Highlights of Turkey - 10 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) • (For roundtrip option) Istanbul (1)
Category:
Small Group, Cultural Tour, One-way or Roundtrip, Scenic Land
Journey, option to end tour in Antalya or return Istanbul via
flight.
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 – (return optional) Istanbul (B)
You can end your tour in Antalya or take the roundtrip option to
return Istanbul. Roundtrip option includes flight to Istanbul on
Day 9, transfers in Istanbul and 1 night accommodation.
Upon your arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for a
day at leisure in Istanbul.
Overnight: Istanbul Hotel (1 night)
Day 10: Istanbul – Departure (B)
Transfer to airport for flight back home. Thank you for visiting
Turkey!
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