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| PACKAGE OVERVIEW |
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| Intense, loveable, inventive, wondrous and spiritual. If Turkey was as famous celebrity, this is how its fans would describe it. But why depend upon descriptions? Take an unforgettable journey to this beautiful land of discoveries and listen to its heartbeat by visiting its incredible ancient cities, beautiful forts, museums and mosques, quaint bazaars (marketplaces) and cruising on its pristine waters. And it's not always that you get to be in a country having a whole city dedicated to love ('sevi' in Turkish). Be there! |
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| INCLUSIONS: |
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 Departures every Thursday
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Accommodation for 2 nights at a selected 4* hotel or similar in Izmir
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Half-day city tour of Istanbul with visits to Byzantine Hippodrome, Blue Mosque and Grand Covered Bazaar (closed on Sundays and national holidays)
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Single entry Turkey visa
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Bosphorus cruise along the shores of Europe and Asia and Spice Market (closed on Sundays and national holidays)
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6 breakfasts
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3 lunches
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4 dinners
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City tour of Cappadocia including visits to Anatolian Civilization Museum, Mausoleum of Ataturk, Agzikarahan Caravanserai, Pigeon Valley, Citadel of Uchisar, Goreme Open-Air Museum, Kaymakli Underground City, Pasabagi, and Avanos Village
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Other sightseeing tours include visit to House of Virgin Mary, Ruins of Odeon, Hercules Gate, the temple of Hadrian, the magnificent library, Agora and fantastic Greco-Roman theatre, and Basilica of St. John.
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Services of an English-speaking guide
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Accommodation for 2 nights at a selected 4* hotel or similar in Istanbul
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Transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
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Accommodation for 1 night in the train
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| ITINERARY |
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DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL (THURSDAY)
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel (early check-in subject to availability). In the afternoon, go for Bosphorus Cruise on River Bosphorus, the winding water strait separating Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus coastline is a delightful mixture of the past and the present where one can enjoy the splendour and quaint beauty of the ancient wooden mansions, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. Later, visit the Spice Market. Have a comfortable overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals: Not Applicable
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DAY 2 : ISTANBUL | SIGHTSEEING TOUR (FRIDAY)
After enjoying a buffet breakfast, visit Byzantine Hippodrome, in which stands the Obelisk brought from Egypt by Theodosius and the Serpent Column taken from Delphi brought by Constantine. Thereafter, visit the Blue Mosque, which has six minarets and a middle dome of 109 feet and Grand Covered Bazaar (closed on Sundays) dating back to 15th century. It has over 4,000 shops under one roof. Spend the afternoon at leisure and have a comfortable overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
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DAY 3: ISTANBUL - ANKARA OVERNIGHT TRAIN (SATURDAY)
After breakfast, enjoy some free time in the hotel before you check-out and transfer to the station for an overnight journey to Ankara. Have a comfortable overnight stay on board.
Meals: Breakfast
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DAY 4: ANKARA - CAPPADOCIA (SUNDAY)
Arrive in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey and one of the fastest growing cities in the world with a history that can be dated back to 3000 years. Upon arrival, visit the Anatolian Civilisation Museum, which also exhibits the remains of Catalhoyuk, the Neolithic village dating back to 6500 B.C. Then visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. After lunch at a local restaurant in Ankara, visit the mysterious Cappadocia. Visit Agzikarahan Caravanserai en route. Thereafter, enjoy a delicious dinner and a comfortable overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals: Lunch & dinner
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DAY 5: CAPPADOCIA (MONDAY)
Go for sightseeing tour of this unique corner of the world. Visit Pigeon Valley and the natural citadel of Uchisar, followed by a visit to Goreme open-air museum, which is full of pink, rose and white tapering columns. These tall, free standing cones of stone curve and twist as if pulled from earth like taffy. Others are tall like fairy chimneys. The caves were settled in 4th century as monasteries. Visit some caves on the cliffs to see Byzantine frescoes decorating early Christian churches. Later, enjoy lunch at a typical restaurant of the region and visit Kaymakli Underground City; carved out of rock and completely self-contained. More than 200 people lived on each of the seven floors with the last one being 250 feet underground. It is connected to Derinkuyu Underground City by a six-mile long tunnel. Drive to Pasabagi in Zelve Region and then to Avanos Village. Enjoy some time for shopping. Return for a delicious dinner and a comfortable overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
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DAY 6: CAPPADOCIA - KAYSERI - IZMIR (TUESDAY)
After breakfast, transfer to Kayseri airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and check-in. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Have a delicious dinner at the hotel and a comfortable overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner
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DAY 7: IZMIR - EPHESUS - IZMIR (WEDNESDAY)
After breakfast, drive to Selcuk to the House of Virgin Mary. Continue to Ephesus, the Roman Capital of Asia Minor. Visit the ruins of Odeon, Hercules Gate, the temple of Hadrian, the magnificent library, Agora and fantastic Greco-Roman theatre. After lunch, visit the Basilica of St. John. Return to Izmir for a delicious dinner and a comfortable overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
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DAY 8: IZMIR - ISTANBUL | DEPARTURE (THURSDAY)
After breakfast, spend the day at leisure and later transfer to the airport to board a return flight.
Meals: Breakfast
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| HOTEL DETAILS |
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HOTEL ZURICH, ISTANBUL
 
City: Istanbul
Featuring a welcoming terrace with an outdoor pool, Hotel Zurich Istanbul is close to Istanbul’s vibrant shopping district and 15 minutes’ walk from Grand Bazaar. It also offers a health centre. Fitted with plasma TVs and satellite channels, all rooms also include free Wi-Fi. Each has a mini bar and a private bathroom with a telephone. Guests can burn off some energy at Hotel Zurich’s fully equipped fitness centre or relax in the traditional Turkish hammam. For added comfort, there is a heated indoor pool and a vitamin bar with fresh juices. Views of Bosphorus and old Istanbul can be enjoyed from the Panorama restaurant, which serves Turkish cuisine. The AB Cafe next to the sun terrace offers both light and alcoholic beverages.
Hotel Zurich Istanbul is situated steps from the Blue Mosque and 10 minutes’ walk from Hagia Sophia. It is 15 km from Ataturk International Airport.
Hotel Facilities
24-Hour Front Desk | Terrace | Non-Smoking Rooms | Facilities for Disabled Guests | Family Rooms | Elevator | Express Check-In/Check-Out | Safety Deposit Box | Heating | Design Hotel | Luggage Storage | Air Conditioning | Sun Terrace | Room Service | Meeting/Banquet Facilities | Business Centre | Dry Cleaning | Barber/Beauty Shop | Souvenirs/Gift Shop | Shoe Shine
Recreational Facilities
Sauna | Fitness Centre | Solarium | Spa & Wellness Centre | Massage | Hot Tub | Turkish/Steam Bath | Swimming Pool
Room Amenities
Rooms: Superior Double, Deluxe Double | Suites: Superior Junior, Deluxe Junior, Deluxe
Safety Deposit Box | Air Conditioning | Ironing Facilities | Heating | Carpeted Floor | Fireplace | Interconnecting Room available | Shower | Bath | Hairdryer | Free toiletries | Toilet | Bathroom | Slippers | Bath or Shower | Telephone | Satellite TV | Cable TV | LCD /Plasma /Flat-screen TV | Mini bar | Dining Area | Electric Kettle | Wake up Service
Dining
1 Restaurant | 2 Cafes
The Panorama: This is a fine dining restaurant that serves Turkish cuisine in a lively atmosphere. Located on the roof, it renders beautiful views of the Old City and Bosphorus.
The Ab Cafe: This café serves alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic beverages all through the day.
Cafe Zurich: Cafe Zurich serves both Turkish and International cuisine.
Internet: Free Wi-Fi Internet
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PERI TOWER HOTEL
City: Cappadocia
Peri Tower Hotel is in the beautiful city of Cappadpocia. This hotel is distant from the hustles and makes for an ideal peaceful stay for tourists. The interiors, fireplace, pool side bar and Turkish cuisine are the specialities of Peri Tower Hotel. The Hotel has 106 rooms and 20 suites with all amenities and humble interiors. In the vicinity of Peri Tower Hotel, there are various beautiful sites of Cappadocia including underground cities, fairy chimneys and vineyards.
Hotel Facilities
Shopping Center | Fireplace | Airport Transport | 24 hour front desk | Babysitting | Complimentary Breakfast | Laundry & dry-clean service | Hair Salon | Parking | Conference facilities | Wi-Fi Internet Access | Library | Shopping Center | Fireplace
Recreational Facilities
Gymnasium | Sauna | Swimming Pool |Steam Room | Massage Room |Beauty Parlour | Volleyball Court | Tennis Court | Game Room
Room Amenities
Private Bathroom | Air Conditioning | Direct Dial Telephone | Minibar | Music | Satellite TV | Hair Dryer
Room Service: 24 hours
Dining: 2 Restaurants | 2 Bars | 1 Terrace Café | 1 Pool Bar
Restaurants: Panorama Restaurant | Garden Restaurant | Terrace Cafe |
Bars: Katpatuka Bar | Satrap Wine Center
Conferences & Banquets: 2 meeting halls
Tabal Congress Hall: For meetings up to 300 Pax
Ariarathes Hall: For meetings Up to 75 Pax
Check-in Time: From 2:00 PM | Check-out Time: Till 10:00 AM
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BLANCA HOTEL
City: Izmir
Situated in the centre of Izmir and just a short walk from the convention centre, Blanca Hotel offers boutique-style accommodation with free wireless internet access and free private parking. Enjoy traditional and international cuisine at Blanca Hotel's stylish restaurant. After a long day of business meetings or sightseeing, relax with a drink of your choice at Blanca's bar.
Along with its close proximity to Izmir's business district, Blanca Hotel is within 2 km of Izmir's museums and shopping district.
Hotel Facilities
Restaurant | Bar | 24-Hour Front Desk | Non-Smoking Rooms | Rooms/Facilities for Disabled Guests | Elevator | Express Check-In/Check-Out | Safety Deposit Box | Soundproofed Rooms | Heating | Design Hotel | Luggage Storage | Air Conditioning | Designated Smoking Area | Restaurant (à la carte) | Snack Bar | Room Service | Meeting/Banquet Facilities | Airport Shuttle | Business Centre | Babysitting/Child Services | Laundry | Dry Cleaning | VIP Room Facilities | Breakfast in the Room | Ironing Service | Bridal Suite | Currency Exchange | Shoe Shine | Car Hire | Tour Desk | Fax/Photocopying | Shuttle Service (surcharge) | Special Diet Menus (on request)
Room Amenities
Air conditioning | Private bathroom | Hair dryer | Satellite television service | Climate control | Phone | Minibar | In-room safe | Wake-up calls | Soundproofed rooms | Bathroom phone | Bathrobes | Rainfall showerhead | Shower/tub combination | In-room childcare (surcharge) | Electronic/magnetic keys | Window opens | Cribs (infant beds) available | Blackout drapes/curtains | Wireless high-speed Internet access (complimentary) | In-room safe (laptop compatible) | Pillow menu | LCD television
Internet: Available | Parking Facility: Available
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| DESTINATION INFORMATION |
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| ISTANBUL |
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Istanbul is legendary.
Famous the world over for its vibrant amalgamation of cultures, former Constantinople is the pride of Byzantium, that's located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea.
The centre of the old world, Istanbul is an important metropolis famous for its historic monuments and charming natural beauty. The only city in the world that spreads across two continents - Europe and Asia, demarcated by the famous Bosporus! With almost 2500 years to its credit, this beautiful Byzantine city has a rich eventful history. Capital of the Romans, Byzantine and Turkish Ottoman empires, this dome studded city is full with charm of old bygone monuments, ancient squares and streets, excellent eating joints and a length of modern buildings.
Must See
There are endless numbers of monuments to be seen here, and every stone on very streets has an epic tale to tell of battles fought and glories lost. The famous Hagia Sofia towers over the city, with its enormous dome and incredibly tall minarets. Other famous sites include Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque, Galata Tower, and the Galata Whirling Dervish Hall. In fact, the entire Bosphorus is lined with numerous waterside palaces, which are all worth visiting. A boat tour will be most rewarding. Also visit a hamam, a Turkish bath, at least once on your vacation there. Other must visits include the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, Rumeli Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace, Hippodrome, Camlica Hill - the highest point of Istanbul that provides a panoramic view, and the Dolmabahce Palace.
Shopping
Shopping is Istanbul is an experience in itself. Gazing at the stark contrast of the modern with the traditional, explore the Nuruosmaniye Gate of Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi) browsing through jewellery, pottery, spice, leather and carpets. The bazaar is one of the largest covered markets in the world with more than 58 streets and 4,000 shops, and has between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily! Built between 1455 and 1461by Sultan Mehmed, the bazaar contains two sections - domed masonry structures built for storage and safe keeping.
The Spice Bazaar/ Egyption Bazaar (Misir Carsisi) is the second largest covered shopping areas in Turkey an attributes its name to Egypt from where the spices were initially imported. In the Byzantine period, the Spice Bazaar was also the centre of corn trade.
Eating
Turkish cuisine is considered one of the richest and oldest cooking traditions in the world! The authentic Istanbul cuisine is an outcome of the cuisine of Jews, Greeks and Armenians who were an integral part of Ottoman society. Beginning with soups, a traditional Turkish cuisine is a heady cocktail of soups, appetizers, wholesome meals, desserts and distinct drinks.
Kebab, Baklava, Lokum and Raki are the most commonly associated Turkish delicacies. Others include olive oil dishes, rice pilafs, stuffed vegetables, pickles, fruit preserves, compote, sherbet, boza (a thick beverage made of barley) coffee, pastries, puddings and syrupy desserts.
The exclusive Turkish food is a fine combination of wraps with fillings – the classical wrap is meat or rice wrapped in vine, cabbage or collard leaves although lettuce, nut, chestnut, cherry and sometimes violet leaves. There are as many as 15 variants of wraps as of today! There is an a rich variety of meat dishes in the form of grills, fried meats, kebabs, stews cooked in a crock or a pan.
Fast Facts
Main Languages: Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian and Greek. English is spoken in the touristy places.
When to Go: September, when the city experiences Spring.
Local Transport: Istanbul is blessed with a good network of transport system. Besides bus, you can travel in a tram, ferry, cabs etc. Try buying an Akbil pass, a pre-buying ticket and avoid those smelly long queues waiting for public transport.
Phone Code: Istanbul (Asian side) +90216 and Istanbul (European side) +90212
Currency: New Turkish Lira (YTL is approximately 48 INR).
Voltage: 230 V/ 50 Hz
Time Zone: UTC/GMT + 2 hours with + 1 hour as daylight saving.
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Istanbul Bosphorus Strait
Istanbul Church of Hagia Sophia
Istanbul Grand Bazaar
Istanbul Suleymaniye Mosque
Istanbul Topkapi Palace
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| PHOTO GALLERY |
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Istanbul Bosphorus Strait
Also known as the Istanbul Strait, the Bosporus, or the Bosphorus, is a historical natural formation that has been the source of much commercial, cultural, and strategic importance. As the only passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, it has been used since the times of the Ancient Greeks, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, till the present day. It is also the world's narrowest strait used for international navigation, with a maximum width of 3,700 metres.
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