Classic Turkey Journey

• Welcome to your Highlights of Turkey tour. On arrival, your representative greets you at the “meeting point” at the exit after immigration and customs and transfers you comfortably to your hotel (check-in after 1400hrs). (No Meals)
• Overnight at Istanbul.

• Today after breakfast enjoy a full day tour including a visit to Topkapi Palace Museum, residence of the Ottoman Sultans between 1453–1852 (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, famous for its blue ceramic tiles. Your last stop 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. (B)
• Overnight in Istanbul

• Today after breakfast the rest of the day is at leisure .This morning depart on an optional tour of cruise along Bosphorus cruise 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, restaurants and cafés. The tour will be ended in Asia side. Later drive for the capital city of Ankara.(B,D)
• Overnight in Ankara

• Today after breakfast Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, a historic caravanserai holding artifacts from up to 7500 years old including the most extensive and valuable collection of Hittite artifacts in the world. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. Drive to Cappadocia, touring a 13th century caravanserai en route. Pay a visit to the underground city of Saratli, one of the many underground settlements built for protection and religious reasons. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.(B,D)
• Overnight in Cappadocia.

• Today after breakfast visit Goreme, a historical region of Turkey, located among the rock formations, which 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, Red Valley and attend a brief regional pottery workshop in a cave.(B,D)
• Overnight in Cappadocia.

• Today after breakfast , we will drive to Pamukkale .(B,D)
• Overnight in Pamukkale

• Today after breakfast ,Visit the unique cotton fortress of Pamukkale, with its white lime cascades formed by mineral springs, and the ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis. Continue to Kusadasi. (B,D)
• Overnight in Kusadasi.

• After breakfast, tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural center of the ancient world, and explore 2,000 year-old marble streets, a theater, the Library of Celsius, a gymnasium and Hadrian’s Temple. Take a short drive to see St. Mary’s stone cottage where it is believed Virgin Mary spent her last years accompanied by St. John. Continue to a regional rug production center to have a firsthand experience of this unique art form.(B,D)
• Overnight in Kusadasi

• Today after breakfast we proceed to the historic city of Troy. En route visit the ancient Medical Center Asclepion in Pergamum and then continue to Troy with its famous wooden horse, best known for being the setting of the Trojan War and many cities built on top of each other. Continue to Canakkale.(B,D)
• Overnight in Canakkale

• Today after breakfast depart for Gallipoli, the site of many battles WW1. Visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery. later drive to Istanbul Visit Grand Bazaar dubbed as one of the oldest shopping malls. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner. (B,D)
• Overnight in Istanbul.

Today after breakfast , transfer to the airport to catch your flight home via Istanbul (B)