HIGHLIGHTS OF TURKEY

• Begin your journey in Istanbul, the vibrant capital where East meets West.
• Delve into centuries of history, marked by both turmoil and triumph.
• After being transferred to your hotel, spend the day exploring the city’s captivating sights.
• Meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a memorable Light Meal, setting the tone for the adventures ahead.

• Explore the treasures of the Ottoman Empire with a stroll through the exquisite Topkapi Palace, offering spellbinding views of the Bosphorus.
• Visit the Byzantine Hippodrome, where thundering chariots once raced to victory.
• Follow in the footsteps of the faithful to admire the breathtaking Blue Mosque, with its six minarets and stunning blue Iznik tiles.
• Immerse yourself in the culture as you haggle for souvenirs at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest covered markets.
• Discover the historic Hagia Sophia, once one of the greatest churches in Christendom.
• Participate in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the museum of Classical Turkish Music, preserving traditional art.
• Encounter the brilliance of Turkey’s greatest composer, Dede Efendi, during a private concert performed by students of the Music Conservancy.
• Enjoy the evening exploring more of the city at your leisure.

Included  Experiences: Visit the house of famous classical composer Dede Efendi and Discover Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar

• Pay tribute to the heroism of the thousands of men who fought bravely at Gallipoli.
• Visit Lone Pine Cemetery and the battlefields that hold special significance for the Turkish, Australian, and New Zealand nations.
• Spend a quiet moment commemorating the lives lost at Anzac Cove and Chunuk Bair, sites of fierce fighting during World War I.
• Stay in Çanakkale for the evening, where we’ll dine at our hotel.

• Explore the land of Trojan legends, where ancient city Troy is immortalized in Homer’s tales of King Priamus, Hector, Paris, and Helen.
• Admire the archaeological excavations at Troy, revealing nine periods of settlement, and the symbolic replica wooden Trojan horse, a commemoration of the epic war machine.
• Journey to the ancient kingdom of Pergamon, where we visit the Asklepion Medical Centre, symbolizing modern medicine with its staff of entwined snakes.
• Connect with locals over lunch in the village of Demircidere at a Be My Guest experience.
• Later, we travel to seaside Izmir, enjoying the broad boulevards before dining at our hotel in the evening.

Included Experiences: Bake Traditional Bread and Taste the Local Wine with the Most Liberated Women in the Village of Demircidere

• Embark on a journey into antiquity as we explore the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Ephesus.
• Admire the well-preserved façade of the Library of Celsus and the famous Temple of Artemis.
• Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Hadrian guarded by Medusa’s head, and the Great Theatre, still in use today, built by the Romans in the 2nd century.
• Learn about the intricate heritage and art of carpet weaving during a visit to a Turkish carpet emporium.
• Relax and indulge in the blissful thermal pools at your hotel in Pamukkale.

• Enjoy a leisurely visit to the ancient ruins of the Holy City of Hierapolis this morning, imagining ancient patrons seeking revival and rest within the limestone-laden thermal springs.
• Explore the Mevlana Museum and Mausoleum in Konya, formerly a dervish lodge of the Mevlevi order, revealing the origins of Sufism.
• Conclude our day with a stop in Konya, where we dine in our hotel tonight.

• Continue your journey to Cappadocia, where you’ll encounter a 13th-century caravanserai and explore the underground city of Saratli, once a vital stop on the ancient Silk Road.
• Immerse yourself in the art of pottery making in Avanos as you Dive Into Culture.
• Optionally, consider joining an experience to watch the Whirling Dervishes, followed by a Regional Meal at a local restaurant.
• Spend the night in one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories, carved out of the surrounding rock and steeped in history.

Included Experiences: Visit Avanos and discover the art of pottery making and Stays with Stories

Optional Experiences: Performance of Whirling Dervishes Followed by Dinner at a Local Restaurant

• Explore the whimsical landscapes of Cappadocia today on a full-day excursion.
• Visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum, showcasing ancient cave dwellings and churches carved into the rocky terrain.
• Explore the unique rock formations and fairy chimneys of Paşabağı and Kizil Vadi valleys.
• Enjoy an included dinner this evening, joining your fellow travelers for a delightful meal.

Included Experiences: Stays with Stories

• Begin the day with a short flight to Istanbul, where the entire day is yours to explore the city at your leisure.
• Experience a sensory explosion at the vibrant Spice Market, or take a leisurely stroll through the historic Sultanahmet area.
• Alternatively, find a quiet rooftop café and admire Istanbul’s iconic skyline.
• Opt to join an optional cruise and sail the waters of the Bosphorus, separating Asia and Europe.
• Conclude the day with a Farewell Dinner, joining your Travel Director and fellow companions for a memorable evening.

Optional Experiences: Traditional Bosphorus Cruise

• Bid a fond farewell to Turkey and your newfound friends as we prepare to depart for the airport for our journey home.