Day 1, Fri: Istanbul
Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel
Day 2, Sat: 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 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 (B).
Optional: Dinner with belly dancing entertainment
Day 3, Sun: Istanbul-Gallipoli-Dardanelles-Canakkale
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 (B).
Day 4, Mon: Canakkale-Troy-Pergamum-Izmir
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 into 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 Izmir for overnight (B, L).
Optional: Dinner at local restaurant
Day 5, Tue: Izmir-Ephesus & St. Mary’s House-Izmir
Tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural center of the ancient world, and explore 2,000 year-old marble streets, the Theater, the Library of Celsius, the 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 (B, D).
Day 6, Wed: Izmir-Bodrum
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 2000s. Overnight in Bodrum (B).
Day 7, Thu: Bodrum
Day at leisure (B).
Optional: Day trip to Greek island Kos.
Day 8, Fri: Bodrum-Pamukkale
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 (B, D).
Day 9, Sat: Pamukkale-Antalya
After breakfast depart for Antalya. Dinner and overnight (B, D).
Day 10, Sun: Antalya-Perge-Aspendos-Antalya
In the morning visit Perge and Aspendos. Free in the afternoon (B, D).
Day 11, Mon: Antalya-Cappadocia
Early morning departure for Konya. On the way visit the 13th century Caravanserai and then the Underground City of Saratli. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia (B, D).
Day 12, Tue: 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. Dinner at a special local restaurant (B, D).
Tonight Optional: Whirling Dervishes performance
Day 13, Wed: Cappadocia-Ankara
Early morning departure to the capital city of Ankara through the salt lake area, Enjoy an afternoon tour with the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, a historic caravanserai, holding artifacts from up to 10.000 years old, including the most extensive and valuable collection of Hittite artifacts in the world. Dinner and overnight at Ankara (B, D).
Day 14, Thu: Ankara-Istanbul
After breakfast drive to Istanbul.
Afternoon Optional: Half day Bosphorus cruise enjoying 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. Finish your last minute shopping at the Spice Market filled with the fragrance of the exotic east.
Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner (B, D).
Day 15, Fri: Istanbul
Transfer to the airport (B).
Our Rates Include:
* Deluxe and superior class hotels with private facilities
* Meals where indicated
(B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner)
* English speaking licensed guides throughout the tour
* Private air-conditioned vehicle the size of which depends on the number of the participants
* Admission fees as per designated itinerary
* Local taxes and service charges
* Arrival and departure transfers – only – on the arrival and departure days
Our Rates Exclude:
* Personal expenses
* Optional tours
* Customary tips to the guides and drivers
