Daily Tour
12 people
English
Day 1:
Arrive at Istanbul airportwhere you will be met on arrivaland transferred by private car to your hotel. Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city. The population isestimated at around 17 million. You’ll be blown away by the beauty and grandeur of its architecture and history. It’s the best way to view the palaces and old style Ottoman houses. Free afternoon/evening. Night in Istanbul
Day 2:
Meet your tour guide in the hotel lobby for your visit to Topkapi Palace which was the residence of the OttomanSultans for almost four centuries and is Istanbul’s premier must-see attraction. You will also visit the Basilica Cistern and the Hippodrome before stopping for lunch. After lunch, visit the Blue Mosque Haghia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar. Your guide will give you directions for getting back to your hotel before leaving you to finish your afternoon with some free time for shopping. Night in Istanbul  (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 3:
06:15 transfer from your hotel to Sabiha Gokcen Airport for your 08:40 Pegasus Airlines flight to Kayseri. We will have brunch on arrival then drive approximately 50 minutes to the Cappadocia area where we will have a relaxed afternoon of sightseeing including Goreme Open Air Museum and its rock cut- Byzantine Orthodox churches, and Uchisar where you will have an opportunity to take photos of Uchisar Castle before we stop for lunch. After lunch, we visit Avanos, overlooking the Kizilirmak (Red) River, the longest river in Turkey. Clay from the silt of the Red River is used to produce the pottery for which Avanos is world-famous. The pottery trade of Avanos dates back to the Hittites. You will have an opportunity to watch the potters at work using techniques that have not changed in generations. The tour also visits Pasabag which translates to “the Pasha’s Vineyard”. Also known as the Monks Valley, Pasabag has some of the most eye-catching rock formations in Cappadocia and was a hideaway for some Simeon Monks in the 5th century. You finish the tour with a visit to Devrent Valley whose landscape is likened to being similar to a lunar landscape. Drop back to your hotel. Free evening. Night in Urgup (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 4:
OPTION:
Before sunrise enjoy a fabulous 1 hour hot air balloon ride over the top of the amazing landscape of Cappadocia. Enjoy champagne on landing $180
Set off at approximately 9.00am for your day of sightseeing which will start with a visit to Derinkuyu Underground City, the largest and the deepest of the underground cities in Cappadocia. You will be amazed by the low-key entrances which give way to elaborate subterranean systems which include air and waste shafts, wells, chimneys and lots of passageways. You will marvel at the design of the city which includes living quarters located in the upper levels and storage and wine-making areas and chapels in the lower levels. Next we visit Ihlara Valley to look at the beautiful scenery as well as ruins of over 60 Byzantine churches, chapels and monasteries dating back to the 11th-13th centuries. Drop back to your hotel. Free evening. Night in Urgup (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 5:
Transfer from hotel to Kayseri airport (approx. 1 hour drive) for your flight to Izmir 08:30-10:05 am. Arrive at Izmir airport then it is a 45 minute drive to Ephesus where you will visit the ruins of this amazingly well preserved site. Ephesus is the most visited ruins site in Turkey. The facade of the library alone is worth the trip. Walking through the huge amphitheatre here will make you want to try out your singing skills. It is still used every year for live concerts and has a definite aura surrounding it. We will also visit the home of Virgin Mary where it is said she spent her last days. After lunch we will also visit one of Turkey’s largest leather manufacturers, the Temple of Artemis and Isa Bey Mosque. Night in Kusadasi (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 6:
Depart at 08.00 for our 3 hour drive to Pamukkale – home. of Pamukkale’s famous white travertine pools and the ruins of Hierapolis. We will have lunch on arrival and then commence our tour with a visit to Hierapolis. You will then have free time to enjoy the travertines and to swim in the Cleopatra Antique Pool (entrance 200TL pp extra). The waters of the Cleopatra pool allegedly cure almost every ailment known to mankind. Late Afternoon drive back to Hotel – you will get back to Kusadasi at approximately 7.30pm. Overnight in Kusadasi (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 7:
This morning we drive to Bergama, ancient Pergamum, which was ruled by one of Alexander the Great’s generals and then by the Romans. The road up to the Acropolis winds 5km up around a hill that takes your breath away. There is also a Temple and libraryand a vertigo inducing theatre which must have been very impressive in its time. After our visit to Bergama we will continue to Assos where you will go back in time in this village of stone houses. Dinner and night in Assos (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8:
Travel to Çanakkale, on the way stopping to visit ruins of Troy, made known inHomer’s tale of the war of Troy. Climb inside the replica wooden Trojan horse and wander through the city walls. Lunch in Çanakkale, then we cross the Dardanelles visit the Turkish Memorial place then back to Çanakkale.
Overnight in Canakkale: (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 9:
Free day. Today we recommend walking along the waterfront and visiting themuseum and 8pm getting ready to go across on the ferry to Gallipoli. You will arrive at ANZAC Cove at approximately 10pm and camp the night at Anzac cove waiting for Dawn service. Overnight in Canakkale: (Breakfast)
Day 10:
After the Dawn service, make our way to the Australian service at Lone Pine. After the Australian Service, head back to the ferry and back to Çanakkale. We won’t have a chance to tour the battlefields until tomorrow due to the huge crowds today. Overnight in Canakkale: (Breakfast Lunch)
Day 11:
Depart the hotel at 08.30am for your tour over the ANZAC battlefield area of Gallipoli. This will leaveyou feeling very emotional. In the afternoon, we will drive back to Istanbul on the tour bus – please note that you will arrive back at your hotel at approximately 10.30pm. Night in Istanbul:Â (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 12:
Meet your guide at 8.30am for your walking tour to Rustem Pasa Mosque, special because of its beautiful Ottoman tiles and then walk through the Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Market) built in 1664 and filled with the fragrances of the exotic East such as spices, dried fruits and Turkish Delight. We then take a Bosphorus cruise by public ferryThis takes about 1.5 hours and you will see the most impressive sights along the shores of the Bosphorus including Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Maiden’s Tower, Bosphorus bridges, Rumeli and Anadolu fortresses and Ottoman Residences. Your guide will drop you back to your hotel afterwards. Free afternoon/evening.
Night in Istanbul (Breakfast)
Day 13:
Free day. It depends on your departure flight time. Transfer to airport (Breakfast)
Trip Includes:
Not included:
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