Experience the ancient, oriental cities of Turkey on a 15-day tour that will take you to all the exquisite sites of these metropolis’ cultural meccas! Delve into the stunning scenery and rich historic legacy of the country. Explore Turkey’s beautiful coastline, spectacular icons and experience legendary Turkish hospitality. You’ll marvel at Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar and Cappadocia’s memorizing landscape and much more on an absolute Turkish adventure!
Welcome to Turkey! Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Welcome briefing will be held.
Enjoy a full-day tour including a visit to Topkapi Palace Museum, the residence of the Ottoman 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. Next see St. Sophia, a church built in the 6th-century Byzantine capital, converted to a mosque by the Ottomans, and now a museum and one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Your last stop will be the famous Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and oldest covered market with over 60 streets. Join an optional dinner with belly dancing entertainment. Meals: B
In the morning, depart for Gallipoli, the site of many battles during WWI. Visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair, then cross the Dardanelles to Canakkale for overnight. Meals: B, D
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. Before arriving at Asclepion, enjoy lunch with locals in a traditional local village. Then continue to Pergamum to visit the ancient Medical Center in Asclepion and continue to İzmir for overnight. Optional: Dinner at a local restaurant. Meals: B, L
Tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural center 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. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Meals: B, D
After breakfast drive to Bodrum to visit the castle of St. Peter and the renowned Underwater Museum that was awarded the best Underwater Museum of the World in the 2000s. Dinner and Overnight in Bodrum. Meals: B, D
After breakfast, the day is free for personal activities. Optional day island Kos. Overnight in Bodrum. Meals: B
After breakfast, drive through lush valleys to Pamukkale, the Cotton Fortress, with white lime cascades formed by hot mineral springs. Visit ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis and enjoy a swim in your hotel’s thermal pool. Meals: B, D
After breakfast depart for Antalya, dinner and overnight. Meals: B, D
This morning visit Perge and Aspendos afternoon is free for personal activities. Dinner at the hotel. Meals: B, D
Early morning departure to Cappadocia on the way you will visit 13th-century Caravansaray and later visit the amazing underground city of Saratli. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. Meals: B, D
Early Morning Optional: Hot Air 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 were 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. Dinner at a special local restaurant. In the evening, join an optional Whirling Dervishes performance. Meals: B, D
Early morning departure to the capital city of Ankara through the salt lake area, Afterwards, enjoy an afternoon tour to 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. Dinner at a special local restaurant and overnight at Ankara. Meals: B, D
After breakfast depart for Istanbul. In the afternoon, join an optional half-day Bosphorus cruise enjoying 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. Finish your last-minute shopping at the Spice Market filled with the fragrance of the exotic east. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner. Meals: B, D
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home. Meals: B
Various Thursday Departures from March to October, 2020
