Breakfast will be at the hotel. Today, you will explore the highlights ofIstanbul, former Constantinople. Start with the visit of the main residenceof the Ottoman dynasty, the magnificent Topkapi Palacewhich is the standing witness of glorious but secret and intriguing livesof the Ottoman sultans. It is now a museum notable not only for itsarchitecture and collections but also for the history and the culture ofthe Ottoman Empire that it recalls. Following lunch at a local restaurant,take a stroll through the once glorious Roman Hippodromewhich accommodates the ancient Egyptian Obelisk and the Serpentine Column.Besides being an arena of chariot races, it was employed for public eventssuch as parades, meetings and festivals as well. Next, admire a masterpieceof the Byzantine architecture, the 6^th - centuryHagia Sophia which has been revered as the largest and themost important Christian place of worship in the world for many centuries.It was designed to be the major basilica of the Byzantine Empire and heldthe record for the largest dome in the world until the Duomo was built inFlorence in the 15^th century. Get a delightful walk throughgardens and proceed to the imperial Blue Mosque whichdominates Istanbul’s majestic skyline with its elegant composition ofascending domes and six slender soaring minarets. The careful choreographyof more than 20,000 Iznik tiles rise from the mid-sections of the mosqueand dazzle the visitors with their brilliant blue and turquoise hues whichlend the mosque its popular sobriquet. End the day with the famousGrand Bazaar to explore the oldestshopping mall of the world through its peculiar oriental ambiance andcolorful mazy lanes. After dinner at a local restaurant, return to thehotel for overnight.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. This morning, you will initially discoverthe majestic Archaeological Museums of Istanbul exhibiting over one million artifacts thatrepresent significant civilizations established on the vast geography ofthe Ottoman Empire through the ages. The museum holds outstanding findingsof the royal Necropolis of Sydon such as the Sarcophagus of Alexander theGreat, the Lycian Sarcophagus and Sarcophagus of Mourning Women thanks tothe unfailing efforts of the Ottoman versatile intellectual Osman HamdiBey, the founder of the museum. Followed by lunch at a local restaurant,observe the marvelous Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum. Itis one of the largest museums in Turkey housing over 40.000 works of artand renowned for having the best rug collection in the world. Themasterpieces among the rugs are rare 13^th century Seljuk and 15^th-16^th century Ushak carpets that are considered tobe one of their own kind. The museum also stands out with its pristinepieces of Islamic calligraphy, tiles and ethnographic displays on various cultures in Turkey, particularly nomad groups. In 1984 themuseum was awarded with the Special Jury Award of the Museum of the YearCompetition of the European Council. Then, get entertained by strollingthrough the fragrant Spice Bazaar that was built in the 17^th century as an extension of the New Mosque complex. It is abustling oriental bazaar that provides fresh supply of spices, driedfruits, Turkish delight and caviar. At the end of the day enjoy anexclusive cruise along the Bosphorus with your privatechartered boat to admire the inspiring scenery of the strait embellishedwith historical edifices and old wooden houses. After dinner at a localrestaurant, head to the hotel for overnight.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. The day will begin with the visit of theremarkable Church of St Saviour in Chora, the finestmonument of the late Byzantine period which is decorated with exquisiteexamples of the mosaic art depicting detailed accounts of the lives of Maryand Jesus. Later, enjoy exploring the impressiveMosque of Soliman the Magnificent which was constructed inthe 16^th century by the royal architect Sinan at the politicaland artistic zenith of the Ottoman Empire. Have lunch at a local restaurantand next, discover Dolmabahçe Palace, which is one of themost iconic structures of the city, built in the 19^th century asa result of the westernization movement of the Ottoman Empire. The opulentinterior decoration with the Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers andthe royal Hereke rugs dazzle the visitors in elegance and in size. End theday soaking up the unique energy and the spirit of Istanbul at its most organic, the Istiklal Street. Late Ottomanperiod stylish buildings, churches, coffee-houses, shops, pubs and thenostalgic tram along this pedestrian street expose the harmonious existenceof the contemporary and traditional multi-cultural features of the city.Following dinner at a local restaurant, continue to the hotel forovernight.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. This morning, you will take a domesticflight to the wonderlands of Cappadocia that has a unique lunar landscapeof 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 atthe natural fort of Uchisar to enjoy cone-like formationsand well preserved fairy chimneys around it. Located at the highest pointof Cappadocia, Uchisar Castle has always been the main point of defensesince the Hitite period. After lunch at a traditional cave restaurant,explore the Goreme Open Air Museum which holdsCappadocia’s best collection of cave churches and has been one of the firsttwo UNESCO sites in Turkey since 1984. Cappadocia witnessed the penetrationof Christianity in Anatolia. The first Christians escaping from thepersecution in Jerusalem came to settle down in natural grottoes of theregion where they carved out rock churches, adorning their walls withfrescos of biblical and apocryphal episodes in brilliant colors. Proceed toyour 5* hotel for dinner and overnight.

You may choose to participate in an optional early bird hot air balloonride over the other-worldly scenery of Cappadocia which offers a life timeexperience. Followed by breakfast at the hotel, visit atraditional rug weaving center to learn about the threethousand year old tribal art of Turks. You will be delighted to see thefull procedure of silk cocoons and hand spun wool yarns being transformedinto extremely fine carpets by magical fingers. Continue your expeditionwith the enchanting Devrent Valley whereone feels as if travelling in a sculpture zoo which is entirely created bynature. Known also as the Imagination Valley, this small canyon exhibitsunusual rock shapes resembling animals that deeply strike the visitors.Have lunch at a local restaurant and then, discoverthe Kaymakli Underground City that is among the mostextensive ones in the region. The underground cities are believed to havebeen built initially by the Hitites in the 15^th century BC asmilitary bases and greatly expanded by Christians for protection againstthe persecution of the Romans and later Arab raids. Thousands ofinhabitants could live in total secrecy in those mazy subterraneandwellings during times of trouble. Admire the picturesque views of thelunar landscape region having photo stops at famousHunters’ Valley and Pigeon Valley. Strollaround the impressive mushroom shaped fairy chimneys with multiple stemsand caps in Pasabagi Valley exhibiting amazing formationsthat are unique even for Cappadocia. Drive to the hotel for dinner andovernight.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. Set off for splendidIhlara Valley which is a canyon of 14 km dug by MelendizRiver in prehistoric times. Due to its plentiful supply of water and hiddenplaces, the gorge was the first settlement area of the early Christianssearching for secure land. It is supposed that the valley was home to over100 churches and an estimated 4,000 dwellings with 80.000 residents.Breathing in its mystical atmosphere through a 4 km hike along the river,have lunch at a local restaurant. Next, stop by alocal pottery workshop in the town of Red River, Avanoswhere the mud has found its functional and decorative forms in rough butskillful hands of the townsmen since ancient Hittites. You will be thrilledat the demonstration of a local master on his millennia old kick-wheel.Then, discover the Zelve Open Air Museum, a monasticretreat which used to house a considerable size of Christian communitybetween the 9^th and 13^th centuries and was inhabiteduntil 1952. Now it is a stunning abandoned cave town that consists of 3adjacent valleys. You will marvel at the picturesque landscape when walkingamongst its historical dwellings, churches, and religious chambers as wellas the town square. Farewell to Cappadocia with an exhilarating off-roadjeep safari adventure which may be the only way to reachsome of the most scenic vista points and hard-to-find places. Your safaritour will end at the Red Valley where you will enjoy the best sunset ofCappadocia. After attending an evening farewell meal at a traditionalrestaurant, continue to the hotel for overnight.

Breakfast will be at the hotel. You will be transferred to Kayseri Airportwithin the day subject to your outbound flight time.