We explore the Gallipoli Peninsula landing places and battlefields to try to gain an in-depth understanding of the conditions our soldiers endured. The peninsula is a Turkish national reserve, but areas are administered by Commonwealth authorities. The location is secure and facilities are provided for all visitors irrespective of levels of fitness. We and our guides are experiences in tours to Gallipoli and Turkey and will look after you throughout your journey.
On tour experience the site of ancient Troy, see the reconstruction of the famous wooden horse, visit picturesque Kusadasi and the amazing ruins of Ephesus, the geothermal areas of Pumakkale, the fairytale landscape and rugged beauty of Cappadocia, see the underground houses and fabulous Turkish rugs at Goreme, intriguing Ankara and Instanbul- where East meets West.
Dates
April to September. Price: on application.
What’s Included
- Arrival transfer from Istanbul Ataturk airport
- Accommodation in 4* + hotels
- 3 nights hotel in Istanbul
- 1-night hotel in Canakkale
- 2 nights hotel in Kusadasi
- 1-night hotel in Pamukkale
- 2 nights hotel in Antalya
- 2 nights hotel in Cappadocia
- Meals: 11 buffet breakfasts, 10 lunches and 11 dinners
- Guided tours in Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia, Underground City, Goreme Open Air Museum and Ankara.
- Transportation by air conditioned, non - smoking coach
- Professional English speaking tour guides
- All entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Airport transfer to Istanbul Ataturk airport
Not Included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
Itinerary
Meet at the airport Transfer to your hotel. You will be given your room key and the rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul. D
Pick up at 08:30 am from your hotel for a day tour of old Istanbul city. Visit to TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, 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. SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL 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. Lunch break at 13:00 pm after which we will take you to the GRAND COVERED BAZAAR in this labyrinth of streets and passages are more than 4,000 shops with each trade having its own area: the goldsmiths'' street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as hand-painted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes. After the tour, transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. B, L, D
06:30 am we depart for Gallipoli to visit the battlefields. Two hours later we will give you 20 minutes to relax in a restaurant area. We arrive Gallipoli around midday and we have lunch, relax a little bit and then depart for the battlefields. Visit Gabatepe Museum. Start visiting the fields with Ariburnu Cemetery and Anzac Cove because these are the places where the war had started. Then Beach Cemetery, Shrapnel Valley and Plugges Plateau. After the tour drive to your hotel. Overnight in Canakkale. B, L, D
We depart at 08:30 and drive for 30 minutes to Troy. Visit the famous archaeological and mythological site of Troy, home of the Trojan Horse and Helen of Troy. After the Troy tour, we have a 3-hour drive to Pergamum. Lunch break around 1 pm and after lunch we depart for our tour of the magnificent acropolis of Pergamum. Its impressive temples and library made it a renowned cultural and political centre at that time. Pergamum is a famous city for its jewellery, stones and silver. So on the way, we will visit a jewellery centre for 30 minutes. Arrival to Kusadasi around 6 pm. Overnight in Kusadasi. B, L, D
08:30 Departure from the hotel for our fully guided tour of Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient sites in the world en - route, visiting the Temple of Artemis, Curetes street, famous Roman baths, Celsius Library, Grand theatre and House of the Virgin Mary. Lunch break around 1 pm. After lunch, we will visit a place which continues to perform one of the oldest arts of Turkey; a carpet weaving centre. After Lunch we will do a Turkish Village Tour. Sirinces construction style today belongs to Anatolian Greeks. The houses on the slope are all original with their white paints. Sirince Village also has a fantastic reputation for making some of the best wines in Turkey, especially fruit wines. We will visit the vineyards and it is time to learn how to make fruit wine with Turkish wine makers. In the evening you will be tested about your knowledge of making fruit wine. On the way, we will visit one of the famous leather production centres of the region, where you will have the opportunity to get a good factory rate. On this guided tour, you will avoid the constant nagging and sometimes bullying that is well known in the markets of Turkey. Enabling you to enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen Overnight in Kusadasi. B, L, D
At 08:30 we depart for Pamukkale. We shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, then walk around this natural phenomenon and you have the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs. Afterwards, we transfer to our hotel for check-in. Overnight in Pamukkale. B, L, D
After breakfast, at 10 am we depart for Antalya. After 2 hours we will have a coffee break. Afterwards, we will then continue to Antalya. Overnight in Antalya. B, D
After breakfast at approx. 08:30 am we drive to Antalya old City ( Kaleiçi ) Marina, Clock Tower, Hadrian''s Gate, Broken Minaret, Hıdırlık Tower: Kaleici is a small historic part of Antalya’s modern city, also known as the Old City of Antalya. In history it was once the sprawling modern Roman town, then the Byzantine Empire, then Seljuks, and finally the Ottoman Turkish town. The Hadrian''s Gate (or Hadrianus Gate or The Three Gates is a triumphal arch which was built in the name of the Roman emperor Hadrian. Antalya's broken wonder is the Broken Minaret of the Korkut Mosque, which itself was built originally as a Roman temple in the 2nd century AD, and thus did not have a minaret at all. Hıdırlık Tower is a landmark tower of tawny stone in Antalya, Turkey, where Kaleiçi meets Karaalioglu Park. It is believed to be built in the Hellenistic era on a square plan and later turned into a circular tower in 2nd century AD and was either used as a fortification or a lighthouse in the past. We have lunch than depart for Duden waterfalls. All the streams of the region find their way into the Mediterranean and they pour down the slopes of the Taurus, sometimes overland sometimes underground and reaching their destination, result in lovely waterfalls, of which there are more than twenty. After our tour we head back to hotel and rest of the day is yours. Overnight in Antalya. B, L, D
After breakfast early in the morning at 8 am we drive to Konya. Once we reach Konya we will stop at a restaurant for lunch at 1 pm. After lunch, we visit the imposing green-tiled Mausoleum of Mevlana, the mystic founder of the Sufi sect (Whirling Dervishes). After the Konya Mevlana tour drive to Cappadocia. Arrival to Cappadocia around 6.30 pm and check into our hotel. If you wish to join our optional activity of Ballooning tomorrow, please talk to your guide and register because it will take place early the next morning. Overnight in Cappadocia. B, L, D
You will be picked up approximately 09.30 am. We will drive to Derinkuyu underground city, one of the best preserved and deepest Underground cities in Cappadocia. Derinkuyu Underground city is 55 meters deep and 8 levels open to visitors, then we visit Uchisar Castle, the highest point of Cappadocia. After Uchisar, you visit Goreme Open Air Museum, the Heart of Cappadocia. Goreme Open Air Museum is famous for frescoes dating back to the 10th century describing the life of Jesus Christ and monks. Next stop is Cavusin, which is an abandoned village with old cave Greek houses. After Cavusin you go to a restaurant in Avanos for lunch. After lunch, we visit a pottery workshop, to see how the potteries are made. Then you go Pasabagi where you can see three-headed fairy chimneys. After Pasabagi we visit another workshop to see Cappadocian handwoven carpets and kilims. Next stop is Devrent Valley, which is also called Imagination Valley, where you can see natural rock formations looking like animals. Then we head to a wine shop in Urgup for some wine tasting. Last stop is Three Beauties, three beautiful fairy chimneys with their hats, which is the symbol of Cappadocia. This tour will end approximately 6 pm when we transfer back to our hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia. B, L, D
We depart at 8 am for Ankara (4 hours journey). On the way, we will stop at Salt Lake, which it is a natural salt lake and the second biggest lake in Turkey. Arrival to Ankara around 12:30 and we have a lunch break. After lunch, we visit Ataturk Museum at the Ataturk Mausoleum. (Ataturk is the founder of modern Turkey). Then depart for Istanbul and after 2.5 hours we will have a coffee break in a restaurant area. After the break, 2.5 hours’ drive to Istanbul. Arrival in Istanbul around 7 pm. Overnight in Istanbul. B, L, D
After breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer back to Istanbul Ataturk airport. B