11 days / 10 nights, Istanbul to Ankara, Sunday departures
- using boutique historical hotels. Group Size: Minimum 8, Maximum 20
Day 1 Fri : Istanbul – Arrival
You will be met at the airport and transfer to your hotel in the old part of Istanbul. Overnight at a historical hotel in old city area of Istanbul. Welcome briefing.
Day 2 Sat : Istanbul
Full day tour to Topkapi Palace, St Sophie,Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar Optional: Tonight join our Turkish dinner and enjoy Turkish belly dancing and folk dancing entertainment. (B)
Day 3 Sun : Gallipoli & Troy – Assos
Morning departure for Gallipoli and visit Anzac Cove , Lone pine cemetery Chunuk Bair, Gabatepe War Museum then across the Dardanelles to Canakkale visiting Troy we continue to Assos for overnight. (B,D)
Day 4 Mon : Selcuk via Pergamum
Morning drive through the olive forests and stop by a olive museum, Then we visit an ethnographical museum in Tahta kuslar (wooden birds) village. The last stop of day will be Pergamum acropolis. Overnight in Selcuk. (BD)
Day 5 Tue : Ephesus & St. Mary’s House
Morning tour of glorious ruins at Ephesus, explore 2,000-year-old marble streets, a theater, the library of Celsius, a gymnasium and Hadrian’s Temple. Take a short drive to see St. Mary's stone cottage where she stayed later in life accompanied by St. John, and visit also traditional village of Sirince. Overnight in Selcuk. (BD)
Day 6 Wed : Aphrodisias – Hierapolis
Morning drive to the ruins of Aphrodisias (you know what this is about) set against the foot of a picturesque mountain. Then motor to east to visit the calcium springs , so called Cotton Fortress (Pamukkale) visit ancient Spa Center of Hierapolis and enjoy the Thermal Pools of the hotel (B,D)
Day 7 Thu: Patara – Saklikent – Kalkan
Morning drive to Saklikent Canyon, afternoon visit Patara with Roman ruins and a huge beach . Drive along the unique Mediterranean coast line to Kalkan for overnight. B,D)
Day 8 Fri : Myra – Finike – Antalya
Morning drive to Myra, to visit the home church of St.Nicholas (the authentic and original Santa Claus). A short stop in Finike and early afternoon arrival to Antalya. Time to discover the old town harbor. (B,D)
Day 9 Sat : Aspendos – Konya – Cappadocia
Morning drive to Aspendos the roman city on the foot of the Taurus mountains, continue to Konya, tour Mevlana’s Mausoleum, founder of the Whirling Dervishes, finally arrival to the “moon-like“ landscape of Cappadocia. Tonight Optional: Whirling Dervishes performance in a 13th century Caravan inn. (B,D)
Day 10 Sun : Cappadocia
Early Morning Optional: Balloon Tour. Experience of floating through volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves with the sunrise of Cappadocia. After breakfast visit the Byzantine frescoed chapels at Goreme then continue to Ozkonak, the eight-story underground city, and a local pottery making village, Avanos. Overnight in Cappadocia (B,D)
Day 11 Mon : Ankara
Early morning drive to Ankara, afternoon tour of the Ataturk Mausoleum and Anatolian Civilizations Museum then transfer to airport or hotels as appropriate and end of services. (B)
Important Note !
Today is the end of our services.Tour finishes in Ankara after the visit of Anatolian Civilizations Museum . Neither flight between Ankara –Istanbul nor an overnight is included
