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Turkish Odyssey Small Group Journey

Starts in

Istanbul

Duration

15 Days

Price from

Route

Cappadocia, Canakkale

Discover Turkish treasures and timeless historical sites in a group of maximum 22 persons. Share a lunch with locals, experience Sufi mysticism in Konya, and visit ancient Ephesus, the moon-like landscape of Cappadocia, the calcified cascading rocks of Pamukkale, and Antalya.

SMALL GROUP JOURNEY - Guaranteed departures English only tour with max. 22 participants. Scheduled departures - 15-day/14-night tour visiting Istanbul, Gallipoli, Canakkale, Troy, Pergamum, Izmir, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Bodrum, Fethiye, Myra, Antalya, Perge, Aspendos, Konya, Cappadocia & Ankara. Includes accommodation at superior first class & deluxe hotels with breakfast daily, 10 dinners, 1 lunch, arrival & transfers, touring by minivan or small motor coach, and guided sightseeing as indicated in the itinerary.

Includes

Accommodations as per itinerary
Meals as per itinerary; breakfast (B), lunch (L), dinner (D)
Sightseeing: per itinerary
Travel funds escrow protection program
Tour escort while on tour
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Touring by mini van or small motor coach

Excludes

Items of a personal nature
All other items not mentioned as included

Itinerary

Day

Istanbul – Arrival

Historical & Boutique: W Istanbul or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Pera Palace Hotel or similar accommodations

You will be transferred to your hotel in Istanbul upon arrival. (Your arrival transfer is included only if you arrive on the actual day the tour commences. For customers arriving earlier an individual transfer can be organized at an additional cost.) The rest of the day is at leisure until you meet your tour director for a welcome briefing.

Day

Explore Istanbul

Historical & Boutique: W Istanbul or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Pera Palace Hotel or similar accommodations

Today, enjoy a full-day tour of Istanbul including a visit to Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman Sultans between 1453 and 1852 (excluding harem). Visit the Hippodrome which was once the center of life where chariot racing and other public events took place. Tour the Blue Mosque built between 1609 and 1616, and famous for its blue ceramic tiles. Next, see St. Sophia, a church built in the 6th century and converted to a mosque by the Ottomans. It is now a museum and one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Your last stop will be the famous Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and oldest covered market with over 60 streets. In the evening, consider joining an optional dinner with belly dancing entertainment. (B)

Day

Gallipoli – Dardanelles – Canakkale

Historical & Boutique: Kolin Hotel or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Kolin Hotel or similar accommodations

In the morning, depart for Gallipoli, the site of many battles during WWII. Visit Anzac Cove, the Lone Pine Cemetery, and Chunuk Bair. Then cross the Dardanelles to Canakkale. (B,D)

Day

Troy – Pergamum – Izmir

Historical & Boutique: Swissotel Grand Efes or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Swissotel Grand Efes or similar accommodations

Visit Troy with its famous wooden horse, best known for being the setting of the Trojan War. Enjoy lunch with locals in a traditional village. Then continue to Pergamum and visit the ancient medical center Asklepion. Arrive in Izmir in the evening. (B,L,D)

Day

Ephesus & Virgin Mary's House – Izmir

Historical & Boutique: Swissotel Grand Efes or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Swissotel Grand Efes or similar accommodations

Today, tour the ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural center of the ancient world, and explore the 2,000-year old marble streets, a theater, the Library of Celsius, a gymnasium, and Hadrian's Temple. Take a short drive to see the Virgin Mary's stone cottage. Continue to a regional rug production center to have firsthand experience of this unique art form. In the evening consider having an optional dinner at a local restaurant. (B)

Day

Izmir – Pamukkale

Historical & Boutique: Doga Thermal Hotel or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Doga Thermal Hotel or similar accommodations

Drive through lush valleys to Pamukkale which means "Cotton Castle", describing the white lime cascades formed by hot mineral springs. Visit the ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis. Enjoy a swim in your hotel's thermal pool. (B,D)

Day

Pamukkale – Bodrum

Historical & Boutique: Doria Hotel or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Doria Hotel or similar accommodations

After a morning at leisure, depart for Bodrum to visit the Castle of St. Peter and the renowned Underwater Museum. (B)

Day

Bodrum – Fethiye

Historical & Boutique: Ece Boutique Hotel or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Ece Boutique Hotel or similar accommodations

In the late morning, depart Bodrum to see the foundations of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Afterwards, continue to Fethiye. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B,D)

Day

Fethiye – Myra – Antalya

Historical & Boutique: Puding Marina Residence or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Puding Marina Residence or similar accommodations

After breakfast, depart for Antalya. En route, visit the famous Church of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) in Demre and the ancient site of Myra. Continue to Antalya. (B,D)

Day

Perge – Aspendos – Antalya

Historical & Boutique: Puding Marina Residence or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Puding Marina Residence or similar accommodations

This morning, visit to the ancient Greek city of Perge, famous for its Temple of Artemis. Continue to Aspendos with its magnificently preserved 15,000-person theater. Return to Antalya and enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the Mediterranean Sea, an area known as the Turquoise Coast. (B,D)

Day

Antalya – Konya – Cappadocia

Historical & Boutique: Gamirasu Cave Hotel or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Gamirasu Cave Hotel or similar accommodations

Early in the morning, depart for Konya to visit the mausoleum of the sufi philosopher Mevlana. Continue to Cappadocia, famous for it's "moon-like" landscapes. En route, visit a 13th century caravanserai and the famous underground city of Saratli. (B,D)

Day

Explore Cappadocia

Historical & Boutique: Gamirasu Cave Hotel or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Gamirasu Cave Hotel or similar accommodations

Consider an early morning optional hot air balloon tour. Experience floating through the volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves at sunrise. After breakfast, visit Goreme, a historical region of Turkey, located among rock formations. It was first settled back in the Roman period. Many rock churches can still be seen today, as Christianity was then the prevailing religion in that region. Continue to the town of Avanos, renowned for its high quality earthenware. Also visit Pasabagi and the Red Valley, and attend a brief regional pottery workshop in a cave. Enjoy dinner at an authentic local restaurant. Later in the evening, consider seeing an optional Whirling Dervishes performance. (B,D)

Day

Cappadocia – Ankara

Historical & Boutique: Hilton Ankara or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Hilton Ankara or similar accommodations

Early in the morning, depart for Ankara. Enjoy an afternoon tour of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with its Hittite treasures and artifacts from the world's oldest city. (B,D)

Day

Ankara – Istanbul

Historical & Boutique: W Istanbul or similar accommodations

Historical & Boutique 2019 : Pera Palace Hotel or similar accommodations

After breakfast, depart for Istanbul. In the afternoon, consider joining an optional cruise along the Bosphorus, the waterway that separates Europe and Asia. Its shores are lined with fine neighborhoods, Ottoman palace, fortresses, old wooden villas, hotels, parks and gardens, and restaurants and cafes. Make time for last-minute shopping at the Spice Market before a farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day

Istanbul – Return

You will be transferred to the Istanbul airport for your return flight home. (Your departure transfer is included only if you depart on the actual day the tour concludes. For customers departing later an individual transfer can be organized at an additional cost.) (B)