WONDERS OF TURKEY (CLASSIC GROUP)
Price
Duration
Min People
Tour Type
Tour Code
INSIGHT-TR
Overview
Fall in love with Turkey on this 11-day guided tour. See Ephesus, an ancient city built in the 10th Century B.C. with an amphitheatre that once sat 24,000 people. Drive through the Maender River Valley to an organic farm, where you can walk the lush lands, then feast on fresh produce during a mouth-watering lunch. See the turquoise travertine pools in Pamukkale where ancient Romans used to soak — then dip into the spa at your hotel to indulge in its Turkish baths. Take a tour of a traditional cave house in Cappadocia with the local who lives there, then dine as you watch whirling dervishes dance nearby. Visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk, the resting place of the country’s first president, in Ankara. Travel to Istanbul, where you’ll see the infamous Blue Mosque before bargaining at the eclectic Grand Bazaar, which boasts more than 4,000 shops.
Included/Excluded
Day 1: Welcome to Istanbul (Dinner with Wine)
- Arrive in Istanbul
- Transfer from the airport to Grand Wyndham Levent hotel
- Relax and settle in
- Join Travel Director and fellow travelers for Welcome Dinner
Day 2: Gallipoli, Anzac Cove and Troy (Breakfast)
- Marvel at coastal views along the shores of the Sea of Marmara
- Visit historic Gallipoli, site of significant battles during the Great War
- Explore Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery
- Travel from Eceabat to Çanakkale
- Arrive in the historic city of Troy
- Learn about the Trojan War and the story of Paris and Helen of Troy
- See a replica of the Trojan horse next to the city’s walls
- Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Canakkale, Canakkale
Day 3: Pergamon and Kusadasi (Breakfast/Dinner with Wine)
- Participate in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Copmadam, a women’s co-op focusing on recycled materials and women’s employment
- Visit Pergamon, an ancient Greek city
- Explore the Asklepion temple, a famous shrine and healing center dedicated to Asklepios, the god of medicine
- Continue journey to the coastal resort of Kusadasi
- Hotel: Charisma De Luxe Hotel, Kusadasi
Day 4: Ephesus – Kusadasi (Breakfast/Dinner)
- Visit the nearby town of Selçuk
- Explore the Archaeological Museum to learn about the area’s history
- View exhibits retrieved from the nearby Ephesus excavation site
- Explore the Ephesus ruins, including the colonnaded Arcadian Way, the Library of Celsus, and the Amphitheatre
- Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, situated above the Ephesus ruins
- Hotel: Charisma De Luxe Hotel, Kusadasi
Day 5: The Pools of Pamukkale (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner with Wine)
- Head to a local organic farm in the winding Maender River Valley
- Meet the agricultural director for a walking tour of the eco-friendly lands
- Pick fruits and vegetables from the fields
- Enjoy a Farm-to-Table lunch prepared with fresh produce from the farm
- Continue to Pamukkale
- Explore the area with your Travel Director
- See the ruins of the ancient Roman spa city of Hierapolis, including the well-preserved theatre and turquoise travertine pools
- Return to the hotel, Doğa Thermal Health & Spa
- Take advantage of its indoor and outdoor thermal pools, steam room, and Turkish bath complex
Day 6: The Underground City and Cappadocia (Breakfast/Dinner with Wine)
- Visit the 13th-century Sultanhani Caravanserai
- Explore the underground city of Saratli
- Recognize the area from the striking golden, volcanic landscapes surrounding it
- Arrive at the hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Avanos, Cappadocia
Day 7: The Cappadocia Experience (Breakfast/Dinner with Wine)
- Explore rock-hewn churches in Göreme decorated with ancient wall paintings
- Visit Pasabag Valley, known for its otherworldly earth pillars and troglodyte dwellings
- Join a tour of a Cappadocian local’s cave house to learn about their unique lifestyle and traditions
- Witness a performance of the Whirling Dervishes in the evening
- Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant
Day 8: Ankara (Breakfast)
- Learn about pottery making in Avanos, famous for its earthenware pottery
- Travel to Ankara
- Visit the Hittite Museum
- Explore Anit Kabir, the Mausoleum of Atatürk, Turkey’s first President
- Optional: Relax in the spa and wellness centre at your hotel
Day 9: To Istanbul (Breakfast)
- Travel to Istanbul
- Board a cruise along the Bosphorus from Eminönü to the Black Sea
- Admire Ottoman palaces and fortresses along the waterfront
- Evening at leisure to explore dining options
Day 10: Istanbul & the Ottoman Empire (Breakfast/Dinner with Wine)
- Morning visit to the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome
- Explore Hagia Sophia, renowned for its domed roof
- Visit Topkapi Palace overlooking the Bosphorus and Golden Horn
- Experience bargaining at the Grand Bazaar
- Evening Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant
Day 11: Farewell Istanbul (Breakfast)
- Transfer to the airport for onward flights
- For those extending their stay in Istanbul, consult the Travel Director for recommendations on activities and attractions
- Day 1: Grand Wyndham Levent
- Day 2: DoubleTree by Hilton Canakkale
- Day 3 – Day 4: Charisma De Luxe Hotel
- Day 5: Doğa Thermal Health & Spa
- Day 6 – Day 7: DoubleTree by Hilton Avanos
- Day 8: Ankara HiltonSA
- Day 9 – Day 10: Grand Wyndham Levent