Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul Arrival
You'll arrive in Istanbul and get transferred to your hotel in the old city. Pick up your welcome package containing tour vouchers and a map, then meet your guide and other travelers at 7 pm for an orientation. The rest of the day is open for you to wander around and get familiar with the neighborhood at your own pace.
- Day 2
Istanbul City Tour
Head out early for a full-day guided tour covering Istanbul's main sites. Start at Topkapi Palace, the former official residence of the Ottoman Empire. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll continue to the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome Square. Stop by Hagia Sophia Mosque to see the exterior, then spend the evening walking through the Grand Bazaar, which covers a massive area with thousands of shops.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Topkapi Palace
- Guided tour of Blue Mosque
- Visit to Hippodrome Square
- External viewing of Hagia Sophia Mosque
- Guided tour of Grand Bazaar
Landmarks/POIs Topkapi Palace Blue Mosque Hippodrome Square Hagia Sophia Mosque Grand Bazaar - Day 3
Gallipoli
Leave early for Gallipoli with a brief stop along the way. You'll reach Eceabat for lunch, then spend the afternoon exploring the historical campaign sites including Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, Anzac Cove, Ariburnu Cemetery, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston's Jolly with its original trenches, 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial, the Nek, and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. Transfer to Canakkale for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Eceabat)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Brighton Beach
- Guided tour of Beach Cemetery
- Guided tour of Anzac Cove
- Guided tour of Ariburnu Cemetery
- Guided tour of Lone Pine Australian Memorial
- Guided tour of Johnston's Jolly
- Guided tour of 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial
- Guided tour of the Nek
- Guided tour of Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial
Landmarks/POIs Brighton Beach Beach Cemetery Anzac Cove Ariburnu Cemetery Lone Pine Australian Memorial Johnston's Jolly 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial The Nek Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial - Day 4
Troy and Pergamon
After breakfast, drive to Troy and see the Trojan Horse model, sacrificial altars, 3700-year-old city walls, and homes from Troy I. Check out the Senate Building, Concert Hall, and ongoing excavations spanning Troy I through Troy IX. Later you'll head to Bergama for lunch, then tour Pergamon Acropolis including the Zeus Altar, Hellenistic Theatre, Great Library, Gymnasium, lower Agora, and temples. Transfer to Kusadasi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Bergama)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Troy including Trojan Horse model, sacrificial altars, city walls, and houses from Troy I
- Guided tour of Pergamon Acropolis
- Visit to Zeus Altar
- Visit to Hellenistic Theatre
- Visit to Great Library
- Visit to Gymnasium
- Visit to lower Agora
- Visit to Temple of Dionysus
- Visit to Temple of Athena
- Visit to Temple of Trojan
Landmarks/POIs Troy Pergamon Acropolis Zeus Altar Hellenistic Theatre Great Library - Day 5
Ephesus and Sirince
Start with breakfast then visit the ancient Roman city of Ephesus to walk the Arcadian Way, see the Roman Baths, Temple of Hadrian, Celsius Library, and Antique Theatre. In the afternoon, head to Sirince village to see its traditional houses and local character. Return to Kusadasi for dinner and an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ancient Roman City of Ephesus
- Visit to Arcadian Way
- Visit to Roman Baths
- Visit to Temple of Hadrian
- Visit to Celsius Library
- Visit to Antique Theatre
- Visit to Sirince village
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus Celsius Library Temple of Hadrian Sirince - Day 6
Hierapolis and Pamukkale
After breakfast, visit Hierapolis, an ancient Greco-Roman city built above hot springs. Explore the large necropolis, Great Baths, Frontinus Street, Theatre, Martyrion of St. Phillip, and Cleopatra's pool. Walk barefoot across the travertines, the white mineral terraces formed by flowing water. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Hierapolis
- Visit to necropolis
- Visit to Great Baths
- Visit to Frontinus Street
- Visit to Theatre
- Visit to Martyrion of St. Phillip
- Visit to Cleopatra's pool
- Walk on travertines
Landmarks/POIs Hierapolis Cleopatra's pool Pamukkale travertines - Day 7
Konya and Cappadocia
Depart for Cappadocia after breakfast, stopping in Konya en route, the birthplace of the Whirling Dervishes founded by Mevlana in the 13th century. See Selimiye Mosque and the Mevlana Museum, then continue to your Cappadocia hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Selimiye Mosque
- Visit to Mevlana Museum
Landmarks/POIs Selimiye Mosque Mevlana Museum - Day 8
Cappadocia Exploration
Start early with an optional hot air balloon flight over the valleys and fairy chimneys (weather permitting). Walk through Red Valley and rock-cut churches, then hike among the colorful fairy chimneys. Stop at Cavusin, a Greek village known for rock-cut churches. After lunch, explore Ozkonak underground city, Cappadocia's largest, followed by Pigeon Valley and its dovecotes. End at Ortahisar Castle, the region's biggest fairy chimney formation. Overnight in Cappadocia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike through Red Valley and fairy chimneys
- Visit to rock-cut churches in Red Valley
- Guided tour of Cavusin
- Guided tour of Ozkonak underground city
- Visit to Pigeon Valley
- Visit to Ortahisar Castle
Optional Activities
- Early morning hot air balloon flight tour
Landmarks/POIs Red Valley Cavusin Ozkonak underground city Pigeon Valley Ortahisar Castle - Day 9
Cappadocia to Istanbul
After breakfast, transfer to Cappadocia airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul. When you arrive, you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the city on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 10
Istanbul Departure
Your tour ends with a transfer to the airport based on your flight schedule.
- Meals
- Breakfast
