Istanbul, Troy & Ephesus

Your itinerary

Day 1: UK/Istanbul

On arrival we transfer to your central hotel in Istanbul for three nights. Enjoy a welcome drink, and meet your travelling companions and Tour Manager.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Istanbul

Take time to experience this delightful city in your own time today, your Tour Manager will be on hand to recommend the best authentic experiences. Alternatively join your fellow travellers and Tour Manager on an optional excursion as detailed below.

Meals: Breakfast

Topkapi Palace, Golden Horn & Bosphorus Cruise (full day)

We will wander around the wonderful Topkapi Palace and admire the grandeur the Ottoman sultans once surrounded themselves with. As we follow the city walls along the Golden Horn we will gain more of an insight into Istanbul life on our approach to the Monastery of Chora. The Eyup Sultan Mosque is another spectacular sight. We will enjoy a traditional meal in a local restaurant surrounded by the enticing scents at the Egyptian Spice Bazaar before boarding a ferry for our journey along the Bosphorous, our trip will zigzag through Asia and Europe as we pass an array of old wooden houses, fishing villages and marble palaces.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Day 3: Istanbul

Half in Asia and half in Europe, Istanbul is a fascinating blend of east and west. Peel back the city’s layers of history as you explore with your fellow travellers and Tour Manager. Start at the cultural heart of the Old City – Sultanahmet Square. Surrounding the square are some of Istanbul’s most iconic sights – the ancient Hippodrome, built for horse and chariot racing; the magnificent Blue Mosque, with its precious iznik tiles that glitter in the sunlight; and imposing Hagia Sophia. A church for a full millennium and a mosque for more than 500 years, take the time to marvel at its awesome size and majesty. We will enjoy lunch in a typically Turkish restaurant. After lunch we explore the Roman underground cistern which is a marvel of engineering that supplied the Topkapi Palace with water and locals with fresh fish. Be certain to experience the Grand Bazaar and have a go at bartering for goods in this bustling market.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Day 4: Gallipoli & Canakkale

Today our journey takes us along the Gallipoli Peninsula, site of an abortive Allied assault on Turkish forces during World War I. We will stop to pay our respects at the memorials to the fallen soldiers, a moving tribute to the many thousands of Australian, New Zealand and British servicemen who lost their lives. Crossing the Dardanelles, our journey today comes to an end in Canakkale, where we stay overnight.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 5: Troy, Yesilyurt & Ayvalik

Our journey continues south along the Aegean coast, where we will visit one of the most iconic sites in ancient history – Troy. And for a taste of true Turkey, a cup of traditional Turkish coffee in the village of Yesilyurt can’t be beaten. At the village café, see traditional gozleme folded pastries being made before sampling the results. Ayvalik, is our destination for tonight’s overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 6: Pergamon & Kusadasi

The ancient city of Pergamon boasts spectacular sights. Marvel at the Acropolis, the setting for a spectacular theatre, the famous library and huge altar of Zeus. The remains of the Asclepion, one of the ancient world’s most renowned healing centres, are equally impressive. Your hotel for the next two nights is close to the ancient city of Ephesus.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 7: Ephesus, The Temple of Artemis & Sirince

Ephesus is an astonishingly well-preserved glimpse into ancient life. Take in the sight of the Great Theatre, the Marble Street and the exquisite façade of the Library of Celsus, learning more at the Ephesus Museum and the Temple of Artemis. Sirince village, our destination this afternoon, is full of life, its narrow streets lined with local women selling handicrafts of all kinds. Relax with a glass of the delicious local wines in a café – your Tour Manager will be able to recommend a tasty tipple – as you contemplate all you have seen on your travels. This evening enjoy a farewell get-together with your travelling companions.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 8: Izmir/UK

Today your holiday comes to an end and you will be transferred to the airport for your return journey to the UK.

Meals: Breakfast