The 11-day fixed Turkey tour will open Turkey's legendary ancient world and nature beauties. Arrive at Istanbul Airport and transfer to your hotel. You’ll be free for the rest of the day. You can explore the hotel's vicinity and try Turkish coffee at a local cafe.
Accommodation in Port Bosphorus Hotel in Istanbul. ( Breakfast )
After breakfast, we’ll start our Istanbul tour at 08:45 am. First, we will visit the great Hagia Sofia (Saint Sophia) built by the emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD as a church and later converted into a mosque. Next, we will visit the Topkapı Palace, a giant walled complex where Ottoman sultans ruled their great empire for over 420 years. Afterwards, we will visit the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque), a 17th-century Ottoman mosque famous for its six minarets and magnificent interior with blue tiles.
Then, we’ll explore Hippodrome Square, which was used as a meeting place for chariot races during the Byzantine period. Here, we will see the Serpent Column from Delphi, the Egyptian Obelisk, and the German Fountain of Wilhelm ll. Finally, we’ll visit the Grand Bazaar, one of the biggest and oldest markets in the world, home to more than 4000 shops full of hidden treasures and authentic items.
In the afternoon, you can get an optional half-day Bosphorus Cruise tour.
Accommodation in Istanbul. ( Breakfast )
Today, we will depart early for Ankara (approx. 440 km). Ankara is the National capital of Turkey. The capital of Turkey. On arrival, we will see Anıtkabir, also known as the Mausoleum of Atatürk, the final resting place of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and the founder of the Republic of Turkey. After this visit, we’ll have time to lunch in a local restaurant and depart for Cappadocia.
Dinner and accommodation in Gamirasu Hotel in Cappadocia. ( Breakfast - Dinner )
Today, we will start our tour with a visit to Göreme Open Air Museum, home to a large monastery complex with dozens of monasteries, each of which has its own church, offering some of the best examples of Byzantine art. The churches carved into the rock feature paintings and frescoes from the tenth to the thirteenth century, whose colours retain freshness. Next, we will visit Paşabağı Valley on a vineyard on Zelve Road. Some of the mushroom-shaped rock formations here are several meters high. Fairy chimneys shaped by erosion for many years were used as houses by various religious groups. Therefore, it is also known as the Monks Valley. Afterwards, we will visit the Devrent Valley, which offers a reddish moon view, looks like a movie set, and is famous for its rock formations resembling different animal figures.
End of the tour, return to our hotel. Overnight stay in Cappadocia. ( Breakfast - Dinner )
*Optional Turkish Folklore Night featuring traditional folklore and belly dancing shows in a cave music hall. (extra cost)
After breakfast, we’ll check out from our hotel and start the tour of the day at 09:00 with a visit to the famous Kaymaklı Underground City, a unique underground complex featuring fascinating tunnels, dwellings, and storage rooms built and carved by Christians in the underground to be used for protection against attacks. Afterwards, we will depart for Konya (approx. 230 km), the capital city of the Anatolian Seljuk State. Along the ancient Silk Road, we will also visit the Sultanhanı Caravanserai.
Upon our arrival to Konya, we will visit the Mevlana Museum, which houses the tomb of the great 13th-century Persian poet and founder of the Order of the Whirling Dervishes, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, also known as Rumi, and the Alaeddin Mosque, which was built on Alaeddin Hill during the Seljuk period.
Dinner and overnight stay in Konya. ( Breakfast - Dinner )
Today, we will head for Pamukkale (approx. 475 km) after breakfast. After 290 km from Konya, we will arrive at Sagalassos ancient city, Sagalassos was conquered by Alexander the Great in 333 BC, and earthquakes and plagues saw their demise in 541-2 AD. Today, it is one of the best-preserved ancient sites in Turkey, and it is on the UNESCO tentative list. We assure you you will never see another historic city of the same beauty as Sagalassos anywhere else. We will admire the ancient 5000-year-old town, known as the "city of love and emperors”, which is home to the Antonin Fountain, agoras, Roman baths, Macellum structures, Heroon adorned with dancing girls, a library, and a theatre. The Antonin Fountain, built by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 161 AD, still delivers water from the mountains from its marble gutter.
After our visit, we will continue to Pamukkale (approx. 185 km).
Arrival and overnight stay in a Thermal Hotel at Pamukkale. ( Breakfast - Dinner )
After breakfast, we’ll start our tour of Hierapolis, where we’ll see the Martyrium of Apostle Philip, where he was martyred during the persecutions ordered by Domitian, the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, Grand Theatre, the Nymphaion, the Temple of Apollo, and the Plutonium and the Necropolis. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy walking on the white travertines and strolling over Pamukkale's magnificent white calcium terraces. You'll have enough time if you wish to swim in the thousands of years old Cleopatra Pool (extra cost). We will have a lunch break and continue towards Kuşadası ( 210 km ). We will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods on the way.
Dinner and overnight stay in Kuşadası. ( Breakfast - Dinner )
Today, we’ll immerse ourselves in history in Ephesus, the most beautiful ancient city of the Ionia region. After seeing the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, we will visit the ancient city of Ephesus. You will feel the mystical atmosphere of Ephesus as you walk on Curetes Street and see the ruins of the 25,000-capacity Grand Theater, the State Agora, the magnificent Celsus Library, the Odeon Square, Temesos, Prytaneion, Magnesia Gate, Grotto of the Seven Sleepers, and the Harbour of Ephesus. Our next stop will be the House of the Virgin Mary, a Christian pilgrimage site where the Virgin Mary spent her last years.
Finally, we will visit the former Greek Sirince village, famous for its fruit wines. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey, and in this carpet village, we’ll learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value.
Accommodation in Kuşadası. ( Breakfast - Dinner )
After breakfast, we will visit the legendary Pergamon, the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon Kings in 282-133 BC. We will visit the Acropolis, which is the city's administrative centre, the Temple of Zeus, Dionysus, Athena, Demeter, and the famous Pergamon Library of 200,000 rolls. The Altar of Zeus, excavated during the Pergamon (Bergama) excavations, is now on display at the Pergamonmuseum in Berlin. The Great Theatre of Pergamon here is the world's steepest theatre, and it could entertain up to 10,000 spectators in ancient times.
Next, we’ll head to the ancient city of Troia or Troy, the real-life location of the legendary Trojan War described in Homer's Iliad.
This was where the “Trojan Horse” was used to conquer the city, and the beautiful “Helen of Troy” lived.
Overnight stay in Çanakkale. ( Breakfast - Dinner )
After breakfast, we will cross the Dardanelles Strait on a ferry and arrive at the Gallipoli Peninsula, an important World War I site home to the remains of 500,000 soldiers. We will visit the site of the Battle of Gallipoli, including the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Chunuk Bair Atatürk Monument, Anzac Cove, the Johnston's Jolly Cemetery, original trenches, and tunnels left from the war.
Drive to Istanbul (approx. 4 hrs). Arrival and overnight in Istanbul. (Breakfast)
Free time until your airport transfer. Our tour concludes with your transfer to Istanbul Airport. Hope to see you on another Türkiye tour. (Breakfast)
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