11-Day Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Troy and Gallipoli Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel

Upon your arrival at Istanbul New Airport(IST) or Sabiha Gökcen Airport(SAW), our team will be waiting for you at the exit of the international line of the Airport, holding a sign with your name written on it. After which, you will be transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free for you to spend at leisure. Alternatively, you can join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with Dinner & Show.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel Oldcity OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel OR Yusuf Pasa Konagi or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: Istanbul Byzantine and Ottoman Relics Tour

After your breakfast, at the agreed time, we will pick you up from your hotel to begin a full-day tour of this magnificent city. The first stop of your best Turkey tours is the ancient Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square), which is now a public square, and only three monuments still stand there. Then we move to the nearby Blue Mosque, one of Istanbul’s landmarks. The origin of its name is because its walls used more than 20,000 pieces of blue and white İznik tiles. Next, we will visit the Hagia Sophia Museum, which is a masterpiece of religious architecture that combines Christian and Islamic styles. After lunch, we will continue to visit the Topkapi Palace and the Historical Grand Bazaar. The bazaar has 65 streets and houses more than 4,000 shops. There are tea sets, spices, porcelain, carpets, gold and silver ornaments, lamps and lanterns, paper art gadgets, and so on. Some shops also serve local Turkish delicacies such as barbecued meat and burritos. This is a must-visit spot in Istanbul for tourists. After the tour ends, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 5:00 pm.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel Oldcity OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel OR Yusuf Pasa Konagi or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise – Fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia

After breakfast at around 8:30 am, you will join the Half-day Morning Bosphorus Cruise. At the start of this tour, you will enjoy a drive to the pier in Eminonu for a short visit to the historical Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar). Following this, you will join a shared boat tour and cruise along the Bosphorus which is a narrow strait between the continents of Europe and Asia connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. You will be able to view the Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, citadels, centuries-old mansions, and the European and Asian shorelines while onboard the boat. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel to pick up your luggage and then will be transferred to the Istanbul domestic airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir which is approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes in duration. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. Check in to your hotel in Cappadocia and the rest of the day is free.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Holiday Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 4: North Cappadocia Tour

For an optional extra, book an early morning hot air balloon ride and experience breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please note that this activity comes at an additional cost.

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to join the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit the Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. The museum features a series of carved caves and ancient churches, providing a glimpse into the region’s monastic history. Finally, towards the end of the day tour, before returning to your hotel, you will have the opportunity to visit the natural castles of Uchisar. Please note that the interior of the Uchisar castles is not accessible for visits. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm. You will have the rest of the day free to relax, explore the city on your own, or take part in any optional activities that are offered.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Holiday Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: South Cappadocia Tour

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 Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Next, you will visit Cavusin Village which is famous for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived. This will be the end of your full-day tour. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at around 4:00 pm.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Holiday Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 6: Fly to Antalya – Free Day in Antaya

After breakfast check out of the hotel in Cappadocia. You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Kayseri Airport to take your flight to Antalya. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Antalya. Check into your hotel in Antalya and the rest of the day is free.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel OR Aspen Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 7: Perge, Aspendos, Side & Waterfall Tour – Travel from Antalya to Pamukkale by Bus (240 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. You will be picked up from your hotel around 8.00 am. First place you will visit is Perge, which was originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC and was one of the largest ancient cities in the Pamphylia region. Then you will depart for the Aspendos Ancient Theatre. This incredibly well preserved ancient theatre was built in the 2nd century A.D., it has a capacity of 15,000 people and it is still being used for festivals and music concerts.

We will have a lunch break at a restaurant on a nearby river then depart for Side (pronounced Seeday). Side is one of the best classical ancient cities in Turkey, it was a port city that served the largest slave market in this region. During Roman times much construction took place in Side including a large theatre, Roman Baths, and the Temple of Apollo.

Guests will have 1 hour of free time here to enjoy the sea and the city. You will stop at the Manavgat Waterfall on the way back, then drive back to Antalya.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Antalya’s main bus station. From here, you will board an intercity coach to Pamukkale, a journey that lasts approximately 5 hours. Upon your arrival at the Pamukkale bus station, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Pamukkale.

• Overnight in Pamukkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Colossae Thermal Hotel OR Pam Thermal Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 8: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour

After breakfast, You will be picked up from your hotel around 9:30 am to start the full-day tour of Pamukkale & Hierapolis. In Pamukkale, you will see the Cotton Cliffs, one of the natural wonders of the world formed by deposits of calcareous salts. Also visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its basilica, theatre, and Roman Baths. At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel at around 7:00 pm.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Derici Hotel OR Efe Boutique Hotel OR Marina Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 9: Ephesus Tour – Travel from Kusadasi to Canakkale by Bus (418 km)

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. You will visit the ruins of Ephesus, the ancient Greek city that became an important centre of this time. Visit the Temple of Hadrian, Great Theater, and Trajan Fountain. After lunch, let’s visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last years. We will pass by the Temple of Artemis; there is little to see of this that was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards, you will visit the Isa Bey Mosque. Next, you will be taken to 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 your Ephesus tour, you will be driven back to Kusadasi where you will board a public bus to Canakkale at approximately 6:00 pm. You will arrive in Canakkale around 1:00 am and there will be 2 breaks enroute for personal needs. After arrival at the Canakkale bus station, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel.

• Overnight in Canakkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Grand Anzac Hotel OR Kervansaray Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 10: Troy & Gallipoli Combination Tour – Travel from Canakkale to Istanbul by Bus (340 km)

After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel in Canakkale and will be picked up from your hotel in Canakkale at around 8:30 am. Today in the morning, we will begin with the Troy Tour where you will visit the Trojan Horse, Sacrificial Altars, 3700-year-old City Walls, Houses of Troy I, 3000 B.C. – 2500 B.C., Bouleuterion (Senate Building), Odeon (Concert Hall), and the Remains of the various cities from Troy I through to Troy IX. At the end of the Troy Tour at around 11:30 am, you will be taken to Eceabat and will have free time in Eceabat until 1:00 pm. Lunch will be at a local restaurant in Eceabat. After lunch, we will begin the Gallipoli Tour. You will visit Brighton Beach; the intended landing place, Beach Cemetery on the southern tip of Anzac Cove; the landing place of the first wave of Australian and New Zealand troops and home to up to 30,000 troops during the campaign, Ariburnu Cemetery, Anzac Commemoration Site, Lone Pine Australian Memorial; site of the successful attack and capture of Turkish trenches by the Australians during the August offensive, Johnston’s Jolly where you will visit the original Allied and Turkish trenches and tunnels, 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial, The Nek, and the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. At the end of the Gallipoli Tour at around 6:00 pm, you will depart for Istanbul with arrival into Istanbul around 11:00 pm. You will be dropped back at your Istanbul hotel.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel Oldcity OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel OR Yusuf Pasa Konagi or similar (Standard quality)

Day 11: Departure from Istanbul – End of Tour Service

After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel in Istanbul (hotel check-out is before 12:00 noon) and will then be transferred to the Istanbul International Airport according to your flight details. This will be the end of our tour and services.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers as mentioned in this itinerary.
• Domestic flight tickets specified in the itinerary
• Tours and activities as indicated in the itinerary
• 3 nights in Istanbul at Special Class or 4-star Hotels including breakfast
• 3 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel including breakfast
• 1 night in Antalya at a boutique hotel including breakfast.
• 1 night in Pamukkale at a 4-star hotel including breakfast
• 1 night in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel including breakfast
• 1 night in Canakkale at a 3-star hotel including breakfast
• English-speaking guide during the tours
• Meals mentioned in the itinerary as specified (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch)
• All entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

• International flight tickets.
• Visa to enter Turkey.
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Drinks with meals.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• 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
• For 1 traveler: 1 Single Room Accommodation
• For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation
• For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation
• For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• 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.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici).
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
• During religious holidays, the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar are closed.

WHEN TO BOOK?

• Book as soon as possible to guarantee availability, especially during public holidays and festivities.
• You can book up to 2 days before (Istanbul local time) if there are still places available. If less than 2 days before start of your requested tour date, please contact us by email or phone as it would be a last-minute booking that will need to be checked for availability before your tour reservation is confirmed.