ISTANBUL, CAPPADOCIA AND AEGEAN TOUR WITH GALLIPOLI AND TROY (CODE: CA10) 

ITINERARY: (10 DAYS)

ISTANBUL CAPPADOCIA KUSADASI EPHESUS PAMUKKALE PERGAMON  CANAKKALE TROY GALLIPOLI ISTANBUL
 

This is a tailored tour that focuses on many of the highlights of Istanbul, Central and Aegean Turkey. 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. Budget and Moderate options include overnight bus – First Class and Superior options include Izmir airport transfer but flight is extra.

DAY 1
ARRIVAL
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer (optional) to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 2 ISTANBUL - SULTANAHMET

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 Haghia Sophia

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. Visit the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum originally built as the Palace of Ibrahim Pasha in 1524 with fine examples of Islamic Calligraphy, tiles and carpets. We will then explore the Topkapi Palace. It was the home of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th-19th century A.D. (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. (All sights except for Grand Bazaar are replaced by a visit to the Yerebatan Underground Cistern) Overnight in Istanbul. B.L.

DAY 3
ISTANBUL - CAPPADOCIA
Today is at leisure until evening and transfer (optional) to bus station and overnight bus to Cappadocia. Or transfer (optional) to airport for flight to Kayseri and transfer (included with flight only) to Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia. B. (D)

DAY 4 CAPPADOCIA - SOGANLI VALLEY

10:00 departure. We will visit Urgup fairy chimneys. Visit Kaymakli Underground City - more to explore in this underground city of mazes and tunnels. We take a walk through Soganli Valley, which is one of the most attractive and unspoiled places in Cappadocia, with its unique fairytale churches and dovecotes (pigeon houses) cut in the rock. View of Mt. Erciyes (3916m), which is the highest mountain in the area. Photo stop of Sahinefendi Village (Sobesos) and vast gorge. Taskinpasa Village with its Kahramanian mosque, and village life. Watch for villagers baking fresh bread in outdoor ovens, Kesklik Rock Monastery and the old Cappadocia

village of Mustafapasa (Sinassos) an old Greek town. Overnight in Cappadocia.  (B).L. (D)

DAY 5 CAPPADOCIA - GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM - KUSADASI/SELCUK

10:00 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 the 10th to the 13th centuries. Uchisar Village - climb the rock citadel for an extensive panoramic view of Goreme Open Air Museum

the valleys. Transfer to the airport and flight to Izmir (very late arrival). Transfer and overnight in Kusadasi or Selcuk. (Or overnight bus to Selcuk) B.L.

DAY 6
EPHESUS - HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY
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 where St. Paul preached. We then see the remains of the Temple of Artemis, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Overnight in Kusadasi or Selcuk. B.L. (D)

DAY 7
PAMUKKALE
8:30 – 8:45 Departure. We will drive through the Meander Valley and arrive in Pamukkale, which has been a thermal spa center since before the Roman era. We visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, which is said to have been founded by King Eumenes II of Pergamon. We visit the great Roman baths, the Temple of Apollo, the well-preserved theater and the fascinating Necropolis. St. Phillip is associated with Hierapolis. We will also visit the calcium terraces and pools for which Pamukkale is named “Cotton Castle”. You may have a chance to bathe in a thermal pool strewn with marble columns. (This activity is extra and depends upon time – ask your guide at the start of the tour). Return to and overnight in Kusadasi.  B.L. (D)

DAY 8 PERGAMON - CANAKKALE

8:00 – 8:30 Departure. We will visit the Pergamon Acropolis, where the ruins of Zeus Altar can still be seen today. 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 Pergamon

Egypt, the palaces of the kings, and temple of Trajan. Visit the Aesclepion, which was known as the first place of medical science. Galen, who originated from Pergamon and became the most famous doctor of his time, treated his patients here. Transfer to the bus station and receive your ticket to Canakkale. Upon arrival in Canakkale transfer to your hotel. (Note that on the direct tour route the Aesclepion will not be included and you will go directly to Canakkale with the group). Overnight in Canakkale.  B.L. (D)

DAY 9
CANAKKALE - TROY - GALLIPOLI - ISTANBUL
8:30 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. We will proceed by ferry across the part of the Dardanelles known as “the Narrows”; the ferry pulls in at the small fishing village of Kilitbahir, which is known for its fort built by Mehmet the Conqueror. You will be given a full explanation of the famous WWI battle. We will visit: Kabatepe Museum, which contains relics from the campaign including original diary extracts and letters, Brighton Beach, the intended landing place. 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 the New Zealanders during the August offensive. Continue to Istanbul, late night arrival around 23.30. (A taxi from the bus station may be needed). Overnight in Istanbul. B.L.  

DAY 10
DEPARTURE
Transfer to airport (optional) for departure. B.

TOUR PRICE: (IN EUROS)

  
   **Domestic flights not included
      Prices are not valid during holiday or special events periods
 

NOTES ON HOTELS: BB as written under hotel names means breakfast included with hotel/HB as written under hotel names means breakfast and dinner included/Hotels normally offer coffee and tea at breakfast but drinks are extra at dinner as is use of hotel mini-bar/Hotels have been grouped together according to price category and are a mixture of 3 star/4 star/5 star and boutique hotels.