Day 1 - (Wednesday 19 December 2007) Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey, arrival into Istanbul for your transfer from airport & check in to your hotel. Tonight we have a welcome dinner. You will meet our friendly crew and other travellers while enjoying Turkish food and enjoy the mystical atmosphere of Istanbul at night.
 
Day 2 - (Thursday 20 December 2007) Istanbul - Ephesus
This morning we depart via domestic flight to Izmir. Pick up from Izmir Airport and transfer to Ephesus to view the ruins of Ephesus, 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. We will check in to our hotel and enjoy dinner. The rest of the night is yours to admire the city. Overnight in Kuşadasi/Ephesus
 
Day 3 - (Friday 21 December 2007) Kusadasi / Sirince Turkish Village
Today, we are going to visit a traditional Turkish Village, Sirince and you will have the chance to meet the locals and taste their local produce. Sirince is one of the Governments Protected Areas (G. R. A) of Izmir and so most of its original authentic buildings are well preserved, especially the two Churches in the village Centre . 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 the constant nagging and sometimes bullying that is well known in the markets of Turkey, enabling you to enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen. After having dinner at your hotel, you will have the free time to stroll in the city. Overnight in Kusadasi / Ephesus.
 
Days 4 - (Saturday 22 December 2007) Pamukkale
At 08:30 we depart for Pamukkale. We then arrive at Pamukkale for lunch. Afterwards we shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, then walk around this natural phenomenon and give you the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs. After our days activities we will check into our hotel in Pamukkale Dinner will be served at the hotel and the rest of the night is yours. Overnight in Pamukkale.
 
Day 5 -  (Sunday 23 December 2007) Pamukkale - Egirdir
You will have time this morning to lounge in the Thermal pools at your Hotel before we continue to Konya around 12:00. We then continue for our overnight stop in the small town of Egirdir, overlooking Turkey's 4th largest lake. Overnight in Egirdir.
 
Day 6 - (Monday 24 December 2007) Egidir - Cappadocia
Witness one of the most beautiful sunrises over the lake, followed by breakfast. We then drive along the ancient silk trade route, stopping at Caravanserays Sultanhani and Agzikarahan. We arrive in Cappadocia late afternoon. Check in to your hotel. After having some rest and then dinner, you will have the chance to go to the famous traditional Turkish Night, you will enjoy Whirling Dervishes, Belly Dancing & Traditional Turkish Folklore. We recommend it should not be missed.
 
Day 7 - (Tuesday 25 December 2007) Christmas Day
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 of 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 - (Wednesday 26 December 2007) Cappadocia
The beautiful horse country "Katpatuka," (as the Persians called her) is an unbelievable, enchanting and mysterious strip of land. Our guided tour will start at 09:30 and cover Avcilar, Pigeon Valley, Uçhisar Castle and the pottery village of Avanos . We have a lunch break in Avanos and then tour the Dervent Valley & Göreme Open Air Museum. Return to your hotel for dinner.Overnight in Cappadocia.
 
Day 9 - (Thursday 27 December 2007) Cappadocia - Istanbul
We depart for one of the most interesting sites of Cappadocia: Derinkuyu 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. This afternoon we will depart for Kayseri Airport to catch our plane for Istanbul. Check in to your hotel. Enjoy some rest & dinner. Free night. Overnight in Istanbul
 
Day 10 - (Friday 28 December 2007) Istanbul City Tour
We depart at 09:00 for the Istanbul city tour. We will begin with ancient Hippodrome, which was the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. We will then continue with Sultanahmet Mosque across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet. It is also known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles we then arrive to our last stop which is the famous Hagia Sophia. This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy Istanbul.
 
Day 11 - (Saturday 29 December 2007)
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 on another TAT Tours Tour. Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing TAT Tours Turkey.
 
Tour Includes
Professional English speaking tour guide throughout.
All transportation by private a/c coach
Domestic flights from Istanbul to Izmir
Domestic flights from Cappadocia to Istanbul
3 nights 4 star hotel accommodation in Istanbul
2 nights 4 star hotel accommodation in Kusadasi
1 night Thermal Hotel accommodation in Pamukkale
1 night 3 star hotel accommodation in Egridir
3 nights Cave hotel accommodation in Cappadocia
Ephesus Tours
Turkish Village Tour
Pamukkale Tour
Cappadocia Tour
Turkish Bath in Cappadocia
Istanbul City Tour
Christmas Party with Turkish cuisine and Turkish live music
All Accommodation includes breakfast
All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary

Christmas Tour 2007 Pricing and Booking
per person hotel double share	€   899.00
per person hotel single room	€ 1099.00