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Description

Experience 10 days of Christmas with the sultans! Visit Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, and the vast moonscapes of Cappadocia. Christmas will be held during a traditional evening of Turkish food, belly dancing and folk dancing in a traditional Turkish environment full of Christmas cheer and mysticism. Christmas in Cappadocia is exquisite as the fairy chimneys and Rock cities are covered in snow. It is a truly fantastic place to celebrate Christmas.

    
DAY 1 - Istanbul  (D) 19 December 2008

Welcome to Turkey, arrival into Istanbul. Transfer from airport & check in to your hotel. Tonight we have a Welcome Dinner, you will meet our friendly crew while enjoying traditional Turkish food and enjoy the mystical atmosphere of Istanbul at night. Overnight in Istanbul!!

DAY 2 - Istanbul City Tour 20 December 2008

Breakfast and Dinner Included
W e depart at 09:00am for the Istanbul city tour. TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.
HIPPODROME Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Lunch break and then we head to the SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar) the air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice. After the tour you have the option to experience The Bosphorous Cruise. You will have the chance to enjoy magnificent views of Bosphorous which is connecting Asia to Europe. The rest of the evening is you're to enjoy Istanbul. Over night in Istanbul.

DAY 3 - Istanbul to Izmir / Kusadasi 21 December 2008

Breakfast and Dinner Included
Free Day until the afternoon for your domestic flight to Izmir. Transfer from airport & check in to your hotel in Kusadasi. Over Night in Kusadasi

DAY 4 - Ephesus Tour 22 December 2008

Breakfast and Dinner Included
A fully guided Ephesus Tour starts at 09:00am, one of the best preserved ancient ruins in the world. A visit to Ephesus - once the commercial centre of the ancient world - is a highlight of any visit to Turkey. The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple, once considered one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World and rebuilt several times, dates in its latest form from the third century B.C. The tour of the ruins also includes a theatre, gymnasium, agora and baths, as well as the Library of Celsus. Overnight in Kusadasi/Ephesus

DAY 5 - Pamukkale Tour 23 December 2008

Breakfast and Dinner Included
Day trip to Pamukkale and we depart at 09:30am on our tour of Pamukkale travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis. You will visit Domitian Gate, Colonnaded Gate, and Cathedral, Red waters of Karahayit, Lunch, Pamukkale Museum, and The Travertines of Pamukkale. Overnight in Kusadasi/Ephesus

DAY 6 - Shopping Tour – Domestic Flight to Cappadocia 24 December 2008

Breakfast and Dinner Included
Christmas Eve and it's a chance for some last minute Christmas gifts, or even to treat yourself. We will make a shopping tour in which you will be aware of the ancient arts of Turkey like carpet weaving, leather manufacturing and jewellery. As this will be a guided tour, you will avoid being hassled which will enable you enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen.  After the shopping we depart for Izmir Airport for our domestic flight to Cappadocia. You will definitely have a Christmas night to remember. Enjoy a big Christmas feast of rich Turkish cuisine and party the night away with your new friends with Turkish live music. Over night in Cappadocia.

DAY 7 - Christmas Day – Turkish Bath 25 December 2008

Breakfast and Dinner Included
Merry Christmas!  We start our morning with a Hamam, that's the word for the Turkish bath and is surely an unforgettable part of your holiday and the best way to start Christmas day. Receive a pummeling from head to toe, let the expert scrub off all those dead cells, relax and drift away. Late afternoon we start our Christmas celebrations, and yes Santa will visit you at the Hotel, the festive atmosphere is in the air. You will definitely have a Christmas night to remember. Enjoy a big Christmas feast of rich Turkish cuisine and party the night away with your new friends with Turkish live music.

DAY 8 - Cappadocia Tour 26 December 2008

After breakfast we shall start our Cappadocia tour including Göreme Open Air Museum, Dervent Valley, and Pasabag Valley. After lunch, we will make a shopping tour in which you will be aware of the ancient arts of Turkey like carpet weaving, leather manufacturing and jewellery. As this will be a guided tour, you will avoid being hassled which will enable you enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen. Free evening. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Before the tour there is an option to go hot air ballooning:
The Hot Air Balloon descends at sunrise and the ride lasts for approximately 45 minutes; in which we will float through valleys, between fairy chimneys and caves. The balloon will rise approximately 1000 feet in which you will experience the extraordinary views Cappadocia has to offer. On landing, champagne will be served to toast arrival. It is a fantastic journey made by the eccentric landscapes and the rising sun.

DAY 9 - Cappadocia Tour- Istanbul (B/D) 27 December 2008

After breakfast we head to one of the most interesting sites of Cappadocia: Kaymakli Underground City. The Christians hid from the armies of Rome and the raids of hostile tribes in these self sufficient cities in which there were halls for stocks of crop, barns, rooms, kitchens & ventilation channels. The second part of our Cappadocia Tour will include Uçhisar Castle, Avcilar, and Pidgeon Valley. After the tour we will rest at the hotel and have a free afternoon until transfers to the airport for our flight back to Istanbul. After the Cappadocia depart for Kayseri Airport for our domestic flight to Istanbul. Transfer from airport & check in to your hotel. Enjoy the mystical atmosphere of Istanbul at night. Over night in Istanbul

DAY 10 - Istanbul The end of the Tour  28 December 2008

Breakfast and Dinner Included
After breakfast check out from the hotel. We drive you back to the airport. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future

Tour Price Includes:

Domestic flights from Istanbul to Izmir - Izmir to Cappadocia and Cappadocia to Istanbul
3 nights accommodation in Istanbul with Breakfast & Dinner
3 nights accommodation in Kusadasi with Breakfast & Dinner
3 Night accommodation in Cappadocia with Breakfast & Dinner
1 Full Day Istanbul City Tour
1 Full Day Ephesus Tour
1 Full Day Pamukkale Tour
2 Full Day Cappadocia Tour
Christmas celebrations
Turkish Bath
Air-conditioned busses
Professional English speaking tour guide
All entrance fees mentioned in the Itinerary
Return airport transfers

Tour Price Excludes:

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Air and departure taxes,
Bottled beverages or alcohol,
Travel insurance,
Visas, laundry, and personal items.

Price FROM:

£750.00 Per Person (based on Double Share)
£916.00 Single Room/Traveller

Set Departure Dates:

19-28th Dec 2008