Cities to visit:
GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
DAILY (Except Thursdays)
ITINERARY
Day 1: ARRIVAL / ISTANBUL
Welcome to Istanbul! Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel according to your chosen category. Accommodation
If you are arriving at Istanbul Airport (IST) our representative will be waiting for you at your exit outside by gate number 9 with a "Euroriente Travel" sign. If you are arriving at Istanbul Airport (SAW) on the Asian side, our representative will be waiting for you, crossing the pedestrian crossing between column 9 and column 10 with the "Euroriente Travel" sign.
Day 2: ISTANBUL / SOLIMAN THE MAGNIFICENT (B)
Breakfast. Departure to visit the Suleymaniye Mosque, located on the third hill of Istanbul, with one of the most famous panoramic views of the city. It was built by the famous imperial architect Sinan under the orders of Sultan Suleymaniye. After the visit, free time to discover the city on your own. Or, you can book an optional full-day visit to the historic part of Istanbul, where you can visit Hagia Sophia (exterior), the culmination of Byzantine art and the pearl of Istanbul. The famous Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries. Enjoy a typical lunch at a local restaurant in the Sultanahmet area. Admire the Blue Mosque, a wonder of harmony, proportion and elegance. Admire the Hippodrome, which preserves the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, the Fountain of Emperor William and the Egyptian Obelisk. At the end of the afternoon, visit the famous Grand Bazaar, where we will enjoy free time to get lost among its 4,000 shops. Accommodation
Day 3: ISTANBUL / BOSPORUS TOUR / SPICE BAZAAR (B)
Breakfast. Departure for one of the most famous activities in Istanbul, a boat ride along the Bosphorus, the canal that separates Europe and Asia. During this trip you can see the Sultans' palaces, old and typical wooden houses and enjoy history in a different way. Next, we will make one of the star visits, the spice bazaar, established by the Ottomans 5 centuries ago and used ever since. Our included visit ends at the bazaar where you can enjoy its atmosphere and variety of shops. In the afternoon you can optionally make a visit with lunch to the Asian part of the city, visiting the "Beylerbey" palace, located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. Former summer residence of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire, we will also be able to see the famous suspension bridge of the Bosphorus that connects the European part with the Asian part of the city. After lunch we will visit the underrated district of Üsküdar located on the Asian side and then head to Camlica Hill, one of the seven hills of the city and the highest point in Istanbul. At 268 meters above sea level, Camlica Hill offers panoramic views of both sides of the city. At the end of the day return to the hotel. Accommodation
Day 4: ISTANBUL / ANKARA (B - D)
Breakfast Departure on route to Ankara passing through the Bolu Mountains. After arrival we will make a panoramic visit with our coach to the capital of the Turkish Republic and the second most populated city in Turkey (Ankara), a modern and cosmopolitan city steeped in history and ancient culture. Visit to the Anitkabir Mausoleum, the symbol of Ankara, as it is the place where the founder of the Turkish Republic rests. Late afternoon Arrival at our hotel Dinner and accommodation.
Day 5: ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA (B - D)
Breakfast. Departure to Cappadocia. On the way we will see the second largest lake in Turkey, the Salt Lake and a 13th century caravanserai (medieval inn). Arrival in Cappadocia. Optionally you can book a Jeep Safari excursion through Cappadocia, one of the most exciting adventures in Cappadocia that will allow you to explore the region in an all-terrain vehicle, where you can reach unique landscapes of the formations and valleys of this region. Dinner and accommodation
Day 6: CAPPADOCIA (B - D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of this fascinating region and its original landscape, formed by the lava thrown by the Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes 3 million years ago. We will visit the valley of Göreme, an incredible Byzantine monastic complex made up of churches carved into the rock with beautiful frescoes. Next, we will visit the valley of Avcilar and Gόvercinlik where you can admire the best view of the volcanic forms called "fairy chimneys". We will visit the typical workshops of carpets and stones of Onyx and Turquoise. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 7: CAPPADOCIA / PAMUKKALE (B - D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Early departure to Pamukkale. Arrival and visit to Hierapolis, an ancient Hellenistic city that today lies in ruins. Visit to the famous Cotton Castle, a natural wonder of gigantic white waterfalls, stalactites and natural pools formed over the centuries by the passage of waters loaded with calcareous salts from thermal springs. Arrival at the hotel Dinner and accommodation.
Day 8: PAMUKKALE / EPHESUS / KUSADASI / OR IZMIR (B - D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure in the morning to Ephesus, a Greco-Roman city, ancient capital of Asia Minor and one of the best preserved from antiquity where the Temple of Hadrian, Temple of Trajan, the theatre and the Library of Celsus are located. Visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent the last years of her life. Next, we will visit a gallery of leather goods where we will learn about the famous production of lambskin garments in this region, at the end of the afternoon we continue to Kusadasi / or Izmir. Dinner at the hotel and accommodation. (During the summer months of May - October accommodation may be in Izmir and its surroundings instead of Kusadasi)
Day 9: IZMIR / PERGAMON / TROY / CANAKKALE (B - D)
Breakfast at hotel. Departure to the ancient city of Pergamon, one of the most important cultural, commercial and medical centres of the past. We will visit the Asclepion, the famous hospital of the ancient world, dedicated to the god of health, Aesculapius. Here lived the famous doctor, Galen. The sleeping tunnels, the small theatre for patients, the swimming pools, the long ancient street and the courtyard with the Ionic columns are the monuments that have come down to us from those splendid times. Continuation to Troy, the famous and ancient city of 9 levels. The city's fame comes from Homer's "Iliad" and the Trojan War against the Greeks, started by the love of Paris and Helene, which ended with the Trojan horse. Arrival in Canakkale, a city located on both sides of the famous Dardanelles Strait. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 10: CANAKKALE / BURSA / ISTANBUL (B)
Breakfast. Departure to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit to the Ulucamii Mosque, the Kozahan Silk Bazaar and the Green Mausoleum. Continue to Istanbul, arrival and accommodation.
Day 11: ISTANBUL / AIRPORT. (B)
Breakfast and at the indicated time, transfer to the airport. End of services. (pick-up will be 4 hours before the international flight schedule, exact time will be confirmed through your assistant at destination).
PLANNED HOTELS:
ISTANBUL:
CAT (A): La Quinta by Wyndham 5* / Ramada Tekstilkent 5* / Elite World Basin express 5* / The G Hotels Istanbul 5* / Centro Westside by Rotana Hotel 4* / Delta Hotels Istanbul West 5* or similar
CAT (B): Avantgarde Taksim 4* / Midtown 4*/ Elite World Comfy 4* / Nippon Hotel 4* / Titanic city Taksim 4* / Avantgarde sisli 4* / Double Tree Hilton Piyalepasa 5* / Occidental Taksim 4* or similar
CAT (C): Elite World 5* / Barcelo Istanbul 5* / Point hotel Taksim 5*/ The Marmara Taksim 5* / Sofitel İstanbul Taksim 5* / Hilton Bosphours 5* / Cvk Park Bosphorus 5* or similar
ANKARA:
CAT (A), (B) & (C): Radisson Blue 4* / Holiday inn kavaklıdere 4* / Occidental Ankara 4* / New Park 4* / Green Park 4* or similar
CAPPADOCIA:
CAT (A), (B) & (C): Ramada by Wyndham 4* / Mustafa Hotel 4* / Avrasya Hotel 4* / DoubleTree by Hilton Avanos 5*/ Crown Plaza Nevsehir 5* / Marriott Cappadocia 5* / Dinler Hotel 4* / Barcelo Cappadocia 5* or similar
PAMUKKALE:
CAT (A), (B) & (C): Colossae 4* / Anya Resort 4* /Richmond 4* / Adempira 4* / Kaya Thermal 4* / Pam Thermal or similar
KUSADASI:
CAT (A), (B) & (C): Le Blu Hotel 4* / Faustina Hotel 4* / Infinity Hotel 4* / Seven for Life 4* / Grand Belish 4* / Elite World Kusadasi 5* or similar
IZMIR:
CAT (A), (B) & (C): Ramada Plaza Izmir 4* / Ramada Encoure Izmir 4* / Ramada Kemalpasa 4* / Hampton by hilton Aliaga 4* / Radisson Blu Aliaga 4* / Anemon Aydin Hotel 4* / Kaya prestige hotel 4* or similar
CANAKKALE:
CAT (A), (B) & (C): Yurdakul 4* / MD Barbaros 4* / Remida hotel 4* / Iris 4*/ Parrion hotel 4* / Kolin hotel 4* or similar
INCLUDED SERVICES:
• 4 nights accommodation and Breakfast in Istanbul According to the Chosen Category
• 6 nights of accommodation during the tour of Anatolia in 4* Hotels
• Half Board during the tour
• Arrival and departure transfers
• Visit to the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul
• Excursion in Istanbul (Boat ride on the Bosphorus - Spice Bazaar)
• Tickets and visits according to the itinerary
• Professional English-speaking guide
• 24/7 travel assistance in English via (WhatsApp - Telephone)
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED:
• Hotel rates in Turkey to be paid at destination $15 pp.
• General tips for the trip to be paid at destination $45 pp.
• Optional excursions or personal expenses
• Any service not mentioned as included
NOTE:
If
your international arrival/departure flights are to or from SAW Airport, you
must add "SAW Transfer Supplement" to your booking process.