Sleepless In turkey - WFT

We begin our trip in the historical city of Istanbul. Istanbul is everything you have read about, everything you have dreamt about, and more! It draws you in with its history, its magnificent architecture, its spice markets, and, in more recent times, its rocking night life. Soak up the atmosphere in Istanbul – take a ride across the Bosphorus, shop, eat, and do all the wonderful things that your mind conjures up when you think about the city. 

We then visit the ‘cotton castle’ – Pamukkale. Tread the path of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis, its thermal springs, cascading milky pools, and well-preserved ruins, including a necropolis. Walk the lanes of the 10th century Greek city of Ephesus, the site of a succession of ancient civilizations. It is considered one of the greatest outdoor museums of all times. The Temple of Artemis, the Library of Celsus, and a huge amphitheatre will truly leave you awestruck. Experience the unique cave dwellings of Cappadocia by staying in a cave hotel! 

You are also in for a gastronomical treat when you sample local fare at a Cappadocian house in Mustafapasa. And, then, top everything off with a whirling dervish performance. Explore this incredible landscape. Join Wonderful World on a sojourn to Turkey. HIGHLIGHTS - Enjoy enough leisure time in Istanbul to soak in the place - Relax in the travertine pools in Pamukkale - Visit the ancient city of Ephesus - Visit two villages - Sirince and Kirazli – in the heart of Turkey - Sample local cuisine and eat with a local family - Stay in luxurious, central hotels, and a beautiful cave hotel in Cappadocia 

ITINERARY 

Day 1 – Wednesday, 6 th November (includes dinner) Istanbul – Arrival - Arrive at the Istanbul Ataturk airport and group transfer to the hotel. (Please check flight timings with us before booking.) Overnight at Richmond Hotel and Suites or similar 

Day 2 – Thursday, 7 th November (includes breakfast and lunch) Istanbul - After breakfast, enjoy the Istanbul sightseeing tour. - The tour starts with a visit to the Hippodrome, which was the centre of civil activities during the Hellenistic and Roman times. At the Hippodrome the chariot and horse races and athletic runs took place for the entertainment of the people of Constantinople. - Nearby is the Blue Mosque, which was built between 1609 and 1616. Its 20,000 blue Iznik (Nicaea) tiles and unique 6 minarets are unique features of this mosque. - Break for lunch. - Next we visit the Hagia Sophia, the most important Byzantine building in the world. A former cathedral of Constantinople, it is renowned for its  mosaic decoration as well as architectural style. Back in Byzantine times, most emperors were crowned in this cathedral after a special ceremony. - Finally visit the famous Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and oldest covered market with over 60 streets, for shopping in this labyrinth of more than 4,000 shops. Choose from leather, carpets, jewellery, and copper crafts, but be sure to bargain! - We will then visit another example of Ottomans glory, the Suleimaniye Mosque, built by the architect Sinan by the order of Suleyman the Magnificent. - Evening at Leisure Overnight at Richmond Hotel and Suites or similar 

Day 3 – Friday, 8 th November (includes breakfast) Istanbul - Start with visiting the Dolmabahçe Palace, used as the imperial residence for the last Ottoman sultans. Its beauty is incomparable; 14 tons of pure gold were used in its interior decoration, priceless paintings and furniture, and a rich collection of Bohemian crystal. (The harem is excluded in the tour.) - Then we head to the Spice Market, where Genoese and Venetian goods were sold at a time when there was no Suez Canal, and all the spices from the East were also brought here after being loaded on vessels in Egypt. - Evening at leisure. Overnight at Richmond Hotel and Suites or similar 

Day 4 – Saturday, 9 th November (includes breakfast) Istanbul - We start our day with the Topkapi Palace (including the harem), which is more than just a palace. It is an assemblage of museums containing collections amassed by the sultans for almost six centuries. - Then we will visit Arasta Bazaar of the Blue Mosque. Thereafter, enjoy free time in the historical part of the city. Overnight at Richmond Hotel and Suites or similar 

Day 5 – Sunday, 10 th November (includes breakfast) Istanbul - Post breakfast, we will go for a leisure cruise on the Bosphorus, having an opportunity to admire the palaces, Ottoman yalis (wooden Bosphorus seaside mansions), the Bosphorus Bridge, and fortresses, among others. - Thereafter, the day is free for you to discover the city on your own. You may simply stroll the backstreets or even visit a hamam. Overnight at Richmond Hotel and Suites or similar 

Day 6 – Monday, 11 th November (includes breakfast) Istanbul – Izmir - Kusadasi - Following breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Izmir. - Upon arrival drive to an erstwhile Greek Village – Selcuk. Selcuk is a traditional village situated on top of a hill. The village people still produce embroidery and lace work, and it’s a good place to taste some local Turkish wine. - Enjoy free time to wander. - Then drive to Kusadasi. Overnight at Ilayda Avantgarde or similar 

Day 7 – Tuesday, 12 th November (includes breakfast and Lunch) Kusadasi – Ephesus- Kusadasi - After breakfast, enjoy a full-day tour to Ephesus. The tour starts with a visit to the Ephesus Archaeological Site, the great city and metropolitan centre of antiquity, whose extensive ruins are among the best preserved in the world. As we walk down the main street of Ephesus, we will visualize its ancient life and buildings. - Head to a small village for lunch - After lunch, we drive to the Virgin Mary’s House, claimed to be the place where Mother Mary spent her last days. It is one the most important pilgrimage shrines in the world. Overnight at Ilayda Avantgarde or similar 

Day 8 – Wednesday, 13 th November (includes breakfast and lunch) Kusadasi – Pamukalle – Konya - Start Early today – leave Kusadasi by 7:30 am - Drive to Pamukalle. (about 3 hours) - Pamukkale, once known as Hierapolis, meaning ‘holy city’, which today includes the magnificently preserved necropolis, the main streets and gates, thermal baths, the devil’s hole, and the theatre. It is a famous for its healing thermal or mineral baths and beautifully snow-white ‘petrified waterfalls’.  - We spend a few hours in Pamukalle – visiting the Travertine Pools, Necropolis etc - Have lunch in Pamukalle and then we drive to Konya (about 5 hours) Overnight at Konya (We are only spending the night in Konya. We do not visit the Mevlana museum or Rumi’s shrine – as we will leave early the next morning for Cappadocia) 

Day 9 – Thursday, 14 th November (includes breakfast) Konya – Cappadocia - Post an early breakfast drive to Cappadocia (3 hours) - Upon arrival drive to Uchisar and check-in to the hotel. - Proceed for a full-day group tour in Cappadocia and visit the Goreme open air museum, a natural citadel carved in rocks. - Then drive to the Camel Rock Valley to see the troglodyte dwellings where people lived until the mid-20th century. - Post lunch; continue to visit to the Red Valley. - End the day with a whirling dervish performance. Overnight at Kale Konak Hotel or similar 

Day 10 – Friday, 15 th November (includes breakfast and lunch) Cappadocia - Early morning enjoy a hot air balloon ride (optional activity). - After breakfast, begin your tour of Cappadocia. - First you will visit Cavusin, an old Greek village known for its Christian houses and churches, with your guide. - Proceed to visit the Kaymakli Underground City where early Christians lived in fear and faith. - On your way back visit the Pigeon Valley where pigeons contributed to the lives of locals with their manure to fertilize the vineyards. Later, hike through the valley to explore the famous rock-cut churches. - Then walk through the Devrent Valley, abundant with fairy chimneys, followed by a visit to Pasabag (Monk’s Valley) with multiple stems and caps, peculiar to this area. - Drive to Mustafapasa village for a local lunch and then if time permits to Avanos, the pottery village. The red clay which is worked by local craftsmen comes from the residue in the Kizilirmak river, the longest river of Turkey. Overnight at Kale Konak Hotel or similar 

Day 11 – Saturday, 16th November (includes breakfast) Cappadocia – Kayseri – Istanbul – Departure - Following breakfast, catch the flight to Kayseri and then to Istanbul. (Cost of flights not included. We will book these at actual cost, which works out cheaper.) - From Istanbul catch your flight back home. (Please check flight timings with us before booking.) 

COST Rs 125000 Early bird discount – Save Rs 3000 if booked before 30 April 2019 

Single supplement – Rs 28000 NOTE  

We need minimum 7 confirmations to do this tour 

INCLUSIONS - Accommodation on a twin-sharing basis - Transportation as mentioned in the itinerary - All meals as mentioned in the itinerary, including bottled water for the table - All tours as mentioned in the itinerary - All admission fees to the museums and sights on tours as mentioned in the itinerary - Tickets and transportation for the whirling dervishes performance in Cappadocia - Services of an English-speaking guide throughout the trip - Services of a trip lead throughout the trip 

EXCLUSIONS - GST at 5% - International and domestic flights - Visa - Travel medical insurance - Any meals not mentioned in the itinerary - Any beverages, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, including bottled water (except on table in meals included in the itinerary) - Hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia (ranges between USD 180 and 200 per head) - Any personal expenses, such as laundry, phone calls, porterage, etc. - Tips and gratuities (Guide USD 3 and driver USD 2 per person per day) - Any items or services not mentioned in Inclusions above - Any cost arising out of unforeseen circumstances like ill‐health, land blocks, bad weather, etc. 

PAYMENT PLAN  Please pay INR 20,000 as booking deposit to reserve your spot  Balance payment due by 20 August 2019 

CANCELLATION POLICY  Upto 120 days before departure – full refund  Between 120 days and 100 days – booking deposit is non-refundable  Between 100 days and 75 days – 70% refund  Between 75 days and 60 days – 50% refund  Between 60 days and 45 days – 25% refund  Between 45 days and 30 days – 15% refund  No refund thereafter for any cancellation or no-show 

For further details conatact +91 9971820462