27 Days Grand Turkey Tour

Day 1  Istanbul 

After arrival Istanbul Airport , We will pick you up from airport and transfer to hotel , free time and Overnight in Istanbul

Day 2  Istanbul-Gallipoli    

Depart  early  morning for afternoon tour of Gallipoli. The World War l battlefields  of Gallipoli are now a serene site.Visit the  Lone  Pine Australian Memorial, Anzac Cove and  Chunk bair New Zealand  Memorial,  Johnston Jolly and the Gallipoli  Museum.Overnight in Canakkale.     B-L

Day 3  -Troy- Pergamum- Kusadasi

Tours of Troy and Pergamum,before continuing onto your choice of Selcuk or  Kusadasi, Visit  the ancient  city  of Troy, famous for  the legendary Trojan  horse from the  times  of beautiful Helen, Queen  of  Sparta and the ancient  town of Pergamum with its  magnificent  acropolis  and  one  of  the steepest  theatres in the  world. Overnight in Kusadasi B-L

Day  4-  Ephesus Tour

Ephesus was an ancient Greek city and later a major Roman city near present day Selcuk. .The first stop of this tour is the House of the Virgin Mary, the final resting place of the Virgin Mary.   We then visit Ephesus where excavations began in the 19th Century. Some of the buildings you can see today include gymnasiums, agora’s, the Domitian Square, the Hadrian Temple, the Roman Bath and the Celsius Library, and the biggest theatre in Anatolia with 25 000 seats. After lunch we visit the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and a drawing card for pilgrims for centuries.   Overnight in Kusadasi  B-L

 Day 5- Pamukkale Tour 

We will pick you up for guided tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis . Pamukkale which means cotton castle . We will also visit the ancient Roman Health Spa of Hierapolis , made most famous for it’s thermal springs , theatre , Agora and the Necropolis . Back to hotel and Overnight in Pamukkale.  B-L

Day 6 -Free day in Pamukkale 

Breakfast at your hotel and leasiure your day. Explore around or enjoy your day at hotel or  spring thermal water. Late afternoon transfer to Antalya.  Overnight in Antalya.  B

Day 7 -Antalya  Perge-Aspendos Tour

After Breakfast at your depart for a full day Lycian city of Aspendos, with the best reserved Roman Theatre in the world and still housing concerts and facilities.Continue to Perge ,a great ancient city with the city walls and theatre adn Hellenistic Stadium,. After lunch we will drive to Side ; one of the best known classical site of Turkey. Temple of Apollon. a roman theatre and musuem. End of the tour back to hotel. Overnight in Antalya. B-L

Day 8 – Antalya 

Breakfast at your hotel then you are free to explore the city of Antalya. It was important port city of Seljuk empirement during 11th century. You will stay in old city. Its your own day. Overnight in Antalya. B

Day 9 – Antalya –Konya-Capadocia

Breakfast at your hotel then we take private transfer  to Konya.Visit Mevlana Museum  where is House of Rumis and Sufis. Lunch in a local restaurant. Drive to Cappadocia .Overnight in Capadocia  B-L

Day 10 – Cappadocia-North Tour

After breakfast at your hotel depart for a full day , guided tour of Northern Cappadocia , we will visit the Goreme Open Air Museum , Devrent Valley , Avanos, Pasabag , Cavusin village , Urgup’s Fairy Chimneys . End of the tour transfer back to your hotel . Overnight in Cappadocia B-L

Suggested Activities:

Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia: Flying in a hot air balloon is the best way to discover the deep valleys and rock formation of Cappadocia.Our experienced professional pilots will be delighted to take you on an unforgettable journey over Cappadocia. A voyage beyond words over the most stunning landscape.

Cooking Class at Cappadocia: Cooking classes are taught by a local village woman who will guide you through the process of preparing and cooking a traditional Turkish 3 course meal.This will be include soup,at least 2 type of main dishes and a dessert.

Day 11 – Cappadocia- South Tour

After breakfast ,we will pick up from the hotel  and a full day guided tour of Southern Cappadocia will start with Piegon valley, Underground city of Kaymakli . Uchisar Village , Rose  Valley , the best valley of Cappadocia area . Then back to hotel. . Overnight in Cappadocia .B-L

Day 12- Kayseri- lstanbul -Trabzon

Morning at 09:00  transfer to airport,  we fly to Trabzon via lstanbul .Arrive Trabzon. Visit to the 14th century Byzantine church of Hagia Sofia overlooking the Black Sea before proceeding to the cliff side monastery of the  Virgin Mary at Sumela in the Altindere national park. From Sumela we drive along the coast of the Black Sea to Hopa on the Georgian border where we will spend the night. B -D

Day 13- Erzurum

We depart Hopa for Erzurum via Artvin, Ishan and the spectacular Georgian Valleys.  Overnight in Erzurum. B- D

 Day 14 -Kars

Sightseeing in Erzurum before departing for Kars via the Aras River valley and the First World War battlefield site of Sarakimis. After arriving at Kars we will continue to visit the ancient Armenian city of Ani on the Arpacay River.Overnight in Kars.B- D

Day 15- Dogu Beyazit

On to Dogubeyazit and passed the Biblical mountain of Ararat to visit the Ishak Pasha Saray and then on to the city of Van where we will spend the night.B- D

Day 16- Van

Sightseeing in the Van region including a visit to the 17th century fortress of Hosap, sitting astride the ancient Silk Road into Persia and the Orient. In the afternoon we will visit the island of Akdamar in Lake Van to visit the 10th century Church of the Holy Cross.Overnight in Van.B- D

Day 17- Tatvan-Nemrut

Depart Van along the southern shore of Lake Van for Tatvan and then to visit the great Volcano Crater of Nemrut and the Seljuk monuments of Ahlat. Overnight in Van. B- D

Day 18- Batman-Hasankeyf

Via Bitlis we continue down the Bitlis Gorge, via the city of Batman,to the town Hasankeyf for lunch. In Hasankeyf (soon to be submerged under the lake of a new dam on the Tigris) we will visit some of the many caves and the ruins of the medieval Byzantine city.On our way west to Mardin we will stop in Midyat to see the Silver bazaar. Arrive to Mardin visit Kasimiye Medrese.Dinner and overnight in Mardin. B- D

Day 19- Diyarbakir

After breakfast visit Deir-Al-Zafaran (Saffron Monastery).The Saffron Monastery was once the ancient centre of the Syriac Christian Patriarchy. This site has been the centre of religious worship for many centuries, the monastery itself is built over an ancient temple, built in 1000BC and dedicated to the worship of the sun and which now provides the foundations to the main part of the monastery buildings – it is a fascinating structure as the roof of the temple to the sun is, essentially, a flat arch! From Mardin we will travel northwest to Diyarbakir to see the 10 Arches Bridge on the Tigris River.Overnight Diyarbakir.  B D

Day 20 -Nemrut

Sightseeing in Diyarbakir: the Ulu Cami (Mar Thoma)(Mosque and Church), then visit the Great wall. Leave for Nemrut via the ferry over the Euiphratesry arriving in Narlice Village in Nemrut National Park. We will travel to the top of Mount Nemrut Tombs of Commagene Kingdom and the Colossal Statues of Gods. Climbing up to Tumulus of Antiochos, the capital of Kommagene we will watch the sun set from the summit of Nemrut. This ancient funerary monument at the peak of Mt Nemrut was forgotten and lost to memory for nearly 2000 years. B D

Day 21- Urfa

After breakfast you will see Karakus Tumulus, a burial sanctuary and the Cendere Bridge, erected by the XVI Legion in the honour of Roman Emperor Septimus Severus, before proceeding to for Urfa.Via Urfa we will visit Ataturk dam a part of the giant South East Anatolia Project. Arriving in Urfa we will visit the Holy Pools of Abraham andthe cave where, tradition tells us, the Prophet Abraham was born. Visit the Bazaar.Dinner and Overnight Urfa. B D

Day 22- Gaziantep- Gobeklitepe

After breakfast we will visit the on-going archaeological dig at Gobekli Tepe. Although this site is not widely known it is one of the most important archaeological digs currently being undertaken anywhere – this site represents a major shift in our understanding of man’s early history. Here lie the remains of the earliest religious structures built by man yet to be discovered. At about 11000-13000 years old and pre-dating pottery, writing, Stonehenge and the Pyramids! We then depart for Gaziantep where we will visit the stunning mosaic museum which houses a priceless collection of mosaics from the now sunken city of Zeugma. We will visit the citadel and the Old Town of City .Overnight in Gaziantep. B D

Day 23 – Gaziantep-Istanbul

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport. Fly  to Istanbul .Arrive and transfer to hotel.Free afternoon and Overnight in Istanbul. B

Day 24 – Istanbul Classic Tour 

After breakfast we will pick you up from hotel and start a full day tour of old city in historical peninsula beginning with Hagia Sophia , Blue Mosque ,German Fountain, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul .B-L

Day 25 -Istanbul  Bosphorus Cruise 

Breakfast at your hotel then you will join to  full day guided Bosphorus Tour by boat, you will see Spice Market, Golden Horn, Rumeli Fortress ( outside ), Istanbul Bridge, Istiklal street walking, Galata Bridge Walking, Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul . B-L

Day 26 –  Istanbul 

After breakfast you may join optional food tasting tour.Explore the  asian part of lstanbul and enjoy the turkish food.Overnight in Istanbul.. B

Day 27 – Istanbul 

After breakfast you are free and we transfer you to International Airport. Our tour councludes here. We say good bye to our new friends. Thanks for choosing to spend your vacation in Turkey.  B