Ait 0703-Antalya-Isparta-Konya-Cappadocia-Ankara Cultural Tour

IMPORTANT NOTE: This program has been arranged for participants from abroad, and we kindly ask you to contact GoAyas Tour Organization department to get information about the program changes for our domestic guests.

Day 1: Europe - Istanbul - Antalya of Europe - (Direct from)- Antalya

After transferring to the hotel, those who wish to explore Antalya can take a bus to the city center (from Cumhuriyet Meydanı to the old port and Hadrian's Gate, then to the Büyükşehir Belediyesi).

Dinner and overnight stay in Antalya.

Day 2: Antalya - Sagalassos - Burdur - Isparta (220 km)

After breakfast, we depart for Sagalassos, where we will spend the whole day. Our guide will provide detailed explanations about the impressive ruins, including fountains, markets, thermal baths, public buildings, houses, libraries, theaters, and more. We take a lunch break in the nearby town of Ağlasun. In the afternoon, we visit the Burdur Museum to see the masterpieces produced by the Sagalassos expeditions. Dinner and overnight stay in Isparta.

Day 3: Isparta - Antiochia ad Pisidiam - Konya (300 km)

After breakfast, we head to Yalvaç - Antiochia ad Pisidiam (4th century BC - 8th century AD), the capital of the Roman and Byzantine province of Pisidia. The construction took place between 281-261 BC, after the death of Seleucus. The city was strategically important due to its location on the border of Phrygia. During the 1st century AD, the city hosted a temporary Christian community, and in the 4th century, it became a bishopric, later elevated to an archbishopric in the 5th century. We have lunch on the way. In the afternoon, we visit Eşrefoğlu Mosque in Beyşehir, which is a unique wooden mosque using various decoration techniques. Dinner and overnight stay in Konya.

Day 4: Konya - Sultanhanı - Saratlı to Cappadocia (240 km)

After breakfast, we visit the historical city of Konya, which dates back to the Hittites era and is famous for its Whirling Dervishes and Seljuk bazaars. We explore the city's highlights, including Mevlana Museum, Alaeddin Mosque, Karatay Medrese, and Ince Minare Medrese. We have lunch in Sultanhanı, where we will be greeted by camels and mules used in the Silk Road caravans. In the afternoon, we visit Saratlı Underground City and continue to Ihlara Canyon - Peristrema Valley for a quiet passage walk along a pastoral stream, where we will see early Christian rock churches. Dinner and overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day 5: Cappadocia

After a buffet breakfast, we visit the old houses of Ürgüp and continue exploring the valleys of Rose, Pigeon, and Meryem Ana, as well as the Zelve-Paşabağ Valley. We have lunch in a local restaurant and visit various workshops, including carpet weaving, nomadic culture objects, and onyx workshops. In the afternoon, we explore the Göreme Open-Air Museum, where we can admire primitive Christian art and Byzantine frescoes. We visit several churches and monasteries carved into the rocks, and optionally, the Karanlık Kilise (Dark Church) with exceptionally well-preserved frescoes. In the evening, we enjoy a delicious dinner accompanied by a folkloric dance show. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day 6: Cappadocia, the Holy Land of Christianity According to the Revelation of St. John

We take short walks through fascinating landscapes, visiting Ortahisar, Uçhisar, and their impressive worn-out tuff rock formations. We have lunch at the hotel or a typical local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit the outdoor museum of Göreme Valley, where we can admire cave churches, monasteries, dining rooms, kitchens, and cemeteries lined up in horseshoe shape. Optionally, we can visit the Dark Church, which houses magnificent preserved frescoes. In the evening, we enjoy a delicious dinner and stay overnight at our charming 4* or 5* hotel.

Day 7: From Cappadocia to Hacıbektaş - Kayseri - Ankara (400 km)

After breakfast, we visit the Alevi pilgrimage site of Hacıbektaş. The city takes its name from Hacı Bektaş Veli, a 13th-century Sufi mystic who is considered the founder of the Bektashi order. Alevism, Bektashism, and Sufism view Ali as a gateway to mystical knowledge and an esoteric interpretation of Islam: Asadullah (Lion of God). Alevism is a branch of Shia Islam, which emphasizes less on laws and regulations and more on respect for others regardless of their religion, race, origin, or gender. We visit the Hacıbektaş Veli Shrine, explore the museum, and learn about the soft side of Islam. In the afternoon, we visit Kayseri, known for its hotspots in terms of the economy. We visit the Grand Mosque and a cylindrical rotating tomb, a textbook example of a Seljuk tomb dating back to 1276. Dinner and overnight stay in Ankara.

Day 8: Ankara

After breakfast, our guide takes us to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, which received the World Museum Award in 1995. We see interesting exhibits, including a letter written by a Hittite woman to her husband working abroad, mentioning her mother-in-law. We continue our journey to Old Ankara, visiting the citadel, Konak Boyacizade, the Zenger Pasha Ethnography Museum, and the Egyptian Bazaar. We have lunch at a traditional döner restaurant called Hacıbey. After lunch, we visit Atatürk's Mausoleum, an exhibition showcasing the most important moments of Atatürk's life and the founding of the Republic. Dinner and overnight stay in Ankara.

Day 9: Ankara - Europe

After breakfast, we tour the city and visit some places of interest, including a mosque and the Temple of Augustus. In the afternoon, we head to the airport to fly back to Europe, bidding farewell to the culture tour of AyasIsosTravels.

 Price

Price Includes:

• 9 days and 8 nights full board accommodation in charming 4* (or 5*) hotels in various cities.

• Welcome dinner on the first evening and breakfast on the last day

• Transportation within Turkey.

• Entrance fees to museums visited during the program.

• Evening dinner with a folkloric show in Cappadocia.

• Services of a Dutch-speaking tour guide, a university-educated guide.

Price Excludes:
• Drinks at hotels and restaurants,
• Optional tours, alcoholic beverages,
• Transportation within Europe,
• Entrance fees to museums visited during the program.
• Specialty lunch at restaurants for 7 days.
• Return flight tickets Europe/Turkey,
• Airport tax,
• Insurance.