Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at Istanbul airport. Meet our representative and transfer to your hotel in Istanbul. Free day at your own leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2: Istanbul Old City tour (B)
After breakfast, you enjoy a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents, visiting the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, and the Hippodrome. Cruise between two continents on the stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia in the afternoon with an optional Half day Bosphorous cruise. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3: Gallipoli Battlefields (B, D)
One of the most emotionally touching places in Turkey, today we visit the WWI Battlefields of Gallipoli including Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, The Nek, Johnston’s Jolly, original trenches, and tunnels. Overnight in Canakkale.
Day 4: Troy, Acropolis of Pergamon (B, D)
After breakfast at your hotel departure to Troy, that much-excavated site that has yielded pieces of history from 4000BC to about 300AD. We will see 3700-year-old city walls, houses from Troy I (3000BC–2500BC), the Bouleuterium (the Senate Building), The Odeon (Concert Hall), sacrificial altars, the remains of cities from Troy I through Troy IX, current excavation sites, and, of course, the replica of the Trojan Horse. Following our tour of Troy, we will head to Pergamon where we will visit its Acropolis and the Asclepion. After the tour of Pergamon, we will head to Kusadasi where we will spend the night. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 5: Ephesus Tour (B, D)
Absorb yourself in history today with a guided tour of Ephesus and a visit to the site of the Temple of Artemis. Feel the mystical atmosphere of the ancient city and theatre before continuing to the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for its fruit wines. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and at the carpet village, we learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 6: Pamukkale, Hierapolis (B, D)
This morning we will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods before heading to the magnificent white calcium terraces, known as Travertines, in Pamukkale where we also tour the ancient city of Hierapolis. Take a dip, amongst ancient columns, in the hot springs that were used in Roman times for their therapeutic powers. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Day 7: Silk Road, Konya Tour (B, D)
Today we travel the ancient Silk Road visiting Sultanhani Caravansary and the Mevlana museum in Konya along the way. Tonight, don’t miss the optional traditional Turkish folklore evening! Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 8: Cappadocia – Goreme and Underground City Tour (B, D)
Marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia today as we visit the Goreme Valley Open Air Museum and the fairy chimneys, and explore the many levels of an underground city. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 9: Cappadocia – Ankara – Istanbul (B)
Early morning departure to the nation’s capital, Ankara where we visit Anitkabir, the mausoleum of the famed Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, before returning to Istanbul. Overnight Istanbul.
Day 10: Farewell (B)
After breakfast, our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends and are transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
