12 Days Istanbul-Gallipoli-Troy-Ephesus-Pamukkale-Antalya-Konya-Cappadocia Tour
Grand Tour of Turkiye through ancient civilisations, superbly preserved remains of centuries-old cities and monuments, beautiful valleys and sandy beaches
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 having your 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, air-conditioned 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 Necropolis 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 a bus to Antalya which will take about four hours by comfortable, air-conditioned, non-smoking busses. Upon arrival Antalya transfer to your hotel and overnight in Antalya.
Day 7- Antalya - Perge Aspendos Side Tour ( B / L )
After breakfast we will pick you up from your hotel and a full day guided tour will start.
Perge, a great ancient city with city walls, theatre, agora, Hellenistic Stadium.
Kursunlu Waterfalls, a fascinating waterfall and natural surroundings.
Aspendos, an ancient Lycian city with the best preserved Roman Theatre.
Side, an ancient harbour which means pomegranate in the old Anatolian Sidetan language. It is famous for its pretty resort towns, ancient ruins, beautiful sandy beaches, numerous shops and extensive tourist accommodations welcomes the visitors.
End of the tour you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Antalya.
Day 8- Antalya to Konya ( B )
After you have your breakfast at your hotel in Antalya, we will transfer you to the bus station then take a bus to Konya which will take about six hours passing through the world famous Taurus Mountains, upon arrival Konya, you will be met at the bus station then transfer to your hotel, it will be your free time on your own. Walk in the old city through Mevlana Museum, historical market area, see the beautiful boutique shops which sells clothes, spices, souvenirs near Aziziye Mosque.
Konya is located right in the middle of Turkey. The history goes back till 7000BC in Catalhoyuk. It is the first known ancient city so far in the world. Konya is a cradle of many civilizations beginning from the early ages up to now. Visit the home of great philosopher Mevlana Celaleddini Rumi, great humanist, great poet his only aim was to teach people to love the creature for the honour of the creater. You should try to understand his messages to all humankind.
You should taste our world famous 'Etli Ekmek' ( Turkish pizza ) and 'Fırın Kebabı'. Konya cuisine has great contributions to Turkish cuisine, try our famous meals.
Overnight in Konya.
Day 9- Konya to Cappadocia ( B )
Breakfast at your hotel in Konya, you can visit Alaeddin Mosque, Karatay Museum, Ince Minare Museum on your own then you will take a bus to Cappadocia in the afternoon which will take almost four hours. Arrive in Cappadocia and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 10- Cappadocia- North Tour (B / L )
Breakfast at your hotel and we will pick you up from your hotel to 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 11- 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 tranfer you to airport for a flight to Istanbul, after arrive in Istanbul transfer to hotel.
Day 12- 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.