Special Turkey with Bodrum

DAY 1: ISTANBUL
Arrival in Istanbul, reception and private transfer to the hotel for accommodation for 3 nights, with breakfast.

Cut in half by the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul extends for 30 km and connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, separating Asia from Europe. On the European side, there is the center of commerce and business, and on the Asian side, are the residential neighborhoods.


DAY 2: ISTANBUL
Breakfast at the hotel and full-day tour with a guide in Spanish or Portuguese (subject to availability and confirmation), visiting the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Underground Cistern, the Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazar.

• Hippodrome, known as At Meydani - Horse Square, gives an idea of the magnificence of the Hippodrome in Byzantine times, when it was the center of city life. The venue used to be a stadium for carriage races and public activities.
• Blue Mosque: The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, is next to the Hippodrome. Built between 1609 and 1616, its interior is decorated with 21,000 blue Iznik tiles.
• Hagia Sophia: built between 527 and 532 during the reign of Emperor Justinian, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople and was the center of religious life in the Byzantine Empire.
• Topkapi Palace was the residence of the Ottoman sultans between 1453-1852 and is a symbol of the entire empire.
• Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest bazaars in the world, with a wide variety of products. Those who like shopping can be delighted in more than 4,000 stores spread over streets and passages.

Notes: Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are closed on Fridays. Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.


DAY 3: Istanbul
Breakfast at the hotel. Full-day tour with a guide in Spanish or Portuguese (subject to availability and confirmation), visiting the Spice Market, built in the 17th century to finance the maintenance of a nearby mosque: Yemi Cami. There's a lot to explore for foodies. It's a colorful, vibrant, and affordable market.

Then, regular mini-cruise tour of the Bosphorus region, with a panoramic view of Istanbul's villages and waterfront.

Free time for lunch (not included).

In the afternoon, visit Beylerbeyi Palace, former residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire, located on the eastern (Asian) bank of the Bosphorus.


DAY 4: ISTANBUL/KAYSERI - CAPPADOCIA
After breakfast and check-out at the hotel, private transfer to Istanbul airport and board a flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival, ground transfer to the hotel in Cappadocia.

Accommodation in Cappadocia for 2 nights, with breakfast.


DAY 5: CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast at the hotel. Private tour with guide in Spanish or Portuguese (subject to confirmation and availability) and full day duration in the Cappadocia region, a unique setting sculpted over the centuries by the action of nature. Visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, Pasabag (or Valley of the Monks), Uçhisar Castle, Orthahisar, the village of Avanos and the underground city of Ozkonak. Lunch (excluding drinks) at a local restaurant is included during the tour.

• Goreme Open Air Museum is one of the most famous attractions in the country. It is a complex of several churches/caves painted and sculpted by Orthodox monks between 900 and 1200 A.D. The paintings and decorations represent the flourishing of a unique Cappadocian artistic style.
• Pasabag: it is an open park where there are pillars of earth that stand in the middle of a vineyard; hence its name, which means “Pacha's vineyard”. This place is also called the Valley of the Monks.
• Uçhisar Castle, is one of the symbols of Cappadocia. This natural castle is a rock formation, composed of high cliffs, with many caves and tunnels dug into the rock, which have been used throughout history for housing purposes and as a strategic point for defense and observation of the region.
• Ortahisar: natural fortress where houses were built around and inside the rocks.
• Underground City of Ozkonak: made of volcanic granite, it was used by 7th-century Christians as places of retreat to escape Roman persecution.
• Avanos is famous for its carpet weaving and ceramic workshops. The city, whose name derives from the Latin Vanesa, was once the second most important city after Caesarea, the capital of Cappadocia. It has a history that dates back to the Bronze Age, based on the findings of nearby Topakli Hoyuk (Mound). There are nearly 300 ceramic workshops using the same techniques as Neolithic Anatolian men. The Avanos onyx workshops are also well known, as nearby quarries produce high-quality onyx.

Optional activity suggestion (not included):

• Early in the morning, balloon ride (subject to weather conditions);
• Turkish Night in Cappadocia: immersive cultural event that offers a dinner with typical dishes and a show of folk dances;
• Wine tasting at the Argos hotel in Cappadocia.

DAY 6: CAPPADOCIA - KAYSERI/ISTANBUL/IZMIR - KUSADASI
After breakfast and check-out at the hotel, private transfer to Cappadocia airport and board a flight to Izmir via Istanbul.

Upon arrival in Izmir, private transfer to Kusadasi and accommodation for 2 nights, including breakfast.


DAY 7: KUSADASI - EPHESUS - KUSADASI
After breakfast, full-day tour with a guide in Spanish or Portuguese (subject to availability and confirmation) in the city of Ephesus, one of the grandest and most well-preserved cities of antiquity. Lunch (excluding drinks) at a local restaurant is included during the tour.

Visit to the Odeon, an old space for political meetings and musical performances; the Temple of Hadrian, dedicated to the Roman emperor; the Roman baths, which highlight the importance of social life at the time; the Library of Celsus, one of the most emblematic buildings in Ephesus and a symbol of ancient knowledge; and the Theater, used for shows and large meetings, among other archaeological remains.

Then, visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a place associated with the last years of Mary's life and an important point of Christian devotion, and the Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist, built on the site where the apostle's tomb is believed to be, both important pilgrimage centers.

Return to the hotel in Kusadasi.


DAY 8: KUSADASI - DOGANBEY - BODRUM
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Private transfer from Kusadasi to Bodrum along the way includes a stop at Doganbey.

Doganbey is one of the most characteristic cities in the Aegean region, bringing together important references of Greek architecture and standing out as a destination that deserves to be visited. With a history dating back to the 7th century BC, it preserves several points of interest, such as well-preserved ancient Greek houses.

After visiting the village, stop for lunch (without drinks) at a local restaurant, by the sea.

Continuation of the approximately 3 hour and 30 minute trip to Bodrum. Arrival in Bodrum and accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.


DAY 9: BODRUM Free
day for independent activities.


DAY 10: BODRUM/ISTANBUL
Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer to Bodrum Airport for a flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, private transfer to the hotel and accommodation for 1 night with breakfast.


DAY 11: ISTANBUL
After breakfast and check-out at the hotel, private transfer to Istanbul airport.