11-Days Classics of Turkey Tour From Istanbul

Day 1 Fri: Istanbul | Upon arrival you;ll be met and transferred to your hotel. Welcome briefing will be held.
Day 2 Sat: Istanbul | Full day tour including a visit to Topkapi Palace Museum,residence of the Ottoman Sultans between 1453–1852 (excluding harem). Your last stop will be the famous Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and oldest covered market with over 60 streets. B
Day 3 Sun: Istanbul – Ankara | Depart on an optional tour of 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. Continue to cruise along Bosphorus cruise enjoying the strait that separates Asia and Europe. Depart for the capital city of Ankara for overnight. B D
Day 4 Mon: Ankara – Cappadocia | Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, a historic caravanserai holding artifacts from up to 7500 years old including the most extensive. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. Drive to Cappadocia.
Overnight in Cappadocia. B D
Day 5 Tue: Cappadocia | Optional early morning hot air balloon tour. Transfer back to the hotel. After breakfast visit Goreme, a historical region of Turkey, located among the rock formations. Many rock churches can still be seen today, as Christianity was then the prevailing religion in that
region. Also visit Pasabagi, Red Valley and attend a brief regional pottery workshop in a cave. B D
Day 6 Wed: Cappadocia – Pamukkale | Drive to Pamukkale. En route visit the famous mausoleum of the Sufi philosopher, Mevlana. This was also the dervish lodge of the Mevlevi order, better known as the Whirling Dervishes. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. B D
Day 7 Thu: Pamukkale – Kusadasi | 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. Proceed to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. B D
Day 8 Fri: Ephesus & St. Mary’s House – Kusadasi | Tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural center of the ancient world. 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
Day 9 Sat: Pergamum – Troy – Canakkale | Visit the ancient Medical Center Asclepion in Pergamum and continue to a traditional local village for lunch with locals. Continue to Canakkale for overnight. B L D
Day 10 Sun: Dardanelles – Gallipoli – Istanbul | In the morning depart for Gallipoli, the site of many battles during WWI. Visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair, and then drive to Istanbul. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner. Overnight in Istanbul. B D
Day 11 Mon: Istanbul – Return | Transfer to the airport for your return flight home. B