11 day Classics of Turkey Tour

11 DAY CLASSICS OF TURKEY TOUR
Istanbul – Istanbul

***BOOKING SPECIAL***
Book and Pay in Full by TUESDAY 25 JUNE 2024:

DEPARTS ISTANBUL, SUNDAYS, 21 JANUARY – 24 DECEMBER 2024

Tour is guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 2 and a maximum 35passengers.

(2024 Printer Friendly Version PDF)

Included Tour Highlights:
– 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

Day 1 (Sunday)                      ISTANBUL

Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the hotel. A welcome briefing will be held this evening.

Day 2 (Monday)                     ISTANBUL

Enjoy a full day tour including a visit to Topkapi Palace Museum, residence of the Ottoman Sultans between 1453–1852 (excluding Harem). Visit the Hippodrome, which was once the centre 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)

Day 3  (Tuesday)                   ISTANBUL / ANKARA

This morning depart on an optional Bosphorus cruise and enjoy the strait that separates Asia and Europe. Its shores are lined with fine neighbourhoods, 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)

Day 4 (Wednesday)               ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA

Visit 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 underground 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)

Day 5 (Thursday)                  CAPPADOCIA

Early Morning Optional: Balloon Tour, 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)

Day 6 (Friday)                        CAPPADOCIA / PAMUKKALE

Drive to Pamukkale. Overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)

Day 7 (Saturday)                   PAMUKKALE / IZMIR

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 Izmir for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 8 (Sunday)                      IZMIR / EPHESUS & VIRGIN MARY’S HOUSE / IZMIR

Tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural centre of the ancient world, and explore 2,000 year-old marble streets, a theatre, 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)

Day 9 (Monday)                     IZMIR / PERGAMON / TROY / CANAKKALE

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)

Day 10 (Tuesday)                  CANAKKALE / DARDANELLES / GALLIPOLI / ISTANBUL

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)

Day 11 (Wednesday)             ISTANBUL

After breakfast, transfer to the airport (B) END OF TOUR.

Tour Includes:

First Class Hotels in listed hotels (or similar);
Daily breakfast, 8 dinners (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner);
Arrival (Day 1) & departure (Day 11) transfers from/to Istanbul airport;
Licensed English speaking guides and entrance fees;
Air-conditioned vehicles;
Luggage handling;
Local taxes and service charges

Superior first class hotels with private facilities used (or similar):

Istanbul – Movenpick Bosphorus,
Ankara – Divan Ankara,
Cappadocia – Mustafa,
Pamukkale – Adempira,
Izmir – Kara Thermal,
Canakkale – Kolin

THE OPERATOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER HOTELS AND ITINERARY IF NECESSARY.