SUNDAY JUNE 26, 2016
Arrival day and a warm welcome to Istanbul. You will be collected from the airport and
transferred to our hotel in the Old City that will be a short walk to many of the historic
sites and also the Grand Bazaar. Later this evening we will enjoy our first authentic
Turkish meal.
The night will be spent at: Valide Sultan Hotel or equivalent – Sultanahmet.
Meals provided will be: Dinner
Extras included: Transfer from Ataturk Airport
MONDAY JUNE 27, 2016
A guided tour of the Old City. We visit the Hippodrome, the sporting
and political centre of the Old City; the Blue Mosque, renowned for its tiles and marble; Topkapi Palace, residence of the Sultans for over three centuries, the imposing Aya Sophia, formerly a church, then a
mosque and now a museum. We also visit the Underground Cistern (Yerebatin Saray). A take
short walk to the Grand Bazaar! Tonight we will enjoy a group dinner of traditional Turkish food.
The night will be spent at: Valide Sultan Hotel or equivalent – Sultanahmet.
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and dinner
Entrance fees provided: All entrance fees.
Extras included: Guide for the day.
TUESDAY JUNE 28, 2016.
Today we will make our way to the Spice Market and then board a ferry for a cruise up
the Bosphorus to the Black Sea. Lunch at a fishing village and some time to explore the village before the ferry trip back. The night will be spent at: Valide Sultan Hotel or equivalent – Sultanahmet.
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and dinner
Entrance fees provided:
Extras included: Bosphorus Ferry Cruise (lunch is not included).
WEDNESDAY JUNE 29, 2016
An early departure and a five hours drive to the Gallipoli battlefields. We will stop in
the town of Ecebat for lunch where our guide will be waiting to meet us. After lunch our
guide will take us on a tour of the memorials including Lone Pine, Anzac Cove and
Chunuk Bair. After what I am sure will be a moving experience we will board the ferry
and travel across the Dardanelles to Canakkale to our hotel and then dinner on the
waterfront.
The night will be spent at: Keravansaray Hotel or similar – Canakkale
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and Dinner
Entrance fees provided: All entrance fees
Extras included: Guide at Gallipoli
THURSDAY JUNE 30, 2016
We depart Gallipoli and travel along the Aegean to Troy where the beautiful Helen once
created havoc! Our guide will be on hand to explain the complexities of this unusual site
which is dominated by a replica of the famous “wooden horse” – we will then travel to
the agricultural town of Bergama where we will have lunch and then make our way to the
ancient site of Pergamum which sits high on the hillside above the town of Bergama
providing spectacular views of the surrounding country side. After a guided tour of
Pergamum we will travel further along the Aegean to the quaint town of Selcuk where we
will check into our hotel. A group meal at the hotel today.
The night will be spent at: St John Hotel – Selcuk
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and Dinner
Entrance fees provided: Troy, Pergamum.
Extras included: Guide at Troy and Pergamum
FRIDAY JULY 1, 2016
A leisurely start and a drive into the mountains to town of Sirince, formally a village
inhabited by Greeks but abandoned at the time of the population exchange. This quaint
village is renowned for it’s locally produced fruit wines.
For those that are interested, today there is an option of a cooking class in Sirince – it
will provide us the opportunity to learn how to make some Turkish dishes and then enjoy
these for lunch and enjoy the lovely view from where our cooking class was conducted –
cost of this is not included in the tour cost.
After lunch in Sirince we travel high into the mountains to the site where the Virgin Mary spent her last days – a site visited by pilgrims from all over the world. We will then travel to Ephesus – a Greco/Roman site which is a magnificent example of both Greek and Roman architecture. In addition we will also visit the Terrace Houses at Ephesus. A group dinner tonight.
The night will be spent at: St. John Hotel or similar.
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and Dinner.
Entrance fees provided: Ephesus, Terrace Houses at Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary
Extras included: Guide at Ephesus
SATURDAY JULY 2, 2016.
Time this morning to visit the local Saturday market in Selcuk. We will then travel a
short distance to an authentic Turkish village where we will have lunch at the home of a
local family and also visit their small olive oil factory and learn more about olive oil
production in the region. After lunch we will travel inland to Pamukkale where we will
spend the night in this historic spa town. Our hotel is in the Karahayit region which is
famous for its “red” mud mineral springs. A buffet dinner at the hotel tonight.
The night will be spent at: Pam Hotel in Pamukkale
Meals provided will be: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Entrance fees provided:
Extras included:
SUNDAY JULY 3, 2016
This morning we will visit the site of Pamukkale, which is most famous for the calcified falls that have been created as a result of the natural spring water in the area. It is also the site of Hierapolis, which was an ancient Roman spa. There are an abundance of ancient Roman tombs scattered in the area plus a beautiful Roman theatre. Our guide will be on hand to conduct a tour of the site – we will have lunch in the village of Pamukkale. The afternoon will be free to luxuriate in the mud pool at our hotel or enjoy a treatment at the Wellness Centre. Dinner will be at the hotel.
The night will be spent at: Pam Hotel
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and Dinner
Entrance fees provided: Pamukkale / Hierapolis
Extras included: Guide at Pamukkale / Hierapolis
MONDAY JULY 4, 2016
We depart Pamukkale and we travel through the Taurus mountain range towards the Mediterranean coast. On-route we will stop for lunch and view the natural beauty of Saklikent Gorge – where the icy waters will leave us breathless. After our lunch stop at Saklikent Gorge we will travel to Fethiye. Fethiye is a major harbour city located on the Mediterranean coast and was totally destroyed by earthquake in 1957. The seaside boulevard was built on reclaimed land created by dumping the debris from the earthquake into the sea. Today it is a major agricultural and tourist centre with facilities to cater for tourists but with the charm of a rural town. We will board our Turkish yacht (Gulet) which will be moored in Fethiye harbour and commence our cruise. The crew on the Gulet will look after us and will provide dinner aboard the Gulet.
The night will be spent at: On the Gulet
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and Dinner
TUESDAY JULY 5, 2016
A relaxing day to do as you please – eat, drink, sleep, read or swim. The Gulet will moor in a village harbour and we will have the opportunity to disembark the Gulet and spend some time exploring the village.
The night will be spent on the Gulet
Meals provided will be: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2016
Another relaxing day….need I say anymore! We travel towards Ucagiz where we will spend the night moored in a cove near this charming town.
The night will be spent at: On the Gulet
Meals provided will be: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
*The cruising itinerary is a guide only and will be at the discretion of the captain and dependent on
weather conditions.
THURSDAY JULY 7, 2016
After breakfast, we sadly disembark the Gulet at the quaint town of Ucagiz where our bus
will be waiting and travel along the coast towards Antalya. En-route we travel along the
spectacular coastal road and will stop at the Church of St. Nicolas and the rock tombs at
Myra. The next two night will be spent in Old City in Antalya at a restored Ottoman
house which sits right on top of the harbour.
The night will be spent at: The Old City – Antalya at the Aspen Hotel or equivalent
Meals provided will be: Breakfast.
Entrance fees provided:
FRIDAY JULY 8, 2016
A free day in Antalya. You can wander around the Old City, lunch on the harbour or just
mix it with the locals. For the history buffs a visit to the museum in Antalya which house
artefacts from many of the important ancient sites in the region will be a must.
The night will be spent at: The Old City – Antalya. Aspen Hotel or equivalent.
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and Dinner.
SATURDAY JULY 9, 2016
We depart Antalya after breakfast and make our way inland to Konya which is one of the
most conservative cities in western Turkey. On route we stop at Manavgat Fall for
morning tea. Konya is the founding place of the Whirling Dervish Sect and also the
capital of the Selcuk Empire and there are many examples of the unique architecture for
which this period is famous. Our hotel will be centrally located to allow easy access to
the centre of town and the markets. The Whirling Dervish Museum is a “must see” this afternoon. Those that have a weakness for gold will find the underground gold “mall” a competitive place to make
your purchase A traditional group dinner in Konya tonight and the possibility of seeing the Whirling
Dervishes perform the Sema.
The night will be spent at: Konya – Mevlana Bera or equivalent.
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and Dinner.
Entrance fees provided: Manavgat Falls
SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016
We will depart Konya after breakfast and head towards Cappadocia. En-route we will stop at Sultanhani which is one of the best preserved caravansaries used by ancient traders on the Silk Route. We will then drive to Kaymakli which is one of the many underground cities in the region. The early Christians used these cities to take refuge from their persecutors. A guide will be on hand to explain the complexities of this amazing feat in engineering. On arrival in Cappadocia we will visit Uchisar which is one of two “rock fortresses” in the region. The fortress provides spectacular views of the area. We will then travel onto the town of Goreme where local carpet traders will provide information about carpet making – a traditional craft practised by the local village women and that is a thriving industry even today. We will then travel to our hotel located in Avanos. Avanos is an interesting town and is most famous for its many potteries. Our hotel is interesting and atmospheric and is a labyrinth of tunnels and rooms that have been carved into the rock. Allow yourself plenty of time to find reception after you have checked into your room!? Dinner will be a group dinner.
The night will be spent at: Sofa Hotel – Avanos
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and Dinner.
Entrance fees provided: Sultanhani, Kaymakli and Uchisar.
MONDAY JULY 11, 2016
Early this morning there is an option today to view the fabulous Cappadocian scenery
from a hot-air balloon. This is an experience not be missed (not included in tour cost).
After breakfast our first stop will be the Goreme Open Air Museum where the best
examples of “rock churches” and frescos in the region can be found. We will stop in the
town of Goreme for lunch. Then explore the “fairy chimneys” at Pasabag and then
finally the village of Zelve where a whole village was carved into the rock and was
inhabited until the early 50s.
For those that are “game” we will travel to the town of Urgup to enjoy an authentic
Turkish Bath. There will be time to explore Urgup before returning to our hotel in
Avanos.
The night will be spent at: Sofa Hotel – Avanos
Meals provided will be: Breakfast.
Entrance fees provided: Goreme Open Air Museum, Zelve and Pasabag.
Extras included: Guide for the day
Authentic Turkish Bath including massage and scrub.
TUESDAY JULY 12, 2016
A leisurely start for our 2-3 hours walk through Goreme Valley, we take a very “untouristy”
walk along the river bed and we complete our walk at the village of Cauvsin
where we can explore the village that was carved out of the porous rock. We will enjoy a
simple lunch with a village family. Our final stop will be back at Avanos where you will
have the opportunity to try your hand at the potter’s wheel and learn more about the craft
that Avanos is famous for. Tonight is “Folklore Night”!! This is a show of regional dances including a belly dancer. A banquet style meal with all alcoholic and non- alcoholic drinks included. Drink the local brew (Raki), and you can then show us your own unique Turkish dancing style.
The night will be spent at: Sofa Hotel – Avanos
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and Lunch
Folklore Night including dinner and drinks.
WEDNESDAY JULY 13, 2016
We depart Cappadocia and arrive in Ankara where we visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk. We will check into our hotel and then have a few hours to explore Ankara, which is the capital of Turkey. A group dinner tonight.
The night will be spent at: Ankara.
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and Dinner.
THURSDAY JULY 14, 2016
An early departure which will see our arrival into Istanbul for a late lunch A chance to do some last minute shopping at the Grand Bazaar or take in some historic sites. Our final group meal together tonight and a chance to bid each other a safe trip home.
The night will be spent at: Sultanahmet
Meals provided will be: Breakfast and Dinner.
FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016
The tour ends today after breakfast and transport will be provided to the airport to board
your flight.
Meals provided will be: Breakfast
Extras included: Transfer to Ataturk Airport