11 Day Turkey Tour

Guaranteed Departures On Every Thursday

Day 01      :               

Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel

Day 02      :              

Full day Istanbul tour

A full day tour at the Old City where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled. St.Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture constructed as a basilica in 536 by Emperor Justinian (Closed on Mondays; replaced with a visit to the St. Chora Museum); Blue Mosque, facing St.Sophia, famous with its more than 20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet in the 17th century, one of the best examples of classical Turkish art; Hippodrome, the scene of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory celebrations, and political activities of the old city where one can also see today the Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column from Delphi, the Fountain of Wilhelm II and the Colossus; the marvelous Underground Cistern; After lunch proceed to Topkapi Palace - Harem section is excluded - (Closed on Tuesdays; replaced with a visit to the Archaeological Museum), built in 1468 by Mehmet the Conqueror, the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury, Chinese porcelains, weapons, calligraphy section, etc.; Grand Covered Bazaar (Closed on Sundays), the most attractive shopping center in the world with nearly 4000 shops. Suleymaniye Mosque, the imperial mosque that dominates the skyline of Istanbul, built by the famous architect Sinan the Great during the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent in the 16^th century (L)

Day 03      :                  

Half day Istanbul tour

A morning tour to visit the aromatic Spice Bazaar (Closed on Sundays) from 1663 with its domed and vaulted shops selling spices and herbs along with a wide variety of commodities, also known as Egyptian Bazaar as it was once endowed with the Cairo imposts. Then proceed to the pier so as to embark the boat. Starting the tour from the Golden Horn and sailing through the waterway separating the two continents - Asia and Europe - with a possibility to take pictures of the marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials. During this trip Ciragan Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace,  Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges will be visioned. Leaving the boat in Tarabya or Sarıyer and getting into the coach to proceed to the Rumelian Fortress (Closed on Wednesdays), historical armament built by the Conqueror in 1452 to control and protect Bosphorus. After the visit to this unique example of military architecture transfer to the hotel and end of services (No lunch is served in this tour / Regular government ferry is used on both private and regular Bosphorus tours).

Day 04     :

Transfer to the airport in Istanbul and fly to Ankara. Meet and proceed to the world-wide famous Anatolian Civilizations Museum (It is closed on Mondays) at which there are numerous remnants from Stone Age, Neolithic Age, Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians and many others. Then visit to the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the national hero who founded modern Republic of Turkey. Then departure for Cappadocia and lunch on the way. After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake arrive in Cappadocia and overnight (L, D).

Day 05      :

Full day excursion in Cappadocia with Kaymakli Underground City, Open Air Museum in Göreme, natural fortress in Uchisar, Zelve region and Avanos and shopping facilities. Overnight in Cappadocia (B, L, D). 

Day 06      :

Early departure for Pamukkale. On the way visit to the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece Sultanhan Caravanserai and arrival in Konya. Lunch. After visiting the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the world-wide famous mystic, proceed to Karatay Theological School in which beautiful tiles are on display. Drive to Pamukkale and overnight (B, L, D). 

Day  07     :

In the morning visit to the ancient Hierapolis with the Theatre, Apollo Temple and magnificent Necropolis, the graveyard. Then drive to Aphrodisias and lunch. Later visit to the ruins and the museum. Finally drive to Kusadasi and overnight (B, L, D).

Day 08      :

Morning tour to Ephesus area with Ephesus Antique City (Hillside Houses are excluded), Virgin Mary’s House, Selcuk Ephesus Museum and St. John Church. Lunch in Selcuk and drive back to the hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi (B, L, D).

Day 09      :

Early departure for Bergama and visit to the Asclepion and Acropol with the well preserved remains. Lunch and drive to Assos for a short visit to the village. Overnight in a simple hotel in Canakkale or at a simple but cosy hotel in Assos (B, L, D). 

Day 10      :

After breakfast drive to Troy, the place where the legendary Trojan War took place in the historical work of Homer of Smyrna. After visiting the site with nine inhabitation levels covering a period of 3000 years, drive to Canakkale and lunch. Thereafter sail to the other side of Dardanelles by a ferryboat and drive to Istanbul with visit to Gallipoli, famous for being the site of many battles - particularly involving the Allied Forces including Australians and New Zealanders during World War I. Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel (B, L).

Day 11      :

Transfer to the airport to fly back home (B)

Tour price: 990 EURO per person sharing dbl room

If stayed in a single room, single supplement surcharge is 155 EURO

Tour price covers the following (Our tours are guaranteed for minimum 2 persons)

-               All the transfer services

-               Accommodation at 4 star and special category hotels throughout on half board basis

                (Bed and breakfast basis in Istanbul)-          

-               Guidance in English

-               Air-conditioned vehicles

-               Admission fees

-               Lunches except on the last transfer day

-               All the taxes