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This is a tailored tour that focuses on
many of the highlights of Istanbul, Central,
Mediterranean and Aegean Turkey and includes
a short gulet cruise of some of the most
beautiful coastline in the country. It is a
combination of daily group tour arrangements
including entry fees and most meals. You may
stay in the hotel category of your choice
and may either fly or take overnight buses
for the longer distance. You may stay in the
hotel category of your choice and may either
fly or take overnight buses for long
distances. Budget and Moderate options
include overnight and shorter distance buses
– First Class and Deluxe options include
Kayseri and Antalya airport transfers but
flight is extra.
DAY 1
ARRIVAL
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer (optional)
to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
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DAY 2
ISTANBUL - SULTANAHMET
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8:10 – 8:45 Departure from your hotel. Today
we will visit the Saint Sophia (Haghia
Sofia) which was built by the emperor Justinian
in the 6th century A.D and stands over much
older remains of a church. See beautiful mosaics
of biblical scenes and the Byzantine emperors
and empresses. We continue to the Blue Mosque,
which was built in the 17th century and is the
only imperial mosque with 6 minarets. We
continue to
the Hippodrome, a
stadium and meeting place in Byzantine times,
the Serpent Pillar from Delphi and the
Egyptian Obelisk, with the Fountain of
Wilhelm. We will also visit the Caferaga
Medresesi which was a school designed by the
famous architect Sinan in 1560 and is now used
for workshops in traditional Ottoman arts. We
will have lunch and continue with the Turkish
and Islamic Arts Museum originally |
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Haghia Sophia
Lithograph by the
Fossati brothers, 1852 |
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built as
the Palace of Ibrahim Pasha in 1524 with fine
examples of Islamic Calligraphy, tiles and
carpets. Then we will explore the Topkapi
Palace. It was the home of the Ottoman
sultans from the 15th-19th century A.D. We see
the Imperial Treasury with the famous
Spoonmaker Diamond. Also the Baghdad
Kiosk, the Armory with its collection
of Ottoman weapons and a fine collection of
ceramics. (Harem section is optional and due an
extra entry fee). The tour ends in the Grand
Bazaar, which has over 4000 shops full of
treasures Return to your hotel around 17:30.
This tour may be done completely as a walking
tour. *Note that on Sunday the Grand Bazaar is
closed, on Monday the Turkish and Islamic Art
Museum and St Sophia are closed and on Tuesday
the Topkapi Palace is closed. Overnight in
Istanbul.
B.L.
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DAY 3
ISTANBUL - GALLIPOLI - CANAKKALE |
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Pick up at 6.30 from your hotel. Departure for Gallipoli. We will visit:
Kabatepe Museum, which contains relics from the campaign including original diary extracts and letters, Brighton Beach, the intended landing place. Lunch and swimming, Beach Cemetery on the southern tip of
Anzac Cove, the landing place of the first wave of Australian and New Zealand troops and home to up to 30,000 troops during the campaign,
Lone Pine Australian Memorial, site of the successful attack and capture of Turkish trenches by the Australians during the August offensive,
Johnston's Jolly where you will visit the original Allied and Turkish
trenches and tunnels, The Nek,
Chunuk Bair New Zealand
Memorial, captured by |
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the New Zealanders during the August
offensive. We will proceed by ferry
across the part of the Dardanelles known
as "the Narrows" to Canakkale. Overnight
in Canakkale.
B.L.
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DAY 4
CANAKKALE - TROY - PERGAMON –
KUSADASI/SELCUK |
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Pergamon |
8.45 Depart from Canakkale to visit
the legendary site of Troy,
with its nine levels of
civilization. Troy is the city of
Helen and was famous in Homer’s
Iliad. After lunch the tour will
continue to Pergamon. We will visit
the Pergamon Acropolis, where
the ruins of Zeus Altar "Throne of
Satan" can still be seen today.
Pergamon was a center of Roman
authority and a place of persecution
for Christians who |
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denied imperial worship. The
acropolis is situated high above the
plain and has a unique panoramic
view. The very narrow and steep
theater on the hillside could seat
up to 10,000 people. Parchment paper
was first produced in Pergamon. We
will visit the remains of the
Great Library, which rivaled the
one of Alexandria in Egypt, the
palaces of the kings, and Temple
of Trajan. Continue to Kusadasi
or Selcuk and drop off at your
hotel.
B.L (D)
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DAY 5
EPHESUS - HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY |
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Ephesus - Library of Celsius |
9.00 - 9:30 Departure. We will visit
the house where The Virgin Mary
allegedly spent her last days. We
then tour Ephesus, which was
one of the largest and most
interesting ancient cities of Asia
Minor. The tour of Ephesus includes
the Library of Celsius,
Temple of Hadrian, the Agora,
the marble paved Arcadian Road,
the Brothel, the Roman Baths, and
fantastic Greco-Roman theater |
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where St. Paul preached. We then see
the remains of the Temple of
Artemis, which is one of the
Seven Wonders of the World.
Overnight in Kusadasi or Selcuk.
B.L (D)
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DAY 6
PAMUKKALE AND HIERAPOLIS - FETHIYE |
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8.45 Departure. Today we drive
through the Meander valley to
Pamukkale and visit the ancient
city of Hierapolis with the
Temple of Apollo, the
breathtaking Theater, the
fascinating Necropolis and
the last the great baths of
Hierapolis antique city, where St.
Philip was martyred. We will also
visit the calcium pools for which
Pamukkale is named (Cotton Castle).
You may have a chance to bathe in a
Roman pool with columns. Transfer to
the bus station and bus to
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Pamukkale |
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Fethiye. Upon arrival take a taxi
(not included)to your hotel.
Overnight in Fethiye.
B.L.
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DAY 7
FETHIYE – BUTTERFLY VALLEY –
OLUDENIZ AND ST NICHOLAS (CRUISE
START) |
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Pick up from your hotel around 10:00
and departure from Fethiye Harbor
between 11.00 – 12.00 to Samanlik
Bay for swimming & lunch. Visit
Butterfly Valley (sea
conditions permitting) and stop for
a swim and visit this natural
reserve where there are over one
hundred kinds of different
butterflies and moths. Then we
cruise to Ölüdeniz (The Blue
Lagoon) sea conditions
permitting. Finally we come to
St-Nicholas Island. Visit the
Byzantine ruins, swim, dinner and
overnight on the gulet.
B.L.D.
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DAY 8
KAS – KEKOVA (CRUISE) |
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We depart around sunrise for
Aquarium or Firnaz Bay
near Kalkan, have breakfast a swim.
Then we cruise to Kas where
we stop in the harbor for lunch and
visit this charming fishing village.
Kas was once known as Antiphellos
and there are ruins of Lycian rock
tombs & sarcophagi and the Roman
theater. We stop in a bay near
Kekova Island for |
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swimming, dinner and overnight on
the gulet.
B.L.D. |
DAY 9
KEKOVA – SIMENA – GOKKAYA (CRUISE)
We depart after breakfast to the Sunken City
of Kekova, and then continue to Simena,
a traditional Turkish fishing village with its
Byzantine/Ottoman castle. You may enjoy water
sports (extra) In Gökkaya Bay. Dinner and
overnight on the gulet.
B.L.D.
DAY 10
PIRATE’S CAVE – ANDRIAKE – MYRA – DEMRE –
ANTALYA (CRUISE END)
After breakfast we visit Pirate’s Cave
before cruising to Andriake harbor for
lunch. Bus transfer to the archaeological site
of Myra, and to Demre for the St-Nicholas
Church, shopping and banking when requested only
(entry fees are not included) Drop off at Demre
bus station and bus (not included – you buy your
own ticket) to Antalya and upon arrival in
Antalya pick up your overnight bus ticket for
the following evening (only if you are taking
overnight bus option). Take a taxi (not
included) to your hotel in Antalya and
overnight.
B.L. (D)
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DAY 11
ANTALYA – CAPPADOCIA (INDEPENDENT) |
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Antalya Ancient Harbour |
Today is at leisure in Antalya
to visit the old part of Antalya
called Kaleici, with the gate of
Hadrian, the Clock Tower,
Fluted Minaret, Palm
Street and the ancient harbor.
There are many beautiful old houses
in Kaleici. Take a taxi (extra) to
the bus station and overnight bus to
Cappadocia or transfer to the
airport and upon arrival transfer to
your hotel and overnight in
Cappadocia (with flight option only).
B. |
DAY 12
CAPPADOCIA – IHLARA VALLEY
9:30 departure from your hotel in Cappadocia.
Visit the Derinkuyu Underground City and
descend through passages and tunnels, eight
levels (55m) underground. See amazing
"millstone" defense doors, wineries and rooms
carved from the rock. Ihlara Valley -
walk in the most scenic part of this canyon
flanked by sheer rock walls. Visit unusual
frescoed rock churches and have lunch next to
the Melendez River in the village of Belisirma
(ancient Peristrema). Continue to Selime
- a village of rock cones below a mesa. Climb up
to the two-story colonnaded church and
monastery, kitchens, "pekmez house" and camel
tunnel all carved into the rock. Agzikarahan
Caravanserai - a stop on the Old Silk Road
to see this marvelous example of 13c Seljuk
architecture. Overnight in Cappadocia.
B.L.
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DAY 13
CAPPADOCIA – GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM
- ISTANBUL |
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9:30 departure from your hotel in
Cappadocia. Visit Devrent Valley -
natural rock formations with
fantastic shapes. Cavusin Village,
which has one of the oldest churches
in Cappadocia. Visit Pasabagi
for a walk in the vineyards among
strange multiple "mushroom-capped"
fairy chimneys and continue to
Avanos, which has been a center
of terra cotta work since 3000 BC.
See a pottery demonstration using
the ancient kick-wheel technique.
Goreme Open Air Museum - see the
best examples of Byzantine frescoes
in rock-cut churches from the10th to
the 13th centuries. Uchisar
Village - climb the
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Goreme
Open Air Museum |
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rock citadel for an extensive
panoramic view of the valleys.
Transfer to the airport for flight
to Istanbul. Upon arrival transfer
(optional) to your hotel and
overnight.
B.L.
(overnight bus is also possible). |
DAY 14
DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport (optional) for
departure.
B.
TOUR PRICE: (IN EUROS)
WESTERN TURKEY TOUR WITH CRUISE (CODE: CA14
WITH CRUISE)
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INCLUDED:
Accommodation in hotel category of your
choice
Meals as mentioned only (B=Breakfast,
L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
Museum entry fees
Transportation in non-smoking
mini/midi/coach bus with prof. English
speaking guide and driver on tours
Bus ticket from Pamukkale (Denizli) to Fethiye
Bus tickets Antalya - Cappadocia - Istanbul
(Budget and
Moderate options only) Where
overnight bus is included there is no
hotel stay on that evening and no
breakfast the following morning.
Kayseri and Antalya airport transfers
(First Class and
Deluxe options only)
Full Board Cabin charter Gulet cruise
(see more info below)
NOT INCLUDED:
International or domestic flights,
Istanbul
transfers, bus ticket from Demre to
Antalya and from Antalya to Cappadocia,
drinks, tips to guide and driver and
items of a personal nature.
OPTIONAL:
3 x Istanbul airport transfers
120 EUROS total (up to 3 passengers -
valid for Istanbul Ataturk Airport only)
Domestic flight tickets,
Turkish Night,
Balloon Tour in
Cappadocia.
NOTES ON CRUISE:
In case of poor weather and/or sea
conditions, this program is subject to
change without notice. No money will be
refunded. INCLUDED: Accommodation in a
cabin with private bath and shower,
snorkels & masks, fishing lines, meals
as mentioned (3 x breakfast, 4 x lunch,
3 x dinner and afternoon
tea/coffer/biscuits). NOT INCLUDED:
Drinks (sold on board at reasonable
prices – please do not bring your own),
tips to crew and entry fees to
archaeological sites or national parks.
Water sports or Paragliding.
*Passengers may bring snacks, such as
fruit, nuts, muesli, yogurt, chocolate. BRING YOUR OWN TOWELS AS THEY ARE
NOT PROVIDED
FEATURED HOTELS BELOW:
B=BUDGET M=MODERATE F=FIRST
CLASS S=SUPERIOR
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ISTANBUL
