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 and may either fly or take overnight buses. The tour features Insight small group tours (max 10 pax) in Istanbul but elsewhere tour size may vary.

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

DAY 2 ISTANBUL - SULTANAHMET

8:30-8:45 departure. Visit the St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. Continue to the Topkapi Palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, Haghia Sophia

robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the elegant little Sokullu Pasa mosque and the hidden underground Theodosian Cistern. See the Grand Covered Bazaar. This tour may be done all or partially as a walking tour. 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) to Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia. B. (D)

DAY 4 CAPPADOCIA - IHLARA VALLEY

9:30 departure from your hotel in Cappadocia. Visit the Kaymakli Underground City and four levels of underground dwelling and work space. Descend through passages and tunnels, and 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 Cappadocia

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. (D)

DAY 5 CAPPADOCIA - GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM

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

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

DAY 7
PAMUKKALE
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. (extra). Return to Kusadasi overnight. B.L. (D)

DAY 8 PERGAMON - ISTANBUL

8:00 Departure. We will visit the Pergamon Acropolis, where the ruins of the 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 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  Pergamon

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 the Temple of Trajan. We will pass the Red Hall (View), which was a temple to Serapis and later a church. Visit the Asclepion, 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 upon arrival in Canakkale walk to your hotel and overnight in Canakkale B.L.

DAY 9
CANAKKALE - TROY - GALLIPOLI - ISTANBUL
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. 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. Overnight in Istanbul (taxi from bus station may be needed). B.L.  

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


TOUR PRICE: (IN EUROS)

  
   **PRICES NOT VALID FROM 8 – 13 MAY 2008 (FORMULA 1 PERIOD)