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This is a tailored tour that focuses on many of
the highlights of Istanbul, Central,
Mediterranean, 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.
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DAY 2
ISTANBUL - SULTANAHMET
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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,
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Blue Mosque |
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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 (with flight
only).
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 carved into
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Cappadocia |
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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
- ANTALYA |
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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 the valleys. |
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Goreme Open Air Museum |
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Transfer to the airport (included)t and
flight to Antalya (late arrival).
Transfer to Antalya (included) and
overnight in Antalya. (Or overnight bus
to Antalya).
B.L. |
DAY 6
ANTALYA (INDEPENDENT OR OPTIONAL TOUR)
Early morning arrival in Antalya and take a taxi
(extra) to your hotel (If coming by overnight
bus). Today is free to discover Antalya on your
own or optional city tour. Beautiful old
Mediterranean town with half-timbered Ottoman
Houses and ancient harbor. Overnight in Antalya.
B.
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DAY 7
MYRA, CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS AND KEKOVA BOAT (OR
PERGE, ASPENDOS WATERFALLS TOUR) |
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Departure around 8.00 from your hotel. We will
drive along the scenic coast and take a break at
Hawk’s Peak in Kumluca. We will continue on to
Myra where we will visit the Lycian tombs
and ancient theatre, as well as the Church of
St. Nicholas (Santa Claus). In the afternoon
we will cruise to Kekova, a peaceful
group of picturesque islands well
scattered with very distinct rock
sarcophagi and ancient |
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Simena |
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houses
submerged under the clear water. The cruise also
includes the quaint village of Simena
with its stone houses covered in bougainvillea,
and the castle. There will be opportunities for
swimming. Return to your hotel around 19.30.
Lunch is included. Overnight in Antalya.
B.L.
*You will receive your bus tickets to Denizli
from your guide. |
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DAY 8
ANTALYA – PAMUKKALE – SELCUK/KUSADASI |
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You will take taxi (extra) to the
bus station and a bus at around 7.30
from Antalya to Denizli. You will
arrive in Denizli and be picked up
and join an ongoing daily tour of
Pamukkale. After lunch, see Pamukkale and 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. St. Philip is
connected with the early
church in Hierapolisand played an
important role in |
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Pamukkale |
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the history of the
city. Finally we visit the calcium
terraces and pools and
continue through the Maeander Valley and
overnight in Selcuk or Kusadasi. B.L.(D) |
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DAY 9
EPHESUS, HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY AND ARTEMIS TEMPLE |
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9.00 – 9.30 Departure. Today we 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, Agora
and fantastic Greco-Roman theater. We
will also visit the house where The Virgin
Mary allegedly spent her last days, and the
Temple of Artemis, which was one of the
Seven Wonders of
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Library of Celsius |
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the World. Return to your hotel in
Kusadasi. Overnight in Selcuk or
Kusadasi.
B.L.(D) |
DAY 10
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 Egypt, the palaces of the
kings, and temple of Trajan. 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 receive your ticket to
Canakkale. Upon arrival in Canakkale walk to
your hotel. Overnight in Canakkale.
B.L.(D)
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DAY 11
CANAKKALE – TROY – GALLIPOLI - ISTANBUL |
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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
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Trojan Horse |
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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 12
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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940 |
135 |
30 |
15 |
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MODERATE |
1005 |
195 |
40 |
25 |
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FIRST CLASS |
1225 |
340 |
45 |
30 |
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DELUXE |
1480 |
540 |
55 |
35 |
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CAPPADOCIA 