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Overview
- Topkapi Palace
- Grand Bazaar, world’s largest and oldest covered market
- Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara
- Saratli, a hidden underground city
- Open Air Museum of Goreme, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Hiking through the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia
- Pamukkale the Cotton Castle
- Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary
- Ancient city of Troy
- Anzac Cove at Gallipoli
- Special dinners at restaurants
Detailed Itinerary
Upon arrival you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. Welcome briefing.
Enjoy a full day tour including a visit to Topkapi Palace Museum, residence of the Otto- man Sultans between 1453–1852 (excluding Harem). Visit the Hippodrome, which was once the center of life where chariot racing and other public events took place. Tour the Blue Mosque built between 1609 and 1616, famous for its blue ceramic tiles. Your last stop St. Sophia, a church built in the 6th century Byzantine capital, converted to a mosque by the Ottomans, still inhibited as a mosque in the present day and one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Join an optional dinner with belly dancing entertainment. B
Meal: Breakfast
This morning depart on an optional Bosphorus cruise and enjoy the strait that separates Asia and Europe. Its shores are lined with fine neighborhoods, Ottoman palaces, fortresses, old wooden villas, hotels, parks and gardens, restaurants and cafés. The tour will be ended in Asian side and drive to the capital city Ankara for overnight. B D
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, a historic caravanserai holding artifacts from up to 7500 years old including the most extensive and valuable collection of Hittite artifacts in the world. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. Drive to Cappadocia, touring a 13th century caravanserai en route. Pay a visit to the under- ground city of Saratli, one of the many underground settlements built for protection and religious reasons. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and join an optional Whirling Dervishes performance. Overnight in Cappadocia. B D
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
Consider an optional early morning hot air balloon tour and experience floating through volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves at sunrise. After breakfast visit Goreme, a historical region of Turkey, located among the rock formations, which was first settled back in the Roman period. Many rock churches can still be seen today, as Christianity was then the prevailing religion in that region. Continue to the town of Avanos renowned for its high quality earthenware. Also visit Pasabagi, Red Valley and attend a brief regional pottery workshop in a cave. B D
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
Drive to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. B D
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
Visit the unique cotton fortress of Pamukkale, with its white lime cascades formed by mineral springs, and the ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis. Proceed to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. B D
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
Tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural center of the ancient world, and explore 2,000 year-old marble streets, a theater, the Library of Celsius, a gymnasium and Hadrian’s Temple. Take a short drive to see St. Mary’s stone cottage where it is believed Virgin Mary spent her last years accompanied by St. John. Continue to a regional rug production center to have a firsthand experience of this unique art form. Join an optional afternoon tour of Sirince. B D
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
Visit the ancient Medical Center Asclepion in Pergamum and then continue to Troy with its famous wooden horse, best known for being the setting of the Trojan War and many cities built on top of each other. Continue to Canakkale for overnight. B D
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
In the morning depart for Gallipoli, the site of many battles WW1. Visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk, and then drive to Istanbul Visit to Grand Bazaar. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner. Overnight in Istanbul. B D
Meal: Breakfast and Dinner
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home. B
Meal: Breakfast
Gallery
Inclusions
- First and Moderate Class hotels with private facilities
- Meals are indicated on itineraries by B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner
- Licensed guides throughout Turkey
- Private air-conditioned transportation
- Luggage handling
- Local taxes and service charges
- Arrival/departure transfers: only on arrival and departure days (arrivals and departure from/to Istanbul Airport). Pre or post stay transfers are not included
Exclusions
International / Domestic Airfare
Optional activities
Other meals, drinks, customary tips and other personal expenses or services not specified on the program
Personal equipment
Travel insurance
Gratuities
Voluntary tips for guides or drivers
Travel and medical insurance
Any items not mentioned as included
Pre or post stay transfers are not included.
Notes
Hotels Used
First Class
Istanbul - Movenpick Bosphorus
Ankara - Divan Hotel
Cappadocia - Mustafa Hotel
Pamukkale - Adempira
Izmir - Kaya Thermal
Canakkale - Kolin
Moderate Class
Istanbul - Melas Hotel
Ankara - Park inn Radisson
Cappadocia - Perissia
Pamukkale - Adempira
Izmir - BW Konak
Canakkale - Iris