Day 1: Istanbul - Arrival
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. A welcome briefing will be held.
Day 2: Istanbul
Enjoy a full day tour including a visit to Topkapi Palace Museum, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans between 1453-1852 (excluding harem). Visit the Hippodrome, which was once the center of life where chariot racing and other public events took place. Tour the Blue Mosque built between 1609 and 1616, famous for its blue ceramic tiles. Your last stop will be the famous Grand Bazaar, the world's largest and oldest covered market with over 60 streets. Join an optional dinner with belly dancing entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Istanbul - Ankara
This morning depart on an optional cruise along Bosphorus enjoying the strait that separates Asia and Europe. Its shores are lined with fine neighbourhoods, Ottoman palaces, fortresses, old wooden villas, hotels, parks and gardens, restaurants and cafés. The tour will end on the Asia side. You will then head for the capital city of Ankara for your overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Ankara - Cappadocia
Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, a historic caravanserai holding artifacts from up to 7500 years old including the most extensive and valuable collection of Hittite artifacts in the world. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. Drive to Cappadocia, touring a 13th century caravanserai en route. Pay a visit to the underground city of Saratli, one of the many underground settlements built for protection and religious reasons. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and join an optional Whirling Dervishes performance. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Cappadocia
Consider an optional early morning hot air balloon tour and experence floating through volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves at sunrise. After breakfast visit Goreme, a historical region of Turkey, located among the rock formations, which was first settled back in the Roman period. Many rock churches can still be seen today, as Christianity was then the prevailing religion in that region. Continue to the town of Avanos renowned for its high quality earthenware. Also visit Pasabagi, Red Valley and attend a brief regional pottery workshop in a cave.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Cappadocia - Pamukkale
Drive to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Pamukkale - Kusadasi
Visit the unique cotton fortress of Pamukkale, with its white lime cascades formed by mineral springs and the ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis. Proceed to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Ephesus & St. Mary's House - Kusadasi
Tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural centre of the ancient world and explore 2,000 year old marble streets, a theatre, the Library of Celsius, a gymnasium and Hadrian’s Temple. Take a short drive to see St. Mary’s stone cottage where it is believed Virgin Mary spent her last years accompanied by St. John. Continue to a regional rug production centre to have a firsthand experience of this unique art form. Join an optional afternoon tour of Sirince.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Pergamum - Troy - Canakkale
Visit the ancient Medical Centre Asclepion in Pergamum and then continue to Troy with its famous wooden horse, best known for being the setting of the Trojan War and many cities built on top of each other. Continue to Canakkale for overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Dardanelles - Istanbul
In the morning depart for Gallipoli, the site of many battles WW1. Visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair and then drive to Istanbul and visit the Grand Bazaar. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Istanbul - Return
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Meals: Breakfast