Grand Tour of Turkey
Explore Turkey’s Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Hittite and Selcuk heritage
In Brief
| Istanbul - 2 nights. Canakkale - 1 night. Kusadasi - 2 nights. Pamukkale - 2 nights. Konya - 1 night. Cappadocia - 2 nights. Ankara - 1 night. Bursa - 1 night. Istanbul - 2 nights. |
Day 1 Fly from your chosen airport to Istanbul for two nights at the 4-star Hotel Legacy Ottoman, close to the Spice Bazaar in Old Istanbul (Mar 10 & Nov 3 departures at President Hotel, close to Grand Bazaar).
Day 2 Cruise along the Bosphorus, passing palaces, mosques and wooden waterside villas (yali). Visit the Dolmabahce Palace of the Sultans, Hippodrome and Blue Mosque. Enjoy an ‘Ottoman Dinner’.
Day 3 Travel to Gallipoli (4 hrs) and sites of the Anzac landings. By boat across the Dardanelles. Overnight at the 4-star Kolin Hotel, Canakkale.
Day 4 Visit the ruins of legendary Troy. Travel to Pergamon (3 hrs) to visit the ancient acropolis with its Zeus Temple. Continue to Kusadasi (3 hrs) for two nights at the 4-star Hotel Charisma.
Day 5 A morning excursion to Ephesus. Later visit the Ephesus museum and House of Virgin Mary.
Day 6 Visit the temple and museum of Aphrodisias. Continue to Pamukkale, renowned for its travertine terraces and calcified waterfalls. Stay two nights at the 4-star Pam-Thermal Hotel.
Day 7 Visit the ancient Roman cities of Hierapolis and Laodicea.
Day 8 Travel into Anatolia to the former Seljuk capital of Konya (6 hrs). Visit the Museum of Mevlana, founder of the ‘Whirling Dervish’ sect, Alaeddin Mosque and Karatay museum, a Seljuk seminary with fine ceramics. Overnight at the 4-star Hotel Bera.
Day 9 Travel to Cappadocia (3 hrs), visiting en route the rock churches of the spectacular Ihlara Valley. Two nights at the historic ‘special-category’ Hotel Yusuf Yigitoglu Konagi, built into the rock.
Day 10 Optional early morning balloon ride. Visit the Valley of Goreme with its early Christian church paintings, underground city of Kaymakh and castle of Uchisar. Optional Whirling Dervish ceremony at an ancient Caravanseray.
Day 11 Travel to the Hittite capital Hattusha to view the remains of the rock temple, citadel and city walls. Continue to Ankara for overnight at the 4-star Radisson Blu Hotel.
Day 12 Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations with many Hittite exhibits and the Mausoleum and Museum of Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey. Continue to Gordion to view the tomb of King Midas. Travel to Bursa for overnight at the 4-star Hotel Kervansaray-Thermal.
Day 13 Visit the Green Mosque and Tomb of Sultan Murat II, the Great Mosque of Ulu Cami, the Muradiye Mosque and tombs of the Ottoman Sultan and Princes and the silk bazaar. By road and ferry across the sea of Marmara to Istanbul for two nights at the 4-star Hotel Legacy Ottoman (Mar 10 & Nov 3 departures at President Hotel).
Day 14 Visit St. Sophia, the Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace including the Harem and the Grand Bazaar.
Day 15 Return flight.
Extension – Istanbul
Two nights at the 4-star Hotel Legacy Ottoman with breakfast daily. Restaurants, bars, indoor pool, jacuzzi, Turkish bath and gym. 170 air-conditioned rooms with private facilities, hairdryer, safe, mini-bar, tea/coffee making facilities and satellite TV.
