Best of Turkey Tour - 13 days
Small Group Tour / Guaranteed departures
Accommodation in Superior First Class Hotels (4-5 star)
• Istanbul (2) • Canakkale (1) •
Kusadasi (2) • Pamukkale (1) • Antalya (2) • Konya (1)
• Cappadocia (2)
• Ankara (1)
Category:
Cultural group tour, Comprehensive, Scenic Land Journey
Day 1: Arrive Istanbul
Arrive at Ataturk airport in Istanbul and transfer to our hotel.
Meet tour guide for welcome briefing.
Overnight: Istanbul Hotel
Day 2: Istanbul City Tour (B)
After breakfast, we will begin our full day sightseeing tour of
Istanbul. We will visit Topkapi Palace, stunning palace/museum
which was the imperial residence and the administrative center
of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years. Later we will
explore the ancient Roman Hippodrome (center of the chariot
races) and proceed to the Hagia Sophia, ancient Byzantine church
which was converted to a mosque in 15th century. This is a
remarkable structure where you can see the Christian mosaics and
fine examples of Islamic calligraphy next to each other. We will
continue our Sultanahmet tour with the Blue Mosque which is
famous for its six minarets and beautiful blue Iznik tiles.
Finally we will stop at Grand Covered Bazaar and will have free
time to discover 4000 tiny shops in the passageways of the
world’s largest covered bazaar. You can enjoy local tastes in
one of the little snack shops where locals stop to refresh
before they continue drifting in the alleys of the bazaar.
Transfer to hotel.
Optional Tours: 1) Visit Harem and the Imperial Treasury in
Topkapi Palace. 2) ‘Istanbul by Night’ Dinner with belly
dancing.
Overnight: Istanbul Hotel
Day 3: Gallipoli - Dardanelles -
Canakkale (B, D)
Breakfast at hotel and departure for Canakkale. En route to
Gallipoli, we will visit World War I battlefields, Anzac Cove,
Chunuk Bair, Lone pine Cemetery and Kabatepe War Museum. Then we
will take the ferry across the Dardanelles Strait to Canakkale
for overnight.
Overnight: Canakkale Hotel
Day 4: Troy - Pergamum - Kusadasi
(B, D)
After breakfast we will drive to Troy, Homer’s legendary city in
Iliad and Odyssey. We will see Troy's legendary walls and
replica of the famous wooden horse used during the Trojan War.
Then we will drive to Pergamum, the ancient city of learning,
arts and medicine. Pergamum was home of the famous physician
Galen and the city where parchment was invented. In well restored
Pergamum, we will see the ruins of the magnificent Acropolis,
Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysus and the steepest amphitheater
of the ancient world. After our tour we will continue to Kusadasi for overnight.
Overnight: Kusadasi Hotel
Day 5: Ephesus & St. Mary’s House -
Kusadasi (B, D)
After breakfast begin tour of glorious Greco-Roman ruins of
Ephesus, one of the best preserved classical city of the Eastern
Mediterranean dated back to 2000 years BC. We will walk along
the sacred marble street connecting the Great Theater with the
library of Celsius. We will see the Commercial Agora and walk
along the marble Curetes Street which has beautiful mosaics
paved on sidewalks, explore the gymnasium, visit temple of
Hadrian, and lots of other interesting monuments of the old
Roman city. Later we will drive to the hilltop where we visit
the miraculously discovered Virgin Mary’s House. Return hotel for dinner and overnight.
Optional Tours: 1) Tour to Sardis; it is one of the Seven
Churches of Revelation and also famous for the marble paved
ancient Synagogue 2) Trip to nearby mountain village Sirince,
stone-and-stucco houses with red-tile roofs, incredible
varieties of fruit wines, narrow streets with colorful shops.
Overnight: Kusadasi Hotel.
Day 6: Kusadasi - Pamukkale (B,
D)
Today we will drive through the valleys to Pamukkale, ancient spa center
and the unique natural site of white limestone terraces
cascading down the mountain slope. Then we will visit the
‘Sacred City’ Hierapolis; it is a World Heritage Site, and a
"must-see" location with the largest Necropolis (large cemetery
of monumental tombs) in Anatolia, temple of Apollo, Plutonion
cave, theater, and a thermal pool in which you can swim with
ancient artifacts. In the evening you will have time to relax and
experience the thermal pool of our hotel.
Overnight: Pamukkale Hotel
Day 7: Pamukkale - Perge - Antalya (B, D)
After breakfast we will drive to south to the Mediterranean coast, Antalya.
We arrive at noon and visit the ancient Perge, one of the chief cities of Pamphylia "land of the
tribes”, which is an important archaeological site. According to
bible, St. Paul visited Perge twice and preached at his latter
visit. We
will have free time to enjoy the sun and the sea of the famous
Turkish Riviera.
Overnight: Antalya Hotel
Day 8: Antalya Optional Tour
: Phaselis or Yacht cruise (B, D)
Today is a free day with choices of optional tours to Phaselis,
a coastal ancient city or a relaxing yacht cruise along the
turquoise coast of the Mediterranean.
Overnight: Antalya Hotel
Day 9: Antalya -
Aspendos - Konya
(B, D)
After breakfast we will proceed to Aspendos, another city in
Pamphylia, known for having the best-preserved theater of
antiquity, still used today for concerts, festivals and grease
wrestling events. The theater's galleries, stage decorations and
acoustics all testify to the architect Xenon’s success. Nearby
ruins include the remains of a basilica, agora, and one of the
longest Roman aqueducts in Anatolia. Then we will depart to Konya, city where Mevlana Rumi is
buried, founder of the most well-known Sufi order, Mevleviye.
They are also known as the “Whirling Dervishes” due to their
famous practice of whirling ceremony called Sema which
represents a spiritual journey through mind and love to
"Perfect”. Chanting of poetry, rhythmic rotation, and mystical
music create a synthesis which is a very unique experience. In
Konya, we will visit the Mevlana Museum and Karatay Koran
School.
Optional: Whirling Dervishes performance.
Overnight: Konya Hotel
Day 10: Konya - Cappadocia (B, D)
Morning departure to Cappadocia; the magical land hosting the
unique landscape of cone-shaped volcanic formations called fairy
chimneys. On the way we will visit 13th century Agzikarahan
caravanserai; caravanserais are inns built by Seljuk Turks to
ensure travel and trade safety of the merchant caravans
traveling on the Silk Road. In Cappadocia we will explore
Kaymakli underground city. Before we check in our hotel, we will
taste Cappadocian wine in a cave winery. Local dinner in a
restaurant and overnight.
Overnight: Cappadocia Hotel
Day 11: Cappadocia (B, D)
After breakfast, we will begin our Cappadocia tour. We will walk through the volcanic valleys to view the
spectacular fairy chimneys at Pasabagi, visit the rock-carved
churches and chapels containing remarkable frescoes in Goreme
Open Air Museum, visit famous
pottery center Avanos, and the spectacular red valley. We will
have a brief pottery workshop in a cave and return our hotel for dinner.
Optional: Sunrise Balloon Tour; glide over this magical land at
the dawn.
Overnight: Cappadocia Hotel
Day 12:
Cappadocia - Ankara (B, D)
Morning departure for Ankara, to the capital of Turkey. Upon arrival at Ankara, we will visit the Ataturk
Mausoleum and Anatolian Civilizations Museum (selected Best
European Museum of the Year in 1997).
Overnight: Ankara Hotel
Day 13: Ankara – Departure (B)
Transfer to airport. Thank you for visiting Turkey!
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