By browsing this site you accept cookies used to improve and personalize our services and marketing. Read our Privacy Policy for more information about Cookies we use and what we do with your data.
 
Splendours of Turkey
Splendours of Turkey
TK

Highlights: Istanbul - Gallipoli - Canakkale - Pergamon - Izmir - Ephesus - Pamukkale - Konya - Cappadocia


Other departures: Manchester - £2769, Birmingham - £2759, Edinburgh - £2765


Hotels:
Istanbul - Grand Hotel Gulsoy or similar 4*
Canakakle - Parion Hotel or similar 5*
Izmir - Ramada Plaza Izmir or similar 5*
Pamukkale - Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal or similar 5*
Konya - Hich Hotel or similar 4*
Cappadocia - Yunak Evleri or similar 4*


Unique Moments & Activities:
- Turkish Blue Eyed Bead
- Turkish coffee from Sark Kahvesi
- Baklava from the masters Unchanging taste in Karakoy Gulluoglu Baklavicisi
- Turkish Delight at Ali Muhiddin Haci Bekir’s shop
- Stop at the Sirince Artemis Wine House for the wine tasting
- Lunch at a local village house in Cappadocia


Itinerary:


Day 1: Istanbul
Following our arrival in Istanbul we are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel in Istanbul.


Meals: No Meals


Day 2: Istanbul
Welcome Gift, Nazar Boncuk ( Turkish Blue Eyed Bead ) Nazar Boncugu is a glass bead that protects the holder from evil eye. It is pretty common in Turkey. Have a look around and you might discover countless Nazar Boncuks dangling from cars, from rear-view windows, backpacks, on necklaces and bracelets, pinned to the sweaters of babies and small children, and hanging above doors in restaurants, hotels, stores, and apartments.


We set off on a full day of sightseeing in Istanbul. We will start off with a visit to the renowned Sultanahmet Mosque, known popularly as The Blue Mosque, an incredibly beautiful mosque known for its blue Iznik (Nicaea) tiles are unique for the fact that it has six minarets. We continue on to the Hippodrome, once the vast arena that functioned as the heart of sporting (chariots races and athletics) events and political activities of the old city. From here we go to the nearby Hagia Sophia, the Church of Divine Wisdom. Ranking as one of the greatest marvels of world architecture, this awe-inspiring building was constucted as a basilica in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian. From here short walk to the Underground Cistern, the largest of the many underground cisterns built during the Byzantine Empire to supply the city with water. This cistern is especially fascinating because the Byzantine builders recycled many stone structures—capital heads and columns- that had been used in earlier temples. Now an upside down Medusa stares out at us from her watery home.


We continue our tour with a visit to the Topkapi Palace. This visit to the imperial palace of the Ottoman Sultans will include tours of the imperial treasury, the Chinese porcelain section, the calligraphy section and many more. We will also visit the jewelry collection segment of the palace. The tour will end with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, the vast and legendary covered market that is the biggest souk in the world with nearly 4000 shops of antiques, jewelry and carpets. Overnight stay at our hotel in Istanbul.


Unique Moments:
During the visit of the Grand Bazaar we will be experiencing Turkish coffee from Sark Kahvesi, historical coffee roasters located in the Grand Bazaar. Each variety has been prepared with a blend of traditional knowledge, experience and an abiding “Love of Coffee”


Meals: Breakfast


Day 3: Istanbul
This morning we will visit the renowned Dolmabahce Palace, was built between the years 1843 and 1856 by the armenian architects the Balyans. The design contains eclectic elements from the Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassic styles blended with traditional Ottoman architecture to create a new synthesis.  It is the largest Palace in Turkey, its monoblock building occupies 45.000 m2. Later on we will go to Cruise on the Bosphorus with a regular boat. We’ll cruise up Istanbul’s winding straits and relax and admire the shoreline of beautiful mosques, lavish palaces, and decadent yalis. We’ll see Dolmabahçe Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Ottoman summer mansions, the Ortaköy Mosque, the defensive Rumeli Fortress, and the Bosphorus Bridge, one of the world’s largest suspension bridges, all while passing fishing boats, yachts, huge cargo ships, and tankers. Afternoon free at leisure. Overnight at our hotel in Istanbul.


Meals: Breakfast


Day 4: Istanbul / Gallipoli / Canakkale (310 km – Approximately driving time 3 hours and 45 minutes)
After breakfast we begin our drive to Gallipoli, a pleasant drive that takes us through the European (Thracian) lands of Turkey. Walk on the beach at ANZAC Cove, visit the Lone Pine Cemetery and see the Turkish Memorial. We also visit the moving ANZAC Museum before crossing the Dardanelles by ferry to Canakkale where we will check into our hotel. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Canakkale.


Meals: Breakfast & Dinner


Day 5: Canakkale / Pergamon / Izmir (320 km – Approximately driving time 4 hours)
After breakfast we visit the ancient Troy where we will see its legendary walls and the replica of the wooden Trojan Horse. From here we begin our drive towards the Aegean and Izmir. Along the way we will stop at the hauntingly beautiful Pergamon, including visits to the Acropol and Asklepion. Late afternoon we continue our drive to Izmir. Once we are in Izmir - the Pearl of the Aegean Sea - we will have a short sightseeing tour of the city. We will dine and spend the night at our hotel in Izmir.


Unique Moments:
Tonight you will enjoy a short ride of Phaeton/Fayton (typical horse carriage of Izmir ) tour in Izmir along the famous shore promenade called Kordonboyu.


Meals: Breakfast & Dinner


Day 6: Izmir / Ephesus / Pamukkale (265 km – Approximately driving time 3 hours and 30 minutes)
After breakfast drive to Ephesus, famous for its Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its cult to Artemis and its Hellen civilization with Heraclites the “Skotinos” philosopher of “Panta Rei”. During the years of the Roman Empire, the Greek port of Ephesus became the greatest city in Asia Minor. Upon Arrival at Ephesus follow your guide to enter this ancient site through the Magnesian Gateand discover innumerable monuments including the Forum, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the Thermal Baths of Scolastika and the Great Theatre built in the Hellenistic period, which is still noted for its remarkable acoustics, and is where St Paul preached. We will also visit Virgin Mary’s House.


We will continue to Sirince. A paved road of 8 km leads to this attractive village set in the hills above Ephesus, surrounded by an idyllic landscape of vineyards and peach orchards. Sirince retains its traditional architecture almost wholly intact, thanks to landmark rules which have been implemented since the 1980s. Most houses in the village date from the 19th century. After visit to village, stop at the Sirince Artemis Wine House for the wine tasting. Late afternoon we continue to Pamukkale, "the Cotton Castle" with its snow-white terraces formed by thermal waters cascading down the hillside. We will dine and spend the night at our hotel in Pamukkale.


Meals: Breakfast & Dinner


Day 7: Pamukkale / Konya ( 415 km – Approx driving time 5 hours)
fter enjoying our visit to this site of natural beauty we go the the adjacent ruins of antique Hierapolis with its famous Necropolis, Basilica, theatre and plutonium. We then continue to Konya. We will visit the mausoleum, museum and monastery complex dedicated to Rumi, the founder of the mystical order often referred to as the “Whirling Dervishes.” We will dine and spend the night at our hotel in Konya.


Meals: Breakfast & Dinner


Day 8: Konya / Cappadocia (220 km – Approx driving time 2 hours and 30 minutes)
After breakfast, we set off for Cappadocia, with a visit to the Sultanhan Caravansarai on the way. Upon arrival in the Cappadocia Region we will start off with a visit to Kaymakli Underground City, which used to be known as Melagobia. Kaymakli was one of the biggest settlements in Cappadocia and it's 8 level underground city is the deepest of the region today. We will explore the caves of this interesting city and talk about the way of life here. After lunch our second stop is Soganli Valley, one of the most secluded and tranquil valleys in Cappadocia. We begin our hike along one side of the valley, visiting many cave churches and we return along the other side of the valley to the quaint village. We will spend our night at our hotel in Cappadocia.


Meals: Breakfast


Day 9: Cappadocia
After breakfast, our first stop at Uchisar where is situated at the highest point in Cappadocia, The top of the Uchisar Castle, provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area with Mount Erciyes in the distance. Many rooms hollowed out into the rock are connected to each other with stairs, tunnels and and passages. At the entrances of the rooms, there are millstone doors, just like the ones in the underground settlements, used to control access to these places. Due to the erosion in places of this multi-leveled castle, it is unfortunately not possible to reach all the rooms. Most of the rooms, located on the north side of the castle are in use as pigeon houses (dovecuts) today. Farmers used these cave pigeon houses to collect the droppings of pigeons which is an excellent natural fertilizer for the orchards and vineyards. We will continue with visit of Goreme area. The small town of Goreme is situated in the middle of the Valley of Fairy Chimneys, surrounded by the eerie shapes and fantastic rock formations that have made the region famous. It is one of the few remaining villages where fairy chimneys and rock-hewn houses are still inhabited, and several restaurants and cafes are carved into the rock. Its biggest attraction is the Goreme Open-Air museum with over 30 beautifully frescoed Byzantine rock churches. The town makes an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding rock formations, villages, vineyards and attractions. For shoppers, carpets and Kilims are plentiful.


Goreme National Park which was the official state during the period of the Roman Empire, was named “Cappadocia”, which means “ The Country of White Horses” in Persian. The Goreme Open-Air Museum is the most visited of the monastic communities in Cappadocia and is one of the most famous sites in central Turkey. It is a complex comprising more than 30 rock-hewn churches and chapels containing some superb frescoes, dating from the 9th to the 11th centuries. Inconspicuous from the outside, the interiors are characteristically Byzantine with a central dome and a floor plan in the shape of a cross. Overnight at our hotel in Cappadocia.


Unique Moments:
We will have lunch at a local village house where you see may groups of women are cooking  local bread together, these lovley people invite you to join them and to sit together. If you want you may try to cook traditional Turkish bread. Than you are going to be taken to a traditional Turkish house,to meet the members and to interact with the family.If you have already learned a little Turkish this is the right time to use local language. Shopping time for the well-known merits of the area before returning to the hotel.


Meals: Breakfast & Lunch


Day 10: Cappadocia / Istanbul / U.K.
After breakfast we will drive to the Kayseri Airport to catch our morning flight to Istanbul. Upon our arrival in Istanbul we will transfer to our connection flight back to U.K.


Meals: Breakfast



Offer Includes

  • Flights from London Heathrow with Turkish Airlines
  • Airport taxes
  • 3 nights accommodation in Istanbul in a Standard Room
  • 1 night accommodation in Canakkale in a Standard Room
  • 1 night accommodation in Izmir in a Standard Room
  • 1 night accommodation in Pamukkale in a Standard Room
  • 1 night accommodation in Konya in a Standard Room
  • 2 nights accommodation in Cappadocia in a Standard Room
  • Sightseeing as per itinerary
  • Entrance fees of the specified museums as per itinerary
  • Private transportation by air-conditioned deluxe vehicle
  • Private English speaking professional tour guide
  • Tips to the hotel and restaurant staff
  • Service charges & local taxes
  • Mineral Water during lunches & dinners

Meal Plans

  • As per Itinerary