Classical Turkey

Arrive at Istanbul Airport, you will meet your tour guide for the transfer to your hotel and do the check-in. The tour guide will give a briefing at the hotel for the itinerary.

Overnight in Istanbul.
Meals: N/A

Breakfast at the hotel.

We will depart for a half-day morning tour of Istanbul.

Hippodrome: The former center of sportive and political activities of Constantinople. During the visit, you’ll be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt, the Serpentine Column from Delphi, and the fountain of Wilhelm II.

Blue Mosque: One of the largest mosques in İstanbul dating from the 17th century. It is one of the principal adornments on the skyline of İstanbul and is famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarets.

Top Kapi Palace: The former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled. Today, it is a spectacular museum that houses one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and also has sections where you will see the famous 86-carat diamond, the Topkapi Dagger, etc.

Spice Market: In addition to its historical importance, you can discover the different spices, their flavors, and healing qualities. Known in Turkish as Misir (Egyptian) Carsisi, the Spice Market is located in Eminonu, right next to the Flower Bazaar. It was once built by Hatice Turhan Sultan in 1660. As the name suggests, the shops have hundreds if not thousands of different spices. Bedazzle your senses with the tempting variety of interesting spices used for savory cooking as well as medicines, such as saffron, nigella seeds, chili, cumin, curry, etc.

Overnight in Istanbul.
Meals: Breakfast-Dinner

Optional: Half Day Istanbul with St. Sophia & Grand Bazaar & Underground Cistern (Price per person $98.00)

Early breakfast at the hotel, check out, and drive towards Çanakkale

The journey takes approx. 4-5 hours. Visit the World War I battlefields of the Gallipoli peninsula, where one of Turkey’s greatest modern military victories took place. After the tour, drive to the hotel,

Overnight in Canakkale
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, you will drive to Troy, both factual and legendary, located in the Northwest of Anatolia, in the Southeast of the Dardanelles, and close to Mount Ida.

It is best known for being the focus of the Trojan War described in the Greek Epic Cycle and especially in the Iliad, one of the two epic poems attributed to Homer. Metrical evidence from the Iliad and the Odyssey seems to show that the name Ilion formerly began with a digamma: Wilion. This has now been supported by the deciphering of the Hittite tablets showing the Hittite form "Wilusa", referring to Troy.

Visit the archaeological site of this 5000-year-old city, The scene of the legendary Fall of Troy in the Trojan War as described in Homer's Iliad, made famous by its wooden horse. See a reconstruction of the fabled Wooden Horse as well as the city ruins from a succession of nine civilizations.

Then drive to Bergama (Pergamum), which was once a great center of culture, still surviving as one of Turkey's finest archaeological sites.

Visit the Asclepion, the ancient Roman spa center. After the tour, enjoy lunch in a local village before continuing to Izmir.

Overnight in Izmir
Meals: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a full day at leisure in Izmir, a city believed to be the birthplace of Homer.

Relax in the city and taste authentic Turkish coffee. Do not miss the optional tour to Ephesus, the world-famous ancient city of Ephesus, which was once the commercial center of the ancient world. The city whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. The ruins include a theatre, gymnasium, agora, baths, Temple of Hadrian, and the library of Celcius Visit The House of the Virgin Mary. After the tour, return to Izmir.

Overnight in Izmir
Meals: Breakfast-Dinner

Optional: Full Day Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary (price per person $119.00).

After breakfast, depart from the hotel for the Hierapolis (Pamukkale) tour.

Near the city of Denizli is Pamukkale (Cotton Castle), a beautiful and spectacular natural site, unique in the world with its fairy-like, dazzling white cascade. Pamukkale's terraces are made of travertine, which is a sedimentary rock deposited by water from hot springs. You will see the thermal spring water plunging down the mountain side which has created this natural formation of stalactites, cataracts, and the basin. Thermal water has been used since the Roman period for therapeutic powers.

You will visit the Roman city of Hierapolis with its Apollo-Temple competing with Delphi, the monumental Nymphaeum, a 4th-century Basilica, and the theatre.

Then visit the best preserved Necropolis. After the tour, drive to Antalya.

Overnight in Antalya
Meals: Breakfast-Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel and enjoy a full day at leisure in Antalya, an international city that has become a prime destination in Turkey.

An optional tour is offered to the well-known Pamphilian Cities. Perge, the Heart of Pamphylia, was a vast Roman Province with a combination of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine cultures. See the Roman Baths, the Agora, the Colonnaded Street, the Nymphaeum, and the Stadium(cap.12.000).

Aspendos is a masterpiece and the best-preserved theatre in the world. This Roman Theatre was built in 2 AD and had a cap. 15.000. You will visit the ancient aqueducts of Aspendos.

On the return trip, visit The Antalya Archaeological Museum.

After the tour, drive back to the hotel.

Optional: Perge & Aspendos & Antalya Archaeological Museum. (Price per person $105.00)

Overnight in Antalya
Meals: Breakfast-Dinner

After breakfast at the hotel, early departure for Cappadocia.

En route, visit the 13th-century Caravanserai of Sultanhan. The caravanserai provided the traders, both foreign and native, with heated rooms, food, medical attention, equipment repair, and many other common conveniences.

Continue to Nevsehir in Cappadocia where we will arrive in the evening. Do not miss the optional performance of Whirling Dervishes.

Overnight in Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast-Dinner

Optional: Whirling Dervishes Performance
(The price per person is $59.00 )

After breakfast, enjoy a full day at leisure to explore the area independently.

Optionally you can begin the day very early on a hot air balloon ride that takes you soaring over the magnificent Cappadocian landscape with its incredible fairy chimney rock formations.

On the full-day optional tour, visit the Goreme Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia. These are found in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings dating from as early as the 10th century.

Visit the Ozkonak Underground City.

Overnight in Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast-Dinner

Optional: Cappadocia Balloon Ride (The price per person is $322.00)
Optional: Full-Day Cappadocia (The price per person is $89.00)

After breakfast, depart from your hotel to the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Upon arrival see the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern Turkish Republic. Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.

The museum has the finest archeological collection in all of Turkey and contains records of every civilization that passed through Anatolia which are priceless items from as far back as 7,500 years.

Overnight in Ankara
Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart from the hotel and return to Istanbul.

Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Enjoy the optional Bosphorus Cruise or simply wander the streets. In the evening transfer to the restaurant for your Farewell Dinner.

After dinner, drive back to your hotel and overnight at the hotel in Istanbul.

Optional: Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise (The price per person is $69.00)

Overnight in Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast-Dinner

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to the Istanbul Airport for your International flight home

Meals Included: Breakfast