20 Days
Istanbul , Ankara , Antalya , Cappadocia , Pergamom , Fethiye, Konya , Gallipoli, Ephesus, Pamukkale
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Highlights : 20 Days Western Turkey Tour
Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul. Transfer from airport & check in to your hotel. Tonight you will have a welcome dinner, be introduced to our friendly crew and other travellers while enjoying traditional Turkish Food and enjoy the mystical atmosphere of Istanbul at night.
Day 2 - Bosphorus & Two Continents
Breakfast Included
Pick up at 08:30 from the hotel for the Tour of Bosphorus and the Asian part of Istanbul. During the tour we will enjoy a BOSPHORUS Boat Cruise, and visit the Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus Bridge and the Asian side of Turkey. The night is yours for you to sample some of the city's finest cuisine.
Accommodation in Istanbul.
Day 3 - Istanbul City Tour
Breakfast Included
Pick up at 08:30 from the hotel for the Tour of "Old City" from where the Centre of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled. During the tour you will be visiting; Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace , lunch the GRAND COVERED BAZAAR, Süleymaniye Mosque, Turkish Textile and Carpets ldemonstration. Accommodation in Istanbul
Day 4 - Ankara
Breakfast & Dinner included
We depart at 09:30 for Ankara. We will first visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum; we will then proceed to Ankara Castle, Haci Bayram Mosque, Temple of Agustus of Rome and Atatürk's Mausoleum. We then travel to our Hotel for Dinner.
Accommodation in Ankara.
Day 5 - Cappadocia
Breakfast & Dinner included
We depart early this morning for Cappadocia. After we check into our Hotel you will have some time to rest before dinner, you will have the chance to go to the famous traditional Turkish Night Show Cappadocia; you will enjoy Whirling Dervishes, Belly Dancing & Traditional Turkish Folklore. We recommend it should not be missed. Overnight in Cappadocia
Day 6 - Cappadocia
Breakfast & Dinner included
Today we will get to know the Cappadocia region, a volcanic area in which the geological formation started 10 million years ago. As a result of these formations phallic like pillars have come to life. The beautiful horse country "Katpatuka," (as the Persians called her) is an unbelievable strip of land, enchanting and mysterious. Our guided tour will start at 09:30 and cover Avcilar, Pigeon valley , Göreme Open Air Museum, Dervent Valley,Uchisar Castle and the pottery village of Avanos. If you want to join our optional activity of Ballooning (Hot Air Balloon Cappadocia), please contact with your guide and register because it will take place early the next morning. Over night in Cappadocia
Day 7 - Cappadocia
Breakfast & Dinner included
Those who have chosen the ballooning extra will leave before sunrise. We then depart at 09:30 for one of the most interesting sites of Cappadocia: Derinkuyu Underground City. The Christians hid from the armies of Rome and the raids of hostile tribes in these self sufficient cities in which there were halls for stocks of crop, barns, rooms, kitchens & ventilation channels. We then return to the hotel for Dinner.
Overnight in Cappacocia.
Day 8 - Konya – Antalya
Breakfast & Dinner included
This morning we drive to Antalya, stopping in Konya to see the imposing green-tiled Mausoleum of Mevlana, the mystic founder of the Sufi sect ( Whirling Dervishes). Stop in Egirdir on the southern tip of the most beautiful of the Pisidian lakes. Overnight in Antalya.
Day 9 - Free Day Antalya
Breakfast & Dinner included
The day is yours to discover Antalya. Overnight in Antalya.
Day 10 - Antalya City Tour
Breakfast & Dinner included
After breakfast departure for Perge.
PERGE: According to the geographer Strabon, Perge has been founded by Akhas who came down here after the Trojan wars. Perge was first mentioned in 334 BC when Alexander the Great passed through here. In the following years, Perge went under the control of Pergamon when the Kingdom of Pergamon became a part of the Roman city. Especially in the first and the second centuries BC, Perge became one of the richest towns in Pamphylia. Therefore it is not a surprising that St. Paul started his campaign in Anatolia from Perge in 46 AD. The people of Perge loved and respected their Artemis to such an extent that Christianity had to wait for another 400 years to enter here. In the Byzantine period, Perge was the seat of the bishop. Even though Arabs raided Perge in the 7th century AD, when Seljuk Turks settled the area, records show the existence of an older race living here.
After the tour, departure for Aspendos. Lunch break on the way.
ASPENDOS: The eastern land of Antalya was called Pamphylia in ancient times. The Toros Daglari (Taurus Mountains) forms a beautiful back drop to the fertile coast, rich with fields of cotton and vegetables. Aspendos (Belkis) lies 47 km east of Antalya in the Pamphylian plain. In 486 BC, Greeks and Persians had a great battle here (Greeks won they didn't stay for long). During the reign of he Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-80 AD) Aspendosgot its theatre, which is the best preserved of all. It was built by Romans and maintained by Byzantines and Seljuks. The ruins of the ancient city are extensive and include a stadium, an agora, and a basilica. After Aspendos return to hotel for dinner. Overnight in Antalya.
Day 11 - Antalya to Fethiye.
Breakfast & Dinner included
After breakfast depart to Antalya. On the way we shall see one of the best panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. Lunch break on the way. We will be passing from ancient Likya and you will have the chance to take photos of breath taking scenes. Check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to discover Fethiye .
Day 12 - Boat Cruise12 Island tour
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Departure from Fethiye Harbour around 10:30. Enjoy some swimming or snorkeling at the tranquil Ag Bay where lunch will be served as well. Our 1st night is spent in Cleopatra's Bay, here we can swim in the ruins of an ancient bath and enjoy a nice dinner & some sunset drinks.
Day 13 - Boat Cruise12 Island tour
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
After breakfast we cruise to beautiful Bedri Rahmi Bay, named after one of the first Blue Voyagers who in 1973 painted a fish on a rock. Here you swim or take a walk on the island. We have lunch at Flat Island, and have a swim in the shallow waters at the small beach. Dinner & 2nd night is spent nearby Tersane Island.
Day 14 - Boat Cruise12 Island tour - Fethiye
We cruise to Gocek to swim, snorkel or just soak up some sunshine. After lunch we cruise along a few more bays and have a last swim stop at Red Island before returning to Fethiye Harbour. We will check back into our hotel and enjoy a relaxing dinner.
Day 15 - Pamukkale.
Breakfast & Dinner included
At 08:30 we depart to visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, then walk around this natural phenomenon and have the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs. Overnight in Pamukkale
Day 16 - Ephesus.
Breakfast & Dinner included
We depart at 09:00 and we visit one of the best-preserved ruins in the world ' Ephesus '.We start with the Temple of Artemis which was one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Then we tour the amazing site of Ephesus and wonder at the people who built and walked through this ancient city. Overnight in Kusadasi
Day 17 - Bergama – Troy
Breakfast & Dinner included
At 08:30 we depart to visit the BERGAMA is the site of the Hellenistic - and later Roman - city of Pergamon, ruled for several centuries by a powerful local dynasty. After the tour, lunch break then departure to Troy . Your guide will explain the mythology surrounding Troy, the Trojan Horse and Helen of Troy, as well as the history and discoveries of the archeological diggings from its discovery by Heinrich Schliemann in the 1870's to the present day and on going. Overnight in Canakkale.
Day 18 - Gallipoli – Istanbul
Breakfast & Dinner included
At 08:00 we depart for Gallipoli . There you will be informed about the Gallipoli Campaign which has changed the course of the 1st World War. Visiting Kabatepe Museum, ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial, The Nek and Chunuk Bair New Zealand memorial you will have the chance to see the battle fields and experience one of the main events of the war. After the tour depart for Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 19 - Istanbul City Tour
Breakfast included
At 09:00 depart for Dolmabahce Palace, the last residence for Ottoman Sultans with 365 rooms and 22 saloons. The Palace is famous with the great collection of European antiquity, furniture and 4.5 tons chandelier. Bosphorus Bridge, unique chance to step from one continent (Europe) to another
(Asia) in 2 minutes.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 20 End of the tour
Breakfast Included
After breakfast check out from the hotel. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another Anthesis Travel tour.
