11 DAY CLASSICS OF TURKEY TOUR
Istanbul – Istanbul
DEPARTS ISTANBUL, SATURDAYS, 09 JANUARY – 25 DECEMBER 2021
Tour is guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 2 and a maximum 44 passengers.
(2021 Printer Friendly Version PDF)
Day 1 (Saturday) ISTANBUL
Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the hotel. A welcome briefing will be held this evening.
Day 2 (Sunday) ISTANBUL
Enjoy a full day tour including a visit to Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans between 1453 and 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 will be the famous Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and oldest covered market with over 60 streets. Optional: Dinner with belly dancing entertainment. (B)
Day 3 (Monday) ISTANBUL / ANKARA
An optional Bosphorus cruise enjoying the strait separating Asia and Europe. Its shores are lined with fine neighbourhoods, Ottoman palaces, fortresses, wooden villas, hotels, parks, gardens, restaurants and cafés. Depart for the capital city of Ankara for overnight. (B,D)
Day 4 (Tuesday) ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA
Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, a historic caravanserai holding artefacts from up to 7500 years old including the most extensive and valuable collection of Hittite artefacts in the world. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. Drive to Cappadocia touring a 13th century caravanserai en-route. Visit the underground city of Saratli, one of the many underground settlements built for protection and religious reasons. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Cappadocia. Optional: Evening Whirling Dervishes performance. (B,D)
Day 5 (Wednesday) CAPPADOCIA
Early Morning Optional: Balloon Tour, experience floating through volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves at sunrise. After breakfast visit historical Goreme, located among the rock formations, which was first settled in the Roman period. Many rock churches can still be seen today as Christianity was then the prevailing religion in the 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. (B,D)
Day 6 (Thursday) CAPPADOCIA / PAMUKKALE
Drive to Pamukkale. Overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)
Day 7 (Friday) PAMUKKALE / KUSADASI
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)
Day 8 (Saturday) KUSADASI / EPHESUS & VIRGIN MARY’S HOUSE / KUSADASI
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 Celsus, a gymnasium and Hadrian’s Temple. Take a short drive to see the stone cottage where it is believed Virgin Mary spent her last years accompanied by St. John. Continue to a regional rug production centre for a firsthand experience of this unique art form. Optional: afternoon tour of Sirince. (B,D)
Day 9 (Sunday) KUSADASI / PERGAMON / TROY / CANAKKALE
Tour the Asclepion ancient medical centre in Pergamon. Have lunch with the locals in a traditional village. Then visit 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 (Monday) CANAKKALE / DARDANELLES / GALLIPOLI / ISTANBUL
In the morning depart for Gallipoli. Visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair and then drive to Istanbul to visit the Grand Bazaar. Enjoy a farewell dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Day 11 (Tuesday) ISTANBUL
After breakfast, transfer to the airport (B) END OF TOUR.
(B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
| 2021 Departure Dates Saturdays |
Per Person in Double |
Per Person in Single |
Per Person in Triple |
| January: 9, 30 February: 13, 27 March: 6, 20, 27 |
AUD 1665 | AUD 2335 | AUD 1595 |
| April: 3, 10, 24 May: 8, 22, 29 June: 5, 19, 26 July: 3, 17, 31 August: 14, 28 September: 11, 25 October: 2, 9, 23 |
AUD 1930 | AUD 2835 | AUD 1805 |
| November: 6, 13, 20 December: 4, 18, 25 |
AUD 1635 | AUD 2400 | AUD 1525 |
Tour Includes: Accommodation in listed hotels (or similar); Daily breakfast & 8 dinners; 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 – Renaissance Bosphorus, Ankara – Swissotel; Cappadocia – Crowne Plaza Nevsehir, Pamukkale – Colossae Hotel, Kusadasi – Charisma Hotel, Canakkale – Kolin Hotel
