Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, set off on a half-day tour of Istanbul to discover it’s most emblematic sights and monuments. Begin at the Hippodrome of Constantine, to explore the relics of what was once the centre of mighty Constantinople during Byzantine times, including the Obelisk of Theodosius, brought from Egypt to Constantinople in the 4th-century. Afterwards, it’s time to visit the magnificent Hagia Sophia Museum, which has served as both a Greek Orthodox Cathedral and an imperial mosque over the centuries. End the tour at Istanbul’s most iconic landmark: the Blue Mosque, dating from the 17th-century and well-known for the hand-painted blue tiles of its interior.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 1:00 PM. The remainder of the day is free at your leisure.

• Overnight stay in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Head to the Egyptian Spice Bazaar this morning to enjoy the diverse aromas before enjoying a laid-back Bosphorus Cruise, where you can admire the eclectic architecture of the city as you travel between Europe and Asia, watching the palaces of the Ottomans, Dolmabachce and Beylerbeyi pass by you. Back on dry land, transfer to the airport for a flight to Cappadocia, famed for its unique geological formations and ‘fairy chimneys’. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, soaking up the breathtaking sunset views across the magical landscapes of Cappadocia.

• Overnight stay in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Today on the tour you will visit the beautiful Dervent Valley where you’ll see a large concentration of small fairy-chimneys and many unique rock formations, some of which resemble animals and human figures, hence the area has been nicknamed ‘Imagination Valley. Continue to Pasabagi to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles and learn about the hermits who once lived here. In the afternoon, explore the Open-Air Museum of Goreme, where rock-cut churches and Christian settlements date back as far as the 10th-century. Inside the cave churches, you’ll find amazing frescoes and wall paintings. It’s clear to see why this unique destination is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. After an action-packed day, return to the hotel.

• Overnight stay in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin the day with a leisurely hike through the Rose Valley to visit the rock-churches and appreciate the natural beauty of the landscape. Continue to Cavusin, an ancient Christian village and in the afternoon, explore Kaymakli Underground City, an amazing place, carved deep into the rocks and dating back as far as the 8th-century. This underground complex was greatly extended during the Byzantine period, when it was used for protection against enemy raids, and is composed of many different levels and floors which reveal fascinating secrets about daily life in Byzantium. Emerge from the caves and transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Izmir. Arrive in Izmir and transfer to Kusadasi, on Turkey’s western Aegean coast. Arrive and get settled at the hotel.

• Overnight stay in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, set off for Ephesus, the best-preserved ancient city in Asia Minor. Explore its excavated collonaded streets and discover the ruins of the Temple of Hadrian and the Roman Baths. In the afternoon, visit the mysterious House of Virgin Mary, situated on Mount Koressos. This Catholic shrine and pilgrimage site is believed, by some, to be the home of Jesus’s mother, who, after Jesus’s crucifixion, lived the remainder of her earthly life on the site. Return to Kusadasi and enjoy the remainder of the day exploring or relaxing at your leisure.

• Overnight stay in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. Your adventure continues today as you set off for Pamukkale, where the high calcareous concentration of its waters has created one of the most spectacular land formations in the world, consisting of gigantic white waterfalls, stalactites, and natural pools formed over centuries. Afterwards, transfer to Cardak airport in Denizli to catch a flight back to Istanbul. END OF OUR SERVICE and TOURS.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch