Simultaneously European, Muslim, and Middle Eastern, this is a land of friendly people, delicious cuisine, and absolutely awe-inspiring sights, from Istanbul to capital Ankara to Cappadoccia to Ephesus and beyond. (And have we got deals on ravishing rugs for you!).

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Istanbul boasts two of ´10 of the World´s Most Magnificent Mosques´

Zen zeee Hagia Sophia Its current iteration (above), now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built in 537 as the cathedral of Constantinople under the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, Hagia Sophia (Greek for "Holy Wisdom") was turned into a mosque by the Ottomans when they conquered the city 1453 and remained one until 1935, when it became a museum. The vast interior can hold up to 4,000 and among other elements features 107 massive columns; huge wooden roundels with Arabic calligraphy, added…

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Marvelous Marmaris, Turkey´s top beach city

  den-belitsky A tourist city on Turkey´s Mediterranean ¨Turquoise Coast¨ (aka the Turkish Riviera), between Antalya and Fethiye, Marmaris is located on a bay and surrounded on all sides by forested mountains, and has an ancient history - the Greek historian Herodotus cites its town walls being built 3,000 years ago. And thanks to a tourism boom it burgeoned from a sleepy fishing village of some 3,000 in the 1960s to a population of around 39,000 today, and during the tourist season that…

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Hot-air ballooning in Capadoccia

Wolfgang Moroder These days hot-air ballooning is well, hot - no doubt about it. There are great options all around the world, but one of the coolest and most distinctive is in the Capadoccia region of central Turkey, a 7½ -hour drive from Istanbul and 3½ from Ankara. That's because this adventure will float you over the “fairy chimneys”, rock formations of volcanic ash, lava and basalt that form impressive swirling spires. You can choose from standard to deluxe and private balloon flights in…

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Istanbul cited in 'Using Astrology to Plan Travel this Holiday Season'

fshok.com Still vibrant and popular today, the five-thousand-year-old art of astrology can identify, say, business and romantic opportunities or challenges. And those celestial bodies slinking about the stars can also help pinpoint optimal times and places for travel. And since destinations have their own astro-charts -- which interact with yours -- astrology can even serve as a kind of spiritual travel agent. It can tell you, for example, about places likely to be harmonious or challenging…

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Started by Jordan Simon
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  • Turkey Travel Bazaar February 13, 2012 at 3:23pm

    http://http://www.turkeytravelbazaar.com/217,best-of-turkey-9-day-t...

    DAY 1   Arrival in Istanbul  
             
             
          Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel.

    Overnight in Istanbul

    		  
             
      DAY 2   Bosphorus Cruise Tours  
             
          Breakfast at hotel after which we drive Eminonu Port to board the regular city boat for a 2 hour Bosphorous Cruise. Enjoy this relaxing cruise along the shoreline while your guide explains to you the history of sights seen while onboard. We then continue on land to visit the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace and then also visit Camlica Hill.

    Overnight in Istanbul

    		  
             
      DAY 3   Fly to Izmir / Ephesus Tour  
             
          06:00 Pick up from your hotel early in the morning
    07:45 Fly from Istanbul to Izmir
    08:15 You will be arriving at the Izmir airport a representative holding your name will be present to pick you up and transfer to Ephesus.
    you will begin the tour.

     Today we will visit the house of Virgin Mary, then Ephesus with the Library of Celsius, temple of Hadrian, agora and fantastic Greco-Roman theater and the Basilica of St. John..

    Overnight in Kusadasi

    		  
             
      DAY 4   Priene Miletus Didyma Tour  
             
          After Breakfast. Pick up from your hotel and continue to Priene Ancient City, The city was founded in the 2nd millennium BC in an unknown location nearby and then carried to its present location on the clifs around 350 BC. The visit of the archeological site requires some steep walking up after the car park, following a footpath and some steps through the Hellenistic city walls. Didyma Ancient City, In ancient times, these two cities were connected to each other by a sacred road that had statues located on either side of it. Medusa friezes of DidymaThe Didymaion, the temple of Apollo and its oracle at Didyma, had a considerable reputation in the ancient times. German archaeologists excavating at the site have shown that the earliest sanctuary here was built in the 8th century BC Milotus Ancient City, The city was built on the seashore in the ancient times. The Miletus people who had founded about 90 colonies in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, after 650 BC, had resisted the Persian invasions in Anatolia, but they were defeated finally and the city was destroyed by the Persians in 5th century BC

    Overnight in Kusadasi

    		  
             
      DAY 5   Pamukkale & Aphrodisias Tour / Bus to Cappadocia  
             
          Today we will visit the ancient site of Hierapolis, including theater, Apollo Temple and necropolis, then the calcium terraces of Pamukkale. Today we will also visit the Greco-Roman site of Aphrodisias.
    After the tour, you will be transferred to bus station.
    Overnight bus to Cappadocia. Duration: 10 Hours    		  
             
      DAY 6   Cappadocia Tour 1  
             
          Arrival in Cappadocia and transfer to hotel to fresh up before start tour.
    Depart from your hotel to visit Devrent Valley to see the unigue fairy-chimneys. Drive to Pasabag (Monk''s Valley) to see the most interesting mushroom-shaped pinnacles.Drive to the city of Avanos for lunch.In the afternoon visit another beautiful open air museum at Goreme where the remains of rock-cut churches and Christian settlements date back hundreds of years. Lastly, before returning to your hotel, visit the natural castles at Uchisar.

    Overnight in Cappadocia.    		  
             
      DAY 7   Cappadocia Tour 2  
             
          Depart from your hotel to visit Red valley,and explore the famous rock- cut churches and hike 5 km through the Gulludere valley (Rose valley). Then visit Cavusin village.This village is famous for the houses and churches of the christian clegymen. Drive to the pigeon valley for lunch. In the afternoon visit Kaymakli underground city. Where early christians lived in fear and faith. On the way back visit the natural castles at Ortahisar. At the end of the tour transfer to bus Airport Fly to ıstanbul.

    Pick up from Airport and transfer to hotel.

    Overnight in Istanbul.

    		  
             
      DAY 8   Istanbul Old City Tour  
             
          Today we will visit the St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. (St Sophia is closed on Monday) Continue to the Topkapi palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the elegant little Sokullu Pasa mosque and the hidden underground Theodosian Cistern (Or instead of the last two a visit to the Suleymaniye Mosque may be made). See the Grand Covered Bazaar. This tour may be done all or partially as a walking tour.
     

    Overnight in Istanbul.

    		  
             
      DAY 0   Istanbul  
             
          7:30 am. Arrival in Istanbul transfer to airport.

    Fly home

    		  
             
         

    Please take note of the following

    • 30% discount for children below the age 7, free for the ages 0-2
    • You are kindly requested to present your self at the pick up point 15 mnts before.

    What's Included

    Transfers

    • Arrival and Departure Domestic and International Transfers
    • Flight Tickets From Istanbul to Izmir, Cappadocia to Istanbul
    • 1 Overnight Bus Tickets from Pamukkale to Cappadocia
    • All Transportaiton by non-smoking and air-conditioned touristical vehicles

    Tours

    • Professional Guided Istanbul Old City Tour
    • Professional Guided Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Tour
    • Professional Guided Ephesus Tour
    • Professional Guided Priene Miletus Didyma Tour
    • Professional Guided Pamukkale and Aphrodisias Tour
    • Professional Guided North of Cappadocia Tour
    • Professional Guided Guided South of Cappadocia Tour
    • Museum Tickets
    • Professional English Speaking Tour Guide
    • All Transportation
    • Hotel pick up and drop off in Istanbul

    Hotels

    Local Taxes
    Service Charges
  • Ugur ILGAR December 9, 2011 at 10:34am
    The way of Luxury in Istanbul - Turkey for your Business - Leisure Trips, Exclusive Tours for Elite Travelers.
    Explore Istanbul & Turkey with our Exclusive Custom Tours, travel packages Tours, Vacation Packages, Holiday Packages.Luxury Istanbul most innovative-exciting luxury travel company in Turkey creates custom holidays, exclusive private tour packages. Luxury Airport Transfers in Istanbul by Concierge Deluxe Services of Luxury Istanbul, Event Planning By Luxury Istanbul, Luxury Weddings and vedding venues by Unique Weddings of Luxury Istanbul, Bosphorus Cruise Tour organisations for Individuals and larger groups.
  • inka piegsa-quischotte November 4, 2011 at 9:37am
    I would like to introduce my new literary travel guide to Istanbul. Title: Istanbul, City of the Green -Eyed Beauty. The 'guides' I follow in my book are writers Pierre Loti, Barbara Nadel and Orhan Pamuk, whose novels are set in Istanbul and who play out their plots in some very unusual and exciting parts of Istanbul. For a preview and summary, please visit this page of my blog: www.glamourgrannytravels.com/book. Links to where the book can be purchased (print or ebook) are at the end of the page.
    Welcome glamourgrannytravels.com - BlueHost.com
    Bluehost - Top rated web hosting provider - Free 1 click installs For blogs, shopping carts, and more. Get a free domain name, real NON-outsourced 24…
  • Murtaza Kalender October 7, 2011 at 10:02am
    Dear Colleague,

    How are you? Hope you had great business in 2011.

    We would like to extend our invitation to you to meet with us at the ExCel World Travel Market in London 7th – 10th November 2011 to discuss business cooperation together. 

    We are the Incoming and Outgoing Tour Operators, member of ASTA American Society of Travel Agents member, ETOA European Tour Operators Association, ATTA Adventure Travel Association, TURSAB Turkish Travel Agents Association, TIES The International EcoTourism Society  and WRTA World Religious Travel Association members..

    These days, we are excited about our international web-page that we recently finalized working on. With this new web-page, we can do incoming and outgoing together.
    Moreover, agencies and hotels has the opportunity to promote their services for free via our new system. You can also promote your agency, hotel, or yacht company from our web-page by being a member for free!

    Travel Agency Sign Up Form:
    www.travelshoptours.com/agent_sign_up/

    Hotel Sign Up Form:
    www.travelshoptours.com/hotel_sign_up/

    If you will attend the ETOA Workshop or WTM London, we can meet with you to talk about this new system in a more detailed way.

    Please visit us at WTM London between 7th and 10th November 2011, our stand number is EM 803
    Proposal for invitation to World Travel Market 7th - 10th November 2011, ExCel London
    www.travelshopturkey.com/wtm_london/invitation.asp

    Thank you for your interest in working with us. We look forward to doing business with you in the future. For additional information please do not hesitate to contact us - please see details provided below.

    Best Regards
    Murtaza Kalender
    General Manager

    Web        www.travelshopturkey.com    Email  info@travelshopturkey.com

    We are the tour operators & Travel Agency, member of : 9008661682?profile=original


    ISTANBUL Contact Office  Tel:   +9 0 212 529 77 08  Faks:+9 0 212 632 27 02   TURSAB:5291
    Combined business with:     www.anzacbooking.com, www.luxurytoursturkey.com,  www.religioustoursturkey.com, www.f1turkey.co.uk, www.ecotoursturkey.com  www.honeymoontoursturkey.com www.christmastoursturkey.com, www.budgettoursturkey.com, www.tatileli.com

  • Andrea Spirov September 18, 2011 at 11:44am
    I have completely fallen in love with Turkey on our recent trip there and can't wait to visit again (hopefully soon!) Here are the posts from our September Turkey trip
  • David Paul Appell September 9, 2011 at 7:00pm
    One of our members is looking for suggestions for tour operators/guides for independent shore excursions in Ephesus. If you'd like to help, please reply by clicking on this link to our...  Thanks!
  • David Paul Appell August 6, 2011 at 10:43pm
    Tripatini would like to thank Murtaza Kalender and his company Travel Shop Turkey for donating a wonderful ground package in Istanbul to our July 28 media "tweet-up" in New York City. Teşekkür ederim, Murtaza!
  • Ugur ILGAR July 20, 2011 at 9:08pm

    Luxury Istanbul; most innovative & exciting luxury holiday specialist and a luxury travel company in Turkey creates custom luxury holidays, exclusive tours for business and leisure travelers.

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  • Ed Wetschler July 16, 2011 at 6:00am
    Buzzy, ask Tom how to get in touch.
  • Buzzy Gordon July 16, 2011 at 5:35am
    Good tip -- except when a travel writer needs to contact the Tourism Turkey media relations person.
This reply was deleted.

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