DAY 1 - UK/Istanbul
Meet your travelling companions at the airport and depart on your scheduled flight to Istanbul. Transfer to our hotel for a two night stay. This evening enjoy a welcome drink and dinner at a fish restaurant in the fisherman’s village Kumkapi, including local drinks.
DAY 2 - Istanbul
Our full day included tour of Istanbul takes us to visit Sultanahmet Square, the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque and the ancient St. Sophia Church in the heart of the old city. We will discover the half-hidden gardens and courtyards in the Topkapi Palace, followed by a visit to the famous Grand Bazaar. Enjoy a tour of Istanbul by night this evening, including dinner and a traditional Turkish show.
DAY 3 - Gallipoli & Canakkale
We drive along the delightful coastline of the Sea of Marmara to Gallipoli and take a ferry across the famous Dardanelles to set foot in Asia. We continue to the ancient city of Troy, where excavations have revealed nine different settlements dating back to 3,000BC and stay overnight in nearby Canakkale.
DAY 4 - Pergamon & Kusadasi
This morning we set out to explore the ancient city of Pergamon, the residence and capital of the Pergamon Kings. Next stop is the Aesclepion, an ancient healing centre, before driving on via Izmir to Kusadasi for a two night stay.
DAY 5 - Ephesus
Today’s included visit takes us to Ephesus, the most famous of all the ancient sites inTurkey. Here we will discover the Basilica of St. John, the house of the Virgin Mary, the Museum of Ephesus plus much more.
DAY 6 - Aphrodisias & Pamukkale
We set out on the drive to Aphrodisias, one of the most important archaeological sites in Turkey. We travel on to Pamukkale for an overnight stay.
DAY 7 - Hierapolis & Konya
This morning we visit the Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis to see its spectacular ruins and over a thousand tombs. There will be time for a swim in a hot spring if you wish, before we continue along the scenic drive to Konya where we stay overnight.
DAY 8 - Cappadocia
A short morning sightseeing tour takes us to see the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the Ince Minare and Karatay Medresesi, before our drive to Cappadocia for a two night stay at the Perissia Hotel. En route we visit the 13th century Caravanserai Sultanhan.
DAY 9 - Cappadocia
Today’s included tour of Cappadocia shows us the rock valleys of Goreme, which have more than 360 churches, Zelve, where people lived until the last century, the natural citadel of Uchisar, Cavusin church and the underground city of Kaymaki.
DAY 10 - Ankara
We drive to Ankara for a final overnight stay. We will visit the Museum of Old Anatolian Civilisations, and the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk and have dinner tonight in a typical Turkish restaurant.
DAY 11 - Ankara/UK
Transfer to Ankara airport for your return flight to the UK via Istanbul.