HISTORIC TURKEY
Day 1, Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul, a city steeped in history! You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours, free to relax or explore this amazing city. Overnight Istanbul
Day 2, tour Istanbul Old City
After breakfast, enjoy a fully guided tour of Istanbul – once known as the former imperial capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. We visit the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya, soak in the Sultan’s opulence at Topkapi Palace and explore the Hippodrome. The evening is spent getting to know your travelling companions over a delicious welcome dinner.
Day 3, to Ankara
Morning free to explore this stunning city, or join an optional Bosphorous Cruise. Leave Istanbul in the afternoon and head towards the capital city of Ankara. Overnight Ankara
Day 4, to Cappadocia
Visit Anitkabir, mausoleum of the famed Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Anatolian Civilisations Museum, one of the most beautiful & richest museums in the world. Overnight Cappadocia
Day 5, tour to Goreme, Underground City
Today we tour the Goreme open-air museum, Pasabag and Uchisar castle and underground city. Photo opportunities are everywhere so have your cameras ready! Tonight you will be entertained with a Turkish folklore evening featuring folklore and belly dancers... a night you won't forget! Overnight Cappadocia
Day 6, to Konya, Pamukkale
Leaving Cappadocia we follow ancient traders’ footsteps & head south along the Silk Road. En route we visit Sultanhani Caravanserai, before stopping at Konya to tour the Mevlana Museum. Overnight Pamukkale
Day 7, to Aphrodisias & Izmir
Visit the fascinating, chalky terrace of Pamukkale. The famous calcified falls and the ancient city of Hierapolis, with the calcified formations or ‘cotton castle’, spew down the mountainside impressively. In the afternoon we head towards Izmir, Turkey’s third largest city located on the Mediterranean coast. Overnight Izmir.
Day 8, tour to Kusadasi & Ephesus
Today feel the ancient times with a guided tour of Ephesus and a visit to the site of the Temple of Artemis. Explore this stunningly preserved city and learn about its past as a major trading centre. Discover the place where the Virgin Mary spent her last days. Visit a rug maker and find out about the local craft this country is famous for – carpet weaving. Overnight Izmir
Day 9, to Pergamum, Troy & Canakkale
This morning we will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods before driving along the Aegean coast to the ancient city of Pergamum. We visit the magnificent Acropolis of Pergamum, its impressive temples and library that made Pergamum a renowned cultural and political centre in its time. We then continue north to tour the legendary city of Troy. Overnight Canakkale.
Day 10, to Gallipoli Battlefields & Istanbul
After breakfast we drive to the battlefields of Gallipoli. Here, we’ll embark upon a guided tour of the region,including ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian War Memorial and cemetery, Chunuk Bair New Zealand War Memorial and cemetery, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and the many fortified trenches. Drive to Istanbul for an overnight stay.
Day 11, to Australia
After breakfast, our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends before being transferred to the airport for your flight.to Australia