Bonita Tour Travel Agency

2015 Turkey Trailblazer

Day 1              Saturday                                  Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul! You will be transferred to your hotel and the remainder of the day is yours, free to explore. Overnight Istanbul

Day 2              Sunday                                      Istanbul Old City

After breakfast, you enjoy a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents, visiting the Blue Mosque, the Aya Sofya, Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome.

Overnight Istanbul (B)

Day 3              Monday                                     Iznik, Bursa

Today depart to Bursa, enjoying beautiful landscapes shaped by the temperate climate of the region surrounding the Sea of Marmara. Stop in Iznik, ancient Nicea, famous for its historical blue tile production. Continue to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman empire. Visit YeÅŸil Türbe (Green Tomb) so named because of the green tiles covering the edifice, Yesil Cami and Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque). Around this mosque are the traditional markets of the city, including Koza Han, the silk bazaar.

Overnight in Bursa. (B, D)

Day 4              Tuesday                                    Gordion, Ankara

This morning we depart for Ankara the modern capital of Turkey. On the way we visit the site of ancient Gordion, once the capital of the kingdom of Phrygia where Alexander the Great cut the famous knot. The kings of Phrygia built large tombs near Gordion. Artificial mounds built over wooden burial chambers and called tumuli. We vist the largest one, which is said to belong to the legendary King Midas. Upon arrival in Ankara in the late afternoon, enjoy a panoramic tour of the city and visit Anitkabir - the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the national leader and founder of the Turkish Republic.

Overnight Ankara. (B)

Day 5              Wednesday                              Ankara, Cappadocia

This morning we visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, an award winning museum located near the ancient citadel of Ankara and then continue on to Cappadocia. We stop in the town of Hacibektas, where Haji Bektash Veli, the Anatolian mystic, humanist, and philosopher and founder of the Bektasi order, lived most of his life. Visit the Bektashi Order Museum and the Tomb of Haji Bektash Veli.

Overnight Cappadocia (B, D)

Day 6              Thursday                                  Cappadocia, Goreme, Underground City

Marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia through the Goreme Valley Open Air Museum, the fairy chimneys and explore the many levels of an underground city.

Overnight Cappadocia (B, D)

Day 7              Friday                                        Hattusa, Yazilikaya, Alacahoyuk

After breakfast, we drive via Kozakli to the city of Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age. First we visit Yazilikaya, the ruins of the open air temple where there are rock carvings of Hitites gods. Then we go to Hattusa, ‘the Great Temple’, the city ruins including the Lions’ Gate and the Royal Gate and the summer palace of Hitites. Then we drive to Alacahoyuk seeing the Sphinx Gate and the Royal Tombs.

Overnight Corum (B, D)

Day 8              Saturday                                  Corum, Amasya

After breakfast, we drive to Amasya in the mountains beyond the Black Sea coast, in a narrow valley along the banks of the Yesilirmak River. Its a fortified city high on the cliffs above the river. It has a long history as a provincial capital, a wealthy city producing kings and princes from the kings of Pontus, through Strabo the geographer, to many generations of the Ottoman imperial dynasty.

Overnight Amasya (B, D)

Day 9              Sunday                                      Vezirkopru, Duragan , Sinop

This morning, we are driving to Sinop via Duragan and Vezirkopru, At the breakup of Alexander's empire the Vezirköprü region became part of the kingdom of Pontos with its capital at Amaseia (Amasya), later at Sinop.

Overnight Sinop (B, D)

Day 10           Monday                                     Akliman, Hamsilos, Erfelek Waterfall

We depart from our hotel and visit Akliman Cove, Hamsilos Bay which offers rich natural beauty with green forests, colorful flowers and small inland bays. Military ships took strategic advantage of the bay’s hidden location during the First World War. Lastly we visit, Erfelek Waterfall where you will be able to trek through the park and find many cascading waterfalls and other beautiful natural scenes.

Overnight Sinop (B, D)

Day 11           Tuesday                                    Ayancik, Abana, Inebolu, Kastamonu

Early in the morning heading Ayancik town , a pretty district of Sinop, than driving to Abana. Opportunity to have a walk at the amazing coast and to have a tea at the seaside. Heading toward Inebolu and visit “Gazi Ä°nebolu” district. Inebolu, with its wooden houses reflecting Rum (Byzantine or Ottoman Greek) architecture, dark green nature and excellent coastline, amazes the visitors. Lastly drive to Kastamonu and overnight.

Overnight Kastamonu (B, D)

Day 12           Wednesday                              Kastamonu, Araç, Safranbolu

After visiting Kastamonu city center, where is one of the rare cities where you can find great examples of traditional Turkish houses, we drive to Safranbolu via town of Araç.

Overnight Safranbolu. (B, D)

Day 13           Thursday                                  Safranbolu, Amasra

After breakfast, we start our tour from Hidirlik Hill to get a city view and discover the well-preserved wooden houses in Safranbolu. Cinci Inn & Bath, Old goverment building, Clock tower, Arasta bazaar. Then we will get to know about traditional handicraft shops. In the afternoon we drive to Amasra and visit the Roman Castle & Walls, wood-carving handicraft bazaar and outer & inner piers of the city.

Overnight Safranbolu. (B, D)

Day 14           Friday                                        Akcakoca, Istanbul

Today, we drive to Akcakoca and visit Old town of Akçakoca on a gentle hill is a well preserved neighbourhood of traditional houses of wood and firebricks, lining square-shaped blocks. Before driving to Istanbul we visit the castle, which is one of the series of castles built by the Genoese along the coast of Black Sea.

Overnight Istanbul. (B)

Day 15           Saturday                                  Istanbul

After breakfast our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends and are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (B)