Wonders of Turkey

Arrival to Istanbul airport and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)

Day 1

DAY 1 ISTANBUL

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After breakfast at the hotel proceed for a full day tour which takes you through splendid attractions of Istanbul. Visit St. Sophia, the magnificent Byzantine church of all times, mosque during Ottomans and museum today. Byzantine Hippodrome, the former centre for sportive and political activities of Constantinople. Obelisk of Theodosius from Egypt, the Serpentine Column and the German Fountain. The Blue Mosque, a magnificent 17th century mosque famous with its six minarets and 25,000 pieces of blue Iznik tiles decorating the interior. Following a lunch break in the old town, you will visit Topkapi Palace, the former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was once ruled. Today the 15th century Palace displaying the imperial treasury, 3rd richest Chinese and Japanese porcelain collection of the world and other collections scattered in 3 courtyards and vast gardens overlooking the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. Afternoon, visit Suleymaniye Mosque, the mosque of Sultan Suleiman the “Magnificent”, built in the 16th century by Sinan, the famous architect of all times. Overnight at the hotel (B, L, D)

Day 2

DAY 2 ISTANBUL

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After breakfast, morning departure to Gallipoli. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit the First World War Memorial Monument, the Allied Cemeteries and the War Museum. Then we’ll travel across the straits of the Dardanelles by ferry. Dinner and overnight at Canakkale hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 3

DAY 3 ISTANBUL - GALLIPOLI - CANAKKALE

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Early departure to visit the legendary city of Troy, one of the most iconic sites in ancient history. Continue to Pergamum, once one of the small kingdoms in the Middle East. Visit the Acropolis where you will see the great amphitheatre, the library which once held 200,000 volumes (that later Marcus Antonius gave to Cleopatra), the sanctuary of Athena, the monumental altar of Zeus. After lunch at local restaurant, visit Asclepium, the world’s oldest medical centre, built in the name of the god of healing, Asclepius. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 4

DAY 4 CANAKKALE - TROY - KUSADASI

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Full day tour of the ancient city of Ephesus. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary. Then continue to the Hellenistic and Roman Ephesus to see the Celsus Library, the marble paved Arcadian Road, the Brothel, the Roman Baths, the theatre where St. Paul preached. After lunch visit the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus in Selcuk. Afternoon visit the House of the Virgin Mary. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 5

DAY 5 KUSADASI - EPHESUS

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Drive through the fertile valleys to Pamukkale. Meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, it is a natural site of limestone that cascades down the mountain slope. Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis which was built on top of the white “castle”, and relax in Cleopatra’s restorative pool. Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 6

DAY 6 KUSADASI - PAMUKKALE

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Morning departure for Antalya. Arrive at the midday and visit the ancient site of Perge. Behind the site’s breath-taking Hellenistic gate lies a 250 metre long street with columns, an Agora, triumphal arch, monumental fountain, graveyard, basilica, bath, and 12,000 people theatre, the best preserved stadium in Anatolia. Dinner and overnight in Antalya hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 7

DAY 7 PAMUKKALE - PERGE - ANTALYA

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Transfer from your hotel to the airport for your connection flight via Istanbul. (B)

Day 8

DAY 8 ANTALYA

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