TOUR OF TURKEY
DAY 1 - ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL
DAY 2 - ISTANBUL
DAY 3 - ISTANBUL - CANAKKALE
Depart in the early morning from Istanbul and begin your adventure of the European part of the country. Visit the Gallipoli Campaign memorials of World War I where 130,000 soldiers lost their lives. Cross the Dardanelles Strait by ferry boat to Asia Minor. Have dinner and stay overnight in Canakkale.
DAY 4 - CANAKKELE - IZMIR
Start this day with the ancient site of Troy, the legendary city of love and wars. Then proceed to the Acropolis of Pergamon, the intellectual center of the Hellenistic world, where parchment paper was invented. Also visit the Asclepion, a shrine dedicated to the god of healing - Asclepios. Continue to Izmir where you will have dinner and stay overnight.
DAY 5 - IZMIR - EPHESUS - PAMUKKALE
Set out to Ephesus, one of the leading archaeological sites of the world, on account of its incredibly well preserved Roman ruins. Next stop is the House of the Virgin Mary, which was visited by three Popes. Continue to Pamukkale and enjoy the ancient ruins of Hierapolis and the thermal springs of Cotton Castles.
DAY 6 - PAMUKKALE - KONYA - CAPPADOCIA
DAY 7 - CAPPADOCIA
DAY 8 - CAPPADOCIA - ISTANBUL
DAY 9
Transfer to the airport for homebound flight.
Upon arrival you will be greeted and accompanied to your hotel. In the evening you will attend a welcome cocktail and briefing of the tour led by your tour director. Dinner at the hotel.
Enjoy a full day tour of the city including the Hippodrome, the ancient arena of chariot races, the Blue Mosque, decorated with its exquisite blue Iznik tiles, the striking church of the Hagia Sophia, famous Topkapi Palaca and the Grand Covered Bazaar.
Move on to the spiritual city of Konya, with an early morning departure. See the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the great philosopher and mystic thinker, and the Museum of the Whirling Dervishes. Make a brief stop at a 13th century caravansaray on the way to Cappadocia.
Admire the unbelievable lunar landscape and volcanic rock formations of the valleys of Cappadocia by way of a full day tour covering the Open Air Museum of Goreme and an underground city. Take advantage of visiting local rug and pottery workshops in Avanos, before returning to the hotel.
Drive to the neighbouring city of Kayseri to take an early morning flight back to Istanbul. When you arrive in the city, enjoy your free leisure time through a refreshing optional cruise - between Europe and Asia - on a Bosphorus tour. Have a farewell dinner and stay overnight in Istanbul.
