Turkey Tours & Travel Packages : Taste of History Tour (10 Days)
Duration: 10 Days / 09
Nights
Highlights: Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy,
Pergamum, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pamukkale, Hierapolis,
Cappadocia
Run: Everyday
Note: All Turkey
tour packages are modular and you can use these itineraries
as a starting point and we can help modify this itineraries
to accommodate your personal requirements and desires
to find your perfect holiday.
DAY 01 - Arrive in Istanbul
Upon arrival to Istanbul International Airport, you
will meet by an agency staff for your transfer to hotel.
On your arrival to hotel, your program director will
give you a welcome brifing. Remainder of day will be
at your leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 02 - Ottoman and Byzantine Relics
After breakfast, set off for sightseeing in this city
on the Bosporus—formerly Constantinople and the
seat of the Eastern Roman Empire. Hippodrome, the scene
of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory
celebrations, and political activities of the old city
where one can also see today the Obelisk from Egypt,
Serpentine Column from Delphi, the Fountain of Wilhelm
II and the Colossus; After then we will proceed to Blue
Mosque, facing St.Sophia, famous with its more than
20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets.
Then St.Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture
constructed as a basilica in 536 by Emperor Justinian.
Before lunch we will visit to Istanbul’s bustling
Grand Bazaar, exploring a labyrinth of streets and passages
housing more than 4,000 shops. After lunch proceed to
Topkapi Palace, built in 1468 by Mehmet the Conqueror,
the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the
souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury,
Chinese porcelains, weapons, calligraphy section, etc.
(excluding extra entrances to Harem rooms). Tour will
finish with a visit to Rustem Pasa Mosque. Overnight
in Istanbul.
DAY 03 - Travel on to Canakkale / Gallipoli
Tour
After breakfast, drive along the Sea of Marmara through
the small European part of Turkey known as Thrace. Lunch
en route. Before leaving Europe we visit Gallipoli.
This is the historic World War I battleground where
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, father of the Turkish Republic,
first rose to prominence. Under the direction of Winston
Churchill, an unsuccessful naval and land campaign failed
in its attempt to capture Gallipoli, open up the Dardanelles,
and seize Constantinople. This battleground is now marked
with over 30 memorials. Visit Gallipoli National Park
including: the Gallipoli Battlefields, Kabatepe War
Museum, Anzac Cove, original tunnels and trenches at
Johnston Jolly, the Nek Cemetery, Chunuk Bair New Zealander
Memorial, Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Brighton
Beach. We then cross the Dardanelles waterway by ferry
from Europe to Asia where your hotel is located. Overnight
in Canakkale.
DAY 04 - Troy, Pergamon Tour / Travel
on to Kusadasi
We have an early start today and we visit the ruins
of Troy. The Greek poet Homer wrote about the ancient
city Troy in The Iliad. Troy is one of the world's most
important archaeological sites because of its place
in literature and what it tells us about a critical
early period in the development of European civilization.
Archaeologists have been excavating here since the 1870's
and have found evidence of nine different settlements
built on top of each other at different periods since
the Bronze Age. It is believed to have been settled
in 3000 BC or earlier. The large replica of the Trojan
horse at the front of the ruins, is part of the myth
of the Trojan War. After the tour of Troy we will proceed
to Pergamum. The site of ancient Pergamum is set on
a steep hilltop, the capital of Pergamum kingdom after
the death of Alexander the Great was a cultural center
having a large library rivaling that of Alexandria in
Egypt. Sightseeing at Pergamum will cover Athena and
Trojan Temples, Temple of Zeus, Temple of Dionysos,
Gymnasium of Youth, Odeon, Library, Agora, Great Theatre,
Roman Bath, Red Basalica and viewing Asclepion. After
the tour, we will drive for and hour to reach Kusadasi.
Ovenight in Kusadasi.
DAY 05 - Ancient City of Ephesus Tour
Today we will start the day with Ephesus. We will walk
through the Magnesian Gate, which is the entrance to
the ancient city of Ephessus. Your guide will take you
through one of the most magnificent excavations in the
world. See the Odeon (concert hall), the Fountain of
Trajan, the steam-heated Baths of Scolastika, the Temple
of Hadrian and the Latrians, the Library of Celsus and
The Great Theatre, where St. Paul preached, which is
the largest theatre in antiquity having a capacity of
24,000 people. Then we will walk to the Cave of Seven
Sleepers. After lunch in alocal restaurant we will proceed
to the house of the Virgin Mary, where The Virgin Mary
is believed to have spent her last days. On the way
to Sirince Village we will stop at the Temple of Artemis,
protectress of Ephesus which is dating back to 1300
BC and considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
We will finish the day tour with Village of Sirince,
which is small village 7km through the hills from Selcuk
is attractive for its setting among fruit orchards,
old-fashioned stone houses with red tiled roofs, and
narrow streets. The village has a few guest-houses and
restaurants, and is popular with foreign and Turkish
tourists to experience a taste of traditional village
life in a peaceful environment. Overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 06 - Aphrodisias and Pamukkale Tour
/ Bus to Cappadocia
After having early breakfast, start journey inland to
Aphrodisias and Pamukkale. Aphrodisias has been sacred
to the Mother Goddess since 5800 B.C. The city was named
Aphrodisias, for Aphrodite, in the second century B.C.E.,
and it remained a pagan stronghold long after Christianity
came to the region. The temple to Aphrodite was built
in the first century C.E. and much later, during the
Byzantine era, converted to a basilica. Then we will
drive for one hour inland to visit Hierapolis and Pamukkale.
We will see the blisteringly white terraced pools of
Pamukkale's hot springs, the result of thousands of
years of deposits by the calcium rich hot springs, visit
the Ancient city of Hierapolis, a World Heritage Site.
Swim in the Sacred Pool amongst fallen Roman columns
in the Pamukkale Thermal. At the end of the tour day
you will be transferred on to the bus station in Pamukkale
for departure by overnight intercity bus to Cappadocia.
Overnight onboard bus. (Direct flights from Izmir are
also available if you prefer to fly).
DAY 07 - North Cappadocia Tour with Goreme
Museum
On your arrival to Cappadocia bus station, you will
be met and transferred to your hotel for a short break
before the tour. Today we will visit Devrent Valley
which is situated between Avanos, Zelve and Urgup. Then
Pasabaglari Valley, formerly known as the "Monks'
Valley" (Rahipler Vadisi). We will visit also Goreme
Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and view
the ancient rock-hewn churches sculpted in the hillsides
almost a thousand years ago. After lunch, continue on
to the small town of Urgup, which has many carved dwellings
that are still inhabited. We stop at a local restaurant
for lunch. Then you join us for a Discovery Series “Art
of Pottery in Asia Minor” event this afternoon,
offering you the opportunity to visit a cave pottery
atelier. The day will continue with the visit to Uchisar
Castle which is situated at the highest point in the
region. We will end the day with Piegon Valley, contains
numerous pigeon houses. In this valley pigeons were
traines to deliver messages to towns throughout Central
Cappadocia and were essential aid to communication.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 08 - South Cappadocia Tour with Ihlara
Canyon / Flight to Istanbul
After breakfast at hotel, another full day tour this
time to visit the famous Derinkuyu Underground City.
Afterwards a short hike through the green Ihlara Valley
along the stream visiting some of the churches along
the way. Stop in Belisirma for lunch and then on to
Selime for a panoramic view. Stop at the Agzikarahan
Caravansarai is included. At the end of the tour you
will be transferred to Kayseri Airport for the domestic
flight to Istanbul. On your arrival to Istanbul Airport,
you will be met at the airport for the transfer to your
hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 09 - Half Day Bosphorus Cruise Tour
After breakfast, again meet you tour guide for drive
to Golden Horn, the arm of the Bosphorus and a natural
harbour of the historical peninsula seperating the old
and new parts of Istanbul where the first colonies settled
during Byzantine. The residential area of Byzantines
Jews, Italian traders and other non-muslim minoririties.
Drive along the traces of history at balat viewing Fener
Orthodox Patriarchate, Metal Church of St Stephen the
Bulgarian, Ahrida Synagouge, Eyup Sultan Mosque, named
after the flagbearer of Prophet Muhammd, a place to
worship and pilgrimage for religious visitors. 21kms
lonng City Walls of Istanbul will be also seen on this
drive. Visit the Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar). We
then walk across the road to Eminonu Harbour to embark
the ferry which has become one of the symbols of Istanbul.
The Bosphorus is a narrow, navigable strait between
Europe and Asia connecting the Black Sea to the Marmara
Sea. After the half day tour, remainder of day will
be at leisure on your own. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 10 - Transfer to Istanbul International
Airport
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to Istanbul International
Airport, depending to your departure details.
What's Included:
* Hotel accommodations in choice of preferred class
* Professional Guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism
* Noted sightseeing tours on regular group or private guided basis
* Main entrance fees to sights mentioned by the itinerary
* Meals mentioned by the itinerary - Vegeterian meals available
* Required land & or internal flight transportation
* All roundtrip airport transfers with A/C minivans
* Local taxes & handling services
* All tours & travel packages are insuranced by TURSAB (Association of Turkish
Travel Agencies)
What's Included:
* Hotel accommodations in choice of preferred class
* Professional Guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism
* Noted sightseeing tours on regular group or private guided basis
* Main entrance fees to sights mentioned by the itinerary
* Meals mentioned by the itinerary - Vegeterian meals available
* Required land & or internal flight transportation
* All roundtrip airport transfers with A/C minivans
* Local taxes & handling services
* All tours & travel packages are insuranced by TURSAB (Association of Turkish
Travel Agencies)
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TURKEY
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Package
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Taste of History Tour |
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