Breakfast will be at the hotel. Today, you will explore the highlights of Istanbul, former Constantinople. Start with the visit of the main residence of the Ottoman dynasty, the magnificent Topkapi Palace which is the standing witness of glorious but secret and intriguing lives of the Ottoman sultans. It is now a museum notable not only for its architecture and collections but also for the history and the culture of the Ottoman Empire that it recalls. Following a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, take a stroll through the once glorious Roman Hippodrome which accommodates the ancient Egyptian Obelisk and the Serpentine Column. Besides being an arena of chariot races, it was employed for public events such as parades, meetings and festivals as well. Next, admire a masterpiece of the Byzantine architecture, the 6 ^th - century Hagia Sophia which has been revered as the largest and the most important Christian place of worship in the world for many centuries. It was designed to be the major basilica of the Byzantine Empire and held the record for the largest dome in the world until the Duomo was built in Florence in the 15^th century. Get a delightful walk through gardens and proceed to the imperial Blue Mosque which dominates Istanbul’s majestic skyline with its elegant composition of ascending domes and six slender soaring minarets. The careful choreography of more than 20,000 Iznik tiles rise from the mid-sections of the mosque and dazzle the visitors with their brilliant blue and turquoise hues which lend the mosque its popular sobriquet. At the end of the day, get entertained by strolling through the fragrant Spice Bazaar that was built in the 17 ^th century as an extension of the New Mosque complex. It is a bustling oriental bazaar that provides fresh supply of spices, dried fruits, Turkish delight and caviar. Wine and dine at a restaurant renowned for its kitchen and return to the hotel for overnight.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. This morning, you will take a domestic flight to the wonderlands of Cappadocia that has a unique lunar landscape of terra and tuff cones, shaped by forces of nature over millions of years. For ages, men have dug into this soft but firm tuff to create dwellings, monasteries, churches and underground cities. Upon arrival, take a break at the natural fort of Uchisar to see cone-like formations and well preserved fairy chimneys around it. Followed by a luscious lunch at a traditional restaurant, discover the Goreme Open Air Museum which holds Cappadocia’s best collection of cave churches and has been one of the first two UNESCO sites in Turkey since 1984. Cappadocia witnessed the penetration of Christianity in Anatolia. The first Christians escaping from the persecution in Jerusalem came to settle down in natural grottoes of the region where they carved out rock churches, adorning their walls with frescos of biblical and apocryphal episodes in brilliant colors. Head to your 5* hotel for check in and some time at leisure. Enjoy a tasty dinner at a peculiar cave restaurant of the region. Overnight in Cappadocia.

You may choose to participate in an optional early bird hot air balloon ride over the other-worldly scenery of Cappadocia which offers a life time experience. Following breakfast at the hotel, visit a traditional rug weaving center to learn about the three thousand year old tribal art of Turks. You will be delighted to see the full procedure of silk cocoons and hand spun wool yarns being transformed into extremely fine carpets by magical fingers. Then, explore an underground city, famous for its subterranean dwellings and secret tunnel passages that various peoples utilized for shelter across the centuries. The lunch will be in a typical village house where a variety of local delicacies will be prepared exclusively for your group fellows. Later, admire the picturesque views of the lunar landscape region having photo stops at famous Hunters’ Valley andPigeon Valley. Next, visit a local pottery workshop in the town of Red River, Avanos where the mud has found its functional and decorative forms in rough but skillful hands of the townsmen since ancient Hittites. You will be thrilled at the demonstration of a local master on his millennia old kick-wheel. End the day in Pasabagi Valley exhibiting amazing formations that are unique even for Cappadocia, stroll around the impressive mushroom shaped fairy chimneys with multiple stems and caps. Farewell to this mystical region by a savory dinner and move back to the hotel for overnight.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. You will have a scenic drive through green plains and mountain ranges to the city of Adana where meat grilling has become a culinary art. Adana is the heaven of spicy food, a refined blend of Mediterranean, Arabic and Anatolian cuisine enriched with native ingredients. The lunch will be in Adana to try its iconic Adana Kebab which is a combination of hand-minced lamb meat with spices and herbs and roasted over flame-less coals of oak wood. Then, enjoy some free time in the town and then continue to Antakya. Upon arrival, check into your 5* hotel to refresh up and get ready to feast on luscious dishes of the regional food. Antakya cuisine is remarkably rich and diverse depending on its multicultural features. Its desserts, beef and lamb grills, spicy or sour flavors, soups, pastry, stuffed grape leaves and vegetables, jams, breads, cheese are all to die for. Overnight in Antakya.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. You will have an exciting day of sightseeing in Antakya which bears a significant prominence in the historical and religious heritage of the country. Begin the day with the famous St. Peter’s Cave where St Peter is said to have preached, thus it is assumed to be the first Christian church known in the world. Then, proceed to see Daphne Waterfalls situated on a steep forested hillside looking over the Mediterranean Sea. Discover also the extraordinary Middle Eastern food market, Uzun Carsi, an essential landmark of the province where people from different religions, sects and ethnic groups live in peace, tolerance and harmony. At lunch, you will have spreads of scrumptious local kebabs followed by the staple dessert Kunefe, a registered taste of Antakya. It is a classic, made of a layer of salt-free cheese wrapped with finely shredded dough and soaked in syrup. Afterwards, feast your eyes on the phenomenal collection of mosaics accompanied with an excellent display and curation of antiquities in the Antakya Archeological Museum. Resting a while at the hotel, depart for an authentic restaurant to indulge yourself with a selected variety of hot starters and appetizers peculiar to this gourmet kitchen. Overnight in Antakya.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. You will hit the road to the city of Gaziantep, once famous only for its pistachio nuts but now considered as the commercial powerhouse of Turkey. Gaziantep stands out as one of the world's major culinary centers that was verified by UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a city of gastronomy in 2015. Having 291 dishes already registered offcially, the city is the winner of European Destinations of Excellence Award under the theme of tourism and local gastronomy. Upon arrival, explore first the Gaziantep Museum of Archaeology which is particularly renowned for its Bronze and Iron Age collections, a special focus in the museum has been placed on the Hittite period. The lunch will be at a local restaurant to savor the divine delicacies of the city. Later, continue to the Zeugma Mosaic Museum that is one of the leading museums of the world with an exceedingly wealthy mosaic collection in terms of subject and color variety. The two thousand year old mosaics have been unearthed in the course of excavations in the ancient city of Zeugma and they are unique in their design, color and perfection. Next, take in the genuine authentic feel of the old town strolling through the lanes of the Coppersmith Bazaar where you will be treated with Turkish coffee and world famous Baklava, the signature dessert of Gaziantep. Dozens of buttered paper-thin sheets of phyllo stacked on top of each other and layered with pistachio nuts or walnuts and topped with a honey-based syrup, create this heavenly taste. End the day stopping by the recently renovated Monastery of the Whirling Dervishes. Head to your 5* hotel for check in and some time at leisure. Then, enjoy a banquet of native flavors in a fine dining restaurant. Overnight in Gaziantep.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. Today, you will set off for the city of Urfa, Biblical Edessa. A Turkish legend says that Abraham was born in a cave in this area. Upon arrival, drop in first at the Fish Pool where Abraham was thrown into fire as mentioned in some religious stories. Following an appetizing lunch at a traditional restaurant, set out for the visit of Gobeklitepe, Turkey’s stunning site that modified the conventional view of the rise of civilization. 10 km from Urfa, Klaus Schmidt made one of the most revolutionary archaeological discoveries of our time, massive carved stones about 12,000 years old crafted and arranged by prehistoric people who had not yet developed metal tools or even pottery. Klaus Schmidt, the German archaeologist who has been excavating the area more than a decade, is convinced that it's the site of the world's oldest temple. Then proceed to your 5* hotel for check in and relaxing a while. In the evening, get delighted with some other specialties of the region as lahmacun, cig kofte and grilled liver. Lahmacun may resemble a thin cheese pizza but it’s actually a type of wrap topped with a mixture of ingredients like minced meat, herbs and spices. Cig kofte originates from Urfa, taking its initial name from the recipe using raw ground beef, combined with cracked wheat, tomato paste, onions, pepper and indigenous spices. Overnight in Urfa.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. This morning you will continue to visit Harran, the place mentioned in the Book of Genesis where Abraham lived for a while. The most distinctive aspect of Harran is the beehive shaped houses made out of mud. Followed by a mouth-watering lunch at a traditional restaurant, get entertained by wandering around Urfa’s 16th century Covered Bazaar and Gumruk Han, a restored caravanserai that serves as a coffee house. Apart from being the most atmospheric spot in the city for a short rest and recreation, it is also a convenient place to try menengic kahvesi, a caffeine-free coffee-like drink made of ground roasted terebinth fruit. Rumored to be the city where the Prophet Abraham used to live and widely referred to with the Turkish phrase "Halil Ibrahim’s dinner table” which symbolizes a fruitful table overflowing with milk and honey, Urfa is pleasing to both the eyes and the taste buds with its abundant offering of delicious gourmet dishes. In the evening, experience the finger-licking bites of this rich cuisine as well as its trade mark kebap that bears the name of the city. Overnight in Urfa.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. You will take a short flight back to İstanbul. Upon arrival, visit first the remarkable Church of St Saviour in Chora, the finest monument of the last Byzantine period which is decorated with exquisite examples of the mosaic art depicting detailed accounts of the lives of Mary and Jesus. Have lunch at the nearby Asitane Restaurant which offers a wide range of delicacies reflecting the eclectic nature of the Turco-Ottoman cuisine. Then, get to the famous Grand Bazaar to explore the oldest shopping mall of the world through its peculiar oriental ambiance and colorful mazy lanes. End your tour with an exclusive cruise along the Bosphorus with your private chartered boat to admire the inspiring scenery of the strait embellished with historical edifices and old wooden houses. Having fresh sea food of the Bosphorus accompanied with a great view is an unforgettable way to Farewell to Turkey. Overnight in Istanbul at your 5* hotel.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. You will be transferred to Istanbul Airport within the day subject to your outbound flight time.