6 Days/5 Nights Turkey (Istanbul-Troy-Kusadasi, Ephesus)
All year arrangement for small to large groups
A legends tour starting with the world city of Istanbul followed by the Aegean coast of Turkey visiting Helen's Troy, ANZAC landings at Gallipoli, the Acropolis of Pergamon and the magnificent ruins of Ephesus.
Day 1 : ARRIVE ISTANBUL (l)
Meet AVOTUR’s local guide or representative and transfer to the hotel. Check-in and short rest. (Please note check-in time at most hotels is 14:00 but we will do our best to arrange early check-in if necessary.)
Departure for halfday city tour.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Halfday city tour with a visit to the main historical center of Istanbul, Sultanahmet with its Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments. The monuments to be visited are the Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome (Obelisk of Theodosius, serpent column, brick column, Kaiser Wilhelm II fountain), the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace with its Treasury and Sacred Trust sections.
Return to the hotel after the tour.
Dinner at leisure.
Day 2 : ISTANBUL (b, l)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Fullday city tour covering the Bosphorus area.
Our tour today starts with the Spice Market located next to the New Mosque facing the Galata Bridge spanning across the Golden Horn.
Continue with the 19th century Dolmabahce Palace and visit the men’s section with its Hereke carpet covered ceremonial halls.
A cruise on the Bosphorus will introduce us to the rich cultural heritage of the palaces, fortresses, wooden Ottoman villas and lively little fishing villages and famous nightclubs of the city.
(For individuals public boat will be used.)
Lunch will be served at a local fish restaurant.
Intercontinental Bosphorus suspension bridge crossing to the Asian side of Istanbul. For a wide panoramic view of the city we will visit the Camlica Hill.
At the end of the tour, return to the hotel.
Dinner at leisure.
Day 3 : ISTANBUL - CANAKKALE (b, l, d)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart for Canakkale famous for the WW1 Battles at Gallipoli. A brief visit of the Gallipoli War Memorials including the Lone Pine Cemetery and Anzac Cove.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Cross the Strait of Dardanelles by ferry and reach the Asian port city of Canakkale. After viewing the Hollywood production Trojan wooden horse proceed to a visit of the ruins of ancient Troy of Homer’s Iliad.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Canakkale or at the Aegean resort Assos.
Day 4 : CANAKKALE – PERGAMON – IZMIR – KUSADASI (b, l, d)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Continue to Bergama. Use a cablecar ride and visit the Acropolis of Pergamon with its breathtaking amphitheater.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Depart for Izmir, Turkey’s largest export harbor and 3rd biggest city. Panoramic tour and continue to Kusadasi.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Kusadasi.
Day 5 : KUSADASI (b, l, d)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today’s visits concentrate on the Selcuk region with its ancient ruins and seaside resorts.
Before arrival at Ephesus, visit the remains of the Artemision, one of the ancient world’s Seven Wonders.
Visit the ancient city of Ephesus. Highlights will be the Odeon, Celsus Library, Hadrian’s Temple, Trajan’s Fountain, the Agora, the Scolasticia Baths, the Marble Street, the Amphitheater with its 25.000 seating capacity and the Arcadian Way leading down to the port which is now silted up.
In the Selcuk Museum we will see the statues of the Goddess Artemis and later visit the Isabey Mosque from the Seljuk era.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
On Mount Nightingale, the House of Mary (Meryemana), a pilgrimage site where Mary is believed to have spent her last days, will be visited. Return to the hotel after the tour.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Kusadasi.
Day 6 : DEPARTURE (b)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer Izmir airport (ADB) for your onward flight.
Highlights
* Ottoman and Byzantine heritage of Istanbul* Gallipoli War Memorials
* Ancient Troy of Homer's Illiad
* The Acropolis of Pergamon
* Izmir, Turkey's Aegean port
* The ancient city of Ephesus and House of Mary pilgrimage site
