Tour Style : Small Group Tour
Duration : 12 Days – 11 Nights
Departures : All year round
Highlights : Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise, Gallipoli, Troy, Pamukkale, Cappadocia

Day 1 – Istanbul – Arrival Day
Transfer from Istanbul airport and check in to your hotel. Enjoy the magical atmosphere of Istanbul at night. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2 – Istanbul City Tour
(Breakfast included)
We depart at 09:00 for the Istanbul City Tour. We will begin with ancient Hippodrome, which was the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. We will then continue with Sultanahmet Mosque across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet. It is also known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. Just across from the Blue Mosque we visit the famous Hagia Sophia. This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural wonders of all time. After the tour you have the option to make a shopping tour in which learn about of the ancient arts of Turkey like carpet weaving, leather manufacturing and jewellery. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3 – Gallipoli

After your breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel and join your group to depart for Canakkale. The group will arrive in Eceabat at noon and begin the fully guided Gallipoli tour. Visiting Kabatepe Museum, ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston ‘s Jolly, The Nek and Chunuk Bair New Zealand memorial. During the tour there will be a lunch break. Late in the afternoon we will arrive in Canakkale. Overnight in Canakkale.

Day 4 – Troy

After breakfast we depart for the ancient city of Troy. Your guide will explain the mythology surrounding Troy, the Trojan horse and Helen of Troy, as well as the history and discoveries of the archaeological diggings from its discovery by Heinrich Schliemann in the 1870’s to the present day and ongoing. Nine cities have been discovered built one on top of the other dating back to 3500 B.C. After Troy we will depart for Kusadasi, late arrival and Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 5 – Ephesus

We depart at 10:00 and we visit one of the best-preserved ruins in the world Ephesus. We tour this amazing site and wonder at the people who built and walked through this ancient city. We will also visit the House of Virgin Mary (legend tells this is where St. John brought her to live out her final days). After the tour we will visit a carpet-weaving centre, which belongs to the national arts of Turkey. In the evening, as being one of our optional activities, you will have the chance to experience the traditional Turkish bath. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 6 – Pamukkale

At 08:30 we depart for Pamukkale. On the way we will visit one of the famous leather production centers of the region. We then drive on to Pamukkale for our tour and of the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ancient ruins of Hierapolis. After walking around this natural phenomenon you will have the opportunity to lie in the waters of the natural thermal springs. Overnight bus from Pamukkale to Cappadocia.

Day 7 – Cappadocia
Arrival and breakfast in your Authentic Cave Suite Hotel in Cappadocia. After breakfast and freshening up, we leave for your South Cappadocia Tour. Visit of Sobessos near Sahinefendi to the newly discovered mosaic houses & archaeological excavation site. Continue with Keslik Monastery near Cemil, that hides its frescoes behind a very thin smoke layer which we can only see by torch light. Our tour finishes with a visit to Mustafapasa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; very fine examples of late Greek settlements and architecture. Overnight Cappadocia

Day 8 – Cappadocia
The Cappadocia region, famous for its ancient underground cities hewn into the soft volcanic rock ‘tuff‘, is the place where nature and history have come together most beautifully. While geographic events formed huge stone mushrooms known as ‘peribacalari’ (fairy chimneys), local communities were responsible for carving and decorating houses, dovecotes and churches within these earthen pillars. Surrounding the fairy chimmneys are soft ridges, deep valleys, acute edges and mild undulations all created out of tuff. Our guided tour will start at 09:30 and covers Avcilar, Pigeon Valley, Uchisar Castle and the pottery village of Avanos. We have a lunch break in Avanos and then tour the Devrent Valley and  Overnight in Authentic Cave Suite Hotel.

Day 9 – Cappadocia
of Cappadocia: Derinkuyu Underground City. The Christians hid from the armies of Rome and the raids of hostile tribes in these self sufficient cities in which there were halls for stocks of crop, barns, rooms, kitchens & ventilation channels. Overnight in Authentic Cave Suite Hotel.

Day 10 – Cappadocia – Istanbul
(Breakfast included)
After breakfast we depart for for Kayseri Airport to catch our plane for Istanbul. Check in to your hotel. Free night. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 11 – Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Tour
(Breakfast included)
After breakfast at 08:30am we depart for Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise, a traditional excursion by boat along the strait separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of is marble facade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries.

From your romantic boat cruise you will be able to see:

SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar) The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice.
RUMELI FORTRESS Built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul was completed in only four months to control and protect the infamous Bosphorus passage. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world.
BEYLERBEYI PALACE The summer residence of Ottoman sultans exists in its original renovated glory featuring original antique furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian side of Istanbul.
BOSPHORUS BRIDGE enjoy a unique chance to step from one continent (Asia) to another (Europe)
CAMLICA HILL the highest point in Istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosporus from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional Turkish Ottoman style.
SHOPPING AT BEDESTEN (after cruise)
Experience the traditional silk weaving skills of Turkish women at the carpet weaving courses provided by The Ministry of National Education. You will get the opportunity to see jewellery, handcrafts centre and a modern leatherwear show. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 12 – Istanbul – End of Tour
(Breakfast included)
After breakfast check out from the hotel