of the city, we can see the Local Bazaar and Column of Julian (Turkish: Julian Sütunu) next to each other.

This morning we will travel to İstanbul (450 km) to experience this fantastic city. After checking into the hotel and taking some rest, we will have some time to wander around old İstanbul. We will also visit the Grand Bazaar (Turkish: Kapalı Çarşı), a traditional roofed Turkish market that is one of the oldest and longest markets in the world.

Today, we will visit Blue Mosque (Turkish: Sultan Ahmet Camii), a majestic place of worship with six exquisite minarets and a series of domes that show the difference between traditional and contemporary Turkish architecture. In the past, chariot races were held in the Hippodrome. Its Obelisks now stand tall in the open square outside the Blue Mosque. In the afternoon, we will go to Hagia Sophia Mosque (Turkish: Ayasofya Camii), which is a sacred landmark for Muslims and Christians. This mosque was once a Byzantine church before the Ottomans took control of the city.

We will be transferred to İstanbul International Airport to fly back home.