Classic Escapes | Best of Turkey

Day-1

Istanbul

Arrive in Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Welcome briefing will be held. The rest of the day is yours.

Overnight in Istanbul

Day-2

Istanbul

After breakfast, 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. Next see St. Sophia, a church built in the 6th-century Byzantine capital, converted to a mosque by the Ottomans, and now a museum and one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. 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.

Overnight in Istanbul

Meal: Breakfast

Day-3

Istanbul – Canakkale

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, depart for Gallipoli, the site of many battles during WWI. Visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair, then cross the Dardanelles to Canakkale.

Overnight in Canakkale

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Day-4

Canakkale – Troy – Pergamum – Izmir

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit 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. Before arriving at Asclepion, enjoy lunch with locals in a traditional local village. Then continue to Pergamum to visit the ancient Medical Center in Asclepion and continue to İzmir.

Overnight in Izmir

Meal: Breakfast & Lunch

Day-5

Izmir

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural center of the ancient world, and 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 it is believed Virgin Mary spent her last years accompanied by St. John. Continue to a regional rug production center to have a firsthand experience of this unique art form. Dinner at hotel.

Overnight in Izmir.

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Day-6

Izmir – Bodrum

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Bodrum to visit the castle of St. Peter and the renowned Underwater Museum that was awarded the best Underwater Museum of the World in the 2000s. Dinner at hotel.

Overnight in Bodrum

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Day-7

Bodrum

After breakfast, the day is free for personal activities. Optional day island Kos (not included).

Overnight in Bodrum

Meal: Breakfast

Day-8

Bodrum – Pamukkale

After breakfast, drive through lush valleys to Pamukkale, the Cotton Fortress, with white lime cascades formed by hot mineral springs. Visit ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis and enjoy a swim in your hotel’s thermal pool. Dinner at hotel.

Overnight in Pamukkale.

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Day-9

Pamukkale – Antalya

After breakfast departs for Antalya. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner at hotel.

Overnight in Antalya.

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Day-10

Antalya

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning visit Perge and Aspendos. Afternoon is free for personal activities. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Antalya

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Day-11

Antalya – Cappadocia

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart early morning depart to Cappadocia. On the way visit 13th-century Caravansaray and later visit the underground city of Saratli. Dinner at hotel.

Overnight in Cappadocia

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Day-12

Cappadocia

Early Morning Optional: Hot Air Balloon Tour. Experience floating through volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves at sunrise (not included). After breakfast visit Goreme, a historical region of Turkey, located among the rock formations, which were 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. Dinner at a special local restaurant. Join an optional Whirling Dervishes performance.

Overnight in Cappadocia

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Day-13

Cappadocia – Ankara

After breakfast, early morning departure to the capital city of Ankara through the Salt Lake area, enjoy an afternoon tour 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. Dinner at a special local restaurant.

Overnight in Ankara

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Day-14

Ankara – Istanbul

After breakfast depart for Istanbul. In the afternoon, join an optional half-day Bosphorus cruise (not included) enjoying the strait that separates Asia and Europe. Its shores are lined with fine neighborhoods, Ottoman palaces, fortresses, old wooden villas, hotels, parks and gardens, restaurants, and cafés. Finish your last-minute shopping at the Spice Market filled with the fragrance of the exotic east. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner.

Overnight in Istanbul

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Day-15

Depart Istanbul

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Meal: Breakfast

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