Private 3 Day Tour of Ankara Konya and Cappadocia From Istanbul

Private 3 Day Tour of Ankara Konya and Cappadocia From Istanbul

“Come, whoever you are, for this is not the door of despair.” This is the universal message of Mawlana (meaning “Our beloved Lord”) Jellaleddin Al Rumi, the great philanthropist, Islamic philosopher, mystic and the founder of the Whirling Dervishes’ order who lived in Konya, the Anatolian capital of the Great Selçuk Empire, during the 13th century. His poems, teaching love among mankind and good manners, His poems have been widely translated into many of the world's languages and transposed into various formats; He has been described as the "most popular poet in America" in 2007.

The visit to Konya will not only be an unforgettable trip to where this mystic lived, loved, preached and died; but it will also be a journey to the depths of your soul.

Day 1

Your private guide and vehicle will be waiting for you for an early morning transfer to the airport. Following the flight to Ankara, you will travel by car to Konya, home to some most elaborate examples of Turkish Islamic art and architecture.You will visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana (with an opportunity to see practicing Dervishes); as well as the 13th century theological schools of Karatay and İnce Minare. Overnight in Cappadocia

Day 2

After the breakfast, you will visit the open-air Museum of Göreme with its churches carved out of rock and one of a kind frescoes; as well as the Karanlık Church, which recently been restored and announced as one of the World’s treasures by UNESCO

Other sites to visit will be the Soğanlı Valley, Çavuşin Village and Paşabağ Valley with Fair Chimneys; as well as the Underground City of Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu, and the Citadel of Uçhisar. You will then see the Pigeon Valley, the Avcilar Valley, the Zelve Valley and Avanos, the pottery village. Dinner and overnight stay in Cappadocia. (Optional tours to a simple wine house or to a local folkloric performance after dinner are available).

Day 3

After the breakfast, you will visit the Ihlara Valley. You may enjoy an optional lunch in a local restaurant with a selection of local wines; before leaving Cappadocia at noon and drive to Ankara via the famous Salt Lake, a vast ocean of white. The drive takes almost 4 hours, with optional lunch on the way, at the 13th Century Ağzıkarahan Caravanserai of Selçuks.

Upon arrival to Ankara, you will take an evening flight to Istanbul, where you will be transferred to your hotel.