Turkey: A Fusion of Asia and Europe

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1: HA NOI – ISTANBUL

Vietravel car and guide pick up guests at 3 Hai Ba Trung, the group goes to the airport to catch a flight to Istanbul, the most famous city in Turkey, and is nicknamed the cultural capital of Europe.

The flight is scheduled with Turkish Airlines.

DAY 2: ISTANBUL- CANAKKALE (Lunch, dinner)

The tour group arrived at Istanbul International Airport. A car and a guide welcomed the group and took them on a sightseeing tour of Istanbul:

- Blue Mosque - one of the most beautiful mosques in the world.

- Hagia Sophia, now a museum, is a magnificent structure. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

Afterwards, the visitors continued their sightseeing tour of Topkapi Palace - a historical complex in Istanbul recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1985. Topkapi Palace was built in the 15th century. The palace is vast, capable of accommodating over 4,000 servants for the sultans. The palace served as the living, working, and recreational quarters for the Ottoman Emperors.

A vehicle transported the visitors to Canakkale across the Canakkale 1915 Bridge - the world's longest suspension bridge connecting Asia and Europe, inaugurated in March 2022.

Dinner and overnight stay in Canakkale

DAY 3: CANAKKALE - KUSADASI (Three meals)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for sightseeing:

- Troy Ancient City - admire one of the world's famous historical sites - the Trojan Horse famous in the Iliad epic. Guests will take memorable photos here.

The group continues to Kusadasi, passing by Acropolis of Roman City, taking photos here.

- Visit Asklepion ancient hospital

Along the way, guests enjoy the beauty of the Aegean Sea, with olive trees planted on the island between Greece and Turkey.

After lunch, the group continues to Kusadasi. If time permits, the group will stop to visit the tea factory in Kusadasi.

Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Kusadasi.

DAY 4: KUSADASI - PAMUKKALE (Three meals)

Breakfast at the hotel. The vehicle and guide will take the group to the ancient city of Ephesus, known as the place where the Virgin Mary and Saint John lived and died.

Visit the ancient city of Selcuk and Ephesus with stone architectural works such as the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Marble Street and the Agora.

Lunch at a local restaurant. The group continues to visit:

The Temple of Artemis, dedicated to the goddess of hunting, the daughter of Zeus - one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.

Depart to Pamukkale, also known as the Cotton Castle, a city in southwest Turkey. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site - with the mesmerizing beauty of hot springs that have flowed naturally for thousands of years, creating turquoise pools on a white rock base, a unique natural wonder.

Visit and take photos of the Cotton Castle.

Visit the remnants of the ancient city of Hierapolis - a World Cultural Heritage site (recognized by UNESCO in 1988).

Dinner at a local restaurant. Check in to the hotel in Pamukkale for rest.

DAY 5: PAMUKKALE – KONYA - CAPPADOCIA (Three meals)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure to Konya, the ancient capital of Turkey in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Visit the traditional Caravanserai hotel with a 700-year history, (a stop on the legendary Silk Road).

Visit the Mevlana Museum with a conical-roofed dome in blue, a symbol of Konya. Mevlana Museum, also known as the mausoleum of Turkey's greatest philosopher.

Continue to Cappadocia. The group will check into the hotel.

Dinner at the restaurant, free time to relax.

DAY 6: CAPPADOCIA (Three meals)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Early in the morning, guests can register to participate in **Cappadocia hot air balloon sunrise viewing** - known as one of the best hot air balloon tourism destinations in the world (self-expense). Hot air balloon schedule depends on weather conditions

- Visiting **Kaymakli underground city** - one of the 40 largest and deepest underground cities in Cappadocia - where a system of underground towns with complete houses, churches, and food storage areas hidden deep in the rock are found.

- Shopping at the largest carpet factory in Turkey.

**- Pigeon House** - a place with many pigeons, and locals have made houses dug into the mountain walls for pigeons to shelter and breed.

- Taking pictures at **Uchisar village**, built on the hilltop, with houses, restaurants, hotels, shops... dug deep into the mountainside, forming a unique residential area in the world.

**- Avanos ancient village** which still preserves two famous traditional crafts: carpet weaving and pottery.

Guests have the opportunity to admire the **Turkish gemstone exhibition** by designer Marco Polo.

Dinner at a local restaurant, watching the **traditional Turkish belly dance performance**.

Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

DAY 7: CAPPADOCIA- ISTANBUL (Three meals)

After breakfast, the group goes to Kayseri domestic airport to take a flight to the largest city in Turkey - Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, guests will visit:

- The magnificent underground water cistern under Istanbul - Underground Water Cistern - The entire ceiling of this huge water palace is supported by 336 large stone columns, creating beautiful arches, which can only be seen in European churches and monasteries.

- The Hippodrome Constantinople chariot racing track, 450 meters long and 150 meters wide, built in the 3rd century AD during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus, with a capacity of over 40,000.

Dinner at a local restaurant. Check into the hotel. Free time to explore Istanbul at night.

DAY 8: ISTANBUL - HA NOI (Three meals)

After breakfast, the tour takes a boat trip across the Bosphorus Strait, enjoying the scenery on both sides of the strait, Golden Horn harbor, Dolmabahce Palace, and the famous Bosphorus Bridge connecting the two continents of Asia and Europe.

- Dolmabahce Palace - This European-style architectural masterpiece was built by Sultan Abdul Mecid in 1854 and was once the residence of many sultans. Today, it is a museum and is used for important meetings and conferences.

- Take photos at Rumeli and Anatolian hills and enjoy the panoramic views of Istanbul city.

Afterwards, guests return to Istanbul.

- Visit the Grand Bazaar, with over 4000 shops covering various areas, each specializing in different goods such as leather clothing, gold and silver jewelry, tableware, carpets, and souvenirs, etc.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Depart for the airport to return to Vietnam with unforgettable memories of a vibrant, modern, yet mysterious Turkey. Scheduled flight: ISTAN - 02:20 15:25

DAY 9: HA NOI

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, a Vietravel vehicle will transfer you back to Vietravel Company - No. 3 Hai Ba Trung. The tour concludes.

Note:

- Daily distances and durations are for reference purposes from the Google Maps system. They may vary based on actual traffic conditions.

- Any abandonment or non-use of services abroad will not result in a refund, as all services have been prepaid. According to the agreement with the Turkish partner, you will be on a tour throughout the journey. If you wish to leave the group, please inform us in advance and pay an extra US$100 per person per day.

Pricing for Children

- Children under 2 years old: 30% of the adult tour price.
- Children from 2 to under 12 years old: 85% of the adult tour price (without a separate bed).
- Children from 2 to under 12 years old: 100% of the adult tour price (with a separate bed).
- Children 12 years old and over: 100% of the adult tour price.
- In case there is only 1 guest (adult) traveling with 1 child (under 12 years old), please pay 100% of the tour fee to get a separate bed for the child and 2 people will have a separate room.

Tour Change and Cancellation Policy

- After paying, if you want to change/cancel the tour, please bring the Travel Voucher to the tour registration office to complete the change/cancellation procedures and bear the cancellation fees according to Vietravel's regulations. Do not handle cases of contacting to change/cancel the tour by phone.
- The tour cancellation time is calculated for working days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
- For customers who register for the tour early and cancel the tour before submitting the visa application: The non-refundable fee is 5,000,000 VND/guest.
- In case you have submitted a visa application, please pay a fee of: 10,000,000 VND (including visa fee, document processing, air ticket deposit, ...)
- If you are granted a Schengen visa (before Vietravel issues the air ticket) but for any reason you cannot join the tour, please pay a fee of 40,000,000 VND/person, Vietravel will notify the Embassy to cancel your Schengen visa.
In case the group does not have enough number of guests (minimum 15 guests) granted a Schengen visa - Vietravel will advise you to attend on a nearby departure date - In case you cannot attend on the new departure date, the non-refundable fee is the visa fee ~ 5,000,000 VND/guest for US tours and 6,000,000 VND/guest for European and Australian tours. - More than 30 days before departure: The cost of changing/canceling the tour is 50% of the tour deposit.
- 20-29 days before departure: The cost of changing/canceling the tour is 100% of the tour deposit.
- If you cancel the trip immediately after the Embassy/Consulate has issued a visa (for countries requiring a visa): The cancellation fee is 100% of the tour deposit.
- 14-19 days before departure: The cancellation fee is 50% of the tour price.
- 10-13 days before departure: The cancellation fee is 70% of the tour price.
- 2-9 days before departure: The cancellation fee is 90% of the tour price.
- Within 1 day before departure: The cancellation fee is 100% of the tour price.

Cancellation Policy for Public Holidays and Tet

- Tours during holidays are tours that take place on public holidays.
- More than 45 days before departure: The cost of changing/canceling the tour is 50% of the tour deposit.
- 31-44 days before departure: The cost of changing/canceling the tour is 100% of the tour deposit.
- If you cancel the trip immediately after the Embassy/Consulate has issued a visa (for countries requiring a visa): The cancellation fee is 100% of the tour deposit.
- 25-30 days before departure: The cancellation fee is 50% of the tour price.
- 11-24 days before departure: The cancellation fee is 70% of the tour price.
- Within 10 days: The cancellation fee is 100% of the tour price.
For holidays: The cancellation penalty will depend on the regulations of airlines and service providers abroad.