Glories of Turkey Tour - 12 Days / 11 Nights

Guaranteed departure 12-day Turkey Group Tour commences upon your arrival at Istanbul Airport. Private transfer to your hotel.  You can enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure, explore the hotel’s surroundings and savour Turkish coffee at a local café.
Accommodation in Istanbul. 

After breakfast, we’ll start our Istanbul tour with your guide. Visit St. Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Hippodrome Square.
Hagia Sophia has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Hagia Sophia Cathedral, the magnificent Church of the Holy Wisdom, was built in 537 AD as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral by the Emperor Justinian of the Byzantine Empire.
Afterwards, we will visit the legendary Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque), famous for its blue Iznik tiles and unique six minarets. We stroll around the Hippodrome Square.
Hippodrome Square was the centre of chariot races and political and sporting events during the Byzantine period. Today, we see the remnants of its glorious past, such as the Serpent Column, the Theodosius Obelisk, the German Fountain, and the Sultan Ahmet Tomb.
In the afternoon, you will have the option to enjoy a half-day of the Bosphorus Cruise.
Accommodation in Istanbul. (Breakfast)


Accommodation in Istanbul. (Breakfast)

Today, we will depart early for Çanakkale.  We will drive to the Gallipoli Peninsula for about 4 hours to visit one of the most important World War I sites.
Gallipoli is home to the remains of 500,000 soldiers and is one of Turkey's most important war memorials. We will visit the site of the Battle of Gallipoli, including the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Chunuk Bair Atatürk Monument, Anzac Cove, and Johnston's Jolly Cemetery.  We see the original trenches and tunnels where the bloodiest and most dramatic scenes of the Dardanelles wars took place, and the bayonet wars were fought hand in hand.
At the end of the tour, we’ll drive to Çanakkale via the Dardanelles.
Accommodation in Çanakkale. (Breakfast - Dinner)  

After breakfast, we’ll head to ancient Troy, the real-life location of the legendary Trojan War described in Homer's Iliad. 
Troy is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. As you walk among the archaeological remains of the ancient city, discover the layers of civilisation built over thousands of years and see an iconic replica of the Trojan Horse. Visit the award-winning Troy Museum to better understand Troy's mythological and historical significance.
Behramkale is a village built on the site of the ancient settlement of Assos. Its stone architecture, narrow cobblestone streets, traditional lifestyle, tranquil atmosphere, and magnificent views are noteworthy. The village's most important landmark is the Temple of Athena, famous for its location overlooking the Aegean Sea. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee at the village coffeehouse.  Afterwards, we set off towards Kuşadası.
Accommodation in Kuşadası. (Breakfast - Dinner) 

Today, we’ll immerse ourselves in the history of ancient Ephesus.
Ephesus has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2015.  The ancient capital of Asia Minor is one of the best-preserved ancient Greek and Roman cities in the world. It is home to the Temple of Hadrian, the marvellous Celsus Library, the Temple of Trajan, the Grand Theatre (25.000 seats), the Agora, the Gymnasium, and the Terrace House (entrance extra).
Visiting the Temple of Artemis is regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  It was destroyed by strong earthquakes and remained underground. 
At the end of the tour, we will take a short break for souvenir shopping. We will also learn about the art of hand-woven carpet weaving, which has a traditional history spanning thousands of years in Turkey.  We will learn about the preparation stage of wool and silk cocoons, how they are woven, and the factors that determine their value.
Accommodation in Kuşadası. (Breakfast - Dinner) 

After breakfast, we will drive to Pamukkale to explore the ancient city of Hierapolis and the travertine terraces.
We will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods before heading toward Pamukkale, a distance of 200 Km. 
Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the magnificent white calcium terraces, known as Travertines, in Pamukkale. We also tour the ancient city of Hierapolis, where we will see the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Street, the ancient 2nd-century Roman Theatre, the Nymphaion, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium, and the Necropolis. We will pass through the Roman Gate, admire the ancient Pamukkale Theatre, and walk around the grave monuments built to honour heroes. Afterwards, we will have a relaxing walk on the travertine terraces and have a chance to swim in the Ancient Cleopatra Pools (extra cost).
Accommodation in a thermal hotel in Pamukkale. (Breakfast - Dinner)

Today, visit ancient Laodicea for the first time. The Church of Laodicea is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.
Laodicea was founded by the Seleucid Emperor Antiochus II between 261 and 263 BC, and was named after his wife, Laodicea. One of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation is the Laodicea Church.
The Laodicean Church is emphasised as the “lukewarm church” in the Book of Revelation. In Laodicea, you will see an ancient city as beautiful as Ephesus, with its ancient theatres, marble roads lined with columns, basilica ruins, ancient stone water pipes, temples, agora, and monumental fountains.
Then, we will head to the resort town of Antalya, which is 280 km away. In the afternoon, we will visit the Antalya Necropol Museum. We'll then travel to Antalya's Old Town and the historic Antalya Harbour, where you can see the landmark Hadrian's Gate, the Antalya Clock Tower, and the Fluted Minaret. We'll take in the Old Town's winding streets at neighbourhood stores in Kaleiçi.
Accommodation in Antalya   (Breakfast) 

After breakfast, we'll begin our Antalya tour. First, we will visit the archaeological site of Perge.
Perge is a chief city of Pamphylia, visited twice by Paul the Apostle and his companion, St. Barnabas. A well-preserved theatre, the Agora, Roman baths, the Great Gymnasium, and the Necropolis are among the numerous ruins we stroll through at Perge.
After we leave the ancient Greco-Roman city of Aspendos, we will visit the Aspendos Theatre, a well-preserved ancient theatre that still hosts concerts and art exhibitions today. Then, we will relax at the Duden waterfall.
Accommodation in Antalya.   (Breakfast)

After breakfast, we're going to Cappadocia. Along the way, we'll take a lunch break in Konya and visit the Mevlana Museum, home to the tomb of Rumi, a famous 13th-century Persian poet and founder of the Order of the Whirling Dervishes. Visit the Sultanhan Caravanserai along the original Silk Road in Aksaray. 
Accommodation in Cappadocia.  (Breakfast - Dinner)

After breakfast, we visit Pigeon Valley, Çavuşin Village, Avanos, the Red Valley, and the Göreme Open Air Museum.
Pigeon Valley is named after the wild pigeons that live in the region and build nests in volcanic rocks. Farmers in the region carve these rocks and make unique nests for the pigeons. Then they collect the accumulated pigeon manure here and use it in agriculture. Afterwards, visit Cavuşin Village.
Cavusin Village was home to Turkish and Greek families until the beginning of the 20th century. Later, the Greeks went to Greece because of the exchange between the two countries.
We'll then eat lunch in the nearby town of Avanos, close to the River Kızılırmak. Here, we can observe the production process for famous ceramics and pottery. We can also visit a pottery studio to learn how to use conventional kick wheels and purchase souvenirs.
Red Valley is one of the most beautiful and impressive places in Cappadocia. A fascinating walking tour will allow you to discover the colourful Valley, with its sharp volcanic sandstone rock formations in red and pink.
Göreme Open Air Museum is home to unique monasteries and churches like Apple Church, Snake Church, and Saint Barbara Church. On well-preserved frescoes from the iconoclastic era, you can see scenes and characters from the Old and New Testaments.
Visit Kaymakli Underground City,  
Accommodation in Cappadocia.   (Breakfast - Dinner)

After breakfast, transfer to Kayseri Airport and take an early flight to Istanbul. Transfer hotel—free day in Istanbul.
Accommodation in Istanbul.  (Breakfast)

Transfer to the Istanbul Airport at the end of the tour. Hope to see you on another holiday in Turkiye. (Breakfast)