ESCORTED VACATION – Guaranteed departures English only escorted coach tour with max. 40 participants. Scheduled departures - 12-day/10-night tour visiting Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Pergamum, Troy, Canakkale & Gallipoli. Includes accommodation at superior first class & deluxe hotels with breakfast daily, 7 dinners, 1 lunch, arrival & departure transfers, touring by modern air-conditioned motor coach, and guided sightseeing as indicated in the itinerary.
Includes
- Transfers per itinerary
- Hotels per itinerary or similar
- Meals per itinerary; (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner
- Sightseeing per itinerary
- Airport taxes
- Travel funds escrow protection program
- Touring by modern air-conditioned motor coach
- Professional tour director throughout the tour
- Entrance fees per itinerary
Excludes
- Personal expenses
- Optional tours
- Customary tips and gratuities
Enjoy a relaxing overnight flight to Istanbul.
Istanbul – Arrival
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.
Deluxe & Superior First Class:
Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus or similar hotels
Istanbul at Leisure
Enjoy a day at leisure or consider joining an optional full-day tour of Istanbul including Topkapi Palace (excluding harem), the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar. In the evening, consider joining an optional dinner with belly dancing entertainment. (B)
Deluxe & Superior First Class:
Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus or similar hotels
Istanbul – Ankara
In the morning, consider joining an optional tour of St. Sophia, a church built in the 6th century Byzantine capital, converted to a mosque by the Ottomans, and now a museum and one of the world's greatest architectural wonders. Continue along the Bosphorus, enjoying the strait that separates Asia and Europe. Its shores are lined with fine neighborhoods, Ottoman palaces, fortresses, old wooden villas, hotels, parks and gardens, and restaurants and cafes. In the afternoon, depart for the capital city of Ankara. (B,D)
Deluxe & Superior First Class:
Crowne Plaza Ankara or similar hotels
Ankara – Cappadocia
In the morning, visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with its Hittite treasures and artifacts from the world's oldest city. Continue with a visit of the Mausoleum of Ataturk, father of modern Turkey. Depart for Cappadocia, famous for it's "moon-like" landscapes. En route, visit a 13th century caravanserai. Pay a visit to the underground city of Saratli. Enjoy dinner at an authentic local restaurant. Later in the evening, consider seeing an optional Whirling Dervishes performance. (B,D)
Deluxe & Superior First Class:
Kapadokya Lodge or similar hotels
Cappadocia at Leisure
Consider an early morning optional hot air balloon tour. Experience floating through the volcanic valleys, fairy chimneys and caves at sunrise. After breakfast, consider joining an optional full-day tour of Cappadocia. 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. (B,D)
Deluxe & Superior First Class:
Kapadokya Lodge or similar hotels
Cappadocia – Pamukkale
After breakfast, depart for Pamukkale. En route, visit the famous mausoleum of the Sufi philosopher Mevlana. (B,D)
Deluxe & Superior First Class:
Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal or similar hotels
Pamukkale – Kusadasi
Today, tour 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. Continue to Kusadasi. (B,D)
Deluxe & Superior First Class:
Charisma Hotel or similar hotels
Kusadasi – (Ephesus & Virgin Mary's House)
Today, spend a day at leisure in Kusadasi or consider joining a full-day tour to see 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. (B,D)
Deluxe & Superior First Class:
Charisma Hotel or similar hotels
Pergamum – Troy – Canakkale
After breakfast, depart for Pergamum and visit the ancient medical center Asklepion. Enjoy lunch with locals in a traditional village. Then continue to Troy with its famous wooden horse, best known for being the setting of the Trojan War. Continue to Canakkale for an overnight. (B,L,D)
Deluxe & Superior First Class:
Kolin Hotel or similar hotels
Gallipoli – Dardanelles – Istanbul
In the morning, depart for Gallipoli, the site of many battles during WWI. Visit Anzac Cove, the Lone Pine Cemetery, and Chunuk Bair. Then, cross the Dardanelles to Istanbul. (B)
Deluxe & Superior First Class:
Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus or similar hotels
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)
Departure Date
Land Only
Help
We would be more than happy to help you. Our team advisor are at your service to help you.
-
1-800-576-1784
Weekdays 9 am - 6 pm EST -
E-mail to a friend
Share this tour to your friends
USA – Istanbul