14 Nights – 15 Days Istanbul, Troy, Bodrum, Ephesus & Pamukkale, Antalya, Cappadocia

Detail

A classical Turkey tour can offer travelers a unique opportunity to explore the rich cultural heritage of the country. With its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Turkey has been a center of civilization for thousands of years, with a rich history that spans from ancient times to the Ottoman Empire. Visitors on a classical Turkey tour can experience this history first-hand by visiting some of the country’s most significant archaeological sites and historical monuments. These can include the ancient city of Troy, known for its role in Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad,” and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In addition to visiting ancient sites, a classical Turkey tour may also include stops at Ottoman-era monuments such as the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, once the residence of the Ottoman sultans, and the Blue Mosque, known for its stunning blue tiles and six minarets. Visitors can also gain insight into the local culture and way of life by exploring local markets, museums, and traditional villages, as well as sampling the delicious cuisine and experiencing the hospitality of the Turkish people. Overall, a classical Turkey tour offers a comprehensive and immersive experience that allows travelers to delve into the country’s rich history and cultural heritage.

Include / Exclude

A/C luxurious Mercedes Sprinter for the tours and transfers
Expenses of the minivan ( gasoline, parking fees, highway fees )
Licensed guides throughout Turkey
Luggage handling
Local taxes and service charges
Expenses of the driver & guide ( food, accommodation )
Lunches on tour

Personal expenses
Accommodations
Customary tips
Dinners
Hot air ballooning
Domestic Flight Tickets & International Flight Tickets

itinerary

Day 1 : Istanbul | Upon arrival you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. Welcome briefing.

Day 2 : Istanbul | Enjoy a full day tour including a visit to Topkapi Palace Museum, residence of the Otto- man Sultans between 1453–1852 (excluding harem). Visit the Hippodrome, which was once the center of life where chariot racing and other public events took place. Tour the Blue Mosque built between 1609 and 1616, famous for its blue ceramic tiles. Next see St. Sophia, a church built in the 6th century Byzantine capital, converted to a mosque by the Ottomans, still inhibited as a mosque in the present day and one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Your last stop will be the famous Grand Bazaar, the world’s larg- est and oldest covered market with over 60 streets. Join an optional dinner with belly dancing entertain- ment. B

Day 3 : Gallipoli – Dardanelles – Canakkale | In the morning, drive to Tekirdağ city and visit to Barbare Vineyard. We’ll be informed about wine making, tour the vineyard and indulge in fine wines. Then depart for Gallipoli, the site of many battles during WWI. Visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair, then overnight near Gallipoli. B

Day 4 : Troy – Pergamum – Izmir | Cross the Dardanelles to Canakkale and visit Troy with its famous wooden horse, best known for being the setting of the Trojan War and many cities built on top of each other. Before arriving into Asclepion, enjoy lunch with locals in a traditional local village . Then continue to Pergamum to visit the ancient Medical Center in Ascle- pion and continue to İzmir for overnight. B L

Day 5 : Ephesus & St. Mary’s House – Izmir | Tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural center of the ancient world, and explore 2,000 year-old marble streets, a theater, the Library of Celsius, a gymnasium and Hadrian’s Temple. Take a short drive to see St. Mary’s stone cottage where it is believed Virgin Mary spent her last years accompanied by St. John. Continue to a regional rug production center to have a firsthand experience of this unique art form. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6 : Izmir – Bodrum | After breakfast drive to Bodrum to visit the castle of St.Peter and the renowned Underwater Museum that was awarded the best Underwater Museum of the World in 2000s. Overnight in Bodrum.

Day 7 : Bodrum | After breakfast, free time for personal activities. Optional tour to Kos Island. Over- night in Bodrum.

Day 8 : Bodrum – Pamukkale | After breakfast, drive through lush valleys to Pamukkale, the Cotton Fortress, with white lime cascades formed by hot mineral springs. Visit ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis and enjoy a swim in your hotel’s thermal pool.

Day 9 : Pamukkale – Antalya | After breakfast depart for Antalya, dinner and overnight.

Day 10 : Perge – Aspendos – Antalya | This morning visit Perge and Aspendos afternoon is free for personal activities.

Day 11 : Konya & Mevlana Museum

We will start our day by checking out of our hotel and travelling through the most spectacular and picturesque route from Antalya to Konya over the Mountain Taurus. We will then visit the Mevlana Museum, the center of whirling dervishes and Sufism, and discover the humanistic theology based on love and respect to the diversity of the universe.

After the lunch, we will check in to our hotel and relax.

Overnight in Konya

Day 12 : Drive to Cappadocia | Early morning departure to Cappadocia on the way visit 13th century Caravansaray. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

After lunch, we will drive to Cappadocia and have an orientation for what we are going to see in the next two days.

Day 13 : Cappadocia | Early Morning Optional: Hot Air Balloon Tour. Experience floating through volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves at sunrise. After breakfast visit Goreme, a historical region of Turkey, located among the rock formations, which were first settled back in the Roman period. Many rock churches can still be observed today, as Christianity was then the prevailing religion in that region. Contin- ue to the town of Avanos renowned for its high quality pottery. Also visit Pasabagi, Red Valley and attend a brief regional pottery workshop. Dinner at a special local restaurant. Join an optional Whirling Dervishes performance.

Day 14 : Cappadocia | Sinassos & Underground City:

• Mustafapasa (Sinassos)

We will begin Day 13 by seeing the Greek Village, Sinassos. Between 1924 and 1927, the people of Greece and Turkey exchanged goods to avoid a civil war. Since then, the village has been partially inhabited by Macedonian Turks.

• Kaymakli Underground City

We will then drive to Kaymakli Underground City to see how Christians protected and defended themselves from the persecutions and invasions for centuries.

Lunch at a local restaurant

Ayvali (Aravan Village)

After lunch, we will visit the untainted village of Ayvali.

We will return to our hotel and rest before an early morning flight to Istanbul.

Overnight in Cappadocia

Day 14 : Cappadocia – Istanbul | After breakfast depart for Istanbul. In the afternoon, join an optional halfday Bosphorus cruise enjoying the strait that sepa- rates Asia and Europe. Its shores are lined with fine neighborhoods, Ottoman palaces, fortresses, old wooden villas, hotels, parks and gardens, restaurants and cafés. Finish your last minute shopping at the Spice Market filled with the fragrance of the exotic east. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner.

Day 15 : Istanbul | Transfer to the airport for your return flight home. B

Topkapi Palace and St. Sophia Basilica
Grand Bazaar, world’s largest and oldest covered market
Anzac Cove at GallipoliAncient city of Troy
Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary
Pamukkale the Cotton Castle
Aspendos and its 1800 year-old theater
Open Air Museum of Goreme
Hiking through the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia

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