Istanbul Trip Overview
Glories of Turkey tour program covers most famous and highlight historical places / museums and attractive cities of Turkey. The tour is operated only English speaking with professional and most experienced tour guides and used deluxe motor-coaches throughout the journey. 5 stars accommodation at deluxe 5 stars hotels during the program.
From coastal Turkey to its hinterland, tour Istanbul, visit Gallipoli and Troy, lunch with locals in Pergamum and visit the Virgin Mary’s cottage in Ephesus. You will also see the “cotton fortress” of Pamukkale, Antalya and the Artemis Temple at Perge. Aspendos, Konya, Cappadocia and Ankara are also visited.
Additional Info
Duration: 15 days
Starts: Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Tours
Explore Istanbul Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Istanbul, Turkey, Turkey
Glories of Turkey tour program covers most famous and highlight historical places / museums and attractive cities of Turkey. The tour is operated only English speaking with professional and most experienced tour guides and used deluxe motor-coaches throughout the journey. 5 stars accommodation at deluxe 5 stars hotels during the program.
From coastal Turkey to its hinterland, tour Istanbul, visit Gallipoli and Troy, lunch with locals in Pergamum and visit the Virgin Mary’s cottage in Ephesus. You will also see the “cotton fortress” of Pamukkale, Antalya and the Artemis Temple at Perge. Aspendos, Konya, Cappadocia and Ankara are also visited.
Itinerary
Day 1: Istanbul
Stop At: Istanbul, Istanbul
Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to hotel. Welcome briefing will be held.
Duration: 45 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: JW Marriott Bosphorus or Conrad Bosphorus
Day 2: Istanbul
Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Enjoy a full day tour including a visit to Topkapi Palace Museum, residence of the Ottoman Sultans between 1453–1852 (excluding harem). Visit the Hippodrome, which was once the center of life where chariot racing and other public events took place. Tour the Blue Mosque built between 1609 and 1616, famous for its blue ceramic tiles. Next see St. Sophia, a church built in the 6th century Byzantine capital, converted to a mosque by the Ottomans, and now a museum and one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Your last stop will be the famous Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and oldest covered market with over 60
streets. Join an optional dinner with belly dancing entertainment. B
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: JW Marriott Bosphorus or Conrad Bosphorus
Day 3: Gallipolli – Dardanelles – Canakkale
Stop At: Gallipoli Battlefield, Eceabat Turkey
In the morning, drive to Tekirdağ city and visit to Barbare Vineyard. We’ll be informed about wine making, tour the vineyard and taste some wines. Then depart for Gallipoli, the site of many battles during WWI. Visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair, then overnight near Gallipoli. B
Duration: 10 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Caeli
Day 4: Troy – Pergamum – Izmir
Stop At: Troy (Truva), Tevfikiye Koyu, Intepe, Canakkale Turkey
Cross the Dardanelles to Canakkale and visit Troy with its famous wooden horse, best known for being the setting of the Trojan War and many cities built on top of each other. Before arriving into Asclepion, enjoy lunch with locals in a traditional local village . Then continue to Pergamum to visit the ancient Medical Center in Asclepion and continue to İzmir for overnight. B L
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Swissotel Grand Efes
Day 5: Ephesus & St. Mary’s House – Izmir
Stop At: Ephesus Museum, Selcuk Turkey
Tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural center of the ancient world, and explore 2,000 year-old marble streets, a theater, the Library of Celsius, a gymnasium and Hadrian’s Temple. Take a short drive to see St. Mary’s stone cottage where it is believed Virgin Mary spent her last years accompanied by St. John. Continue to a regional rug production center to have a firsthand experience of this unique art form. Dinner & Overnight at the hotel. B D
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Swissotel Grand Efes
Day 6: Bodrum
Stop At: Castle of St. Peter, Kale Cad., Bodrum City Turkey
After breakfast drive to Bodrum to visit th castle of St.Peter and the renowned Underwater Museum that was awarded the best Underwater Museum of the World in 2000s. Overnight in Bodrum. B
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Mgallery Bodrum
Day 7: Bodrum – Kos
Stop At: Kos, Kos, Dodecanese, South Aegean
After breakfast, free time for personal activities. Optional tour to Kos Island. Overnight in Bodrum. B
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Mgallery Bodrum
Day 8: Bodrum – Pamukkale
Stop At: Pamukkale, Pamukkale
After breakfast, drive through lush valleys to Pamukkale, the Cotton Fortress, with white lime cascades formed by hot mineral springs. Visit ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis and enjoy a swim in your hotel’s thermal pool. B D
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Doga Thermal
Day 9: Pamukkale – Antalya
Stop At: Antalya, Antalya, Turkish Mediterranean Coast
After breakfast depart for Antalya, dinner and overnight. B D
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Kempinski The Dome Belek or Akra Antalya
Day 10: Antalya
Stop At: Perge Ancient City, Aksu, Antalya 07110 Turkey
This morning visit Perge and Aspendos afternoon is free for personal activities. Dinner at the hotel. B D
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Kempinski The Dome Belek or Akra Antalya
Day 11: Antalya – Cappadocia
Stop At: Cappadocia, Cappadocia
Early morning departure to Cappadocia on the way visit 13th century Caravansaray and later visit underground city of Saratli. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia. B D
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Ariana Sustainable Luxury Lodge
Day 12: Cappadocia
Stop At: Cappadocia, Cappadocia
Early Morning Optional: Hot Air Balloon Tour. Experience floating through volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves at sunrise. After break-fast visit Goreme, a historical region of Turkey, located among the rock formations, which were first settled back in the Roman period. Many rock churches can still be seen today, as Christianity was then the prevailing religion in that region. Continue to the town of Avanos renowned for its high quality earthenware. Also visit Pasabagi, Red Valley and attend a brief regional pottery workshop. Dinner at a special local restaurant. Join an optional Whirling Dervishes performance. B D
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Ariana Sustainable Luxury Lodge
Day 13: Cappadocia – Ankara
Stop At: Ankara, Ankara
Early morning departure to the capital city of Ankara through the salt lake area, Enjoy an afternoon tour Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, a historic caravanserai, holding artifacts from up to 7500 years old, including the most extensive and valuable collection of Hittite artifacts in the world. Dinner and overnight at Ankara. B D
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hilton Ankara
Day 14: Ankara – Istanbul
Stop At: Istanbul, Istanbul
After breakfast depart for Istanbul. In the afternoon, join an optional halfday Bosphorus cruise enjoying the strait that separates Asia and Europe. Its shores are lined with fine neighborhoods, Ottoman palaces, fortresses, old wooden villas, hotels, parks and gardens, restaurants and cafés. Finish your last minute shopping at the Spice Market filled with the fragrance of the exotic east. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner. B D
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: JW Marriott Bosphorus or Conrad Bosphorus
Day 15: Istanbul
Stop At: Istanbul, Istanbul
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home. B
Duration: 45 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
