ISTANBUL EPHESUS AND PERGAMON TOUR  (CODE: CB05)

ITINERARY: (5 DAYS)

ISTANBUL EPHESUS PERGAMON ISTANBUL
 

This is a tailored featuring Istanbul, Ephesus and Pergamon. 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. It is also possible to tailor a program where you go overland via Troy, and there are other combinations such as leisure days in the itinerary.

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

DAY 2 ISTANBUL - SULTANAHMET (WALKING TOUR) - KUSADASI/SELCUK

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 Blue Mosque

mosque with 6 minarets, then 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) Transfer to the airport (optional) for departure to Izmir (Or to bus station for overnight bus). Upon arrival transfer to your hotel in Kusadasi or Selcuk and overnight (with flight only) B.L.(D)

DAY 3 PAMUKKALE (OR PERGAMON TOUR INSTEAD)

8:00 – 8:30 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 Pamukkale

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 your hotel and overnight in Kusadasi or Selcuk. B.L.(D)

DAY 4
EPHESUS - HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY - ISTANBUL
9:00 - 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 (Entrance to Ephesus Terrace Houses is extra and optional – Please request a visit from your guide at the start of the tour). We then see the remains of the Temple of Artemis, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Transfer to the airport for flight to Istanbul (Or to bus station for overnight bus). Upon arrival transfer (optional) to your hotel and overnight in Istanbul. B.L.

DAY 5
DEPARTURE
Transfer to airport (optional) for departure. (B).

TOUR PRICE: (IN EUROS)

ISTANBUL EPHESUS AND PERGAMON TOUR (CODE: CB05)

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.