Description
Day 1: Istanbul & Ankara
We'll pick you up from the selected meeting point in Istanbul at the scheduled time and set off to Ankara, capital of Turkey, located 450 km away. One of the highlights of the journey is when the bus crosses the enormous Bosphorus Bridge.
After a few hours on the road, you’ll get to your hotel. Enjoy an exquisite dinner at the hotel before you go to your room.
Day 2: Ankara, Saratli & Cappadocia
Once you've enjoyed a delicious Turkish breakfast, you'll embark on a tour of the capital city. The guided tour includes admiring Ankara’s most important landmarks, including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. It accommodates numerous collections of Anatolian archaeology, such as items from the following periods: Paleolithic, Neolithic, Hatti, Hittite, Urartu, Phrygia, among others. Then, you’ll visit Anιkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (first President of the Republic of Turkey).
Afterwards, leave the capital behind and head to Cappadocia. On the way, you’ll stop at Saratli, a surprising Underground City founded by the Christian communities to protect themselves from the Muslim Arab attacks. While you visit the well-preserved city, you’ll wander around the old stables, rooms and public wards.
You'll arrive in Cappadocia in the late afternoon, where you'll have dinner and spend the night.
Day 3: Cappadocia
Enjoy a healthy breakfast and set off to explore the stunning landscape of Cappadocia, one of the most famous regions of Turkey, packed with astonishing rock formations, fairy chimneys and moon-like scenery. You'll also have the chance to go on one of the world's most famous balloon rides - if there's one image that stands out in Capadoccia it's the hundreds of balloons in the sky at sunrise.
On this guided tour, you'll visit Göreme, an area full of houses and churches chiselled into the sandstone rocks and paintings from the 10th and 11th century. Then, visit Uçhisar, a troglodyte village with stunning cave houses. Followed by the Monks Valley, home to the most striking fairy chimneys and the Derbent Valley.
After marvelling at the unique landscape of Cappadocia, you'll return to your hotel.
Day 4: Pamukkale
Enjoy a delicious breakfast and leave Cappadocia behind on your air-conditioned coach. The tour heads to Pamukkale, the location of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis.
Mid-journey, you'll stop at Sultan Han, a Seljuk caravanserai established during the 13th century. Then once in Pamukkale, you'll have free time to discover the 'cotton castle' a unique sight made of thermal pools and petrified waterfalls.
After a busy day, you’ll head back to your hotel, where you'll enjoy a filling dinner and spend the night.
Day 5: Ephesus & Esmirna
Hop on the bus in the morning and set off to Ephesus, a city dedicated to the Goddess Artemis.
Once you get to this beautiful city, you'll visit the Odeon, the Hadrian Temple, the House of Love, the Library of Celsus, the Agora, the Theatre and the Marble Street. You'll also visit the House of the Virgin Mary, the last place where the Virgin Mary lived.
On your way to İzmir, you’ll stop at a leather factory to visit its shop!
Upon arrival in İzmir, the country's third largest city, we'll head to the hotel, where we'll eat and spend the night.
Day 6: Esmirna, Pergamon, Troy & Çanakkale
Leave İzmir behind and head to Pergamon, the historic city situated very near the modern town of Bergama. Once you get to the ancient Greek city, you’ll visit the well-preserved ruins, especially of the Sanctuary of Asclepion, the first hospital in Asia Minor.
Afterwards, head to Troy, a world-famous historical city that dates to late Classical antiquity and the setting of the Trojan War. While you wander around the archaeological site, you’ll see the wooden horse used during the filming of Troy with Brad Pitt.
Continue your trip towards Çanakkale, where you’ll have dinner and spend the night.
Day 7: Çanakkale, Gallipoli & Istanbul
After breakfast, we'll head to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire between 1326 and 1364. Touring the historic center, we'll see places like the Great Ulucamii Mosque, the Kozahan Silk Bazaar, and the Green Mausoleum.
Then, after a week full of emotions getting to know the best of Turkey, we will return to Istanbul. We will drop you off in Taksim or in the old part of the city.
Hotels
This tour includes 6 nights' accommodation in the following 4 or 5-star hotels with half board (breakfast and dinner):
- Ankara: Etap Altınel Ankara 5* or Ickale 5* or a similar hotel
- Cappadocia: Dinler Urgup 5* or Avrasya Hotel 5* or a similar hotel
- Pamukkale: Colossae Hotel 5* or Richmond Hotel 5* or a similar hotel
- İzmir: Blanca 4* or Palm City 4* or a similar hotel
- Çanakkale: Iris 4*, Akol 4* o Idakale 4* or a similar hotel
The indicated price is per person in a double room. If you need a room with an extra bed, you must indicate so when making the reservation. In this case, the price is the same as the double room. People sleeping in a single room will have to pay a supplement.
There are no quadruple rooms, but if you're in a group, you can request two adjoining or connected double rooms, depending on the availability of the hotel. The reduced price for children is valid only when a child shares a room with two adults.
Recogida
The tour includes pickup at the following points in Istanbul:
- Marmara University Campus (Sultanahmet)
- Ataturk Cultural Center
- Marmaray Yenikapi Station (Aksaray entrance)
- Marmaray Sirkeci Station (Sirkeci Gar entrance)
Changes to the Itinerary
The order of the days of the itinerary may vary depending on your arrival day, among other factors, such as public and religious holidays (especially on 23, 24, 25, and 26 May, 31 July, 1, 2, and 3 August, 29 October, and Sundays). Monuments such as the Ataturk Mausoleum may close without prior notice, so if this happens, we would only visit the outside of the monument.
