Istanbul - Gallipoli - Troy - Pergamon - Ephesus - Pamukkale and Cappadocia

Day 1  Istanbul: Arrival & Transfer to Hotel

Upon your arrival in Istanbul, you will be met with our company representative in the arrivals area of the airport who will be holding a signboard with your name on it. After meet and greet, you will then be transferred from the airport to your hotel in Istanbul. Rest of the day will be at leisure.

Day 2 Istanbul: Full-Day Istanbul Byzantine & Ottoman History Tour
(Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

• 08:00 Breakfast at hotel
• 08:30 Picked up from your hotel for Full Day Tour
• Visiting Sites: Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar
• 13:00 Lunch
• 17:00 After the tour transfer back to your hotel
• Stay Overnight in Istanbul

Hagia Sophia: This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time.

Sultanahmet Mosque: Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.

Hippodrome: Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine.

Grand Cover Bazaar: In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more then 4,000 shops with each trade having its own area: the goldsmiths' street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as handpainted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes.

Topkapi Palace: The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of cyrstal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. Overnight at your hotel in Istanbul.

Day 3 Istanbul: Bosphorus Cruise and Dolmabahce Palace Tour
(Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

• 08:00 Breakfast at hotel
• 08:30 Picked up from your hotel for Full Day Tour.
• Visiting Sites: Dolmabahce Palace, Camlica Hill, Across to Asia: Bosphorus Bridge, Pierre Loti Hill, Cable Car, City Walls, Rumeli Fortress, Beykoz
• Lunch on the Boat,
• 17:00 After the tour transfer back to your hotel
• Stay Overnight in Istanbul

Dolmabahce Palace Interior Visit: Dolmabahce is the richest palace of whole Ottoman period and is very busy especially in the afternoon by group visits. That's why our tour is a gem as we're going to visit it in the peaceful morning period.

Bosphorus Bridge Across to Asia: Overshadowing Istanbul's traditional architecture is one of the world's largest suspension bridges, linking Europe and Asia.

Camlica Hill: We climb a Bosphorus side hill by bus for a view which commands a magnificent view that embraces the Bosphorus and old istanbul.

Pierre Loti Hill: The hill was named after the French novelist and naval officer Pierre Loti who visited Istanbul several times and stayed many years.

Fly over by Cable Car: Enjoy the beautiful view from the cable car all the way down to the hill.

City Walls: Constantinople's great city walls were breached only twice in 1600 years. The first breach occured in 1204 during the fourth Crusade.

Shopping Opportunity before having lunch at our boat.

Lunch on the Boat After you embark the boat you will have chance to appreciate the rich open buffet season salads delicious hors d'oeuvre, Chicken Shish Kebap, rice and fruit (Drinks are excluded). (During low season we serve the lunch on the calm water of Golden Horn before heading up to Black Sea)

Rumeli Fortress (From the sea) Legandary fortress best seen by the sea.

The Black Sea : Get the best shot where Bosphorus meets Black Sea.

Beykoz (Stopover): Beykoz is the northern tip of Bosphorus, last stop on the Asian side and the intersection of Marmara Sea and Black Sea

Day 4 Canakkale: Gallipoli Tour
(Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

• Breakfast at hotel
• Early Picked up from your hotel to Gallipoli War Fields It takes around 5 hours
• 13:00 Lunch
• Visiting Sites: Gallipoli, Lone Pine Memorial, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, ANZAC Cove, Ari Burnu Cemetery, Beach Cemetery, Brighton Beach, Turkish 57th. Infantry Regiment Cemetery, Mehmetcik Statue, Johnson’s Jolly Cemetery
• After the tour, transfer to hotel for check/in Canakkale
• Stay Overnight in Canakkale

Early morning pick up from your hotel and departure for Gallipoli. After about a 4.5 hours journey, arrive in Gallipoli and learn about the long and dreadful WWI campaign fought here between the Ottoman Turks and Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Begin your walking tour exploring the most interesting battlefields.

See the most poignant Australian memorial site - Lone Pine Memorial. Then stroll to the trenches of the Nek while learning about the soldiers who attacked from the nearby forest. Next, head to Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial and discover a rare battleground where Allied troops were triumphant, but only for a short period.

Stop for lunch about midway through your tour and enjoy plenty of opportunities for leisure time to continue sightseeing on your own.

Continue to ANZAC Cove, where most battles were fought, and pay your heartfelt respects to the troops who died here. Then, stroll through Ari Burnu Cemetery and see where 200 servicemen lay forever. Observe more memorials at Beach Cemetery, Brighton Beach, Turkish 57th. Infantry Regiment Cemetery, Respect to Mehmetcik Statue, Johnson’s Jolly Cemetery.

After tour transfer to Canakkale for check in to your hotel.

Day 5 Kusadasi: Troy & Pergamon Tour — Transfer to Kusadasi
(Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

• Breakfast at hotel
• 08:30 Picked up from your hotel for full day tour.
• Visiting Sites: UNESCO World Heritage Site of Troy, Trojan Horse, Acropolis, Pergamon, Throne of Satan, Hellenistic Theatre, Great Library,Gymnasium,Agora, Temple of Dionysus, Temple of Athena and Temple of Trojan
• 13:30 Lunch
• After the tour, transfer to Kusadasi
• Stay Overnight in Kusadasi

You will be picked up around 8:30 am from your hotel in Canakkale to travel to Troy. In Troy, you will visit the model of the Trojan Horse, Sacrificial Altars, the 3700-year-old city walls, Houses of Troy I from 3000 – 2500 B.C., The Bouleuterion (Senate Building), The Odeon (Concert Hall), current excavations, remains of the various cities from Troy 1 through Troy IX. At around 10:30, you will finish your Troy tour and depart for Bergama. Around 13:30, you will have lunch in Bergama and then depart for a fully guided Pergamon Acropolis tour. At Pergamon, the ancient world’s major power, you will visit the Acropolis, the ruins of Zeus Altar “Throne of Satan”, the Hellenistic Theatre which had a seating capacity of 10,000 people, the Great Library which held 200,000 books and Trojan, the Gymnasium situated on terraces, the lower Agora, Temple of Dionysus, Temple of Athena and Temple of Trojan. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi.

Day 6 Pamukkale: Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour 
(Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch)

• Breakfast at hotel
• Picked up from your hotel for full day tour
• Visiting Sites: Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Roman Baths, Cotton Cliffs, Basilica, Roman Baths, Antique Pool
• After the tour, transfer back to hotel
• 11:45 Lunch
• Stay Overnight in Kusadasi

After breakfast you will be picked up from your Kusadasi hotel and taken to the meeting point in Selcuk. 

You will visit the first destination of Karahayit to see the Red Spring Waters. After Karahayit we will drive to Pamukkale.

In Pamukkale, you will see the Cotton Cliffs, one of the natural wonders of the world formed by deposits of calcareous salts.

Continue to Hierapolis, the ancient Roman city perched on a plateau formed over centuries by sedimentary limestone rock.

You will visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis. The highlights of Hierapolis are Necropolis, Roman Baths, Basilica, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Frontinious Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, Theater and Antique Pool.

You will also be able to take some photos from the nicest corners of Pamukkale.

will be given some free time for approximately 60 minutes to explore the natural beauties of Pamukkale. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (at own expense) during this free time.The tour guide will inform you about the exact meeting point and time.

At the end of the tour around approximately 16:00, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kusadasi at around 19:00.

Day 7 Kusadasi: Ephesus Tour - Fly to Kayseri/Nevsehir from Izmir
(Included Meals: Breakfast& Lunch)

• 08:00 Breakfast at hotel
• 8:30 Picked up from your hotel for full day tour
• Visiting Sites: Temple of Artemis, Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, House of Virgin Mary, Isabey Mosque
• 13:00 Lunch
• After the tour finishes, transfer to Izmir airport
• Our representative will meet you at Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport and transfer you to your hotel
• Stay Overnight in Cappadocia

After breakfast at the hotel around 8:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities.

You will first visit the Temple of Artemis which was once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Next, you will visit the world-famous ancient Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, the most well-preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a break for lunch.

Ephesus Antique Site: Enter through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takes you past the Odeum, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater. The Theater had seating for 25,000, was the site where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians, and is used today for a local spring festival.

Temple Of Artemis: The temple of Artemision is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Antic world. It has been built in the areas of Ephesus on a flat area which has over the centuries turned into a swamp.

House Of Virgin Mary: House of Virgin Mary, one of the most sacred places for Christianity, is located near Ephesus. Some believe the Virgin Mary had spent her last days in the vicinity of Ephesus.

Isabey Mosque: Isa Bey Mosque is one of the most delicate examples of Seljukian architecture, situated below the basilica of Saint John. The mosque was built by the master Syrian architecture Ali son of Mushimish al -Damishki, between the years of 1374 and 1375.

Sirince Village: The Sirince Village; which is an old Greek village and is well-know for its quaint beauty and wine tasting and production. Here you will have one hour free to explore on your own without a guide the different foods and wines of the area and visit various small traditional village shops.

After the tour, you are transferred to Izmir airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir through Istanbul. Upon your arrival at the Kayseri or Nevsehir airport, a representative will be present holding your name sign to pick you up and transfer you to your hotel.

Day 8 Cappadocia: Full Day North Cappadocia Tour 
(Included Meals: Breakfast& Lunch)

• Breakfast at hotel
• 09:30 Early Picked up from your hotel to full day tour
• Visiting Sites: Devrent Valley, Pasabag Monk’s Valley, Avanos, Open-air Museum of Goreme, Castles of Uchisar
• 13:00 Lunch
• After the tour, transfer back to hotel
• Stay Overnight in Cappadocia

DEVRENT VALLEY: Devrent is situated on the northern slopes of Aktepe, 1km from Pasabaglari (Monks’ Valley) and 5 km from Avanos. The ruins at Devrent are spread over three valleys, which also house several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems.

MONKS VALLEY: The best place to see three-headed fairy chimneys. Pasabag, the Pasha’s Vineyard, is surrounded by incredible natural rock formations; a spectacular scene.

AVANOS: A center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC, it is a town where you will be invited to visit a traditional pottery workshop, which is possibly set deep into the hillsides. The clay, which comes from the Red River passing through the town, gives life both to the land and to the local economy.

GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM: Goreme was an important Christian center in the early years of the Middle Ages, was a bishopric administered by Mokissos near Aksaray in the 11th and 13th centuries. Despite the vast number of monasteries, churches and chapels in the vicinity of Göreme, there are not many inscriptions bearing dates. For this reason, these religious buildings are mainly dated according to the iconography or architectural features.

UCHISAR: Uchisar is a troglodyte town situated right in the middle of Cappadocia. It is named after the enormous piece of rock in the center of the town, which was once used as a castle. This extraordinary rock is the highest peak of the area with the view of whole Cappadocia and Erciyes (Argeus) Mountain.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Day 9 Cappadocia:  Full Day South Cappadocia Tour and Fly Back to Istanbul

(Included Meals: Breakfast& Lunch)

• Breakfast at hotel
• Picked up from your hotel for full day tour
• Visiting Sites: Red Valley, Rose Valley, Cavusin Village, Pigeon Valley, Kaymakli Underground city
• 13:00 Lunch
• After the tour, transfer back to Airport
• Our representative will meet you at Istanbul Airport and transfer you to your hotel
• Stay Overnight in Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Güllüdere (Rose) Valley.

CAVUSIN: One of the oldest settlements in the area, Cavusin is situated 2km from Goreme, on the Göreme-Avanos road. The Church of St.John the Baptist offers a panoramic view of the village. This church and its paintings date back to the 5th century, making the oldest church in the region. It also has a large courtyard which is unusual for Cappadocia, however, much of it has eroded away.

KAYMAKLI: Kaymakli and Derinkuyu underground cities are the two largest and deepest of the 40 others in Cappadocia. They both have eight floors, although not all are open to the public.

PIGEON HOUSE: Visit the pigeon houses and rock formations.

At the end of the tour, you will be dropped to the Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your late evening flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Day 10 Istanbul: Istanbul Departure & Transfer to Airport
(Included Meals: Breakfast)

• 08:00 Breakfast at Hotel
• 10:30  Check Out from Hotel
• ** : ** Transfer to Airport regarding your flight

We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on one of our tours. Have a safe trip back home and thank you for choosing TOUR BOOK TURKEY

Included: 

• Arrival, departure airport transfers, and ground transportation
• 4 nights in Istanbul at Special Class or 4-star Hotels including breakfast
• 1 night in Canakkale at a 3-star hotel including breakfast
• 2 nights in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel including breakfast
• 2 nights in Cappadocia at Cave hotel including breakfast
• Professional licensed English speaking guide during the tours
• Domestic flight tickets mentioned by the itinerary
• Meals mentioned in the itinerary as specified (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch)
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Services charges & local taxes

Excluded: 

• International airfare & airport taxes
• Visa to enter Turkey
• Travel insurance
• Hot Air Balloon Ride
• Any optional tours
• Tips & Personal Items
• Drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast)

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour
• Please advise your arrival details at time of booking
• Please note that the Blue Mosque is not open for visitation on Fridays as it is closed for religious prayer services. You will only be able to visit the outside of the Blue Mosque area on tours operated on Fridays. No visitation will be allowed inside the Blue Mosque for tourists on Fridays.
• St. Sophia is closed on Monday, this will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici)
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the Beylerbeyi Palace
• Beylerbeyi Palace is closed on Monday and Thursday, this will be replaced with the Kariye Museum (The Chora Church)
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday
• During religious holidays, the spice market and Grand Bazaar are closed
• Please be advised that the order /sequence in which the daily tours occur within the above day-by-day package tour itinerary can be subject to change depending on availability of domestic flight tickets per the itinerary, opening/closing of various historical sites, etc.