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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.
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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
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Haghia
Sophia |
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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 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. |
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)
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DAY 4
CAPPADOCIA - IHLARA VALLEY |
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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
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Cappadocia |
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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. (D)
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DAY 5
CAPPADOCIA - GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM |
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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 the 10th to the 13th centuries.
Uchisar Village - climb the rock
citadel for an extensive panoramic
view of |
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Goreme Open Air Museum |
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the valleys. 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)
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DAY 8
PERGAMON -
CANAKKALE |
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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
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Pergamon |
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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
(depending upon day of travel the
Aesclepion may not be included).
Transfer to the bus station and receive
your ticket to Canakkale. Upon arrival
in Canakkale transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Canakkale.
B.L.
(D) |
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. (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)
PER PERSON IN DOUBLE /
TRIPLE ROOM |
SINGLE
SUPP. |
EXTRA
NIGHT IN ISTANBUL |
EXTRA
NIGHT
SNG SUPP. |
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BUDGET
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850 |
105 |
30 |
15 |
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MODERATE |
925 |
170 |
40 |
30 |
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FIRST CLASS |
1105** |
280 |
50 |
35 |
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SUPERIOR |
1300** |
480 |
60 |
45 |
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CAPPADOCIA 