ISTANBUL GALLIPOLI TROY AND EPHESUS TOUR (CODE: CA06)

ITINERARY: (6 DAYS)

ISTANBUL GALLIPOLI CANAKKALE TROY EPHESUS ISTANBUL
 

This is a tailored tour that focuses on the highlights of Istanbul 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.

DAY 2 ISTANBUL - SULTANAHMET

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 with 6 minarets. We continue to Topkapi Palace

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 - IZMIR - KUSADASI (OPTIONAL BOSPHORUS TOUR)
Today is at leisure until evening and transfer (optional) to bus station and overnight bus to Kusadasi. Or transfer (optional) to airport for flight to Izmir and transfer (included) to Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi. B. (D)

DAY 4
EPHESUS - HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY
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. We then see the remains of the Temple of Artemis, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Transfer to the bus station, and upon late night arrival (approx. midnight) in Canakkale walk to your hotel and overnight in Canakkale B.L.

DAY 5 CANAKKALE - TROY - GALLIPOLI - ISTANBUL

8.00 - 8.30 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:            House of Virgin Mary

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 6
DEPARTURE
Transfer to airport (optional) for departure. B.

TOUR PRICE: (IN EUROS)

ISTANBUL GALLIPOLI TROY AND EPHESUS TOUR (CODE: CA06)

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.