Turkish Delight / 7 nights - 8 days

Day 1 - Istanbul
Meet and greet on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Check in the rooms depending on the availability. After short rest, drive to the old city to discover the sights of the city's glamorous past: visit Topkapi Palace - the centuries old residence of the mighty Ottomans, houses of the imperial treasury, holy relics, kitchen utensils and royal garments. St.Sophia - a dedication to Christianity is one of the largest heavenly constructions with its striking mosaics and frescoes. The Blue Mosque - daylight penetrating through stained-glass windows on the traditional blue tiles with various natural patterns creates a harmony of color and soothing sense of inner peace. Hippodrome - the site of horse races, sporting events, political meetings, festivities, now bears some of the landmarks of ancient civilizations. The tour will end by visiting Grand Bazaar, last minute shopping facilities - the largest bazaar in the world, contains four thousand four hundred shops under one roof, labyrinth - like alleys, mysterious cul-de-sacs which make the bazaar an indispensable. (B/L/D)

Day 2 - Canakkale
Leave from Istanbul to Canakkale "Pottery Castle" on the shores of the Sea of Marmara. Call at the World War I battle fields and allied cemeteries on the Gallipoli peninsula. In the afternoon proceed to visit the tangible remnants of ancient Troy the legendary archaeological site, portrayed in Homer's Iliad. (B/L/D)

Day 3 - Izmir
Before heading for Izmir, visit the city of the kings of Pergamon. It was a notable cultural and medical center in the ancient world. The fabulous Acropolis with its Temple of Athena, Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysos, Library, Agora, Theatre and Roman Baths is a pleasure to see. Visit the Asclepium, great medical center, devoted to Asclepius, the son of Apollo. Finally visit Red Basilica, originally built as a temple devoted to the Egyptian Gods and later converted into a basilica by the Byzantine. (B/L/D)

Day 4 - Kusadasi
Before heading for Kusadasi, drive to the heart of Ionian civilizations, Ephesus, the largest and best-preserved ancient city of the Mediterranean. Visit the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, Odeon, Baths of Scholastica and Theatre. Later visit the Basilica of St.John who wrote his Gospel here and gave a sermon to the pagan Ephesians. Continue the tour by visiting the House of Virgin Mary. (B/L/D)

Day 5 - Pamukkale
After breakfast, drive to visit the remains of ancient Hierapolis named after the goddess Hiera, with its Theatre, its Temple of Apollo and the Necropolis. (B/L/D)

Day 6 - Bursa
Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, located on the slopes of Mt.Olympus which with its two thousand meter peak towers above the city. Bursa has been famed for its silk, health spas and natural beauty throughout the centuries. (B/L/D)

Day 7 - Istanbul
Before leaving to Istanbul, visit one of the best examples of Bursa's imperial mosques, the Green Mosque, decorated with fine samples of traditional Ottoman tiles, the Grand Mosque, an exquisite construction of limestone from Mt.Olympus, the tiny and lovely Covered Bazaar and Silk Market. Dinner will be in a typical Turkish restaurant with show. (B/L/D)

Day 8 - Departure
After breakfast, free time till return transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for homebound flight.