Istanbul Trip Overview
Blend Turkish history with must-see sights on a 3-day tour from Istanbul to Kusadasi! With an expert guide, visit the poignant World War I battlefields — such as ANZAC Cove — at the Gallipoli peninsula, and then learn about the mythological Trojan War on a visit to the legendary town of Troy. Explore the ancient medical center of Pergamum Asclepion before finishing the experience with a tour of the Classical city of Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana). Besides tours and meals, 4-star hotel accommodation is also included in Çanakkale and Kusadasi.
Additional Info
Duration: 3 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
Blend Turkish history with must-see sights on a 3-day tour from Istanbul to Kusadasi! With an expert guide, visit the poignant World War I battlefields — such as ANZAC Cove — at the Gallipoli peninsula, and then learn about the mythological Trojan War on a visit to the legendary town of Troy. Explore the ancient medical center of Pergamum Asclepion before finishing the experience with a tour of the Classical city of Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana). Besides tours and meals, 4-star hotel accommodation is also included in Çanakkale and Kusadasi.
Itinerary
Day 1: Istanbul – Gallipoli – Çanakkale
Stop At: Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Canakkale Province, Turkish Aegean Coast
Start your 3-day tour with a pickup from central Istanbul, and then travel by coach to the battlefields of Gallipoli. During the journey, listen to your guide give background on the historical peninsula region where one of the most bloody and lengthy campaigns of WWI was waged. On April 25, 1915, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) followed Allied orders to mount an attack on Constantinople. The attack was met with fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turks and the campaign dragged out for more than half a year, with thousands of fatalities.
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Anzac Cove, 17900 Canakkale Province, Gallipoli Turkey
After a break for lunch in the area, set off on your Gallipoli walking tour to learn about the key battles and see several poignant memorials that are visited by countless nations. Stroll to Australia’s main memorial site at Lone Pine and explore the trenches of the Nek while hearing about the troops that stormed the surrounding woodland. See Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, pay your respects to fallen soldiers at ANZAC Cove, and see exhibits relating to the battles at Kabatepe Museum.
In the early evening, travel across the Dardanelles Strait and check into your Çanakkale hotel in time for dinner.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: 4 STAR HOTELS
Day 2: Çanakkale – Troy – Pergamum – Kusadasi
Stop At: Troy (Truva), Tevfikiye Koyu, Intepe, Canakkale Turkey
Enjoy breakfast before traveling with your guide to nearby Troy. One of the world’s most famous archeological sites, Troy was developed as a series of settlements, and enjoyed stints as a Bronze Age dwelling and a Byzantine town before falling into a state of ruin. Learn of its links to the Trojan War — the Greek mythological story of the Trojan prince (Paris) who ran away with Zeus’ daughter (Helen) and sparked a 10-year battle — while visiting the Trojan Horse. The impressive wooden sculpture serves as a symbol for the town, and your guide will make sure you have some free time to take close-up photos.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Pergamon Theatre, Kurtulus Mah. Akrapol Yolu No:2 Bergama Merkez, Bergama, Bergama Turkey
Take a break for lunch in town, and then travel to Pergamum, another of the country’s prominent ancient cities, for a tour of its ancient medical center: Pergamum Asclepion. The intriguing site started by offering holistic remedies (sunbathing or herb eating were commonly prescribed) but grew into a groundbreaking medical school — the work of which contributed to the basic principles of Western medicine.
Having explored the Asclepion, continue traveling to Kusadasi where your hotel awaits. Check in, enjoy dinner and then spend the rest of your evening at leisure.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: 4 STAR HOTELS
Day 3: Kusadasi – Ephesus – House of the Virgin Mary — Kusadasi
Stop At: Ephesus Museum, Selcuk Turkey
Check out of your Kusadasi hotel after breakfast and travel to the city of Ephesus, an archeological site that’s considered to be one of Europe’s best-preserved Classical cities. On a walking tour of the ruins, see incredible sights such as the colonnaded Arcadian Way and the Temple of Hadrian that was built to celebrate the Emperor’s visits to the city.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House), Sultaniye Mahallesi, Selcuk 35100 Turkey
Take a break for lunch in town, and then continue to the House of the Virgin Mary, where some say that the Virgin Mary spent her final days. Look inside the chapel and hear from your guide about its history as a place of pilgrimage. Then, return to your coach and travel back to central Kusadasi where your tour finishes with a hotel drop-off.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
