10 Days Istanbul- Gallipoli-Troy-Ephesus-Pamukkale Cappadocia Tour
Turkish history and culture highlights, Gallipoli battlefields, legendary Troy, Ancient Ephesus, Pamukkale, astonishing Cappadocia, unique Istanbul
Day 1- Istanbul
On your arrival at Istanbul Airport you will be met by one of our staff and transferred to your hotel in Istanbul. The rest of the day is free time for you to explore this magical city. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2- Istanbul-Half Day Bosphorus Tour ( B )
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up for a half day morning Bosphorus tour to have an unforgettable day. You will have a chance to see;
Spice Market, Golden Horn, City Walls, Bosphorus by Boat,
End of the tour transfer to your hotel and it will be your free afternoon to discover the charming beauty of old city on your own. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3- Gallipoli Tour ( L )
We pick you up from your hotel in the morning (06:30 -07:00 am), to depart for Gallipoli.
Today the Gallipoli battlefields are peaceful places, covered in brush and pine forests. But the battles fought here nearly a century ago are still alive in many memories, both Turkish and foreign, especially Australians and New Zealanders, who view the peninsula as a place of pilgrimage.
Full days tour of Dardanelles, Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Ariburnu Cemetery, ANZAC Commemorative Site, Respect to Mehmetcik Statue, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnstons Jolly (Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels), Turkish 57 th Infantry Regiment Cemetery, The Nek, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. End of the tour transfer to your hotel and overnight in Canakkale or Eceabat.
Day 4-Troy Tour ( B )
After breakfast at the hotel and depart for our daily guided Troy Tour. We will visit the archaeological site of this 5000 years old ancient city. Troy is a legendary city and center of the Trojan War, as it is described in the Iliad of Homer. We see the Megaron houses, a small Roman theatre and Bouletarion, city walls, small site museum and reconstructed wooden horse. After visiting Troy then you will take a bus to Kusadası which will take about six hours by comfortable, non-smoking, airconditioned busses. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel, overnight in Kusadası.
Day 5- Ephesus Tour ( B / L )
After breakfast at your hotel then our daily guided Ephesus Tour begins by visiting Isa Bey Mosque, the remains of the Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards, it proceeds to the spectacular main site of Ephesus, undoubtedly the most superbly preserved Greco-Roman city. Unmistakable highlights surviving among the ruins are the Celsius Library, Agora, Theater, Odeon, Trajan Fountain, Domitianus Temple and Roman Latrines. Following a lunch break, visit the House of Virgin Mary; reputed to be where she spent her final days.
After the tour, you will be transferd to your hotel and overnight in Kusadası or Selcuk.
Day 6- Pamukkale Tour ( B / L )
After breakfast at your hotel in Kusadası or Selcuk then you will be picked up from the hotel then driven to Pamukkale which is the center of natural thermal spring waters with healing properties. Due to the chemical properties in the water, pure white colored travertines and stepped water terraces have been created on the mountain slope. It is for its resemblance to cotton that it is called "Cotton Castle" in Turkish. Visit the travertines and the Ancient City of Hierapolis which has the biggest Nekropol with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. The sacred pool also is one of the main highlights of the site. There shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient Roman ruins which lie beneath.
At the end of the tour, you will take an overnight bus to Cappadocia which will take about ten hours by comfortable, airconditioned, non-smoking busses.
Day 7- Cappadocia- North Tour ( L )
Arrive in Cappadocia and you will be met at the bus station and start a full day guided tour of Northern Cappadocia. We then visit the monastic complex of Goreme Open Air Museum with its astonishing rock-hewn architecture and vibrant frescoes; Uchisar Castle, the highest point of the rocky region; the lunar landscape of Devrent Valley; the lovely town of Avanos and famous for its pottery and painted tiles in Turkey; Pasabag Valley, which has some of the most stunning fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, Cavusin, an old Christian village and Urgup's fairy chimneys. End of the tour transfer to hotel and overnight stay in Cappadocia.
Day 8- Cappadocia -South Tour ( B / L )
After breakfast at your hotel departure for your full day guided tour of Southern Cappadocia begins at Pigeon Valley, where you see thousands of pigeon houses lining the steep cliffs. A visit to one of the extraordinary underground cities Derinkuyu. At Selime Village you will be astonished by the beautiful churches carved out of the volcanic rocks. Visit Ihlara Valley, the most beautiful valley in Cappadocia. At the end of your tour we transfer you to airport for a flight to Istanbul, after arrive in Istanbul transfer to hotel.
Day 9- Istanbul - Walking City Tour ( B / L )
Breakfast at your hotel and pick up from hotel then We start our tour in Sultanahmet, the heart of old Istanbul. You will see;
Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) is one the greatest masterpieces of Byzantine architecture, built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century.
Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks of the city.
Hippodrome was the centre of sporting and social events during the Byzantine Empire.
Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest shopping centre in Turkey, situated in the centre of the old city.
Topkapı Palace was the principal residence of the Ottoman Sultans for nearly 400 years.
Little Hagia Sophia Mosque was formerly the Church of Sergius and Baccus. You may see fine examples of early Byzantine art.
At the end of the tour we will transfer you to your hotel.
Important note:
Ayasofya closed Mondays / replaced with Underground Cistern.
Topkapı Palace closed Tuesdays / replaced with Islamic Art museum
Grand Bazaar closed on Sundays.
Day 10- Istanbul ( B )
After breakfast at your hotel, our tour concludes and it is time for us to say goodbye. We will take you to the airport in time for you to catch your international flight back home and we will wish you a very pleasant flight. We hope to see you again on another Pomegranate Tour.