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This is a tailored tour that focuses on
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 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 |
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Blue Mosque |
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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 (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
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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
- 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 |
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Goreme Open Air Museum |
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the valleys.
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.(D) |
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)
(D)
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DAY 7
PERGE, ASPENDOS AND KURSUNLU WATERFALLS (OR KEKOVA
BOAT 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 |
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Simena |
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and ancient
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.
(D)
*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
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Pamukkale |
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the early church in
Hierapolis and played an important
role in the history of the city. Finally
we visit the calcium terraces and pools.
You may have a chance to bathe in a
Roman pool with columns (extra fee).
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
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Library of Celsius |
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Seven Wonders of
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
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)
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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,
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Trojan Horse |
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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 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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1020 |
135 |
30 |
15 |
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MODERATE |
1105 |
210 |
40 |
30 |
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FIRST CLASS |
1300** |
335 |
50 |
35 |
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SUPERIOR |
1520** |
565 |
60 |
45 |
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CAPPADOCIA 